euro meltdown

Eurobike is over for another year, for the first time I actually got to have a fleeting snoop around the show, which was good and bad. I was surprised how little actually got me excited, maybe I am jaded maybe there really wasn't much to see. Talking to other regulars it certainly seemed that a lot of companies had held back this year, a bumper year next? Perhaps.
As usual there was little of cyclo cross interest, this always surprises me, coming as it does pre-season. Everyone of course has a cross bike but few actually go tot he trouble of speccing the thing with any understanding of the sport (50 tooth chainring anyone?) On the whole they were all pretty straightforward with similar alloy or carbon bikes with a plug in matching fork (the Stevens and Colnago being the best executed), some TRP brakes, white bar tape and saddle. The Parlee looked quite cute but again the spec was pretty much throw a groupset on it.

Germany continues to fascinate me, at some point I would love to spend longer exploring it, the quality of life seems to be pretty sorted with emphasis on health and wellbeing at the forefront. Bizarre considering how many of them still smoke and eating out is an experience that tests the British palette. But it would appear that they eat a fairly healthy diet outside the restaurant. Itis also a serious producer of food, the amount of fruit and veg they grow is quite impressive.