Messe Munich Invites Bike Reps to Winter Ispo

MUNICH, Germany (18 January 2000) -- According to Messe Munich, possible future competitor/collaborator Messe Cologne, organizer of IFMA, refuses to discuss an alternating show solution for the bicycle industry. A delegate of bicycle exhibitors, who recently met with the IFMA organizers, were equally unsuccessful. Munich's idea is to alternate international exhibitions between Cologne in northern Germany and Munich in southern Germany. Noteworthy is that this solution does not include competitor Eurobike, whose show in Friedrichshafen has received good reviews the last two years but cannot boast of Munich's infrastructure or international allure. Upping its efforts to establish a show, Messe Munich has invited several leading bicycle industry and bicycle trade leaders to this year's sporting goods show Winter Ispo. "We want to show them what an international world fair should look like," said the organizers. Messe Munich is also planning to set up another Bike Expo 2001 and invite several industry and trade VIPs to attend. (JB)