After the demise last year of The Bike Show, the April show that was started at Earls Court by MBUK publishers Future, relocated to the NEC, sold to Haymarket which ran it for a couple of years and then moved it again to some cattle sheds near Coventry and thence into oblivion, the British rider has been without a spring show.

That’s about to change, though, with the launch of The National Bike Show (NEC, 28/29 April 2007). With London’s October Cycle Show being optimally timed to show off new kit, the NBS will be concentrating on the actual riding. Expect to see North Shore, slopestyle, trials arena, dirt jumps and more – full details of the attractions on show will doubtless be along very shortly.

In the meantime, though, the organisers are offering a bit of an incentive to buy tickets. Anyone purchasing National Bike Show tickets (£18.50 adults, £15.50 children 8-15, £59.50 family, accompanied under-8s get in free) will be entered into a draw to win a great prize courtesy of Flow MTB and Santa Cruz.

The winner will get a week’s holiday for two at Flow MTB’s chalet in Morzine, including flights, transfers, breakfast and afternoon tea every day and a three-course meal with wine and beer for six nights (the chalet staff have one night off a week). Plus you’ll get not only free hire of a Santa Cruz demo bike for the week, you’ll also get your very own SC Chameleon (with RockShox Revelation fork, Deore transmission and Avid Juicy 3 brakes) worth £1,299. All of which sounds thoroughly agreeable (terms and conditions apply, check www.nationalbikeshow.com for details).

Tickets are available from the NEC box office on 0870 909 4133, Urban Tickets on 0845 130 4523 or direct from www.nationalbikeshow.com.