The bike show season is almost upon us again and a lot of you will be frantically brazing, filing and shooting paint to get your show-stopping creations ready for center-stage.

Amid all the rushing around paint shops, last-minute component searches and volunteer recruitment, anyone could be forgiven for overlooking the minor points. However, it's the details that make all the difference – the difference between "Uhh, OK..." and "Oh...WOW!"

Just to make sure your prized displays get all the plaudits they deserve, here are a few reminders, checkpoints and detailing 'grooming tips' to make as your big day approaches!  A few deep breaths followed by some last minute checks is all it takes to boost your 'Style Points' score!

 
•      'Tire kickers' - sorry, show attendees – just love fiddling with brifters. A discreet zip-tie holding the levers together will help prevent having to repair or replace a Red or a Super Record II-speed set-up when you get home.


•      Throw some packs of anti-static furniture wipes in your showtime tool kit. They make easy work of removing suspect fluids and will have your paintwork gleaming again in no time at all.


•    Pull brake cables up tight so the brake locks onto the wheels – bikes fall over when the wheels roll.


•     Don't forget a track pump for your travelling tool kit.

•     Glue AND crimp cable end-caps; better still is to cut, then solder the cable ends.


•    Hang a swing tag from a saddle rail detailing some salient points; model, tubing, frame weight, (yes, frame weight – make it up...) special features, etc. This'll save you having to repeat the same answers over and over again.


•    Make sure headsets are fully bedded-in before the bike goes on display.
 

•     Hand out catalogs, flyers, stickers and other showtime schwag.  Don't leave expensive promo material sitting around. Otherwise, bagfuls of stash will be pilferred by would-be eBay memorabilia entrepreneurs the minute your back is turned!

Style tip #1.  

A few hours of fondling by a thousand sweaty hands can leave handlebar tape looking grubby in no time.  Grubby tape equals grubby bike. Wrap your bars with a tough, stain resistant tape.

Hunt down some Specialized Roubaix bar tape – it's bulletproof, it wraps well - and looks cool too!

Style tip #2. (click images to go large)

Still on handlebar tape, do the Pro thing and make sure you wrap your bars properly.

Tape should finish at the stem end by wrapping from back to front and over the top.  Don't go wrapping one way on one side, opposite on the other.
Looking at the bar ends from the saddle, start winding anti-clockwise on the left-hand, clockwise on the right. Follow this rule and you can't go wrong.  No gaps; make even overlaps  - and don't forget to fill the space behind the levers!  Pack some spare end-plugs in the tool kit and a spare set of grips for MTB's

      

Style tip #3.

Make sure tube valves are straight and tyrewall labels line up with the valve hole. Check you haven't got the tire treads facing the wrong way in all the rush to get bikes built!


Style tip #4.

Make sure saddles are level.  Sit the bike on the ground and lay a broom handle from back to front along the saddle. Check the angle - it's got to be flat!

Style tip #5.

Whenever possible, raise bikes off the floor.  Having top tubes at eye level means more people can see your stuff when you draw a crowd.  Don't be bashful about showing off your babies – it is a 'show ' after all!


Finally, on the big day, don't forget why you're there – to make an impression!

Make it a lasting one!