Taichung Bike Week: Internationally acclaimed high-end bicycle industry mini bike show comes to Taichung!

Words by Industrial Development & Investment Promotion
Committee of Taichung City
Translated by Naomi Lai

Taiwan has always been a major player in the bicycle OEM industry. This is especially the case in central Taiwan's Taichung and county and Changhua County. Within only 40 minutes of Taichung City you will find various factories for major brands, including Giant, Merida, Kenda Rubber and many more. Although the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) organizes the Taipei International Cycle Show every March, the fierce competition and marketing needs of the March show necessitate that OEM companies prepare early. Over time, this has resulted in the formation of a mini bike event--the Taichung Bike Show--revolving around companies producing high-end and custom-made products.

In terms of promoting the bicycle industry and transportation infrastructure or simply bicycling itself, Taichung Bike Week meets international standards. The event attracts many top-notch businesses, showcasing their products through precise, professional presentations of their products and test results. Even while many larger bicycle shows are winding down as the year draws to a close, this grand event is gearing up to give industry insiders a glimpse of what's new on the market next year.

The origins of Taichung Bike Week can be traced to an informal OEM product manager's meeting of the Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) at The Tempus Hotel Taichung (formerly The Landis). These managers discussed future development and the directions of new products during the meeting. The initial success of such gatherings drew a growing number of participating companies, to the point that it eventually became a miniature annual product show. For more than a decade now, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of by manufacturers in local events like Ride-On, First-in-Performance, Surf-On and Taiwanathon, the Taichung Bike Week has became a leading world stage for OEM companies to reveal their latest products for the next year. It is also serves as a source of inspiration for various international product lines.

Since 2008, an increasing number of custom-made product manufacturers have been participating in Taichung Bike Week and, in 2009, this participation rate has risen 50%. By contrast to the Taipei International Cycle Show, Taichung Bike Week focuses more on business exhibitions for international OEM manufacturers and product managers, with the aim of helping them plan and decide on their next year's products. The importance of this event is growing as the city grows.

The Industrial Development and Investment Promotion Committee (IDIPC) of Taichung City will provide comprehensive support services for this year's Bike Week. Besides free shuttle buses during the show dates which allow international buyers to conveniently reach the exhibition center, there will also be a Buyer Guide providing all necessary information about Taichung Bike Week and city dining, shopping, hotels and transportation. These services will help international guests enjoy relaxation and their explorations of Taichung's many attractions during afterwork free times.

The IDIPC is working to implement Mayor Hu's policies of creating a "Cultural, Economic, International" city, and to expand this event into a regular bicycle industry event for Taichung. This event will also serve as an important preliminary to the Taipei show and mass-marketing promotions for OEM companies, and further help transform Taichung into a major Asian-Pacific metropolis and business hub.