It was great to meet so many of you at the Cycle Show in London last week. I had expected to be able to wrap things up on the opening day but things were pretty busy at Earls Court and I needed a return visit.

I'm not complaining. Friday was every bit as good, and there was certainly a buzz about the place with Alberto Contador and Eddy Merckx among the celebrity guests signing autographs.

There seemed to be a happy, feel-good factor to this year's show. With more people than ever turning to two wheels for recreation and sport, road bike sales are booming and the cycle trade is in a confident mood. It was great to see so many smiling faces!

There was talk of a 60 per cent increase in visitors on the trade day, which is believable with the show, now in its third year, settling into a regular slot at an ever-popular venue.

It's a shame, then, that some of the biggest names still do not exhibit. This is the UK's top show, and visitors expect to see major players such as Giant and Trek. Those who went to Earls Court to get an overview of the market would have been frustrated by the big name no shows.

And if you're already thinking about Christmas gifts, what could be better than giving someone a subscription to Cycling Weekly? Our offer includes the DVD of this year's Tour de France plus a 15 per cent discount. Click on the banner below to find out more...

Robert Garbutt is editor of Cycling Weekly