From Friday to Sunday, Kortrijk Xpo will host Velofollies, the leading trade fair for cycling enthusiasts in Flanders. At this 17th edition, there will be a lot of interest in gravel bikes and e-bikes, two trends of recent years that have not lost popularity.
Velofollies is the second largest bike fair in Europe, after Eurobike in Frankfurt, and it will have more than 300 booths to cater to both the semi-professional rider and the occasional Sunday cyclist.
More focus on design and new technologies
Sales of e-bikes have been on the rise in recent years. Even though the market has been cooling down after several record years, they remain popular at the Velofollies bicycle fair.
“The latest models not only offer better performance, with greater range and faster charging times but also in terms of style and design, great strides have been made,” says the organization, which, like the year before, managed to attract 40,000 visitors to Kortrijk.
For example, bike brands increasingly try to hide the battery in the design. However, the show also features mountain and racing bikes with electric assistance, a trend that some expect to continue.
After all, bicycle brands are generally investing more and more in new technologies, such as integrated GPS systems for navigation assistance, tracking systems for theft prevention, built-in heart rate monitoring, automatic suspension, and, of course, the further development of battery technology for e-bikes with even charging capabilities for smartphones.
As mentioned before, things are not standing still in the world of racing bikes. Within the racing segment, there is an evolution toward lighter materials and an increasingly aerodynamic design, such as narrower handlebars to catch less wind.
The gravel bike: more than a hype
Furthermore, the gravel bike, which is halfway between a race bike and a mountain bike, also appears to be a stayer at Velofollies. “Its popularity is continuing, with a growing number of gravel bike events, former riders seeking refuge in the gravel world, and rising sales figures,” organizers say.
“The gravel bike is not a hype, but a full-fledged bike category, in which the line between a light (all road) gravel bike and endurance racing bikes with wider tires is quietly blurring.”
Several exhibitors will present new models and innovations at the fair, such as specific gravel components, 13-speed gravel groups, and 30 mm rims. You can also find out about recreational cycling vacations at various stands of a number of tourist services.
Meet & greets
Besides exhibitors, visitors can also visit the fair for workshops, an e-bike test zone, and meet-and-greets. For example, some former riders, including Tom Boonen, Greg Van Avermaet, and Thomas De Gendt, as well as international names such as Vincenzo Nibali, Ivan Basso, Alberto Contador, and André Greipel, are coming to Kortrijk Xpo.
Velofollies takes place at Kortrijk Xpo from Friday, January 17th to Sunday, January 19th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and with an evening opening on Friday until 8 p.m. Tickets cost 15 euros in online presale. More info can be found at www.velofollies.be
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