FRANKFURT, Germany (BRAIN) — The third Eurobike to be held at the Frankfurt Messe opened Wednesday for the three days of trade fair, followed by a weekend consumer festival. The first day featured the annual Eurobike Awards ceremony and statistical presentations by the German and Taiwanese industry groups.
Watch for more detailed articles later this week and in the August print magazine. In the meantime, here are some quick photos from day 1:
World Bicycle Relief's latest Buffalo bike, designed for third-world use, features some innovative technology, namely the AK2 freewheel system, which has two single-speed chains. It's the first Buffalo spec' to have its own patent and was developed by WBR supporters SRAM, Trek, Giant and Karasawa (a Chinese bike maker). The super durable two-speed drivetrain is shifted by pedaling backward for about half a rotation and is said to be robust and to allow increased mobility in difficult terrain. The newest Buffalo bike also features dual-pivot brakes (the original Buffalo had a rear coaster brake and front hub brake) and new heavy duty "deep box section" aluminum rims. The new Buffalo Bicycle Utility S2 won a Eurobike Award in the complete bicycle category. Founded in 2005, World Bicycle Relief has distributed over 790,000 bicycles to communities worldwide.
DJI, the consumer drone brand, has entered the e-bike world with a new motor system, called Avinox, featured on a new brand of e-bikes shown at Eurobike, Amflow. The motor, which also won a Eurobike award, offers 105 Nm of torque and peak power output of 800 watts (in Boost mode it can offer up to 120 Nm and 1000 watts). It weighs just 2.52 kg and can automatically adjust power based on the terrain. Our colleagues at Pinkbike have more details on the tech, including a quick demo ride report.
TRP is looking more pro every year, with branded bikes in its display this year. More importantly, the brand is showing its wireless single-chainring road drivetrain and a growing number of integrations/partnerships with related brands, including the Classified two-speed rear hub, Rohloff's internal gear hubs, Bosch's anti-lock brake system and Pivot's gear box.
Magene, best known for its smart trainers, GPS head units and rear-facing radar system, is now offering a wireless road drivetrain, including front and rear derailleurs and shift/brake levers. The derailleurs don't say "Red," they say "QED," which a company representative said "stands for something." We assume it's the Latin phrase quod erat demonstrandum, which means "thus it is proven." The levers come in mechanical and hydraulic versions and the rear shifting is compatible with 10-, 11-, or 12-speed cassettes. The system uses a 2.4Gh private protocol wireless system that the company says draws less energy than other systems, providing up to 30% increased battery life. The system is configured like Shimano's newer drivetrains, with wireless shift levers combined with a seatpost battery that is wired to both derailleurs. The drivetrain is being sold in China exclusively this year, and will be available in other markets next year. Magene also showed an e-bike drivetrain — everything but the motor. The company offers displays, torque sensors, controllers, a rear radar device and an electronic shifting system.
Igus, which is known for its low-friction plastic products including suspension bushings, is now selling plastic bikes under the RCYL brand. Ninety percent of the bike is plastic, and most of the plastic parts, including the frame, are made of at least 50% recycled content, including material derived from used fishing nets. The company said it won't rust or require lubrication. Igus is taking consumer pre-orders now for 1,243 euros.
It's been a long time since we saw a big dealer order-writing area at a U.S. trade show. This dealer-only area takes up about half of Orbea's display area.
Have some Eurobike tips or suggestions? Ping Steve Frothingham in Frankfurt at sfrothingham@outsideinc.com.
