Ernesto Colnago shows off the new K.Zero time trial bike at the Taipei Cycle Show in TaiwanJamie Wilkins
Colnago K.ZeroJamie Wilkins
Colnago K.ZeroJamie Wilkins
Colnago K.ZeroJamie Wilkins
Ernesto Colnago with the C59 DiscJamie Wilkins
Colnago C59 DiscJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Colnago C59 DiscJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Colnago C59 DiscJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Colnago C59 DiscJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
What better way to sell your goods than with a plastic dog on a stool?Matthew Simon
And if that doesn’t work, try some Christmas lightsMatthew Simon
If all else fails, you can always bring in the pretty girlsMatthew Simon
Stickers always go down well, too. Combine the two and you’re onto a winnerJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Saying it with flowers is always good. Especially if you can’t see the bikesMatthew Simon
Here’s a brand that’s gathering no moss…Matthew Simon
Despite their name, these guys actually make some cool helmetsMatthew Simon
We’re thinking that these guys were at the wrong show and were looking for Sexpo insteadMatthew Simon
This stand was uncomfortably close to the Joy Move guysMatthew Simon
And we’re not even going down this road…Matthew Simon
Fang is a word which seems to invoke powerful images. Think dragons and snakes. We’re wondering if this guy is the Fang Master himself?Matthew Simon
Presumably this is the apprentice of Fang MasterMatthew Simon
We think this could be pretty hard to live up toMatthew Simon
Author are a brand who have turned the page and are trying to re-write bike sales in EuropeMatthew Simon
You know, we hope this brand doesn’t ‘Clash’ with our bikes. Still, it is an Olympic year and London’s Calling…Matthew Simon
“Bring me an Alligator bike. And make it snappy!”Matthew Simon
When Taipei Cycle first opened this building we remember thinking ‘it’ll be nice when they get some seating installed’. Four years on and we’re still waitingMatthew Simon
You know, I think I liked the old Griffe betterMatthew Simon
We’re not sure if these guys are New Zealand expats or Yes, Prime Minister fansMatthew Simon
Isn’t this what we all want to ride?Matthew Simon
Getting plenty of bang for your buckMatthew Simon
We’re not sure what’s going on here. It’s just plain weirdMatthew Simon
Step had some eye-catching saddles on displayJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
A seat for every colour bike, though probably not every posteriorJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Odd slogan for a bike companyJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Expect some merciless sales tactics from this lotJamie Wilkins/BikeRadar
Colnago’s new disc-equipped C59 and K.Zero aero bike caused quite a stir when they were unveiled last week and we had the chance to check them out for ourselves at the Taipei International Cycle Show in Taiwan, where we bumped into the main man himself, Ernesto Colnago.
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With the C59 Disc, Colnago say they’ve “taken a bold step towards the future of road bike evolution”. They’ve redesigned the C59 frame and fork to cope with the forces generated by disc brakes, and have partnered with fellow Italians Formula to create a hydraulic road brake based on the R1 mountain bike brake, complete with integrated Shimano Di2-compatible electronic shift levers.
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Video: Colnago C59 Disc
The K.Zero is a whole new bike, rather than just an evolution of the Flight TT, with an integrated bar/stem and brakes, full internal cable routing and all-new tube profiles. There’s no word yet on pricing for either of these bikes. You can read all about them in our C59 Disc and K.Zero launch articles. Check out our image gallery for more pics, as well as these videos.
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Video: Colnago K.Zero
Lost in translation
Now in its 25th year, Taipei Cycle is not only Asia’s biggest bicycle show but has also become one of the premier events on the international cycling calendar. While most of the companies showing their wares there are manufacturers, rather than brands as at Eurobike and Interbike, it still packs a punch – after all, Taiwan is now the world’s largest maker of high-end bikes (with China the largest producer overall).
While the bikes on show may be cutting-edge, the show can be a bit of a culture shock – not least when it comes to language. In Taiwan, integrating traditional imagery into your company’s name is thought to enhance your chances of financial success. Unfortunately, translating these titles from Mandarin into English doesn’t always work. Check out our image gallery for a light-hearted look at another side of the Taipei show.
We think this could be pretty hard to live up to: we think this could be pretty hard to live up toMatthew Simon
