{"id":61068,"date":"2024-03-12T18:00:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T17:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a091d11c-3337-40db-ac05-04d7f511c916"},"modified":"2024-03-12T18:59:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T17:59:43","slug":"8-weird-and-wonderful-road-gravel-and-urban-bikes-from-the-taipei-cycle-show","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/8-weird-and-wonderful-road-gravel-and-urban-bikes-from-the-taipei-cycle-show\/","title":{"rendered":"8 weird and wonderful road, gravel and urban bikes from the Taipei Cycle Show"},"content":{"rendered":"

Warren’s pick of the most eye-catching bikes at the 2024 Taipei Cycle Show <\/p>

By Warren Rossiter\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 12 March 2024 at 17:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The Taipei Cycle Show is a chance to check out everything from the latest bikes from global mega-brands \u2013 step forward, the new Giant TCR \u2013 to niche makers hidden around the four corners of the Nangang Exhibition Centre.<\/p>

Here are nine bikes from the 2024 show that caught my eye.<\/p>

That doesn\u2019t just mean the newest, most tech-laden and cutting-edge designs. I\u2019ve covered a mix of the practical, beautiful, strange, smart, smooth and a combination of everything in between.<\/p>

Look out for more from Taipei, including L-Twoo\u2019s two new gravel groupsets<\/a> and, coming later this week, my pick of the most interesting components from the show.\u00a0<\/p>

Alligator Cables’ striking HR-Bike<\/h2>
Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Alligator Cables used Taipei to showcase its heat-reducing finned disc brake pads but the centre stage of the company\u2019s stand was dominated by this frankly bizarre-looking machine dubbed the HR-Bike.\u00a0<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This moto-style, Italian-designed, full-suspension ebike consists of a gigantic monocoque carbon frame, monstrous triple-crown fork (with head-tube level coil shock suspension), a rear swingarm of equal oversizing and five-spoke carbon wheels.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The fat slick tyres keep the look a little more \u2018understated\u2019, but I can\u2019t help but think the Shimano EP8 motor is going to be doing a fair amount of heavy lifting to keep this beast up to pace.<\/p>
Inner Bicycles classic titanium GR101<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Inner Bicycles is an offshoot of carbon components maker BLK TEC, and the new GR101, with the subtitle \u2018The Dusty Escape\u2019, is a new hydroformed titanium gravel frame.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
It features exclusive BLK TEC components and is brought together in slick style with fully integrated hydraulic hoses and Di2 cables \u00ad\u00adthanks to Token\u2019s cable-box headset, a BLK TEC bar-stem combo and the company\u2019s highly distinctive C1D wheelset.\u00a0<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
However, the star of the show here is the sand-blasted titanium frame, with its mirror-polished logos, rather than all of the matt-finished carbon kit.\u00a0<\/p>
The Inner GR101 doesn’t launch officially until September.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Intense goes gravel with the Fenix<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Somewhat hidden on Intense\u2019s mountain-bike dominated stand were two versions of the brand\u2019s new gravel bike, the Fenix.<\/p>
With no official launch date and little information on hand, details are almost non-existent for this first foray into drop bars from the Californian off-road specialists.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Intense is better known for the likes of the Tracer enduro bike<\/a> and Primer trail bike<\/a>, but, like many mountain-bike brands, the company now wants a slice of the growing gravel bikes<\/a> pie.<\/p>
First up is the Fenix CR Team. The boxy carbon fibre frame is somewhat understated but comes with generous tyre clearances.\u00a0<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The geometry, at first glance, looks to be somewhat standard \u2013 not like the progressive numbers found on some of the rowdier mountain-bike inspired gravel bikes we’ve seen from GT, with the latest Grade Carbon X<\/a>, or Nukeproof\u2019s gravity-focused Digger RS<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>
The build of the Fenix CR Expert appears to be at the more affordable end of the market, too, with alloy finishing kit, SRAM\u2019s APEX XPLR mechanical 1x groupset<\/a> and an alloy gravel wheelset courtesy of WTB.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Next came the Fenix Expert, with an alloy frame replete with plenty of fixtures and fittings to appeal to bikepackers, and a simple build of 2x Shimano GRX400\/600, unbranded alloy wheels and Maxxis Reaver tyres.\u00a0<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Could this be Intense\u2019s first foray into the world of affordable bikes?<\/p>
Either way, both are intriguing bikes, which show the global popularity for gravel shows no sign of slowing.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Oolo\u2019s unique cargo bike<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Oolo\u2019s electric cargo bike<\/a>, the OOECAGO (editor\u2019s note: no, we don\u2019t know how to say it either)<\/em>, is the brand\u2019s second cargo-carrying solution. The first was an electric cargo scooter with a single engine driving the unique twin-front-wheel setup, but I much prefer the idea of this pedal-assist version.\u00a0<\/p>
The OOECAGO\u2019s boxy platform frame has a central steering column that houses the battery and the steer-by-wire design.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"2024$ Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The dual-wheel setup at the front of the bike is also designed to self-level, to keep the vertical load secure. Oolo calls it \u2018twin-sync suspension\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>
The motor power is a standard 250 watts with 75Nm of torque. With multiple configurations available and plenty of accessories, it\u2019s a genuinely different cargo bike that, thanks to its angled seat mast, can accommodate riders from 5ft to 6ft 1in, according to Oolo.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The mid-motor is supplied by a 540Wh battery, with a range-extending 250Wh battery available too. Oolo claims a 100km range (without the extender).\u00a0<\/p>
The 1,850mm-long, 400mm-wide design can handle a maximum payload of 200kg, according to the brand. <\/p>
Because I want the humble cargo bike to be the future of urban deliveries, I\u2019m happy to make this one of my picks of the show.<\/p>
Ora\u2019s 25-RA-601 \u2013 a bland name for a cool road bike<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Ora is the high-end titanium and steel bikes producer you’ve probably never heard of.\u00a0<\/p>
Started back in 1996, Ora Engineering is a family-owned business in Taiwan producing high-grade titanium, stainless steel and chromoly. The company has made frames for a wide range of brands throughout Europe, North America and elsewhere.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The 25-RA-601 is a showcase for Ora\u2019s 6A1 4V titanium workmanship and this sand-blast-finished frame is exceptional.\u00a0<\/p>
With classic round tubes, a simple seat clamp and minimalist thru-axles, completed by internal routing, a Universal Derailleur Hanger<\/a> and a return for BLK TEC’s unusual wheels, it\u2019s a brilliant combination of classic, current and future.\u00a0<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Campagnolo provides the Super Record EPS groupset, while the 32mm tyre clearance of the frame opens it up to being an all-road\/endurance road bike<\/a>, too.\u00a0<\/p>
Ora also produces the fork for the bike from 3AL 2.5v titanium. When was the last time you saw a titanium road bike<\/a> complete with a titanium fork?<\/p>
Bringing back the Break-Away<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
It\u2019s an oldie but a goodie\u2026 the steel Ritchey Break-Away<\/a> was, for years, the ultimate travel bike, with titanium and even carbon iterations arriving in its lifetime.\u00a0<\/p>
The frame, inspired by the Ritchey Road Logic<\/a>, splits in two, enabling you to travel with a full-size bike with luggage no bigger than your average suitcase, saving the expense of travelling with a big bike box, not to mention the awkwardness of oversized luggage.\u00a0<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
After years of the Break-Away being left out of the Ritchey catalogue, the company has now brought the classic rim brake Break-Away back.\u00a0<\/p>
If you missed out on this ingenious bike in the 2000s, you\u2019ll have a chance to own one again soon. <\/p>
When I asked the company\u2019s representative in Taipei, they also didn\u2019t rule out the return of some of the more exclusive versions of the Break-Away design, and hinted at the return of further legendary models from Tom Ritchey\u2019s storied history.<\/p>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Time for dirt<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Time\u2019s ADHX gravel bike may have been around for a couple of years now, but it\u2019s well worth another look.\u00a0<\/p>
The ADHX uses Time\u2019s clever braided carbon in its manufacture and incorporates tough Dyneema fibres to up the strength and stiffness.\u00a0<\/p>
All that tech aside, I just enjoyed the matt sand finish, combined with Campagnolo\u2019s Ekar gravel groupset for a slice of European design on far-flung shores.<\/p>
Trigon\u2019s two-tone trekker<\/h2>
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Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Taiwanese carbon specialists Trigon showed the new RC2 gravel bike, finished in a subtle \u00adtwo-tone slate grey and soft pink.<\/p>
The RC2 is a collaboration with BLK TEC, which provides the aero-shaped carbon post and one-piece bar. The bike is completed by Campagnolo\u2019s new Ekar GT group and Shamal Zonda GTT wheels<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"2024$
Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/body><\/html>\n
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