While most cycling industry meetings in Asia still take place under fluorescent lighting and around large oval tables, one company is taking a dramatically different route—quite literally. Earlier this year, right after the Taipei cycle show, Kind Shock (or KS), a Taiwanese bicycle component manufacturer known for its forward-thinking approach, brought together a diverse group of international partners for an experience that went far beyond the usual business itinerary.
For two days, guests including distributors from New Zealand and Slovakia, members of the cycling media from China, Italy, and Spain, and other long-standing industry collaborators, traded meeting rooms for mountain trails. The setting? Kenting, at the southern tip of Taiwan—a region better known for its tropical coastline than corporate strategy. But here, KS demonstrated that serious business can happen even in flip-flops and trail shoes.
The idea was simple, yet bold: bring key players from across the cycling ecosystem together, not for a conventional sales conference, but for a shared ride. Two days of mountain biking in one of Taiwan’s most picturesque and unspoiled regions created the perfect setting to reconnect with the essence of the sport—something that often gets lost in the hustle of production schedules, OEM targets, and trade fairs.
What sets KS apart is not just its willingness to step outside the traditional ways of conducting business in Asia, but its deeper belief that the cycling industry needs to be reminded of its emotional core. In a region where many meetings are still formal, hierarchical, and product-centric, KS’s approach stood out as refreshingly human. “The industry often forgets that the real driver behind bikes isn’t just performance metrics or sales figures—it’s love for the ride,” one attendee noted. “KS seems to build their business from that foundation.”
This gathering in Kenting didn’t just offer breathtaking singletrack and crystal-clear ocean views—it provided an environment in which professional relationships could evolve naturally. Bonds were formed over dusty climbs, and product insights emerged between trail sessions. Discussions about future collaborations happened not between presentations, but between shared meals and sunset beers by the sea.
Kenting, with its mix of rugged trails, ocean breeze, and open horizons, offered more than just a change of scenery.
The relaxed atmosphere made space for honest exchange—about the challenges the industry faces, about future product needs, and most importantly, about how passion for cycling can and should remain at the heart of this business.
In an increasingly competitive and fast-paced global industry, KS is offering a different kind of leadership—one that values authenticity, shared experience, and the belief that the best business decisions are often made after a good ride.
After the riding portion of the trip, the group headed north to Tainan to visit KS’s headquarters. There, guests were given a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s development processes, facilities, and team. The contrast between the tranquil intensity of the trail and the technical precision of the factory highlighted the dual personality of KS’s identity: deeply rooted in hands-on experience, yet driven by innovation and excellence.
Perhaps what resonated most with participants was the seamless blend of a relaxed atmosphere and purposeful engagement. It was clear that this wasn’t just a company showing off its backyard—it was a company demonstrating a new way of doing business. One where relationships are not merely transactional, and where passion isn’t reserved for marketing slogans, but lived out on the trail.
For many of those who joined the trip, this event will be remembered not only for the terrain or the views, but for what it represents: a shift in how the industry can come together in Asia. Less about contracts, more about connection. Less about being sold to, more about being part of something real.
At a time when the cycling world is searching for renewed energy and direction, KS’s initiative felt like a breath of fresh air—and maybe even a glimpse of what the future could look like.
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