Our pick of the gravel tech from this year’s Taipei Cycle Show
The haze of jet lag and Bike of the Year testing means the Taipei Cycle Show, which took place earlier this month, now seems like a distant memory – but that won’t stop me from bringing you this round-up of new gravel components from the industry mega-event.
The 2024 edition of Taipei saw the first public outing of the new Giant TCR, alongside no shortage of weird and wonderful machines, a 5.4kg steel road bike and two as-yet-unreleased budget gravel groupsets from L-Twoo.
Now onto more of my component picks – continuing the gravel theme. Gravel tech is hot right now – who knew? – and that is reflected by the number of component brands trying to get a slice of the action.
Gravel galore from KS
KS has added to its gravel range with an all-new 27.2mm-diameter gravel dropper post.
The Rage iS 272 comes in two variants, offering either 65mm of travel in a 380mm length (claimed weight 486g), or 100mm of travel in a 415mm length (claimed weight 501g).
There are also two lever options to actuate the dropper. The Drop 1.0 & 2.0 both have a low-profile clamp that sits below the bar tape. However, where the 1.0 has a straight dual-action lever (operated from the hoods or the drops), the 2.0 has an angled lever for bars with more flare, as is common on gravel bikes.
KS also showcased a new gravel-specific handlebar, the Ether.
The bar, which employs a variable-thickness carbon construction, features a compact drop and a broad 18-degree flare.
The bar also has a rise, with the shape kinking upwards from the stem clamp, raising the handlebar level by 18mm.
It’s available in a 31.8mm diameter, and 42cm and 44cm widths (at the hoods), with the 42cm bar weighing in at a claimed 270g, and the 44cm coming in at 275g, according to KS.
FSA expands AGX lines
FSA is also going big on gravel, expanding the AGX line of multi-terrain components.
First up is an innovative new stem system, called the VAS.
Outwardly, it looks like any other short-but-oversized stem for gravel. But inside the clamp system is an elastomer insert that wraps fully around the bar-clamp area. The elastomer is available with three durometers (70a, 80a, 90a), in colour-coded grey, dark grey and black.
The grey elastomer is designed to offer the most comfort, with the softer material said to be most effective in reducing vibrations and heavier hits.
The dark grey option offers a middle ground between bar stiffness and comfort, while the black elastomer is designed for fast race days. It’s claimed to reduce high-frequency vibrations without muting the feedback of the terrain, according to FSA.
It’s a novel approach to front-end comfort, as an alternative to suspension stems such as Redshift’s Shockstop or Cane Creek’s eeSilk stem. FSA claims 293g for the 100mm version (80, 90 and 100mm versions will be available).
New gravel handlebars from FSA
Alongside the stem, FSA also showcased two new gravel/adventure bars. The K-Force and Pro-Wing AGX Loop bars are aimed squarely at the adventure/long-distance end of gravel.
The K-Force AGX Loop Carbon will be available in 42, 44 and 46cm widths, with all featuring a 100mm drop, 70mm reach and a flare of 25 degrees, which gives a 50mm offset (for example, a 42cm bar will measure 47cm at the drop).
The extension (or AGX Loop, if you will) comes in one size with 30mm of length adjustment and has stack risers to adjust the height. The bar weighs a claimed 320g, with the extension (Loop) system adding another 380g.
If the premium carbon K-Force is out of your league, FSA also offers the new design at ‘Pro’ level with the new alloy Pro-Wing AGX bar.
The Pro-Wing comes in a wider range of sizes, from 40cm to 48cm, in 2cm increments. The drop shape is slightly different, with a 120mm drop and 80mm reach, but the same wide 25-degree flare.
Rather than a clip-on Loop system, the Pro-Wing has a welded loop on the bar. The extension has less rise than the K-Force, but a useful mini-tri bar length, approximately 18x20cm wide.
The 42cm Pro-Wing weighs in at a claimed 380g.
Ritchey’s new one-piece carbon gravel bar
Not officially launching until California’s Sea Otter show in April, the new Ritchey Superlogic Butano Ridge bar broke cover early in Taiwan.
The bar is aimed at gravel riders, though it will appeal to some road riders, too. It features a more complex shape than your average flared gravel bar, with an aero-shaped top section that has a 5-degree back sweep.
This leads into a compact drop with 73mm of reach and a drop of 115mm. The flare at the drops is 17.5 degrees and has a further 2-degree flare out from the bottom of the bar. This creates a 51.1cm width on the 42cm bar and a 53.1cm width on the 44cm.
The stem has an effective 80-degree angle and the bar will be available in 42cm and 44cm widths. The 42cm option has 90mm and 100mm stem-length choices and the 44cm comes in 100mm and 110mm options.
Zoom into suspension with the new GV-02 fork
Taiwan’s Zoom Components has a new gravel suspension fork, the GV-02. This puts coil-sprung suspension into the fork crown, giving 25mm of bounce.
The fork is made from aluminium, with one-piece legs and a forged crown with 50mm of tyre clearance.
The brake-hose routing is internal through the crown and the fork can use a disc brake rotor up to 180mm in size.
At 1.75kg, it’s not the lightest gravel fork out there, and it bears some similarities to the High-Ride system used on BMC’s rough-stuff ready URS LT, albeit aimed at the much less premium end of the market.
San Marco modernises a classic for gravel
Italian saddle specialist Selle San Marco has brought the legendary Regal saddle bang up to date, while retaining its classic looks and signature riveted upper.
The new Regal Short takes the classic rounded and riveted Regal design, but shortens the nose to make a 256mm-long saddle (available in 140mm and 165mm widths).
The new Regal Short is aimed at gravel riders and brings a new rail system into play, called the ‘Bow’ rail.
Instead of the one-piece rail plugging into the saddle base vertically, as is usual, the Bow system’s rail takes a 90-degree turn to slot in parallel to the saddle’s hull.
The holder for the rail is also elastomer-lined, enabling the rail to absorb vibrations and isolating it from the rider, according to Selle San Marco. It also enables the saddle’s hull to rock subtly on its mountings, further adding to the potential comfort.
The Regal Short will be available with either a carbon rail and base or more affordable alloy rails, and in both solid and cutaway shapes.
