Mavic were very keen to show off the new Carbone SLR wheel, and an very innovative bit of kit it is too. The rim extrusion and carbon section are lighter for 09, but the big change is in the spokes. 
Mavic have used a rim-to-rim build, so spokes start at one side of the rim and cross the hub to the other side. The tension in the spokes is the only thing that really keeps them in place – the spoke has a rectangular block half way that sits in between stops on the hub flange. The hub flange is stronger because it’s not drilled at all, and the system has many of the advantages of a bonded spoke construction but with the obvious advantage that if you crash and break a spoke, you don’t have to throw the whole wheel in the bin. 
Also updated for 09 is the Ksyrium Elite, which borrows a lot of the technology of the Carbone Sl including the spoke lacing and asymmetric rim. It’s effectively a completely new wheel, and for the same price as last year you’re getting a 100g weight saving too. Mavic have also teamed up with Powertap, and for the first time they’re offering the Powertap hub as a factory build with either the Carbone SL clincher or Carbone Pro tubular rim. 
Mavic’s shoe range has been a big hit in the last year. The range starts at £64.99 but if your pockets are a bit deeper you can have a pair of Theo Bos’s yellow Zxellium SSC shoes for £239 – they feature a 4mm thick full carbon sole, completely bonded construction and a carbon heel counter. 
The lightest road shoe in the world (Mavic claim…) was also on display – the Huez costs £199 and claimed weight is just 195g a pair. The Zxellium Ultimate, at 205g, is also a super-lightweight but if you feel you really need the Titanium fittings then be prepared to part with £279.
Mavic wheels and shoes
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@DrG82 Exactly what I thought: cut through the cover using a bladed instrument, use a cropper while bending it a bit and the segments will separate, exposing the cable or it wouldn't be flexible. Once there, it'll be toast. An angle grinder is simply the wrong tool to attack this. I don't expect it'll protect more than one of those notoriously easy to defeat locks where the cable is covered by metal segments, sheeted in plastic.
@DrG82 Exactly what I thought: cut through the cover using a bladed instrument, use a cropper while bending it a bit and the segments will separate, exposing the cable or it wouldn't be flexible. Once there, it'll be toast. An angle grinder is simply the wrong tool to attack this. I don't expect it'll protect more than one of those notoriously easy to defeat locks where the cable is covered by metal segments, sheeted in plastic.
Re: the UAE car, one view I've heard is that the very sudden braking was done by an automatic system that relies on sensors. The expert said the auto-braking system should be turned off when driving in a bike race.
@mdavidford I love Hope got multiple brakes / wheels on all bikes, they keep developing stuff, for example I replaced a calliper recently and its a closed and clean bleed so much easier than on the previous calliper.
What does the Tour de Suisse have to with it?
Well, yeah, that tends to be the way with stuff that's "pushing the boundaries" - it usually only makes sense to tool up for mass production once it's been iterated a few times and become established, and that means it tends to come with a premium price tag because the r&d costs of developing it are spread over relatively few customers.
The ‘far east’ is also the west of you go the other way around. We live in the world.
Another feverish blathering of the TDS afflicted.
It's all very premium stuff, Hope making stuff in UK on large scale, but unsure about all the other Co's listed, all very small scale almost one off and boutique.
That cordalock is nothing new, oxford had a similar product about 30 years ago, they could be cut with croppers quite easily because the blades separated the hardened rings exposing the wire core.