2014-04-11 to 13th - Bespoked the Handmade Bicycle Show

Its coming to London and to the Velodrome I am really excited.

We are delighted to now be able to announce the details of Bespoked 2014

    **Dates of the show 11th - 13th April 2014 **
    Location - Lee Valley Velodrome, London (Home of the London 2012 Olympic Track Cycling) 
    The Velodrome is a truly amazing building and the  show will take place during the first few weeks of it being open to the  public after the Olympics. The space inside will act as a perfect  backdrop to some of the most amazing bicycles on the planet and those  that make them. 
    To get all the latest information please sign up to our newsletter. If you would like to be part of Bespoked 2014 please [apply](http://www.bespoked.cc/apply.html) from this website.

http://www.bespoked.cc/Resources/poster.jpeg

Ha, why are they leaving Bristol?

I look forward to this already.

Oh wow. This is going to be absolutely massive now it's in London.

It was big anyway, but the cramped venue limited growth and made it too tight a fit and hard to see all of the exhibitors.

The big question is: Where in the velodrome? In the centre? Around the edges of the public seating?

The Velodrome has large rooms around the central circle, partly underground and partly accessible at ground floor level. This space can be used flexibly for events like Bespoked. Some of it was used for the media during the Olympics, and some as equipment storage, I think. No idea if they're planning to use the actual velodrome space, too, but I'd guess not (or perhaps just for special things like the awards?).

That's kinda what I was getting at... with the track being the centre of attention in the building, any show will have to be split across multiple rooms and spaces, decentralised and spread out.

From Dave Atkinson who organises it - "Firstly the velodrome has got to be one of the most amazing cycling buildings in the world. The show will take place in the centre of the track (also outside), the space where normally only the riders are allowed and the medals awarded. So an amazing building filled with the finest bicycles in the world and a chance to talk with the people that made them."

Going to be awesome

Thanks, I didn't expect that that's what they'd use, as it means that there won't be any track riding during the show?

One of the best things about the Bristol show is that it was small and therefore not too commercialised. I see that going out of the window.

Isn't that the whole point? On the whole, the people showing their wares are doing it for money, not love.

Lots of people were getting Bees in their bonnets over the whole relocation thing so there was a response posted on Road.cc - the guy organising it makes some good points and it seems as if they gotn squeezed out of their already small space by the council.

Here is the full response -

"I organise Bespoked and would like to make a few comments in response.
Bespoked is only 2 people my wife an artist and graphic designer and myself a frame builder. Our sole intention is to promote framebuilding to a wider audience.
Firstly the velodrome has got to be one of the most amazing cycling buildings in the world. The show will take place in the centre of the track (also outside), the space where normally only the riders are allowed and the medals awarded. So an amazing building filled with the finest bicycles in the world and a chance to talk with the people that made them.
The reason we even started looking of a new venue was due to the fact that since the venue has been taken over by the council they have rented out much of the building for office space that we have previously used. The entrance has now moved to the back door to make way for these offices. We have been begging to use the space where the Imperial museum ever since it closed, this is now office space. I would like to comment that the staff that actually work at the Passenger Shed are excellent lovely people. Bristol needs an event space rather offices in my opinion.
In response to comments about it being all about the money, it's not! Stand prices have gone up £25 since 2012 and the ticket price in London will be the same as this years show at £10. We have always had new builders spaces at a discounted price, offer free studio photography for all exhibitors to help them promote themselves.
I have been responsible for initiating the UK Framebuilders Guild, although still in it's infancy, but brings UK framebuilders together to further progress the profession.
Bespoked will never be in an exhibition centre like the NEC as i don't think it suits the bikes or the makers.
People visit Bespoked from all over the world, London is not really that far from anywhere in the UK.
I'm very excited about the show being in the velodrome in what will be one of the first times the public will be allowed in since the Olympics. Within a couple of hours of applications being opened some we have received applications from some of the best builders from all over the world. So I hope that people are still able to come even if (for some) it might take a bit longer to get to. it will be well worth it.
Phil"

Having gone round and spoken to almost all of the frame builders at the show ths year, I would say love came into it quite strongly. Although I am sure they were happy to take orders, what they really loved was to talk bikes, and show off their wares. They weren't that bothered that I wasn't going to place an order. Whether that atmosphere can be replicated at the velodrome is to be seen.

And also,

"London is not really that far from anywhere in the UK"

Someone needs a geography lesson. I don't blame the organiser for wanting to make it more commercial, after all, it's not a charity but I suspect it won't be the same show any more.

Don't think anyone needs a geography lesson, he's just making the point that people come from all over the world to visit/exhibit and Bristol is only an hour and a half on the train from London.

It will be a different show, maybe better, maybe not but it won't be the same.

Well that's a given, it's another year.

2013 was different from 2012, etc.

The exhibitors varied, the format featured some new additions, some things which didn't work so well were refined or removed, the numbers were different and so was the space between stands and people as a result.

Every year it's different, even if it's in the same venue. Now it's in a different venue and so people will freak out claiming it's different... but it's always different, because it turns out that it's impossible to run the same show twice.

Embrace change.

The velodrome is an incredible building and whilst there was something steampunk about the old building that appealed to the process of bike building, the new building is a cathedral of cycling and I really believe that it will imbue the show with a sense of atmosphere that will be great.

The real problem is that in that context any frame builder that makes a track bike and elevates it high enough to have the Siberian pine be a back-drop will likely cause palpitations and heart flutters amongst the oggling classes.

Tickets are now available to purchase online!
Take advantage of our Early Bird offer of £7.50(+50p booking fee) for a Day Ticket
and £17.50 (+50p booking fee) for a 3 Day Ticket.
This offer is available until the beginning of February 2014. Normal day ticket price £10, 3 day ticket £20.

Show dates and opening times are
Friday 11th April - 14.00 -19.00
Saturday 12th April - 09.30 -18.00
Sunday 13th April - 10.00 - 16.30

Enjoyed visiting in Bristol. Good luck at the new venue.

Anyone going to this?

I've got a Saturday ticket, but unfortunately will be working all day. Would anyone swap a Saturday ticket for a Sunday one?

^ I was going to buy a ticket for saturday, happy to buy yours off you?

Enjoyed Bristol last year & looking forward to this.

can you pay on the door?

yep but its more expensive

http://www.bespoked.cc/venuetickets.html

Seemingly cheaper to just show up and pay on the door, as there's no 50p booking fee

I have two tickets which I purchased for the Saturday (though ticket does'nt say it's specifically for Saturday).Free to first to PM me.Perhaps give appropriate donation to forum fund?

I've got a ticket for the Friday but have to work now, £5 if anyone wants it and I'll donate 100% to the forum.