Pancalen Cycles: The 2011 Taipei Cycle Show

Whew! It's a week late, but I hope it's not too late to publish some pictures from the Taipei Cycle Show 2011.

First, about that long-ass bottom bracket spindle I mentioned on the previous post. Sadly, I haven't got a chance to take a shot on the bicycle where it belongs, the Surly Pugsley. It's already taken on the second day of the show. But to give you an image on why should a bottom bracket shell be sized to 100mm (compared to 68/73mm of ordinary all-terain bikes), here's the front wheel.

It used 135mm wide hubs, just like the rear wheel, so when your rear hub's in trouble just swap the wheels and you'll be able to hit the road again. Or off-road, depends on where do you ride.

Other interesting offer from the Surly/Salsa's booth is Surly's new go-everywhere 26" touring bike, the Troll. Pictured here hitching a trailer... with beer keg mounted (sorry, no pics on the keg).

Salsa is one of the first brand that popularize 29" wheels. Aside from their "normal" 29" trailbikes like this green dual-suspension Salsa Spearfish, they also brought their 29" touring bike, the Fargo.

Fargo, get it? Far-Go?

Next, a visit to SRAM's booth. Recent acquisation of Zipp by SRAM means that you'll find their products here. You'll see Zipp aero bar with integrated bar end shifters, that of course, using SRAM's patented 1:1 shifter actuation ratio:

And also SRAM's wheelsets, now with technology borrowed straight from Zipp's hub lineup:

Running a set of SRAM X5 derailers and shifters myself, it's nice to know that for they have gone 10-speed for 2011.

SRAM Red crankset, with BB30 bottom bracket bearing shown. See also the SRAM crankset with Quarq wireless power meter attached.

Speaking of wireless power meter, FSA introduced their latest crankset that includes built-in wireless power meter sensor.

Other than that, FSA is also scheduled to inteoduce their latest crankset/bottom bracket standard, collaborating with Wilier. Alas, I was too late for the launching at Wilier's booth. So this is what I got left.

The Cento 1 (read: uno) Superleggera. Claimed to be weighed 5,7kg fully built, I imagined myself strapping lead ballast to make it UCI legal.

Interesting carbon weave pattern.

Wilier Imperiale, with ornate seattube junction.

Wilier's flagship MTB, the Cento Uno XC.

Ah. yes. Carbon weave pattern. Apparently traditional 3K carbon weave pattern is getting obsolete, replaced with unidirectional weave pattern as shown on Truvativ and Pro components, as well as many other frame manufaturers.

Apparently 29" mountain bikes and cyclocross is all the rage for Asian market in 2011. Although SRAM's S300 crankset and Avid Shorty cantilever brakes are nowhere to be found in SRAM's booth, I spotted numerous parts elsewhere, mainly on wheel manufacturers such as Fulcrum:

You'll see this hub somewhere else on this post. I promise you.

The Haven 29" and 26" wheels from Easton, along with intricate detailed hubs:

Aaaaaand the greatest news along the show, cyclocross-specific components from the one and only Campagnolo. Featured are their compact cranksets, cantilever brakes, and wheelsets.

I told you you'll see this again. Yes, people, Campagnolo wheels are made by Fulcrum.

Nothing new from Shimano, their recently launched cyclocross components are nowhere to be found. What's interesting is along with the increasing popularity of Di2 electric-actuated derailers (they said nothing about the Ultegra Di2 rumor), frame manufacturers begun to integrate the system into their frame design, like this Pinarello TT with battery module hidden on the right side chainstay:

That bulge over the rear derailer. Yes, that's where's the battery at.

Or hidden under the downtube, with dedicated mounting bracket, just like this Time:

Nope, no Di2 components shown here, just want to show you Time's oh-so-beautiful stem and faux-lug details.

Of all Di2-equipped bikes I saw on the show, this is the tidiest built with cleverly routed cables, mainly on the cockpit.

Speaking of Di2-equipped bikes, this Stevens cylocross bike found on the TRP booth is interesting because it reflects the possible future of cyclocross racing: electronic shifting combined with hydraulic disc brakes.

The basic principle is the pull from the brifter cable actuates the master cylinder placed underneath the stem, then brake oil flows from the master cylinder to the caliper just like conventional hydraulic brake systems did.

Though the cable clutter annoys me. Really.

Ashima, another brake manufacturer come up with PCB (PanCake Brake), a buzzword for their pistonless hydraulic disc brake caliper. Claimed to be the lightest system in the world (well, that's what you'll expect from a pistonless caliper), I did an endo with their testbike. Feels like old Hayes Nine, actually.

An alternative to the legendary Magura HS series.

I'll be damned if I write about hydraulic brakes without mentioning Magura. Here's what I got from their booth, along with their suspension offerings.

This is not HS-33, this is the HS-11.

Magura MT-8, as used by Sabine Spitz.

Move along to Answer Racing Products, with Manitou Tower 29" fork and Hayes Prime hydraulic disc brake (featuring adjustable braking power) as their highlight.

Sightings from Gatorbrake, another brake manufacturer. The CNC'ed roller cam brakes looks neat, but I still wondered who will need 8" rotors... on BOTH sides of their hub.

Knobby 622mm BSD tire offerings from Kenda. What? Well, the slimmer ones are for cyclocross, the fatter side will go for 29er.

Tires from Schwalbe, now available in Indonesia. Finally. It's a bit ironic since one of their largest factory is here near Jakarta.

Durano Skid. In 700 x 25c. YES PLEASE.

And who the hell will need a 36" wheel, just like this spotted on Jetset's booth?

Still in touch with my mountain roots, I'm stoked by Spank's new super low profile flat pedal. With one cartridge bearing placed closer to the crank arm for better torsional strength (and one industrial spec bushing on the other spindle side), this pedal will let you carve berms even deeper--provided you got the balls to do it.

Cane Creek adjustable rear shock, developed exclusively with Öhlins. Shown here installed on an Ibis Mojo carbon frame.

On One is a brand hailing from a shed deep in the forest of Yorkshire, in jolly ol' England. too bad they didn't built their Carbon 29er for the show, so this is what I can show you.