Message Forums

Thanks to Ratty for organising the freebie tickets. We had good fun nosing around - not just camping stuff- anyone else dribblin at that 'Specialized' mountain bike at £2500 ?? makes my K2 look a bit shabby.. Also plenty of neoprene & rubber stuff for the fetishists (better spell that right!).

Fair collection of tents on display outside in the wind - probably a good time to check them out.

I done the honourable thing & spent over £100 somewhere.. including signing up for 'Camping' magazine 'cos they were giving away a box of Gelert goodies (and  the free copy had an article about m/cycle camping).

My best buy? Snugglepak jacket that folds into its sleeve, or into little stuffbag as a pillow...bargain at £39 (Wifey likes it so much i've to get her one now!).

Amazed at range of SatNav thingies... right next to the OS stand.. give me a luvverly flappy map anytime!

Observations? those pop-up tents selling as fast as the donuts, a young lady with jeans so low cut that i could have parked me bike..., little doggy tent thing, Blacks exhibit where stuff was dearer than some retail shops normal price, passing a young couple who'd bought an Outwell 6 which came in a trolley bag that looked so big it ought to have an 'A' frame!

Regrets? not having time to sit in on one of the talks (i had to get home asap), forgetting to go back & get one of those nifty little pump thingies (Cyclaire) and of course, not getting Wifey a Snugpak! (maybe next year she'll come with me?).

Thanks again Ratty.

Steve

I thought the show was great - once I managed to get at it! Lots of loverly, pretty cycle paths... NO SIGNPOSTS! My telepathy was thrown by all the sat nav waves in the vicinity and I wasn't chanelling the routes properly, so I went the wrong way several times before selecting the right one! When I got to the main door, the guard regarded me with great suspicion and said "where are you going to put that" (doubtful look at Lily, my bike)

Me " I was going to ask you."

Him in an accusatory tone "We haven't got any cycle parking" (Implying so what are you doing here with a bike!)

Me "There are a couple of bikes tied to that pipe over there..."

Him "You could put your bike on the other pipe..." (Why didn't I think of that!) "Please put it on the side away from the door"

Me "No Problem" -(wouldn't want to block the 100 foot entry way, someone might damage my bike!)

Sunday, I went from the station with a bike loaded with all my camping gear and parked it in the garden on the first floor with no problems at all!

There were some good deals there, my favourites being half price YHA membership and some Craghopper shirts with zip-off sleeves, which are the most useful piece of kit after the tent itself! (How mwny days does it start chilly, get hot, then cool to arctic temperatures in the evening?! - zip off sleeves and trouser legs, the answer to the English climate!)  

I thought the Show was excellent and very well presented. A diverse range of interesting stands and lots of useful information. We arrived early on the Saturday so we managed to see most of everything before the Halls began to pack out!

Bought a Maxtrax Bile Carry  - I had been looking for a 4 Bike Carrier for some time. This is an excellent bit of kit that fits on the Tow Bar - well designed and well executed - with a Show Offer Price the deal was done! Also managed to buy;

Mains Hook Up with RCD and 3 Sockets for £59.00  from Yeomans

Three Pairs of Gaiters half price.

Cragg Hopper Trousers half price

Brasher Lightweight Boots for SWMBO  - guess what - Half Price!

Brain Blessed was very amusing!!! ( couldn't get Flash Gordon out of my head!)

Loads of Mags - Free!

Tent Display was extensive - but the prices were Loonatic! 

Definitley going next year!

Did anyone get a show guide?

I didn't see any and there didn't seem to be an info/show stand at the entrance.

I asked at the Ordnance Survey stand on the way out and they showed me one but didn't have any spare.

There were supposed to be people wandering about selling them but I didn't see anyone and I was there for 6 hours.

We bought a show guide - on sale for £3 as we came in the main entrance.

Excellent show we thought. Just wish we'd got there a bit earlier as most of the tickets for the speakers in the Glelert theatre had gone and it got rather crowded later on.

Went away with a Montana 12 from Yeomans at the bargain price of £386.99.

Will definately go again next year.

Witters. 

We thought it was excellent too. Had a good nosey around all the tents outside and came very close to buying a Monty 4, but didn't bother in the end. Only bought a couple of 'sporks' but had a great time picking up loads of freebies, food, drink, mags and entering shedloads of competitions.

Will deffo go again next year.

We had a great day out on Sunday, bought lots of bargains!

Kids were thrilled that we bought 4  x Gelert Headlamps from the Yeomans stand and we were too (we had ordered them online but they were cancelled due to no more stock) - until....I notice from my bank account this morning that they have charged me TWICE for them.

Rang them up this morning and the woman was abrupt to say the least. No apology, nothing. After taking my card details, she said 'Well, we'll have to look into it and if you are right we will refund your card'.  YOU BET YOU WILL! Grrrr. An apology would have been nice!

Anyone fancy submitting a review of the show for inclusion here - http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/classads/forsale/index.asp

If so please drop me an email with the report and I will see what i can put together.

Cheers  Ratty

Hey Claire,

Who did you order the lanterns from online?, was it Yeomans or someone else?.

Drewski.