Fri, Mar 14, 2008 - Page 12 News List

Praise and criticism of Nangang hall on first day of exhibit

NEW IN TOWN This year bike lovers can get a look at high-end bicycles from Italy-based manufacturer Colnago, which produces bikes starting at US$1,500

By Jerry Lin  /  STAFF REPORTER

Merida Industry Co president Michael Tseng yesterday lifts a 9kg bicycle to show how light it is on the opening day of the Taipei International Cycle Show. The new bike model is priced at NT$350,000. The event continues until Sunday at the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall.

PHOTO: KAO CHIA-HO, TAIPEI TIMES

Exhibitors praised the design of the newly opened Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Nangang Exhibition Hall yesterday, but said transportation in the vicinity of the exhibition space needed to be improved.

On the first day of the four-day Taipei International Cycle Show, the world's biggest bicycle manufacturer, Taichung-based Giant Inc (巨大集團), said the lack of public transportation and hotels in the Nangang area would discourage the public from visiting the new exhibition space.

"Giant was worried at first about the new exhibition location in Nangang, since it's not that convenient to get here. Hopefully, the transportation problem will improve once the Nangang MRT line is completed," Giant marketing coordinator Ray Lin (林睿智) said at the show.

BETTER DESIGN

Nonetheless, Lin applauded the layout of the Nangang Exhibition Hall, citing the complex's column-free upper floor, designed to increase exhibition space and visibility.

"The new design and route planning at the Nangang Exhibition Hall help solve the problems at the TWTC Exhibition Hall 1 [in Xinyi District], where exhibitors placed in the corners often receive less visitors," Lin said.

SNEAK PEAK

Alessandro Colnago, marketing director of the Milan, Italy-based Colnago, which manufactures high-end bicycles starting at around US$1,500, said it was the first time the company was showcasing its products for next year at the Taipei International Cycle Show.

Colnago has previously showcased its product lineup at the Eurobike expo in Friedrichshafen, Germany, which is the world's largest bike industry exhibition. Eurobike will be held this year from Sept. 4 to Sept 7.

"Colnago invited our global distributors to participate in this year's Taipei International Cycle Show as they will get to see our latest products in advance," Colnago said.

This story has been viewed 1904 times.
TOP top