A Message From Michael

I will not be participating on this ride, but I thought I would post the notice in case anyone out there would be interested.

Here is my blog post on the same route from a couple months back:

Nantou-Lugu

I hope a few of you can make it. It is always a good time.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Nantou Reprise:

http://michaelturton.blogspot.com/2010/03/riding-tea-farms-in-nantou.html

A bunch of you are already signed on but I thought
I'd widen the pool a little.

Schedule: Friday I am returning in the afternoon from Linkou to
Taichung. I am already taking two bikes + two other people, assuming
we are not rained out. I can take one more. Friday night we plan to
ride to Jiji or Shuili and sleep there.

Saturday Taipei people can come down on the early HSR, switch to local
(at train station at HSR station) and then meet in Shuili at 10 am.

The weather seems to be clearing but rain is still forecast for
friday. So stay tuned. Sunday it will be clear but Saturday looks like
rain: http://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/index.htm

Contact:
Michael Turton

turton.michael@gmail.com

Fish+Bicycle: This One's For The Ladies

" under capitalism, patriarchy is structured so that sexism restricts women's behavior in some realms even as freedom from limitations is allowed in other spheres. The absence of extreme restrictions leads many women to ignore the areas in which they are exploited or discriminated against; it may even lead them to imagine that no women are oppressed"-- bell hooks

The above quote was accidentally left on my Facebook page when I posted on my last ride. My old friend Rene apologized and put the quote where she had intended to put it originally. Still, I found it as an inspiration for writing a little something about gendering the bicycle.

As a man I write from a male point of view, but I guess one of the most valuable contributions provided by contemporary feminist theory is to acknowledge the subject's experience as a factor in perceiving and writing about the object. What that means is that it is necessary to examine and locate our own subjectivities rooted in our own experience to better understand how that influences the way we experience others. This is an extremely valuable tool to learn if "one" is going to write about the "other".

In Taiwan it is often the case were a foreigner shows up and starts making grand proclamations about society and culture and sounds like an ass. That is not to say "foreigners" are not allowed to develop opinions on Taiwan. I can't tell you how often I have been told that I could not have an opinion on Taiwanese matters because I am not from Taiwan. That is silly. Some of the best books on Taiwan were written by non-Taiwanese... because they do not hold a paradigm altering political stake in Taiwan. What it means is than our perceptions are shaped by who we are and who we have become, and therefore it influences our points of view and the frames through which we view ourselves and others. Furthermore, by acknowledging and making oneself aware of these frames we are then free to engage the object with our own subjectivities on display.

Where am I going with all this?

Despite the fact that many riders are teased about their tight pants, the bicycle industry, like many other sporting industries, is a "phallocentric" industry with the bulk of development, equipment and advertising dollars focused on promoting cycling from a male point of view. In my own writing I have commented on the Paris-Roubaix and being "macho" and "masculine", and I am not afraid of those terms. Men are men and should not be afraid of being masculine. There is also a Paris-Roubaix women's race as is there a Tour de France women's race and many many more. These competitions are just as difficult as the men's races, but are often quietly held once the fanfare has subsided from the men's competition-- a mere footnote. Still, they are very true to being feminine.

With the lack of available financing and sponsorship, it is no wonder the women's market is only a niche market. Women are more likely to be discouraged from putting a leg over a bicycle, let alone become good at it. There is far less reinforcement at every level to encourage women to ride. I have even seen male behavior discourage women from riding. On some of the forums I visit there are very few women who participate because so much of the conversation is phrased by men for men. I don't think men quite understand how pushy and intimidating we can appear to women as we clash over egos or are simply used to getting by with only the male perspective.

In cycling there are fewer women on bikes for young girls to identify with and the only cycling niche that seems to have female stars who can compete for a little attention from the men's race is in cyclocross, where Amy Dombrosky, Moureen Bruno Roy and Meredith Miller can win sizable endorsements and headlines. The opportunities do not come knocking.

With such a heavy emphasis on men's cycling, there is also much less support for women specific bicycles.

Folks, I hate to break the news to you all, but men and women are different. Seriously. The female physique is simply structured different than a man's. Women typically have smaller hands and shorter arms than a man. A woman may have longer legs, wider sit-bones and wider hip-sockets. Women also have boobs and that can lead to more weight up top that may pull the rider into the handlebars raising the potential for arm or wrist pain. All these considerations change how a bike should be properly set up for a comfortable fit. A men's bike may not account for these differences.

I tried to get my sister-in-law on a road bike, but she was too short for any of the available models or if the bike could be fit with 650c wheels the top tube would be too long. She gave up looking.

While many companies sell women specific designs, the options are limited to only a few models. Most shops try to fit women on hybrids and mountain bikes. There are a few companies out there that primarily focus on making a great road bike specifically for women. Luna cycles is one of the leaders in making custom WSDs.

In Taiwan, Fuji bikes has a range of good road bikes for women, while Giant and Merida do, but most of their line-up is for men. The best components will usually be found on a men's model.

Another company in Taiwan that offers some WSD is Primavera Cycles in Taichung. Primavera is owned by Sabinna Den, who also writes the fantastic Satin Cesena Cycling blog. Sabinna's company has designed and produced a set of WSD named after the owner.

My builder at T-Mosaic is will start producing his own brand of steel road bikes for women at in a month or two. Stay tuned!

Here is a link to a great article on bikes for women.

Terry Cycles has a great podcast on cycling and Georgina Terry happens to be a woman and offers her perspectives and the perspectives of guest speakers.

As a man I like to see women out being athletic and participating in sports. I would also like to see more women get into cycling to help the sport grow. I think a greater female perspective or interpretation on the sport is necessary to keep cycling a fun and dynamic activity without having to emulate the men. I do not think the full potential of women's cycling has even scratched the surface of possibility and I hope the industry is paying attention.

"The bicycle will accomplish more for women's sensible dress than all the reform movements that have ever been waged." ~Author Unknown, from Demerarest's Family Magazine, 1895

Birthday Riding: Happy 100 Michael!!!

Michael's Birthday Century

Well... I thought I would take a week and some days off with family business all weekend, and after several long rides on the books already, I thought I needed the rest. I guess I stay off the bike about as well as a teenager stays away from masturbation and I found myself on another century ride on this overcast Sunday.

The occasion was to celebrate my good friend, Michael Turton's 47th birthday. Michael has just started his second year of cycling and it has been a pleasure cycling with Michael and watching him grow in his ability and passion for the sport. Most people would never dream of dedicating themselves to a new sport in their mid-forties and would have given up before they could even get started. It is a total credit to Michael for his perseverance. He rides several times per week and never fails to challenge himself. He has already done back to back centuries. I really love watching people learn to enjoy cycling the same way I do and therefore I was more than happy to be there for his birthday century ride.

A Taichung Biking Group in Lukang

We were joined by Joe C. on his beast of burden, the Surly Long Haul Trucker, and a couple excellent triathletes, Josh and Nico joined for part of the trip. For Joe it would be his first century ride.

Our first stop was the old Qing era town of Lukang. Lukang was formerly a major port for sending Formosan deer pelts to Japan and venison to Fujian. At one point in the mid-18th century the local gentry lobbied to make Lukang the capital of Danshui county. More recently the town has gained notoriety for its abundance of old temples and brick streets. The road on the way to downtown Lukang is lined with stores selling "god-tables" and religious implements, which seem to receive their authenticity from their proximity to such a religious center of Taiwanese life.

So, a road bike, touring bike and cyclocross bike walk into a bar...

On the way down I spent a little time trying out Joe's touring bike. As a pure tourer the Long Haul Trucker is one of the most suitable bikes you can buy. It is stable, smooth, comfortable, and rides like a Lincoln Towncar. The bike is great if you are considering long, loaded, multi-day tours with lots of camping. The Patagonian Highway or the Gobi Desert would be perfect. I highly recommend it as an all-out tourer. It is a simple and easy to use machine. The upright position was reminiscent of my old 78' Schwinn Stingray. It was really a joy to ride. If you are looking for speed, agility and power transfer, then it is not quite the bike for you.

Long Haul Trucker

We headed down the Highway 17. I did this part of the route two weeks ago and this time the wind was much easier on us. I also didn't have a flat like last time, though I did recover the staples as a trophy.

Joe Takes Off Loaded

River

We crossed the Cho Shui River, which meant two things... the first was that we were in Yun Lin County and the second was that none of us could possibly be Ma Ying-jiu.

Michael and Joe cross the Cho Shui

We turned onto the 154 for a nice ride in the countryside on our way to Hsi Luo. The ride was really nice and we passed a local procession for their god. Today was also the big day for the Dajia Mazu to pass through and the pilgrims were descending on the area.

Local Dangi or Spirit Mediums

Michael Chats With This Awesome Guy

On really great part of our trip was the man on the motorcycle who pulled up next to me and engaged me in a conversation about biking We must have chatted for a couple kilometers, just talking about bikes and travel. The really great thing was that at no time in our conversation did he ever act like I was a foreigner nor assume that I did not speak Chinese. For a couple kilometers I was just regarded as another guy in Taiwan. I really love when that happens and my existence as a participant in this society is normalized.

A Bridge Home

We stopped in Hsi-luo for a little food and then made our way past troops of pilgrims crossing the Great Hsi-luo Bridge. We headed back into Changhua County and slowly finished our centuries off. Joe and I took a winding route through Taichung to cap our centuries and Michael could go home content that at 47 years old, he cold accomplish something he couldn't have done as a much younger man. Joe finished his first century, which is a major accomplishment for anyone. I had the pleasure of a wonderful day on the bike, talking with a couple of first class friends. We didn't set any speed records, but sometimes that is not was a good day on the bike is about.

Thanks guys!

Happy Birthday Michael!!!

Michael Rides Strong

Taiwan's Blogs on Bikes

Although I am taking the weekend off from any big rides, I am already doing the the mental preparations for my next ride. I am also putting together a growing list of longer pieces for this space, and compiling my next iTunes playlist for cycling (suggestions would be welcome).

In the mean time here are a few items from the blogs on cycling.

Michael Cannon blogs on his Rift Valley ride and here.

Biking in Taiwan on Alishan.

Cycling Satin Cessna on Cycling Tribes.

Taiwan Racing on the Fengshan Trails.

What They Were Using On The Cobbles

VeloNews has a great graphic wrap-up of some of the gear from Paris-Roubaix.

Enjoy!

Road Bikes Are A Pain

Quite a few times lately I have been made aware of folks who really want to be biking, but when they go out and get a bike they end up feeling uncomfortable and then feel like trashing their bikes to get a new one or lose interest in cycling all together. "Road bikes are uncomfortable!"

Those are some pretty drastic measures and the pain can quickly spread to the bank account. There are smarter ways of going about looking for a bike than simply trial and error.

On the sidebar I have a few posts about geometry and material, but more importantly comes the subject of fit.

Anyone who is shopping for a bike should get fit by a professional. I don't want to offend anyone, but Giant seriously sucks at fitting and I would recommend going elsewhere for a professional fit. A proper fitting bike doesn't just mean a more comfortable experience, but it can also mean the difference between actually riding the bike and laying around the house with an injury.

I still stand by my belief that for road riding (predominantly riding on paved roads) a type of drop bar road bike is ideal as opposed to a mountain bike, although some flat-bar urban commuters can work well as urban assault bikes, but they are still configured with road bike geometry. Therefore, I am going to keep this post to road bike fitting.

3-2-1- Contact

The rider has three major contact points with the bike. The location and relation of these points is integral to determining fit--The seat, handlebars, and crank/pedals. If these points are not in the right place then riding a bike can be a heap of pain as it will not be ergonomically correct for the rider. When I see riders on a poorly fitting bike I always remember when my grandfather, who was a very stubborn man, went to a yard sale and picked up a set of gloves. He realized they were two lefties. Rather than go through the hassle of taking them back, he decided to simply wear them anyway. This resulted in a serious case of tendonitis on his right hand because his thumb was spending too much time under stress. The same thing can happen on a poorly fit bike.

The Crank

The crank length determines how large a circle the rifer makes with each rotation and varies between riders. Most cranks typically run between 165mm to 175mm in length. Most people fall into the 170mm-172mm range. I have heard of one method for determining the crank length being 18.5% of the distance from barefoot of the floor to the top of the femur. All numerical calculations are just suggestions. Some personal preference comes into play as some riders might like to spin faster with a smaller crank. Once you get this measurement figured out you can get your saddle height figured out. The Seat Tube length plays a factor here, but it is more aesthetic within a certain range. The ST will, however, determine stand-over height; a key element of the fit.

Saddle Sores: "Hey, your seat is too low!"

Damn, if I don't see more low saddles in Taiwan. I see more people going down the road with their legs sticking out at weird angles, weaving all over the road at no speed.

The proper saddle height allows the rider to stretch the legs out to their optimal extension to maximize the rider's efficiency. On a good ride you just don't want to waste energy on a poor stroke. Luckily, a poorly adjusted saddle usually makes itself known through a very obvious knee pain.

The saddle should be level. A forward tilt pushes the rider into the bars and an up-tilt pulls them off the back. For a basic start to the fitting process the saddle should be high enough so that you can just touch the floor with your tip toes. When pedaling your knee should be slightly bent. The balls of your feet should be over the pedal axle and you should not rock in the saddle.

The seat is a very personal preference. A saddle should match the rider's "sit bones", those little pointy parts of the pelvis that stick out when humans curl their legs. Although a rider may have a real fat ass... their sit bones may be quite narrow. The skeletal frame makes this determination rather than the amount of mass. Women typically need a wider seat due to the difference in reproductive physiologies.

A saddle can also be adjusted forward and back to achieve different feels and fits. It determines the size of the cockpit. A good cockpit on a bike should be a little stretched out and opened to allow for better breathing. Some seat fittings can be tuned to be more or less aerodynamic. More importantly, it balances the rider behind the bottom bracket. The balance will play a huge part in comfort and efficiency. It is important to know the length of the Top Tube to be sure your body can comfortably fit on the bike without being too stretched out or scrunched up.

A totally upright position your head, knees and feet are inline and the body is balanced. Now imagine someone turns on a wind machine. You will need to bend forward to stay balanced. As you bend your butt moves back. This is similar to riding a bike. If you are too upright you waste valuable energy battling wind resistance. You will work more and fatigue faster. A totally aerodynamic position is generally not comfortable to all but circus contortionists. A good tradeoff results in an bent position, bent, and balanced.

A great place to start fitting the saddle is to put the saddle in the forward most position that allows the rider to take his hands off of the bars and maintain the body position without straining or feeling fatigue. You should not feel like you're about to fall forward when you let go of the handlebar. If the position with the hands on or off the bars feels neutral to your back muscles you know that you aren't using your arms to support your body. If you are not balanced, your arms and shoulders will get tired on a long ride. Try to balance roughly 55% of your weight rear and 45% forward.

So A Cyclist Walks Into A Bar:

Handlebar position also depends on a rider's needs and goals. For drop handlebars the size should equal the distance between the ends of the clavicle. I am a size 42. A shorter, more upright stem brings the bars closer for comfort and a more upright position to view the road far ahead. Low bars allow for a more aero position and a long stem helps with control at higher speeds. A rider should have the elbows slightly bent on the hoods and not locked. Handlebars should be even and not pointed up or down. That is not a great way to adjust the reach to the levers and brakes.

Even after a fit some riders need to fine tune their position. Here are a few helpful links to help.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A good fit calculator can be found at Wrench Science and at Competitive Cyclist.

The late Sheldon Brown lives on the interwebs and has a wonderful piece about pain. His entire site hosted by Harris Cyclery is a great source of info.

An Alternate take on K.O.P.S. (Knee Over Pedal Spindle) sizing.

Gearing and other calculations can be found here.

Why Bikes and Why Now?: Update on the Taiwan Review Article

I recently blogged on the Taiwan Review's article and then, today, I see it in an all new iteration in an article from Taiwan's other newspaper---The Brunei Times.

The Brunei Times repeats the Taiwan Review article but curiously dispenses with any negative criticism.

On closer inspection the Brunei Times seems to carry a lot of Taiwanese news considering that there anre no Taiwanese publications that are members of the Asian News Network; a collaborative system of content sharing. Any conspiracy minded people out there want to guess what's up?

"FOR ardent cyclists, Taiwan is well known as the home of some of the world's top brands of bicycles.

When it comes to world destinations for the sport of cycling, however, the island might not be the first place that comes to mind. In fact, roads congested with cars, buses and motorcycles are a familiar scene in the bustling major cities and townships where the majority of Taiwan's 23 million people live.

That is changing, however, especially since July 2009 with Republic of China (ROC) President Ma Ying-jeou calling for the integration of bicycles with other mainstream means of transportation and urging new policy and regulations specifically for bikes.

Government investment in the creation of bike paths and cycling routes is also on the increase. The Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council has budgeted NT$4 billion (US$125 million) to develop a network of bike paths around Taiwan from 2009 to 2012. Some 250 kilometres of paths have already been created in recreational areas of Taipei City and Taipei County, while around 120 kilometres of paths have been established in downtown Taipei City, mostly on shared sidewalks. In 2009, the Tourism Bureau set up 172.5 kilometers of bicycling routes in scenic areas of Taipei and eastern Taiwan, with the same amount planned for this year."