Bicycling Australia Show 2003

Sydney, Australia, September 5-7, 2003

Bikes down under

By Paul Mirtschin

2003 saw the Bicycling Australia show return to Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse, a location normally associated with four legs, not two wheels. Over 100 companies were present, showing off the latest and greatest in bicycle technology from over 300 brands, as well as a few samples of things that are best left alone.

LA's Daddy Yo-Yo
Photo: © Cyclingnews

Although a number of big names were missing, there was still plenty to poke, prod, ride and drool over, including a number of European brands not normally seen on these shores. De Rosa, Pinnarello and Cervelo all had a large range of 2004 models on display, and all had a steady flow of potential customers wondering just how they could find the money to put one of the bikes under them.

Both Shimano and Campagnolo had 2004 groups on display, causing spontaneous arguments between punters over which group really is the best, the best looking, and most likely to end up on their bike "if only I could find the money".

For those who needed a break from the bikes on display, the organisers had plenty else to do. The Mongoose MTB Trials team put on a number of displays, showing that speed isn't everything, and a lack of fear gets you everywhere. MacNeil bikes managed to drag two of their Canadian pro riders, Jay Miron and Dave Freimuth, out for the show, letting them try to out-jump, out-trick and out-ride the Aussie riders present.

Next year's show heads to Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building from September 3-5.

Big winner at Bicycling Australia show

By John Stevenson

Prize winner Carl Drieman (right)
Photo ©:Tom Balks/Bicycling Australia

Prize draws at races and bike shows are often a bit anti-climactic as busy punters have often gone home by the time someone puts their hand into the box and pulls out the winner's ticket. So you could have knocked down with the proverbial feather all involved at the Bicycling Australia show last weekend when door prize winner Carl Drieman was still around to collect his Trek Fuel 80 mountain bike.

Carl was more than a little stunned to win the AU$3,000 bike, and his state of excitement wasn't alleviated by the announcer (who was, er, me) being unable to read his name clearly from his entry form. A quick check of his address to confirm his bona fides and Carl cheerfully accepted the prize from Trek Australia's Tony Cook and Bicycling Australia's Phil Latz.

The show also featured a BMX display, trials demo and roller-racing contests.

Photos

By Tom Balks/Bicycling Australia

• Kate McEvoy, Danielle Jackson and Bree Sherwood smile for the camera
• Phil Latz and Tony Cook with the winner of the $3000 Trek Fuel 80 MTB, Carl Drieman
• Rebecca Borgo powers along in the roller derby
• One of many seminars put on over the weekend
• BMXer Zac clocks up some frequent flyer points
• Zoli Borbasi contemplates his landing

Images by Paul Mirtschin/Cyclingnews

• Shimano's new DH pedal, the M647; based on the mud clearing M959
• Another new pedal from Shimano is the R540, a budget version of the 7800 "Lance" pedal
• Among the new shoes from Shimano is the sport level R151
• Money no option? Then here's the Shimano R215 with hollow carbon sole
• Sport level MTB riders get the M180
• The new Saint group was on show, check out the lightweight resin bashguard
• The rear mech bolts onto the axel for a really strong rear-end
• Speed-sensitive shifting, speed-sensitive suspension, and a computer that goes *ping*
• Ever wanted to see inside a Rohloff hub?
• Two pairs of pads?
• When six-pot brakes just aren't enough. Gatorbrake's 8-pot
• Gatorbrake also make smaller disc brakes
• Baum had some spanky frames on show. This is the Cappuccino
• The Baum Espresso. Can you see a pattern forming?
• Baum also do a sexy steel and carbon model
• A look inside the headtube; drilled for lightness
• N-Zo are hitting our shores
• N-Zo sell shorts…
• N-Zo sell knicks…
• N-Zo sell tops as well
• Every show needs a cruiser. This show had a lot
• "Just popping down the shops, back soon". Deuter packs on show
• Mongoose had Steve Marsh's DH bike on display
• This Leggera would have to be the best looking bike of the show
• New Gary Fisher bikes, and a new Fisher logo
• You can have your Cake and ride it too
• Klien, as always, had elegant bikes on show
• Clean cable routing
• Trek Australia had Lance Armstrong's Daddy Yo-Yo on display
• This bike hasn't been stuck in a shed for a year.
• I wonder if anyone would mind if I took it
• The things you can do with carbon frames
• New Zealand company Keewee had its range on display
• From dirt-jumpers like this…
• … to freeride bikes like this
• Keewee's CromoEight was also known as the Avanti D8 for a few years
• Tri-Sled's 'bents had a mix of road and MTB groups on-board
• Black Shimano 105 cranks with a rather large chainring
• Ah, there is another ring hiding in there
• Disc brakes can be handy at high-speed
• You may not win on a bike like this, but you will look good
• 3G don't worry too much about weight
• The Chris King display had a t-shirt placed to catch any drool
• BMX rings with a built-in grind-guard
• 2004 Shimano XT disc caliper
• XTR's little brother gets the outboard bearings this season
• The Tour Down Under crew were on hand to promote the 2004 race in Adelaide
• While some gold-medal winning bikes were next door…
• … to promote the 2004 Track World Cup in Melbourne next year
• Full suspension, cruiser style
• A seriously fat tire, the 3.45 inch wide Hoggy-G