The Bike Show (1-3 April, Stoneleigh Park) is just over a week away, so here’s a few attractions doing their best to, er, attract you…

Ticket2RideBC

First up is Ticket2RideBC, the Whistler-based freeride/all mountain holiday company. T2R is making its Show debut and will have a packed stand – as well as full details of its holiday packages in and around Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and other legendary destinations, it’ll be showing off 2005 bikes from sponsor Iron Horse. There’ll also be the opportunity to win a free holiday – T2R will be giving away a trip on Saturday and another on Sunday. The winner can choose from a Freeride Shuttle Fun (Bike Park, Squamish, Pemberton, shuttle support, guiding, meals, all the trimmings) or Comfortably Numb epic singletrack package, with a bunch of free upgrades including Whistler Bike Park pass, Iron Horse bike hire, helmet and body armour hire and restaurant vouchers. You’re looking at about £800-worth of unforgettable holiday, and if you want/need to bring someone else along then they’ll get a 25% discount.

Other than that, T2R’s stand can offer the cream of Canadian riding on DVD and representatives of Tourism BC will be on hand to enthuse about British Columbia. More about T2R at www.ticket2ridebc.com. It’ll be on stand M210.

Vario

Also at the show for the first time will be Vario. It’ll have its full range on show, from XC hardtails to DH monsters. It’ll also be launching its strategic partnership with the French resort of Châtel in the Portes du Soleil. Châtel is expanding its summer mountain bike offering, rebuilding existing trails and developing an all-new freeride park. And of course getting in a fleet of Vario bikes. To celebrate, Vario will be giving away a pack of 10 one-day Châtel summer lift passes every day at the show – they’re valid all season and can be used on any dates. Use them all yourself, share them out for a weekend, whatever you want. Vario is on stand M238. More information on Vario at www.vario-bikes.com and Châtel at www.chatel.com.

Spendy shiny bikes

Obviously there’ll be a lot of expensive shiny bicycles around the place at Stoneleigh. It is a bike show, after all. But by the looks of things the American Bicycle Group stand will be putting in a strong contender for shiniest and most expensive. ABG will have bikes from Merlin, Litespeed and Tomac among others and promises that the average price of its display bikes will be over four grand. Merlin’s latest swoopy retro-styled offering will be there, along with all sorts of other exotic loveliness. ABG’s on stand M344. And we’re hearing whispers of some exciting stuff from Santa Cruz, too…

More Bike Show details at www.thebikeshow.com, or call the ticket hotline on 0870 145 2244.