Bikeshow Utrecht 2007.

It appeals to me to combine the visit to the bikeshow with a forum-meeting, just like last year. My preference is to go on the friday. In the weekend there is so much public, that you can't get a good impression, because of all the other visitors.

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There is not much interest in the forum, but I get a few mails. I'll see, told them I'd be in the McD at ten-thirty for a cup of coffee. The weather can't be a problem: Continuously soft and from time to time some rain. Temperatures can go up to 12 degrees. Well doesn't that look good? It is the end of February, hard to believe. But I have made my plan and I'm going to execute it. So on fridaymorning I leave around a quarter to eight. The roads are wet, but no rain.

The trip to Utrecht.
As soon as I get in lane on the Waldwei, my eye captures the service-station. So immediatly I get out of lane again, because I do have to fuel-up soon, so I might as well do it straight away. Right before the Ketel-bridge I stop to have a cigaret-break. I should not have done that, because now I have cold hands. Then I drive straight away towards Utrecht. The road to the Jaarbeurs is jammed with cars, but I can move in between nicely. Just before ten I arrive on the parking. I have a complimentary coffe by the KNMV, which tastes real good. Then I walk into the building to find myself the press-room. Nowadays I belong to the press, so I'm told.

The meeting with other forum-members.
It is quite early, so first of all I take my coat, back-protector and helmet to the cloakroom. Then next to that I go and have a sanitary stop. Then I move on to the McD. But it is no longer there, there is only a pitstopcafé. So I walk in front of it, and wait until after eleven, then I move on to see the show. Right in the beginning I meet Rob of Buddyfashion. We have a talk together. Rob lowered my buddyseat almost 3 years ago and last year Roel purchased his Corbin saddle from him. When I move on I run into VTRerrorist, a member of the bikerforum. We have a nice chat, had not seen him since the forumweekend.

The rest of the show.
So I stroll on my own along the different stands. Bikes, clothing, helmets, design and parts. You name it, it's here. I do notice however, that they don't give me a lot of flyers, they probably think that my other half is following. When I see something of interest, I make a picture. In the end I end up in the event-hall. Amongst other things, there is a lady getting a bikersuit in bodypaint. It is close to one and I decide to call Ronald, another forum-member. He had mailed me that he would be around. We agree, that he comes to me with his son. A nice reunion.

It's getting crowded.
I enjoy the show to the full, but it is getting crowded. Near two o'clock I stroll to the hall and see the queues in front of the box-office, so the crowd will only become worse. It makes me decide to call it a day. So I pick up my things from the cloakroom and start with the dressing-procedure. The sun is out here in Utrecht and the temperature is pleasant. Driving by Amersfoort is not an option: 12 km trafficjam. So I go back the same way I came, the polder. It is quite windy and driving behind a vehicle gives a lot of turbulence. Driving a bit faster and overtaking all the time works best. After the Ketel-bridge I have another nicotine-break. I'm almost halfway.

Coming home.
Near Joure it is dull and the humidity is high. Not yet fog, but close to it, my visor gets moist. Just before the last service-station before Drachten, my bike slows down. Reading the day-counter, I learn, that I've driven 315 km and most of it with headwind this morning. Time to fuel up again. Then the last kilometers towards home. At least I came home dry. No rain at all today, quite pleasant. When I come home, I put a wet cloth on my visor. Believe it or not, but I have small insect-cadavers on the visor. The only thing that should fly around at this time of year, should be snowflakes. But never mind. Never had the rainoverall out of my panniers today, but these were 362 pleasant kilometres. I'm relaxed before the weekend even starts.

Betty Smit.
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