VELOBerlin Comeback Delights Bicycle Fans in the Capital

Submitted by J. Mikhail on Sun, 07/03/2022 - 17:18

VELOBerlin 2022. The Bicycle Festival – April 9–10, 2022 @ Tempelhof Airport

Berlin - Bicycle fans were delighted to see the comeback of VELOBerlin with its wide-ranging lineup at Tempelhof Airport on April 9 and 10. While cycling has experienced a real boom in recent years, events showcasing the bicycle live in all its diversity were few and far between. After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the tenth edition of VELOBerlin once more provided the big stage for the bicycle as a festival for product trends, test rides and a forum for 15,000 bicycle fans, brands, policymakers and civil society.

New mobility at the one-time airport: Over two days, 200 exhibitors presented more than 300 brands in the unique atmosphere of the historic hangar and the largely covered airfield. The major trends of pedelecs, cargo and gravel bikes were showcased as well as components, accessories, handmade products and curiosities such as a floating cargo bike caravan.

The bicycle as an experiential thing

The bicycle is a physical product that needs to be experienced live. A view shared by 15,000 cycling enthusiasts, including in particular the many families with children who were not deterred by the unpredictable April weather. Thousands of test rides on the two huge tracks let them put all the innovations through their paces. For children and adolescents in particular, the pump track, mountain bike, bike and children's bike tracks offered the ideal conditions to put products to the test and hone riding skills. Major attractions included thrilling races such as the International Cargo Bike Race and the BMX Show.

Mobility of the Future

Berlin Mobility Senator and festival patron Bettina Jarasch was also thrilled and delighted to experience the many possibilities of the world of cycling. She presented the Berlin Bicycle Commitment Award to the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Tempelhof-Schöneberg districts for their work as role models in the local transport revolution.

The future of mobility was also the focus of the extensive stage program: Interactive presentations and talks addressed how to turn the bicycle into the preferred mainstream mode of transport, how to reach target groups with no affinity for cycling to date and how to ensure cargo bikes help promote the mobility revolution.

"With VELOBerlin 2022, we finally managed to catch up on our tenth anniversary. The audience's enthusiasm for the bicycle was literally palpable – in the exhibition, on the test tracks, in the talks and workshops," Velokonzept managing director Isabell Eberlein was delighted to report.

Exhibitor opinions:

Brita Matthes, Press Officer at Brose: "We have a varied audience: some are directly interested in Brose drive motors, while others wanted to buy the actual bike we had here."

Stephan Barth, Event Coordinator at Specialized: "VELOBerlin is a great event for us. Lots of test rides, interested and well-informed visitors wanting to see and test new products."

Oliver Richter, Sales and Trade Fairs, Abus: "Of course it's great for us to see a trade fair back in Berlin after such a long time. The Berliners love bikes and you could tell straightaway in the first few hours just how well attended the trade fair was going to be."

Peter Wöstmann, Press Spokesperson for Ortlieb: "There's tons going on, the weather is great, despite the forecasts to the contrary. Everyone is open and warm – the trade fair is great fun."

André Joffroy, Managing Director of Trail Camp (including Kindernay hub gear): "I'm really buzzing today, the day got off to a cold start, but despite the low temperatures we were virtually swamped with people here."

Boris Maiorino, Brand Specialist at Ergon: "I got the feeling that everyone couldn't wait to get out again finally, take a look around and enjoy the most beautiful hobby in the world."

Key facts

VELOBerlin 2022. The Bicycle Festival

Date: April 9–10, 2022, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Location: Tempelhof Airport, Hangar 5 & outdoor area

Entrances: "Landside" entrance at Hangar 5: Tempelhofer Damm/U-Paradestrasse, "airside" entrance: via the Tempelhof Field

Area: Exhibitions & test track: Approx. 30,000 m²

Organizer: fairnamic GmbH/EUROBIKE

Organization: Velokonzept GmbH, Berlin

Social media: www.facebook.com/veloberlin, www.twitter.com/veloberlin, www.instagram.com/veloberlin

Press contact, information:

Christoph Schulz, Velokonzept

Phone: +49 30 3116514 15