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 If you're headed for Eurobike, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the event.
Absolutely everyone wants to be there and it reflects in the impressive show stats. Over 1,000 exhibitors will taking up 100,000 square metres of floorspace in 14 halls. The show will be visited by 35,00 trade visitors from 69 countries; 1200 press passes will be issued to journalists from 32 countries.
This year a new hall opens on the East side of the complex, built over the winter to meet the growing demand for floor space. Then there's the outdoor area, the Zepplinhalle, the press presentations and product launches ... make no mistake, Eurobike is massive.
You've got the Demo Day in the hills above Friedrichshafen, where the press and dealers get to try out stuff, pick up brochures and maybe bag some schwag; there are the themed areas, with a whole hall dedicated to clothing and footwear; the Italian zone, where Italy gives the rest of the bike world lessons in style; the Taiwanese Pavilion, where you get to meet the guys stoking the boilers of the bike industry boiler room; the growing popularity of the e-bike is showcased in its own dedicated area of the Zepplinhalle; the Belgian Quality arena, where you'll find delicacies other than moule frites and bier ... and on and on and on.
In the gap between the A and B halls, there's a huge open-air space - complete with full-size dirt track. It's a veritable tent city of marquees featuring the best in BMX and MTB. On Saturday, the public day, there's a wealth of travel and holiday companies temping you with scenic holiday locations and organised bike tours.
Wedged between the small cities masquerading as booths, you'll find some real gems - and finding them is where the real fun lies.
Some of the jewels worth hunting for are fine framebuilders such as Paduano (B4 412), Passoni (A1-214), Grandis ( B2-110), Milani (A1-409) and legends De Rosa (A1-405). Check out leading-edge components companies such as Marchisio (B1-108), Trickstuff (A2-104), Phil Wood (A7-509) and why not get up close to the worlds' finest leather goods from Brooks England? (A5-401).
Then there's the Gruppo booth, for the latest from Columbus (B3-403), Dedacciai and Deda Elementi will be there (B3-107) and don't forget to say hello to Keith and Terry of Reynolds (A6-425)
If you're looking for decals, masks, stencils, head badges and anything else graphical, then your one-stop shop is Mander SRL (A1-415).
Finally, don't forget to stop by the 2Souls Cycles booth (B4-411)
to check out the latest news and products from Indra and Ingo, organisers of Europe's other essential event, the EHBE!
Now, where's my Segway...
Click on images for a bigger view :
See you there! 
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