Taiwan In Cycles: 03/01/2016

Friday, March 25, 2016

Giant Bike Rental: Biking Taiwan on Borrowed Time

How To Rent:

1. Choose the closest Giant rental location from the store locator or one of the shops listed at the bottom of this post. Only corporate stores may participate in the Giant rental program. You can contact the individual store via email or telephone to place your order. Giant will find someone on staff or someone's nephew who got his MBA overseas and understands some English, to take care of your request. Try to reserve a bicycle two weeks prior to pick-up. Include your height in centimeters and you inseam. Giant bicycles use compact geometries and are sized by the general rule of Small, Medium or Large.

2. The rental costs NT1500 for the first three days, and NT200 for each additional day.

3. Pick up your bike on the requested retrieval date and pay with a major credit card. The rental agreement requires the rider be responsible for the safe return of all the equipment issued with each bicycle-- Giant values each bicycle at almost NT$30,000.

What You Get:

1. Giant's multi-day touring bicycle for this trip was a Fastroad SLR- ALUXX, aluminum framed, flat-bar hybrid, coupled with 700c 28-30mm road tires, triple chainring and disc brakes.

2. Each bicycle comes with a rear rack and waterproof panniers (You may not substitute with your own gear).

3. Equipment includes: saddle, headlight, tail light, Cat Eye cycling computer, bike lock, platform pedals, 8-piece multitool and mini-pump.

4. Giant does not include tire levers, inner tubes or patch kit. You must remember to purchase your own flat repair equipment.

5. Each frame is marked with a Giant serial number for tracking.

Giant Serial Number

Cockpit

Rear

Mini-Pump

Lock

Multi-Tool

Frame

Review

Pros:

The best thing about the Giant rental program is that Giant has a nationwide network of stores that provide numerous return locations and some standard of service and accountability, as well as a roadside assistance service in case of mechanical or other roadside trouble.

The bikes are reasonably priced and reasonably equipped for many riders. The waterproof panniers are an excellent choice for Taiwan. The bikes are relatively light for easy portage and the triple chainring should be ample for most conditions if riders stick to more moderate routes.

Bikes are relatively well maintained. (Though we did have the alloy kickstand break off immediately. The bike was a little dirty and in need of some chain oil upon pickup.)

Cons:

I can imagine an experienced cyclist becoming frustrated with this program and I feel Giant hopes the more experienced riders will simply bring their own gear. Experienced riders tend to have finely honed preferences in regard to their interface with the bike--pedals, saddle, bars and position. The rider may want to swap out the pedals and saddle for their own, but they are then required to carry those items with them the rest of the journey.

An experienced cyclist may also be uncomfortable on a hybrid, but Giant does not offer a drop-bar road bike for rental, nor do they even make a dedicated touring bicycle. The positioning of the hybrid would probably make an experienced cyclist feel slower and less coordinated on the road and throw off expected arrival times at intended locations. a hybrid bike is not exactly ideal for loaded touring.

Giant does provide many excellent components and safety devices for a safe trip. Unfortunately, the location of the tail light makes the light partially obscured by the rear racks. This could be potentially dangerous, especially in some of those tunnels along the Highway 9.

A major annoyance is Giant's unwillingness to provide tubes and a tire kit. I can imagine a novice cyclist taking off on a tour without thinking to ask, and getting stranded somewhere. This is a major oversight on Giant's part.

Another major oversight is the exclusion of a bike bag for portage on trains and busses. The simple addition of a bike bag would give riders much added flexibility in planning their trips as the regulations only require the removal of the front wheel and a covering to stow the bike on any bus or train rather than being limited to the infrequent trains equipped with a bicycle car. The addition of a bike bag could be of great convenience for cyclists who decide they can't carry on and still want to make a hotel reservation further up the road.

This blogger would recommend that any experienced cyclist try to bring their own bike if at all possible, to ensure a period of travel on a known commodity. You know your own bike like no other and bringing your own bike will remove a set of unknown variables so you can focus on enjoying your trip.

I feel Giant's bike rental program is really aimed toward the novice or casual cyclist who is simply looking for a different way to tour Taiwan.

The individual bicycle rental program seems to be a little undersold. It may be that Giant would like to direct international customers toward the more lucrative Personalized Tour package. This tour is for groups of fifteen or more riders and includes a support vehicle and a luggage vehicle, a guide and a mechanic.