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The Taipei Cycle Show isn’t quite of the same flavor as other trade shows like Eurobike or the Sea Otter Classic. Whereas those other two are primarily geared toward consumer-facing brands and aftermarket product, the Taipei show comprises a much broader mix of stuff you’re probably familiar with, as well as a whole bunch more that you’ve likely never heard of – or have maybe used without even knowing it.
My second (and sorry, final) round of coverage from the 2024 Taipei Cycle Show includes a whole bunch of mainstream items – like KS’s new gravel suspension fork, some accessories from Topeak and SKS, and some enticing-looking new magnesium rims – along with some products that many would consider obscure in most western markets or unheard-of altogether. Gigantex has been making one-piece molded carbon fiber wheels for roughly a decade, for example, Trigon and Caribou are two OEM frame manufacturers you’ve likely never heard of, and there’s a good chance your current wheels are made with Pillar spokes and you didn’t even know.
This wasn’t my first time at the Taipei show, and it certainly won’t be my last. There are just too much interesting things to see, and maybe next time I’ll try to book an extra day or two to leave me a bit more time to wander.
Up next on the trade show circuit, though? Sea Otter!
Blktec's snowflake-like carbon fiber wheels certainly are among the most distinctive you'll find.How do these wheels perform? I've no idea, but I'm curious.Blktec's C1D road wheels have a claimed weight of 1,350 g per pair and feature a "responsive no-flex design."Lots of gravel-specific suspension forks were on hand at the Taipei Cycle Show, too, including this GTC model from KS. This one offers 40 mm of travel and a claimed weight of 1,480 g.The tapered cast magnesium lower legs feature a milled-out section that provides convenient access for the rebound damping adjuster.On-the-fly lockout, of course.Brakco showed off these novel lightweight floating disc rotors. The smallest size uses an all-carbon brake track, while the others are carbon fiber co-molded over a stainless steel skeleton, all with an aluminum carrier. I unfortunately wasn't able to get more detailed information such as claimed weights, although Brakco did acknowledge special brake pads are required, which are still in development.Brakco also had a selection of titanium brake rotors. These would surely be lighter than equivalent stainless steel ones, although likely at the expense of braking performance.Brakco clearly has an interest in reducing weight, but this massive 254 mm-diameter stainless steel-and-aluminum rotor also shows the company isn't ignoring the other end of the performance spectrum, either.Allite – the parent company behind the Vaast bike brand – is soon putting into production a range of magnesium-alloy road and gravel rims said to offer better impact resistance than carbon fiber or aluminum, and more vibration damping than either, too. it sounds like typical marketing hype, but I'm intrigued nonetheless.High-end carbon fiber wheels with some sort of fully molded construction have become quite the popular item recently, but Gigantex has been playing in that space for maybe a decade or more.Are these Gigantex wheels the same as what you can find from the likes of Lightweight, Syncros, Partington, and others? Well no, not exactly. But they're at least a reminder that the concept is hardly new.Sorry, I can't say how these wheels perform as I've never used them. But given these are rim-brake wheels with quick-release axles, I'm guessing this was probably not the first trade show for this particular set.Japanese brand Sugino was on hand at the Taipei Cycle Show, faithfully flying the flag of traditional aluminum cranksets and chainrings.70T!I don't have any bikes in the stable that can use this Sugino OX2 polished aluminum crankset, but I wish I did as it's absolutely gorgeous.I'm not sure how I feel about this water bottle storage concept shown off by Topeak. I think I'd rather carry water there instead.Topeak's Feza R10S carbon-and-aramid fiber bottle cage is incredibly light at less than 20 g. But it's also a blatant copy of the design first introduced by German brand Carbonworks several years ago.I like the idea behind Topeak's Transformer range of floor pumps with its built-in hooks that hold the bike upright while you inflate the tires.Thumbs up for the big and highly legible gauge, plus the movable target indicator.The paint on this Trigon AR01 – oh my.Nothing's changed on TRP's Evo 12 1x12 mountain bike drivetrain since its debut, and I'm still very eager to try it out.The "Hall Lock" feature fixes the rear derailleur around the B-knuckle on demand.Riders can select between one downshift per push or three with the flick of a switch.Exustar's new E-PM246 XC clipless pedals look pretty nice with their anodized aluminum bodies, stainless steel cleat plates, and wide platform.Exustar is my go-to for Look KeO-compatible cleats as they've proven far longer-lasting and also more resistant to creaking.Selle Italia showed off a new urban saddle called the GT-1. Although the saddle itself isn't groundbreaking in areas like weight or comfort, there's nonetheless some neat technology hidden away.The GT-1 features Selle Italia's new Lock-on construction, where the cover and padding are molded as one unit, and then physically attached to the shell without the need for any adhesives.Bitex is one of the largest OEM hub producers in Taiwan. You're rarely see manufacturer brands on the wheels you see online and in stores, but there are often tells if you know where to look – and the graphics on freehub bodies are often a good spot.Heard of Caribou? Nope, probably not. Like many exhibitors at the Taipei Cycle Show, they're a back-of-house brand, not a front-of-house one.You've likely heard of Commencal, though, for whom Caribou is apparently the contract frame manufacturer.Same for Intense.Sunrace is steadily gaining ground in the OEM market. Despite their lower costs, they still offer desirable features like aluminum spiders for reduced weight.Tiny Rock had this amazing-looking 20" full-suspension bike – with a carbon frame! – hanging out at the Hayes/Manitou booth.Looking to do a little bikepacking but don't have rack mounts on your frame? SKS is one of a growing number of brands to offer a solution with Infinity strap-on rear rack.Go ahead and load it up! It can apparently handle it.Pillar is one of the most popular OEM spoke suppliers for Asian-made wheelsets.Ridea showed off this intriguing thread-together bottom bracket for press-fit shells. The Gecko Grip incorporates plastic collars that are supposed to act like collets, tightening outward against the inside of the shell for a firm, creak-free hold. Assuming those collars are slightly squishy, this might also do a good job of accounting for shells that are slightly out-of-round.Worried about the aero drag of your front-facing light? The NACARoad from Lightskin has been around for a bit now, and while I haven't tried one myself, users seem quite happy with them.No. Just no.
