Four years have elapsed since CyclingTips set foot in the hallowed grounds of the Taipei Cycle Show.
That’s an eternity in the world of cycling gear, especially after the tumultuous time cycling has had since the 2020 show became one of the first high-profile COVID-19 cancellations.
Based in one of cycling’s major manufacturing hubs, Taipei Cycle is one of the rare remaining cycling trade shows where important industry business predominates.
If brands need to meet with factories or OEM manufacturers, it is likely happening here. Closed-door meetings and important business are happening all around these halls overflowing with new gear. Flashing a press badge here won’t open many doors — in fact, it sometimes slams them right in your face.
But nevertheless, amongst the overwhelming sea of vendors, there are cutting-edge ideas and products left and right, a glimpse into the next big things in cycling — alongside plenty of products that will never see the light of day.
What treasures and trends does this show hold in a vastly changed landscape?
We went to find out.
Topeak Fezā CAGE R10S ultra lightweight bottle cage
I don’t think it’s possible for a bottle cage to be any more minimalist than the Topeak Fezā, an ultralight kevlar and carbon design with one continuous line that weighs just 10 grams in the R10S road version. There are also gravel and mountain bike models available that presumably offer more grip on the bottle. Those weigh 12 and 15 grams, respectively.
The Air Atlas sets a new benchmark for Limar aero helmets
Airplane wings and raindrops: what do they have in common? That’s right, they’re the aero inspo for Limar’s new benchmark aerodynamic helmet, besting the Limar Air Revolution. It does this with the help of a removable piece called the “UFO” that takes the helmet’s aerodynamics to another level; Limar claims the new lid to be the fastest tested. Developed with Team Astana, the helmet has been designed to still be breathable, too, so that it’s, you know, actually wearable. Available in both Mips and non-Mips versions.
Tioga Weeny minimalist saddle
In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum: “your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” There’s minimalist, and then there’s the Tioga Weeny. This 80-gram saddle does away with everything superfluous, such as any rails at all — that’s right, it uses a direct bolt-on system instead.
The ITM 50-CR cockpit has a built-in computer mount
Italian brand ITM has a clever solution to mounting accessories to an aero one-piece bar/stem: integrate the mount within the handlebar itself. The ITM 50-CR cockpit puts your computer right above your stem and also allows you to run a light, camera, or other accessories below the bar. Coupled with its internal routing, it makes for a super clean look.
ReadyGo Lumis saddle accessory system
As my home in California has gotten an onslaught of rain this winter, I’ve had to come to terms with riding in the wet…. sometimes. It turns out that shoving a fender, bag and light under a saddle can be a hassle. The ReadyGo Lumis saddle storage system offers a clever solution that lets you clip on accessories as needed, all designed to work with one another. Bag, fender, and light all at once? No problem.
Skwiki’s super clever CO2 inflation tool
Of all the things I saw today, none made me want to pull out my wallet more than this clever Preset CO2 Inflator from Skwiki. The head screws onto a standard CO2 cartridge and lets you set your desired tire pressure (+/- 5 PSI tolerance). After reaching that pressure, the air is bypassed from entering the tire. It also works in reverse as well, so you can deflate a tire to a desired pressure.
New SRAM Force on display
This one isn’t exactly brand new at the show, but it was interesting to see the brand new Force levers, which have the same ergonomics as the Rival AXS levers, alongside the Red levers, which have yet to be upgraded. It’s an unusual case of trickling up design from the lower tier to the top in reverse order.
Stick around all week for daily coverage from Taipei!
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