Swiss Shows: Break for Bike Days, Start for Twoo

ZÜRICH, Switzerland – The most important bike show in Switzerland, Bike Days, takes a break this year. With that the new ’Twoo’ Show which is staged for 21 – 24 February, 2008 in Basel, is gaining importance.

Bike Days takes a break in 2008, but is staged for May 2009. Organizer FAF AG who took over the show in autumn 2006, intends to use the break to re-evaluate the show after the venue switch was made last year from Biel to the outskirts of Zürich.

Next to the problems that this new venue brought about (lack in infrastructure and atmosphere), also the budget question is raised. Bike Days Project Manager Erwin Flury says: “We can not afford to keep on investing for a bunch of bikers who can not be satisfied at all. After four years, Bike Days is still a low-budget production. There’s still no main sponsor of the event and also for this year’s Bike Days the chances of getting such a main sponsor were small.”

All this made FAF to set the brakes on the 2008 event to give it this year a proper re-evaluation. But the next event is planned and will take place in May 2009 with which the vital continuity of the show is guaranteed.

FAF will use this year to decide on where Bike Days is to take place in the coming years and with that provide exhibitors clarity on the venue (most probably in Zofingen which is in the center of Switzerland). Next to the location of the show, the organizers are also looking into the show concept which hooks up with the original ideas that created Bike Days: a bike feast combined with a product show that caters for all target groups and disciplines.

How the re-evaluated Bike Days show concept will commercially work-out is yet to be seen. In particular because with the Twoo Show there’s a new fair launched in the ’break-year’. However, the two show organizers don’t speak about the one competing with the other as the Twoo Show as a regular exhibition to take place in halls, is something quite different from the ’To Do’ show that Bike Days is.

The Basel Twoo Show is featuring the newest stuff from about 50 exhibitors; not a bad result when taking into consideration that there are only a few renowned brands among them such as Trek, Koga and Cannondale. Also the participation of the Swiss bike sector is not really represented with companies like BC, Bixs, Flyer, Price, Simpel, Stöckli, Thömus – most of them direct suppliers. Twoo offers an attractive line-up of supporting events with test tracks including a separate one for e-Bikes, Trial- and BMX-Show, workshop with cross-clinic and exhibitors party.

With the new Swiss show scene, it is of course interesting to know what the position of the Swiss industry association Velosuisse is? On that question Twoo-organizer Frank Malter shows disappointment because of the more or less open suggestion that Velosuisse did its members not to take part in Twoo.

Velosuisse President Gallus Komenda comments: “It is correct that the association could not patronize the Twoo concept because we already in 2003 decided not to support any longer a traditional show and with that turned to Bike Days. Also there was no clear majority among our members that voted for support of the Twoo Show. However, we have never suggested to our members not to take part in that event.”