Eurobike 2022 is more comprehensive than ever – gravel bikes and other sports trends have been integrated and put into action
Eurobike will take place for the first time in Frankfurt am Main from 13 to 17 July 2022. The show will not only stage the new dynamics of the industry and light up its future: The idea of mobility, the urban bicycle, but also micromobility and digitality have been incorporated actively and to a greater extent. However, the organizers have not taken back the bike’s sporty perspective. Quite the contrary: Taking the example of gravel bikes, the Eurobike shows its strength when it comes to the latest trends and how perfectly they harmonize with the mobility concept.
Drop bars and wide tires with pin lugs: The gravel bike is currently the whizz kid for the sporty range, on any terrain. German and international manufacturers of these trend bikes have proven themselves to be more innovative than ever. The gravel bike simply overrides the differences between pure road bikes on the one hand and touring bikes on the other hand, but also with some elements of the mountain bike. This is one side of the trend. And the other: The bike is perfect for cycling commuters. More robust than the road bike, lighter than the trekking bike and more versatile than other bicycle types because there are so many options for accessories, from mudguards to bicycle racks.
At Eurobike 2022, for example, the Hamburg-based company Stevens, with its extensive experience in the off-road sector, is to present its new “Camino” – with additional lugs for all imaginable accessories. Rondo, another pioneer and groundbreaker in the field of gravel bikes, will present the new Mylc at the Eurobike: a gravel bike very much tailored to off-road. A compelling request to continue towards adventure at the end of the tarmac, with a clear delimitation from the road bike geometry to the off-road whizz kid. “For us, the gravel bike is the standard and the road bike is the special case,” is what they say at Rondo.
Casual jerseys and airy, robust shorts come along perfectly during gravel biking. Sportswear specialist Löffler has already intensively dealt with outdoor and adventure topics – something you can clearly see and feel with their Gran Fondo softshell jackets.
Good news for everyone still unsure about how to gravel or plan routes: There will be two Gravel Talk sessions on Thursday and Saturday afternoon that will answer all questions. Two and a half hours will be spent on the no.1 trend topic in lectures and talks. From the e-gravel boom to road biking formats, from route planning to the stars of the young adventure scene. And, of course, this will be followed by real time on gravel, guided by the Gravel Club, a community that has been organizing gravel races, tours and events for two years. By the way, the Gravel Clubbers are also close partners at the big Frankfurt Eurobike City Bicycle Festival from July 13-17.
“We are delighted that we were able to successfully include the full range of the latest, trendiest product at the new Eurobike in Frankfurt for the first time – at many exhibitor booths, but also providing a varied program on stage as part of the Eurobike Academy in Hall 11.1,” explains project manager Dirk Heidrich. “Hybrid athletes also feel comfortable in the city of tomorrow. This is something they can prove during extensive test rides at the Messe City Street Course in Frankfurt.”
Mobility starts right where the fun does not stop in everyday life, for example when commuting to the office: With the right equipment, the gravel bike is perfect for everyday life, and of course it is also available as an e-bike. This way, longer distances to work can become gravel routes. A small detour to the dirt road is always an option. With high-quality lighting and the right splash water protection for cloudy days, it is also fun for bad weather commuters. And considering the – still – poor surfaces of the bicycle infrastructure, the bikes with the wide, profiled tires are ideal anyway.
The right office clothing should be able to do more for bicycle mobility than others: Like the rain pants that look like traditional office jeans and almost feel like them, but stay water-resistant when commuting through the rain. Eurobike exhibitors like Vaude have them in their range. Even with shirts and jackets, there are many ways to be on the go – stylish and breathable. When the office bike turns into an adventure machine after work, robust transport options are called for: Bikepacking is the name of the pannier systems that are taped to the handlebars, frame or seat tubes and accommodate the most important equipment. Suppliers like Ortlieb exhibit waterproof, flexibly usable bags at the Eurobike, offering the necessary storage space for the micro-adventure after work or the overnighter, without compromising the bike’s sporty handling and light-footedness. The Eurobike Frankfurt will take place from July 13-17 and provide great opportunities to experience the latest trends live. It will explain how sports trends integrate into the new mobility and, in turn, provide twice as much fun and flexibility.