With over 3,000 booths displaying the industry's best creations, it is easy to get overwhelmed. So, what were some things that caught our eye? Find out here.
Just as you enter the huge TaiNEX 1 Exhibition Center, you're immediately drawn to the TAIPEI CYCLE d&i Awards 2024 booth, featuring groundbreaking innovations in the form of complete bicycles, tyres and even helmets. ‘What could possibly be interesting about a bicycle tyre?' you may ask, but that's exactly what makes these innovators stand out – making something ordinary extraordinary.
The awards were organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taiwan Bicycle Association, aiming to showcase the industry's best innovations. With over 150 global entries, seven took home gold. Let’s take a look at three of the most interesting winners.
Terreno Pro T60 Mixed (Gravel Race) Sustainable Bicycle Tyre – Vittoria
Earning gold in the Parts and Components category is this first ever high performance gravel bicycle tire made up of 92% renewable and recycled materials. Not only are the tires greener, they are also puncture resistant and increase performance and speed.
What exactly makes the Italian-made product sustainable? Firstly, nylon that’s usually used was replaced by organic cotton casing and any necessary nylon was swapped with yarn made from recycled fishnets.
Secondly, the oils needed to bind the tyre materials together were instead replaced by soybean oil, which is one of the most bio-renewable and abundant materials.Â
With these materials, Vittoria guarantees a 10% improvement in rolling resistance and grip.
Bicycle Helmet - Strategic Sports
Hailing from Hong Kong, Strategic Sports is a global leader in helmet manufacturing with a focus in advanced technology and sustainability.
Believing that bike helmets could serve a bigger purpose than only absorbing impact – which is arguably already a huge purpose, considering it’s lifesaving – Strategic Sports set out to manufacture a helmet that records data.
Fit for mountain biking, the full-faced helmet tracks and records telemetry and crash data with the help of the integrated Quin Sensor. With this, if an accident or emergency were to unfortunately occur, it would be communicated in real time to first responders.
We know what you’re thinking, where in Singapore can you even do ride trail? According to Shimano, Chestnut Nature Park and Mandai are popular places for mountain biking. If you look for it, tranquil mountain biking trails do exist in our little urban jungle.
Silex All-round Gravel Bike - Merida
Taiwanese company, Merida made their country proud by earning gold on home soil with their versatile invention. Whether you want to experience Chestnut Nature Park’s dirt trails or Lim Chu Kang’s popular flat roads, this bike is perfect for both terrains. Awarded for its simplicity, aesthetics and component selection, the Silex All-round Gravel Bike will only allow you to ride with style.
A VARIETY OF INNOVATIONS
With Singapore’s scorching heat and long working hours, cycling and running at night is one of the most popular workout activities. In the dark, this comes with its dangers especially if your route consists of pedestrian crossings.
Taiwan Smart Textiles Association specialises in combining technology and wearable materials. They have created several innovative products promoting safety and recovery.
Some of their products such as calf sleeves and motion capture devices records the amount of energy generated. Through this, users can take note of their muscle strength and dynamic data, allowing them to plan their future workouts and track their progress.
Singapore’s waters are known for being clean and safe to drink. While it is highly unlikely for anyone to be stranded in our nature parks, water filtration products can be useful for those who love going overseas to hike.Â
Just this year, Singaporeans participated in the Hong Kong 100 Ultra Trail Race, an overnight endurance race spanning 100km in the mountain trails of the Sai Kung Peninsula.
Perfect for such races, Mbran Filtra’s compact water filtration system turns the brownest of waters clear and drinkable. Trust us, we tried it out and our organs survived!
The exhibition didn’t just consist of cycling innovations. Held in conjunction with TAIPEI CYCLE, Sports and Fitness Taiwan (TaiSPO) also showcased booths and products of a variety of sports. The most prominent sport on the first floor of TaiNEX 2 was deep sea diving. An increasingly popular sport, many Singaporeans travel yearly to dive in the crystal clear waters of the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.Â
It was no different in Taiwan, as exhibition-goers flocked to the booths to check out the latest suits, gear and merchandise.
While E-bikes are generally monitored and discouraged in Singapore, the E-Bike demo was one of TAIPEI CYCLE’s most anticipated activities. There was a diverse selection of E-Bikes from different companies available for tryouts. Some were the usual, some were pet-friendly and some just downright quirky.
Today marks the culmination of the four-day renowned cycling exhibition nestled in the heart of the Nangang District. As one of Asia's premier cycling showcases, it has unfolded as a global extravaganza, showcasing the industry's finest innovations and creations.
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