The 2012 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show Returns With Bells & Whistles to Skylight SoHo; Launches Bike Month NY and Benefits Transportation Alternatives!

KLM Presents Manhattan Media's 2012 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show, Bringing Together Riders, Retailers, Brands, Artisans and Advocates for the East Coast's Best Urban Bicycle Show of Its Kind Ever!


NEW YORK, March 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It's all about the bike in New York City on the weekend of April 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Manhattan Media's bike-tastic event, The 2012 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show: Benefiting Transportation Alternatives. In its second year, this event returns, bigger, better and "bikier" to Soho's chic and bike-friendly venue, Skylight SoHo, in Manhattan. Just as New York City embraces bicycling, improving the urban landscape with hundreds of miles of bike lanes across the boroughs, this new consumer-focused bicycle show will again feature the many nuances of bicycling—from bikes for commuting to racing, transporting and pleasure rides.

The show will also benefit Transportation Alternatives, the advocacy group that has worked to improve New Yorkers' bicycling, pedestrian and public transit experience. T.A. representatives will be on hand this year to provide valet bicycle parking to guests, as well as safe and useful tips for New York City bicyclists.

"Nothing showcases New York City's enthusiasm for bicycling like The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show. With something for everyone, from the newest bicycle commuter to the most experienced racer, this show truly represents the diversity and scope of bicycling in New York and we're proud to support it," says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is this year's presenting sponsor, KLM has been recognized for its continuous efforts and initiatives to minimize the company's impact on the environment. These initiatives include fuel-efficiency as well as its commitment to sustainable biofuels development. KLM and the WWF-NL (World Wide Fund for Nature the Netherlands), entered into a groundbreaking partnership aimed at developing sustainable biofuels and cutting CO2 emissions even further to contribute to climate control. Furthermore, Air France KLM has been a sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 7 consecutive years.

In addition, Amsterdam, well-know as the bike capital of the world, is home of KLM's headquarters and its global hub at Schiphol Airport. The award-winning airline will be located at booths #35 and #36 in the main room.

Other show sponsors include Raleigh USA, who will be on hand to display their wide range of iconic commuter and road bicycles in booths #37 and #38 and will be giving away a few high-end models at the show; Canadian sponsor Opus Bikes, who will be located in front of Raleigh and KLM in booths #44 and #45; and Vancouver's stylish Momentum Magazine, a media sponsor and huge inspiration for the show's spirit, who will tweet and cover the action from booth #34 next to KLM. Bicycling Magazine returns in 2012 to sponsor a seminar portion of the show called BIKELANDIA, that will feature panels, presentations and discussions organized by Transportation Alternatives and Manhattan Media.

The show will take place in the deluxe, 18,000-square-foot Skylight SoHo, run by Skylight Group, the country's premier event space management firm. Skylight SoHo is a dramatic white space with 20-foot ceilings, a series of spectacular skylights and a long, dramatic corridor that will be home to the show's "Hall of Handbuilts." Sponsor Grolsch Lager will present a bike-centric biergarten on the 3,000-square-foot terrace, and the 15,000 square feet of interior space will house the world's most beautiful bicycles and accessories. Skylight SoHo is an unparalleled setting for The 2012 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show and its exhibitors and sponsors.

Jennifer Blumin, Skylight Group President and avid New York City bike rider, says, "Biking in New York has changed the way I perceive and interact with the city. The Skylight Group uses bikes to zip between our venues, which span across the city and to Brooklyn. There is no better way to get around, keep a clear head and think about this tremendous city in which we live and work."

More than 6,000 cycling enthusiasts are expected during the weekend that kicks off Bike Month NYC to shop, hear what the experts have to share, meet bicycle makers, watch films about cycling and gear up for another season of touring the city by bike. Local and national exhibitors and sponsors from the United States, Europe and Asia will fill the show's 70-plus booths. Participating are local New York specialty bike shops like Adeline Adeline, Bicycle Habitat, Hudson Urban Bicycle, Rolling Orange Bikes, Ride Brooklyn, Echelon Cycles, Al's Cycle Solutions and Paragon Sports. To see a complete list of this year's exhibitors, please visit www.newambikeshow.com/exhibitors.

Event highlights include:

  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is organizing a Grand Prize raffle of a pair of round-trip economy class tickets from New York to Amsterdam, followed by First Prize, a KLM-branded traditional Dutch bicycle. Show attendees are invited to register for the drawing at the KLM booth, located at booth spaces #35 and #36 in the main hall. In addition, attendees visiting the KLM space will discover an entertaining KLM photo booth that captures great pix which guests can take home or send electronically to friends and family.
  • Grolsch's Biergarten. Famous for their Dutch lager, Grolsch Beer will be pouring complimentary pints for two days in their very own beer garden. Setting up shop in the bike-centric back terrace, Grolsch will create their spin on a biergarten under a tent with communal tables and chairs for all. Attendees can relax and enjoy a nice, cold lager while taking in the world of bikes around them.
  • BIKELANDIA, sponsored by Bicycling Magazine, will feature authors and experts leading presentations and panels. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th, Bicycling Magazine contributor and Guardian editor Matt Seaton will discuss NYC's "Bike Lane Backlash" and the critical issue of cyclist behavior, based on his feature in Bicycling's May issue.

New York's own beloved author/blogger Bike Snob NYC will speak about his new book, The Enlightened Cyclist, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Film critic at the Philadelphia Inquirer and author of Hollywood Rides a Bike Steven Rea and Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bike Works and author of Just Ride will also discuss their new books. Ben Fried, the Editor-In-Chief of Streetsblog, will share the inside scoop about how Streetsblog makes an impact through effective advocacy journalism. Clarence Eckerson Jr., founding Director of Streetfilms, will show a selection of videos from Streetfilms' 450-film collection and share secrets to making NYC a world-class biking city. Other speakers (TBA) from advocacy groups, bicycling publications and bicycle makers will also be in attendance. To read our online updates please visit http://newambikeshow.com/updates.

  • The "New York Ride Style" fashion show returns and delivers stylish fun and finds from all over the city and globe. It's a star-studded event full of spring and summer's latest bike gear for natty urban cyclists.

To purchase tickets, visit www.newambikeshow.com. Tickets are $15 in advance online and at select exhibiting bike stores. Tickets are $20 at the door both days of the event. One ticket is good for admission on both days.

SECURE BICYCLE PARKING: T.A. representatives will be on hand to provide valet bicycle parking to guests.

For additional images from our 2011 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show visit http://newambikeshow.com/press/#photos.

About Manhattan Media: Manhattan Media is dedicated to New York's neighborhoods. Our focused publications provide information about those matters that are of immediate concern and interest to people who live blocks, not worlds, apart. We provide businesses and institutions direct access to the individuals they serve, real customers and clients within arm's reach, in the neighborhood. Manhattan Media provides a link, the connection that facilitates interchange. AVENUE magazine covers Manhattan's affluent society, while New York Family reaches parents throughout Manhattan with the latest in parenting trends. The legendary Hamptons publication Dan's Papers is the go-to for what's what and who's who on the East End. Our community newspapers include: Our Town Downtown, City Arts, Our Town, The West Side Spirit, Chelsea Clinton News, The Westsider and our digital outlet, NYPress.com. City & State is published twice monthly and targets the politicians, lobbyists, unions, staffers and issues that shape New York City and state. For more information, visit www.manhattanmedia.com.

For press and media questions, please contact:
Joanna Virello
Director of Marketing and Events
Manhattan Media
Phone: 212.284.9737
jvirello@manhattanmedia.com
To purchase tickets, visit www.newambikeshow.com

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The following pictures are available for download:

[Image] The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show