Yesterday, I visited the annual Cycle Show at the NEC, Birmingham, as I do most years. It’s second year in Brum, the spectacle is settling well into it’s new home. This year the odd ‘retail zone’ was gone, and stalls were selling direct to the public. There were a whole host of mountain, road, comfort, BMX and electric (spit) machines on display, most of which can be tried on a variety of suitable test tracks.

As one might expect, there are all kinds of gadgets and accessories on display, including clothing. It really is cycle heaven.

There were some sad absences; no Brooks saddle stand, no Pashley, Pearson or Enigma. But there is plenty to see and do, including breathtaking displays by BMX and free riders. It was nice to see BMX stuff more on show this year, if only to see the look on the faces of the old timers when they walked around those stands. It was the kind of expression worn by a vegan suddenly finding themselves in a butchers.

The only thing that saddens me is that some companies still see it as acceptable to employ half-dressed women to advertise their products. I’m actually less likely to be your customer if you do that, and with cycling now broadening with ever greeter numbers of lady cyclists, it doesn’t seem like a great move demographically, either. One of the things I like about cycling is that it’s largely devoid of the boorish, knuckle-dragginge boneheads one finds engaged in other sports. Please don’t treat us like them.

The cycling tribes were well represented – fixie riders, old leathery tourers, roadies, hipsters and the aforementioned BMX kids, as well as leisure cyclists and families. I tweeted pictures as I went around, and these seemed popular, so I assembled the gallery below.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, and is open until Sunday. Tickets on the door are £16, but £13 from the website in advance.

I love the dad-style old school tourer from Condor. Hand built in London. Gorgeous.

British Cycling Scalextric. Never knew this had existed. If I’m not mistaken, thats the famous Lotus…

Folders seem to be on the decline, but these were interesting. Not sure I’d feel to happy on such a small bike, though.

This thing is pug ugly. It’s wrong, on any number of levels.

This has to be the worst way to sell insurance to cyclists I’ve ever seen. People were actively avoiding it.

Balance bikes like this are a great way for little ones to learn to cycle. They teach balance, unlike stabilisers.

Rather you than me, mate. The bike stunts were impressive.

The ridiculous hipster fixie craze continues. You wouldn’t, would you?

Cyclocross bikes – cross country ruggedised road bikes, effectively – are all the rage. They make great commuters.

I don’t know anything about this bike, except it’s beautiful. It was on the Cyclehoops bike storage stand.

London bespoke manufacturer Condor are doing some amazing bikes.

MAMILs – your emperor is stark naked. Thats a £3,000 pound plastic bicycle. Classic ‘Surgeons bike’.

Cyclehoops do some innovative stuff. The post with tools and integrate, vandal proof pump is great in places like Tissington

There are some very nice downhill and mountain bikes. Not my thing, but nice, all the same.

Perhaps for the first time, the BMX people are well represented.

Why do some manufacturers insist on making female specific bikes pink? Most women I know grew out of Barbie in childhood.

I’m not a fan of the lid on adults, but can see that with kids they might be a good thing. These are fun.

Carradice: traditional bike bags. I love these and am a massive fan. The classic saddlebag.

I understand this single speed to be a ‘Woods Bike’: fast, rugged for forest riding. Popular in the US.

Oddly, there’s a market in boutique tools. These are bicycle pumps. Utterly baffling. Lezyne have cornered this market.

The Hope Tech V-Twin linear convertor. Takes a road brake cable pull and drives hydraulic disk brakes. I’m geeking out over this.

Arrrghh! My eyes! Raleigh are doing the Dutch thing. Nice bike. Not taken on the paint job.

There are two test tracks for kids. One for the youngest, and one for the older speed demons…

Come off it, that’s not a bicycle, it’s an electric motorbike…

That’s top facial hair. Love the style.

All the cycling tribes were represented, including the hipsters. A beard isn’t a beard until you can see it from behind. Magnificent.

There are a good range of bikes for those with physical disabilities. This is a growth market.

A beautiful, hand-built Swallow. A thing of beauty.

I’m liking this a lot. This is a cyclocross bike, with hydraulic brake driven by a Hope Tech V-Twin linear convertor.

This is interesting: an electric bike with everything – including the lights – integrated into the frame.

Immense, tank-like German cargo bike, with electric assist. Presumably comes with forklift to get it in the garage.

Raleigh – after years in the doldrums as purely an importer – are really getting their mojo back. These seem like jolly nice bikes.

This St. John’s paramedic bike was impressive. The role of cycling paramedics is vitally important in congested city centres.