Report: The Bike Shed 2022 Show

After a long three-year wait, Bike Shed’s annual custom show returned with a bang. Bob Pickett gets amongst it in London..

Back again at London’s Tobacco Dock event space (in many ways the ideal location for a show celebrating bikes transformed into something different, what with it originating as an office, retail and entertainment space before reinventing itself), the show looks to highlight the best in both professional and ‘shed’ builds.

Tobacco Dock works well as a venue for this show. The unusual layout allows for the pro-builds to be scattered amongst the retail spaces and catering side, with a large separate hall set aside for the shed builds.

For 2022 the space used was expanded with the downstairs area being opened up, allowing for some more pro builds, plus an additional shed-build area (for the trial/off-road machines).

Since I’ve been attending the show, what interests me is the overall theme. From the ‘Look what we can do’ extreme builds, the mood went towards a more sympathetic style where the original build was more in evidence. In 2022, the direction changed again. This time (in most cases) the style was to keep the original design but to take it further, adding to/enhancing the original build to perhaps bring them to their ultimate potential.

Photo Gallery

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I enjoy the professional builds; these are the people that will take on an idea and turn it into reality for you. At a show like this they’re highlighting their skills – it’s a bit like a fashion show where perhaps you wouldn’t be looking to buy what is on show (though the current styling means you could buy and ride), but you can see their obvious ability and if it’s what you’re looking for.

But I’m always fascinated by the ‘shed’ builds. Everything in this area is built by people in their own garages and the ability on show is staggering.  As someone whose mechanical abilities are (polite term) limited, to think the bikes on show are built in home facilities? Amazing.

Outside of bikes, there are also retail areas, a wide range of food and drink, and bands playing (sadly the outside space by the concrete ships was closed on the Friday I attended this year). Fancy a tattoo? Bike Shed brings its own studio along!

Bike Shed is a different experience.  It’s not a retail show (although you can go shopping), it is a showcase for the best custom builds out there, so it is a more laidback experience and well worth a visit.

For information on the show, visit: www.bikeshedlondonshow.com

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