The Bike Place is a new trade-only show that has been going for a couple of years, and is aimed at giving bike shop bosses a look at the latest 2012 products.

On hand to show their new wares were the likes of Santa Cruz, Orange, Devinci, Orange, Tomac and others, so with those some of our favourite bike company’s, we hit the road and headed to Silverstone were it was being held.

Santa Cruz introduce new finishes

This Santa Cruz Tallboy aluminium caught the attention of quite a few, with its stunning satin clear finish.

Look closely and you can see the handiwork of the frame builder, though our camera doesn’t do it justice.

Now that’s a cool way to display a bike.

Is 1×10 the future for trail bikes? We’re seeing the setup fitted to more bikes this year than ever before.

Niner Bikes – new frame and handlebars

Also from Jungle Products, the UK distributor of Santa Cruz, is the Niner stable of bikes. This is the lovely Air 9 hardtail, it’s been updated for 2012 with an all-new frame. A 6000 series aluminium tubeset has replaced the Scandium previously employed, a change which allows the company to make a frame that’s stiffer and lighter through extensive butting and hydroforming.

Niner doesn’t just make frames, they’re well known for their own carbon fork, and they also do some nice components. Like these carbon fibre handlebars. This is the Flat Top, it’s 710mm wide with a 9º sweep, and there are cut marks down to 650mm. Weight is 175g out of the box and about 160g when cut down to 650mm.

Can’t argue with that, it’s bloody good advice.

Orange Bikes go 29 for 2012

Thinking of doing some enduro events this summer, or the Megavalanche? The Orange Alpine 160 looks just the ticket. A Reynolds hydroformed top tube blends into a monocoque downtube and a dropper compatible seat tube, and a tapered head tube taking a Fox 36 fork.

Here’s the Five SE. They would have displayed the new Black Gold limited edition Five, but they proved so popular they sold out (they produced just a 100), such was the demand. But the SE, as this spec shows, is a lovely looking bike. The perfect UK trail bike? We’ve just taken delivery of one so we’ll be able to let you know.

Shock horror, Orange Bikes will be releasing this, its first 29er, in March. Travel is 100mm at the back and 120mm up front, head angle is 70 or thereabouts and it’s said to have a very similar feel to that of the standard 26in Five. We can’t wait to try it out.