I visited the biggest Czech cycling fair, For Bikes 2024. How was it? Modest, but still interesting! I found a few specials, tried the hand bike and pump track, and much more. Check out the video below, or keep reading.
For Bikes is nowhere near the size of Eurobike. To give you an idea, the entire For Bikes could fit into one large Eurobike hall, of which there are several. This does not mean, however, that there were no interesting things to find.
I started the video with one of the biggest uniquenesses. I happened to come across the 12spd electronic groupset K-Force We from FSA at the Bikeporn booth. Honestly, I must have a good eye, because at Eurobike I discovered a Campagnolo Super Record mounted right on the bike, even though it was only introduced for the first time a few days before. I was also one of the first in the world to try the set. Anyway, back to the FSA. In principle, it works like a Shimano Di2. It has a battery in the seatpost that powers the FD and RD. However, it differs in the shifting system. The shifters have single rocker buttons on either side that can be pressed up and down to shift. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try out a set this time, but I learned that there probably won’t be more than 5 of them in the entire country. Next they had the new Ridley Falcn, which from my point of view does not offer a good price/performance ratio. Granted, the frame is made of high-modulus carbon, but the $7300 price tag for the Shimano 105 Di2 seems over the line to me.
At the Tacx/Garmin booth, I tried out the Tacx NEO 3M and Tacx NEO BIKE Plus. The 3M was only recently introduced and is basically a slightly improved Tacx NEO 2T combined with Tacx NEO Plates. The entire trainer provides forward motion (like a rocker plate), which results in better ride comfort and engagement. The ride is better than on a static trainer, but because of the price of the NEO 3M it will never be a mass market trainer.
For those of you who follow me, you know that I always use the same Tufo Comtura 4TR tire in my road bike wheel tests. I visited the Tufo booth at Eurobike, but the one for Bikes was much bigger. I chatted with the chief engineer and head of development there about their new Endurance 7TR tires. These have very similar characteristics to their Tufo Comtura Prima racing tires; only they are heavier. They have achieved this with their newly acquired knowledge in developing the Prima. They use different compounds and layers. I can’t wait to try them out. And maybe soon I’ll show you how to make these tires. So stay tuned!
Next, I encountered Pealock. It’s a smart lock that combines a lock, an app, and an alarm. In short, the moment someone tries to steal your bike, you get a notification, and the lock triggers an alarm. The latter is not very loud due to its high degree of water resistance. At the same time, the manufacturer is facing a challenge as the Pealock runs on 2G networks, which are soon to be switched off within Europe.
At the EKOI stand, I saw their helmets, sunglasses, and clothing. EKOI is known for its high discounts, which is its marketing strategy. I don’t rate the quality of the products because I have no personal experience with them. Anyway, compared to the competition, their pricing is very aggressive (a complete aero helmet for about $160). I definitely recommend buying only discounted items and not full-price items.
With the Token, I have again confirmed that steel bearings are the better option for most cyclists due to their better price/performance ratio compared to ceramic bearings. I also learned that the drivetrain with Token bearings (BB and pulley wheels) runs smoothly. I was lucky because a man with a spring dynamometer just appeared at the booth. He measured that it only needed 1.2 Nm to get it moving. He said it’s about 1.2Nm on standard drivetrains. I have not been able to verify this information, but it makes sense to me. At the same time, I didn’t find the Token 36mm carbon wheels very competitive on paper compared to the Chinese carbon wheels. They weighed 1375g and cost around $1500. But I haven’t tested them personally.
At the Garmin booth, I briefly introduced their lineup of cycling computers and speculated that we might see an Edge 140 in years to come. I also showed their Varia RTL515 and RCT715 cycling radars.
The booth that turned heads was that of the Cyclistickey project. This is a bunch of young cycling enthusiasts who started by creating cycling memes on Instagram. Eventually, they started a website and merchandise and are planning races. I love their enthusiasm, and I’m rooting for them. Monetizing cycling content is especially challenging in 2024 when many cycling brands are struggling financially. Anyway, they had the beautiful Italian road bike Officine Mattio, the Trek Madone, the bike that Jaroslav Kulhavý rides, and the limited edition Pivot Talon.
Immediately afterwards, I was attracted by a Mercedes van that was adapted to the needs of wealthier cyclists. Luxury interior, Jack Daniels bottle at hand, washable boot… Simply a van ideal for cycling vacations. And the price? A staggering $110,000.
I also finally tried out the bone conducting headphones from Shokz. These combine speaker and vibration, while allowing you to hear what’s going on around you. This is especially important in traffic to maintain your safety. I was surprised by the fairly decent sound quality. The battery life of up to 8 hours is enough even for long endurance rides. Interesting gadget but not for me. Personally, I often go on the bike to clear my head, not to consume additional content.
Subsequently, I discovered a custom build of Bovelli gravel bikes at one stand. Although the colors weren’t my cup of coffee, someone had gone to the effort.
A surprise for me was the new Czech brand Proofy. I was intrigued by their pink road bike with carbon wheels for about $4300. That’s a very decent price (most western brands cost 20-30% more). Of course, they make the frames in China, but at first glance, they seem to be pretty protective of quality. Maybe I’ll ride their bike in the future and have a chance to test it. At the same time, they had a beautiful titanium gravel bike here. However, with handlebars that were a little too wide for my liking, looking like 46cm.
At the SCOTT booth I got a close look at their Foil. Their seatpost should provide a more comfortable ride thanks to a rubber damper. I also like the tapered head tube to reduce frontal area and therefore drag. On the other hand, the cockpit isn’t as seamless as other brands, or as I have it on the YOELEO R12 for example. Obviously they aren’t that hard to make, so what’s the problem? A total facepalm for me was the fake Nino Schurter jersey, which looked like it was signed, but upon closer examination I found out that it was a signature already printed. Fail.
At the Fuji booth, I appreciated the contrast between the old school steel road bike and the modern one. I also checked out their gravel bike with a tool box under the BB and an adjustable wheelbase to change the ride characteristics. Next, I found myself absolutely failing to follow trends. They introduced me to the Mlink system, which is supposed to reduce kickback and improve overall rear suspension performance. I had assumed that this was a new technology, but it has been on the market since 2016.
At the Bottecchia booth my eyes were drawn to their paint jobs. They went from matte to glossy in combination with different types. These are definitely one of the bikes where there is more emphasis on the look and detail.
For me, however, one of the greatest experiences was trying out the hand bike thanks to Cesta za snem (“Journey to the dream”). I thought it must be challanging, but I didn’t know how much. They had a trainer connected to ROUVY where they had a competition to see who could ride the fastest through a 1km segment. The record so far was something like 2:08. I did it in 2:22. I go to the gym twice a week, which I combine with the bike. However, my arms went completely out for the last 100m and I was glad I finished at all. Great idea and respect to all wheelchair cyclists.
I honestly don’t know much about electric bikes, but I’ve heard of Tenways. I like their hybrid commuter bike design. It elegantly integrates e.g. a front light or battery directly into the frame. They also use a belt drivetrain which is easier to maintain and won’t get your pants dirty. If you’re considering buying an electric bike for the city, Tenways is definitely worth a look.
I ended my exploration on a pump track. Mainly because if I accidentally killed myself on it, I would have something from the fair. I’m just kidding. There were a couple of guys riding ahead of me who are about as into it as I am into road cycling. They were literally flying through the pump track. Then I tried it. I wasn’t very good at it, so I asked them about technique. After a few laps, I was getting pretty good, or so I thought. But then when I edited the video, I was going slow as a slug. And I was lightly braking into the switchbacks because I was afraid of going off the track. I don’t think this is the sport for me. Haha.
I hope you enjoyed this report. The next one will be from Eurobike 2024.