Radiation fears Prompt German Cyclists To Drop Tour of Taiwan

The German squad has decided to take precautions against the risk of radiation exposure and dropped from their scheduled appearance at the Tour of Taiwan.

This decision was based largely on the advise of the German government, which issued a travel advisory to the Asia/Pacific region.

According the a quote from the article:

"The cyclists said they were advised by German authorities to avoid visiting the Asia Pacific, not least Taiwan, which is so close to Japan," said Sara Chen, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association.

Ironically, most of the radiation appears to be blowing out toward North America.

Update:

Mueller? Mueller?

Only one German cyclist will skip out on the Tour of Taiwan. Dirk Mueller decided to drop due to radiation fears.

In other parts of the news...

With both natural and man made disasters having killed scores of Japanese in the worst human calamity to strike Japan since the bombing of Nagasaki, I am sure the first thing one your minds was how this disaster was going to affect the price of the bicycle parts you so badly covet.

Luckily, you don't have to concern yourself with this problem...

In a syndicated report from the CNA:

Taiwan - (CNA) - Giant Global group, the world's largest bicycle manufacturer, said Wednesday the shopping rush for bicycles in some quake-affected areas in Japan will strain the supply of bicycles on the market.

Media reports have said bicycles were sold out in some disaster areas in Japan, including Tokyo, that were stricken by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in March 11 after the Japanese government announced rolling blackouts. Such blackouts have limited the availability of mass transportation, such as subways and high speed railways.

"The earthquake will definitely increase demand for bicycles for a period of time, but it will also lead to supply problems, " said King Liu, president of Giant Manufacturing and chairman of the Giant Global group, on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Taipei International Cycle Show.

"The temporary demand is not good for the whole industry and our company because we have operated with the expectation of a balance between the market supply and demand," he said.

Although Giant is taking emergency measures to increase bicycle supply to Japan, the Taiwan-based bicycle maker still faces difficulties to meet the boosting demand, Liu said.

I would like to know if anyone with experience in the logistics in gathering and transporting large amounts of bicycles overseas has considered organizing a bicycle drive for Japan to donate used bikes for the victims of the earthquake. This would be a wonderful gesture to the Japanese, who have seen their cars vanish among their other possessions, and their built environment destroyed.

The bicycle would not only be a practical form of transportation in the affected areas, but it would be a great way to think about rebuilding those areas in the wake of a disaster that is the result of our reliance on more dangerous modes of energy production.

Bikes are also great for escaping from any more tsunamis.