The Italian-Taiwanese component specialist FSA is associated with add-on parts such as handlebars, stems, seatposts and cranks. Now a new segment is in its sights: FSA is launching two hydraulic mountain bike brakes for the 2014 season.

The component manufacturer FSA is gearing up to fight counterfeit products. Raids are being carried out in Taiwan and Italy to take action against counterfeiters. The manufacturer is also calling on specialist retailers and consumers to only purchase products via licensed channels.

SRM, the specialist for ergometers and power measurement on bikes, presents the "SRM Wireless PowerMeter - MTB FSA K-Force light", the successor to the "SRM Wireless PowerMeter - MTB FSA Afterburner".

After the fall trade fairs, Intercycle announces that another brand has been added to its portfolio: FSA, short for Full Speed Ahead, is known for innovative and high-quality bike parts. In addition to cranks and chainrings, the Taiwanese company also produces headsets, stems, handlebars and, more recently, saddles and seat posts. FSA is also the first Taiwanese forge to produce parts in Europe: The Italian plant mainly produces road bike parts.

For the first mountain bikes, frame builders adopted the mass known from racing bikes. In the meantime, increasing loads in practice have shown that the terrain takes its toll ? and led to new designs. Fork steerer tubes were the first to be redimensioned, and the now established 1 1/8 inch size is being rivaled in the freeride sector this year by the new one-point-five standard. The rear axles of some downhill bikes now also have an extra width of 160 to 170 millimetres instead of the familiar 135 millimetres, and bottom bracket housings with a width of 100 millimetres (instead of the usual 68 to 73 millimetres) are being used to match. But even the weight-conscious have noticed that more is more ? especially when it comes to the bottom bracket. So the dimensions of the bearings and axles are now being radically rethought.

Bike legend John Tomac will use his expertise as a developer in the bike industry in future: The American signed a contract with the small US bike manufacturer "Full Speed Ahead" and will also take on PR duties.

The Taiwanese crank specialist FSA is launching the new "386" standard for mountain bike cranks with two chainrings for the coming year. Thanks to a new mounting system with just three bolts, it is possible to fit smaller sprockets and therefore ride a wider gear ratio.