Bike Links and News

Taiwanese siblings make their own Journey to the West by bicycle.

Their journey was inspired by the novel "Journey to the West," which both of them had read in their childhood. The novel, a fictional account of the legendary journey by famous Chinese monk Hsuan Tsang, is the tale of a group of pilgrims making a strenuous journey from China to India in search of sacred Buddhist texts; it also described their encounters with various monsters and demons along the way.

Taiwan Biking Links:

• Michael at The View From Taiwan has some wonderful photos of his Lunar New Year full of fabulous rides despite the terrible weather. I was fortunate enough to join him on a couple of these rides.
• Cafe Terry tries to kill off some of Taichung's better cycling talent in a freezing and wet ride up to Gu Guan.
• Satin Cesena has a wonderful report on the award winners from the Annual Innovative Products competition in the lead up to the 2011 Taipei Cycle.
• Don't forget to read Bicycle Sidewalk's report from his holiday on the bike. He may have spent more time in the saddle than visiting family. Excellent pictures too.
• Champion of bike helmets takes the helm at Health Bureau.
• Taiwan's Hsieh Yi-jung takes a bronze in cycling at the Asian Cycling Championships.

World Cycling Links:

• Taylor Phinney, the nominated savior of American cycling, is scheduled to make his long awaited professional debut in the upcoming Tour of Oman.
• Bad Blood? Botched transfusion lands Italian Olympian Riccardo Ricco. Apparently Ricco tried to pump his veins full of blood that was way past its expiration date and landed in the hospital.
• Cycling With Eddie looks at the one cycling partner who is always ready for a ride-- PAIN.
• Dave Horton discusses cycling culture.
• Ukiah Blog wants you to talk cycling to a conservative.... You know those guys who love to cut cycling from the transportation grid.

My New Bike Status:

I haven't heard anything in a while. I hope that's good.

The tube tuning is as follows:

Agility: Race Spec.

Drivetrain Stiffness: 8 of 10 (9 is pure racer)

Vertical Compliance: About the same as oversized aluminum

Weight to Performance: In The Sweet Spot

Cycling Links with Video

Enjoy this funny video from the Netherlands where cars have been replaced with bikes.

Taiwan Links:

• Primavera Hits Sun Moon Lake. Great ride report.
• Terry serves up a beautiful dish. A gorgeous wheel with White Industries hub.
• Shots from 2 Peak Challenge.

Tour Down Under:

The cycling season is starting up again marked by the Tour Down Under. So far the big sprinters are suffering with Mark Cavendish destroying more bikes in a spectacular crash.

World Links:

• Is God too big to dope? With growing evidence against him, CBS Sports seems to think so.
• Astronaut makes space flight look as easy as riding a bike... until he falls off his bike and misses his shuttle launch.
• Teen phenom killed during training. Olympic dreams cut short in crash with vehicle.
• Carla Stewart killed in South Africa. Female cycling sensation hit by truck while turning to pick up her cycling computer.
• Copenhagenize says BAN CYCLING... in winter.
• LA looks at immigrants as part of the cycling community. Much like Taiwan's own Foreign Workers.
• Floyd Landis retires from cycling to become a professional skeptic.
• After calling out professional cycling for its excessive culture of doping, and leveling charges against his former teammates that have resulted in a federal investigation into the former members of the United States Postal Service teams... Floyd Landis would like to legalize doping.