The Taipei Cycle Show is a chance to check out everything from the latest bikes from global mega-brands – step forward, the new Giant TCR – to niche makers hidden around the four corners of the Nangang Exhibition Centre.
Here are nine bikes from the 2024 show that caught my eye.
That doesn’t just mean the newest, most tech-laden and cutting-edge designs. I’ve covered a mix of the practical, beautiful, strange, smart, smooth and a combination of everything in between.
Look out for more from Taipei, including L-Twoo’s two new gravel groupsets and, coming later this week, my pick of the most interesting components from the show.
Alligator Cables' striking HR-Bike
Alligator Cables used Taipei to showcase its heat-reducing finned disc brake pads but the centre stage of the company’s stand was dominated by this frankly bizarre-looking machine dubbed the HR-Bike.
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.
The fat slick tyres keep the look a little more ‘understated’, but I can’t 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.
Inner Bicycles classic titanium GR101
Inner Bicycles is an offshoot of carbon components maker BLK TEC, and the new GR101, with the subtitle ‘The Dusty Escape’, is a new hydroformed titanium gravel frame.
It features exclusive BLK TEC components and is brought together in slick style with fully integrated hydraulic hoses and Di2 cables thanks to Token’s cable-box headset, a BLK TEC bar-stem combo and the company’s highly distinctive C1D wheelset.
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.
The Inner GR101 doesn't launch officially until September.
Intense goes gravel with the Fenix
Somewhat hidden on Intense’s mountain-bike dominated stand were two versions of the brand’s new gravel bike, the Fenix.
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.
Intense is better known for the likes of the Tracer enduro bike and Primer trail bike, but, like many mountain-bike brands, the company now wants a slice of the growing gravel bikes pie.
First up is the Fenix CR Team. The boxy carbon fibre frame is somewhat understated but comes with generous tyre clearances.
The geometry, at first glance, looks to be somewhat standard – 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, or Nukeproof’s gravity-focused Digger RS.
The build of the Fenix CR Expert appears to be at the more affordable end of the market, too, with alloy finishing kit, SRAM’s APEX XPLR mechanical 1x groupset and an alloy gravel wheelset courtesy of WTB.
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.
Could this be Intense’s first foray into the world of affordable bikes?
Either way, both are intriguing bikes, which show the global popularity for gravel shows no sign of slowing.
Oolo’s unique cargo bike
Oolo’s electric cargo bike, the OOECAGO (editor’s note: no, we don’t know how to say it either), is the brand’s 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.
The OOECAGO’s boxy platform frame has a central steering column that houses the battery and the steer-by-wire design.
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 ‘twin-sync suspension’.
The motor power is a standard 250 watts with 75Nm of torque. With multiple configurations available and plenty of accessories, it’s a genuinely different cargo bike that, thanks to its angled seat mast, can accommodate riders from 5ft to 6ft 1in, according to Oolo.
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).
The 1,850mm-long, 400mm-wide design can handle a maximum payload of 200kg, according to the brand.
Because I want the humble cargo bike to be the future of urban deliveries, I’m happy to make this one of my picks of the show.
Ora’s 25-RA-601 – a bland name for a cool road bike
Ora is the high-end titanium and steel bikes producer you've probably never heard of.
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.
The 25-RA-601 is a showcase for Ora’s 6A1 4V titanium workmanship and this sand-blast-finished frame is exceptional.
With classic round tubes, a simple seat clamp and minimalist thru-axles, completed by internal routing, a Universal Derailleur Hanger and a return for BLK TEC's unusual wheels, it’s a brilliant combination of classic, current and future.
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, too.
Ora also produces the fork for the bike from 3AL 2.5v titanium. When was the last time you saw a titanium road bike complete with a titanium fork?
Bringing back the Break-Away
It’s an oldie but a goodie… the steel Ritchey Break-Away was, for years, the ultimate travel bike, with titanium and even carbon iterations arriving in its lifetime.
The frame, inspired by the Ritchey Road Logic, 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.
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.
If you missed out on this ingenious bike in the 2000s, you’ll have a chance to own one again soon.
When I asked the company’s representative in Taipei, they also didn’t 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’s storied history.
Time for dirt
Time’s ADHX gravel bike may have been around for a couple of years now, but it’s well worth another look.
The ADHX uses Time’s clever braided carbon in its manufacture and incorporates tough Dyneema fibres to up the strength and stiffness.
All that tech aside, I just enjoyed the matt sand finish, combined with Campagnolo’s Ekar gravel groupset for a slice of European design on far-flung shores.
Trigon’s two-tone trekker
Taiwanese carbon specialists Trigon showed the new RC2 gravel bike, finished in a subtle two-tone slate grey and soft pink.
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’s new Ekar GT group and Shamal Zonda GTT wheels.
