TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—A brewing debate over dates for Taiwan Bike Week has been settled. This December’s gathering of product managers in Taichung takes place much the same as in year’s past.
An earlier plan to move the dates into November before the Thanksgiving holiday—dates many U.S. suppliers liked—has been shelved.
Instead, Taiwan manufacturers will host product managers Dec. 1 through Dec. 8. A variety of city-sponsored activities will link all events from Dec. 4 through Dec. 8. Here’s how the eight-day schedule breaks down:
o RideOn, a group of companies including FSA, Hayes Bicycle Group, Mavic, Vittoria, Crankbrothers, Hutchinson, Fox and Fizik will host product managers at the Freshfields Resort Dec. 1- 6.
o Taiwanathon, an exclusive SRAM event held at its nearby factory offices, will host product managers Dec. 5-8.
o The city will officially sponsor Taichung Bike Week Dec. 4-8. The Splendor and Tempus hotels will offer accommodations and exhibitor space for dozens of other vendors.
“Taiwan Bike Week has managed to bring the bicycle industry together under one umbrella and strives to provide product managers with the perfect environment in which to use their time and perform their duties with maximum efficiency,” said Katrina Rejchrtova, WTB’s chief executive officer in Europe.
Rejchrtova and Steve Fenton, owner of Pro-Lite, had been leading an effort to consolidate the event, a move that also helps smaller vendors reach a wider audience of product managers. They also had pushed for the week of Nov. 15-19 after asking dozens of companies through unofficial surveys and email blasts what dates they thought were best. SRAM and RideOn preferred sticking with their long-established timetable.
Taichung’s city government will again support the event with shuttles traveling between the participating hotels. The city also will provide visitor and exhibitor information at each location. And Taichung’s mayor, Jason Hu, will host an industry-wide dinner Dec. 6 at the Splendor for those who register at www.taichung-bike-week.com. Last year, more than 350 people attended the event.
In addition, Cathay Pacific is the event’s official airline supporting it with special travel packages for flights from major European and American cities.
“We hope that you will find TBW 2010 a successful and productive event, organized by bike industry volunteers whose objective is to make everyone’s efforts more effective and efficient and to improve our industry as a whole,” Rejchrtova said.
—Marc Sani
