Chain Links: Around the Blogs

• Nathan Miller has rebooted Bicycle Sidewalk with ride on Taipei's SanZhi Loop.
• Biking in Taiwan goes to the Weather Station and took some great pics.
• Joe Friel has some excellent medicine for recovery.

I would also like to make a product plug:

We bought the Blendtec Connoisseur blender for making all kinds of drinkable wonders and I have lost 4lbs. in the past three weeks... even with two fewer riding days in my week. I have been making fruit and vegetable smoothies for breakfast whilst removing the cereal and yogurt. Broccoli, banana, carrot, tomato smoothies do the trick. It all looks a bit like baby shit, but the nutrition is excellent.

The Blendtec is easy to use and easy to wash. It is also expensive.

Helmet Recall: The Cost Of Safety

Several news outlets (English, Chinese) have been reporting on the recent factory recall of helmets manufactured by GiD.

In an effort of unprecedented cooperation between consumer groups and Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), some of the helmets produced and/or sold in Taiwan were subjected to a battery of tests to determine their ability to protect the user and operate in a safe manner.

Of the 10 helmets that were scrutinized by the BSMI, only the GiD branded model from Shang Yang Industrial failed the testing with a broken chinstrap.

Shang Yang's website claims:

ROAR bicycle helmets are tested and certified to meet or exceed the Euro- CE and US CPSC Safety Standards. By using the most advanced production technology and combination of modern designs, ROAR Helmets makes the most competitive and superior quality helmets in the industry. ROAR designer helmets for children are safe, high quality, uniquely designed and set it apart from most children helmets on the streets today.

It further troubles me that the recall has yet to be posted on their website as you might expect during a safety recall.

The GiD recall raises an important issue for consumers in Taiwan-- How do we know we are safe?

I have wrestled with this problem in my own purchasing and opted to order my helmet online from the Unite States rather than face the uncertainty of the Taiwan marketplace.

All bicycle helmets sold in the United States must pass a rigorous testing process overseen by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (C.P.S.C.). Imported helmets from the United States should have a C.P.S.C. mark or label inside the helmet. No matter how light or heavy, they all meet the same standard.

I feel less safe in Taiwan when buying helmets, and this is largely due to the lack of regular testing, and the greater availability of counterfeit products from China. Both issues raise red flags for me as a rider as I need to be confident that I am doing the best I can to come out of a crash with my wits about me.

My next helmet was a Bell that I bought while visiting the USA. Maybe I am being paranoid, but with a helmet, I need to be sure.

編號1號"GiD/57~60cm/609"、FAIL

編號2號"Asia/55.5~58.5cm/A-302"、

編號3號"GIANT/55.5~58.5cm/CS-3000M"、

編號4號"MERIDA/58.5cm以上/CS-1700L"、

編號5號"XTR/58~62cm"、

編號6號"隆輝/58~61cm"、

編號7號"堇椿/M55~58cm"、

編號8號"FUNDER/S51~54cm M55~58cm"、

編號9號"SHORPion/54~58cm"、

編號10號"BELL/58~65cm"

Cross Post: Disc Brakes, The UCI and Innovation

My Taiwan Bike

I think just from looking at my bike, anyone can tell that it is really not fish nor fowl... of course not... it is a friggin' bike. But besides the poor comparisons, it is, if anything else, a fine example of a brief period of time when bicycle manufacturers were playing with the concept of the cyclocross bike.

I have CX geometry, cable routing, and clearance. I have extra-light scandium tubing similar to some road bikes a few years ago. I then built up the bike to handle mostly road conditions, but with stronger (heavier) wheels. For the most part my bike can pass as a road bike at first glance. The most glaringly obvious difference is my choice in brakes: Shimano BR 505R Mechanical Discs.

For a period in the early to mid 2000s, CX bikes, which traditionally run cantilever brakes, were being outfitted with disc tabs. Manufacturers hoped the popularity of disc brakes in mountain bike racing might, pardon the pun, CROSS over to cyclocross. The biggest problem with cantilever brakes is that they are just not very powerful with poor modulation. Well... they can be made acceptably powerful, but it takes some rigging. Anyways, some companies led by Avid (BB7/BB5) decided to market disc brakes to work with STI levers as a better stopping brake that could be lighter than their hydraulic counterparts in the mountain bike world, and used in CX racing. Between about 2003 and 2006 a few companies produced frames and forks with CX in mind. The light disc crosser made several appearances on the websites of well known builders, but in the end the trend tapered off.

Salsa, the manufacturer of my bike, ended up taking all the elements behind my bike's "purpose" and diverting them into three other bikes; the cyclocross racer in the Chili Con Crosso, the utility-cross bike in the La Cruz, and the dirt road bike in the Vaya... but the all in one, race/dirt road/disc equipped multi-bike was gone.

There are several reasons for why disc brakes have not become more commonplace on more types of bicycles. Most critics of disc brakes cite "weight" as the predominant issue, with the average set of mechanical discs adding approximately one lb. to a bike's weight. Another issue has been safety. There are some riders who fear a white-hot rotor searing off a limb in a pile-up. The third major issue is that disc brakes are "overkill" for cyclocross racing and therefore are unnecessary for CX bikes.

In my own opinion I think the criticism stems from two primary sources.

The first is from the corner of the "cyclocross essentialists" (now watch as I essentialize), who revel in promoting and preserving a romantic view of olde time racing like in the golden age of European cyclocross racing. These are the types who are keen to determine how "real" a cyclocross rig can be base on its material composition and on the austerity of the component group. This is the "steel is real" crowd who believe the term "cyclocross" is reserved for racing cyclocross only. If the bike is not raced then it is not a CX bike. This would mean there are no cyclocross bikes sitting in bike shops as they have not been christened in a race. The same logic would make a steak knife only a knife until it cuts a steak, or a running shoe just a shoe, until you have run in it. I figure the geometry is for CX, which is also good geometry for other things, and therefore a CX bike. The cyclocross essentialists view the disc brake as sacrilege. Let's face it, a lot of people care what others think about their bikes and don't want to be perceived as a Fred. Disc brakes are like wearing scuba flippers to a state dinner.

The second point shares some sentiments with the first, but it more focused and concrete, beyond conjecture and my own perceptions of how others perceive they are being perceived.

Until this year the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body for organized bicycle racing, did not sanction the use of disc brakes in cyclocross racing. The effect of such a rule might seem minor as few of the races that are conducted each season are actually sanctioned races under the UCI guidelines. Although there had been talk of allowing disc brakes in UCI races for years, it seemed like the annual appeal of the issue would forever remain D.O.A. The UCI has a reputation for being a stickler for tradition and a wrecking ground for many innovations. The UCI's ban on the ultra-aero Specialized Shiv TT bike, which had formerly been allowed to race, has become somewhat of a warning to all, of the volatile and seemingly arbitrary sentiments of the Council of Grand Old Men at the UCI. The whim of the UCI can translate into a multimillion dollar fiasco as manufacturers must change their designs to placate the official rule makers. Companies who would like to market a cyclocross bike want to see it doing its advertising out on the course and adhering to UCI rules is a major part of that ability to advertise. Isn't that what a lot of racing is about anyways... advertising!

The race is where the street cred comes into play, which sells the bikes. If Lance Armstrong won a the TdF with ape hangars and foxtails, there would be a slew of manufactures producing a cavalcade of Schwinn Stingrays for an eager public. The race provides a symbol of authenticity for the buyer, a security blanket, and plays on the fantasy side of cycling. We would all love to ride like the greats and as athletes we keep pushing ourselves to get better. We often rely on our equipment to make up for what we don't have in our legs, and sporting a bike that looks "professional" is one way to outwardly project one's aspirations (and insecurities). "You don't know me. I have exactly what Sven Nys is riding. I could be pro and you'd have no idea." The disc tab was just a very obvious symbol that the rider is not racing in UCI races and their legitimacy/authenticity could be called into question. The important factor is to "appear" to be legit. With so many people hoping to buy the aura of legitimacy and authenticity, it is no wonder the disc never caught on and manufacturers had little incentive to devote resources to engineer smaller, lighter and better disc brakes.

That is... until the new UCI ruling on discs.

Even after the ruling there was still some shoulder shrugging and debate over whether the industry would make any moves back toward the disc brake, or if the ruling would be an arbitrary footnote.

Stevens Disc Crosser

The answer came sooner than expected.

Stevens has been showing a disc equipped prototype of their cyclocross bike at this year's Eurobike expo and the company seems ready to move forward with development for a 2012 launch. There may be other brands to follow with their own disc equipped rigs. Now, if the companies would like to sell disc equipped rigs, all they have to do is put a few under the buns of their sponsored riders. It is rarely about what the riders like, but rather what they are given to promote. There is nothing preventing discs to appear at the WCC.

I hope this latest swing toward disc brakes sparks some more innovation from the component companies to better refine the technology and bring better products to the consumer.

Now, with the UCI's blessing, we could be seeing some really interesting things.

Canyon Project 6.8

Vuelta Stage 9

I haven't been paying that much attention to the Vuelta, but it appears Frank Schleck is still in the running, sitting in 13th place overall. It would be nice to see him win a little something this year after pulling out of the TdF. More news here

Also: Jeannie Longo, the 51yo. French evergreen of the cycling world, took the opening stage of the Steamboat Springs stage race in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I always try to remember what this athlete is capable of in her 51st year whenever I chalk a disappointing ride up to "old age".

King of the Mountain

The view from Wuling

The Challenge the Ultimate- Puli to Wuling race was held this weekend and the title was claimed by Lin Huan-tze, the 21yo. cyclist who also won the event in 2009. Lin finished the 55km ascent to the 3275 meter summit in 2:56:07, taking 5 min. off his previous record for the event. The winner of the Women's category was Cheng Shih-hsuan, who finished in 3:46:03.

The event is known for its difficult climb and is known to attract thousands of participants of varying degrees.

The event is organized by the Taiwan Neverstop cycling group and has drawn wide criticism within the cycling community for the way the organizers manage safety for the riders. Critics complain that the number of cyclists who are registered by Neverstop to compete in the event is too great for the road and the conditions, making it a hazard for all cyclists in the event. This year nearly 6000 cyclists participated in the race while the road remained open to vehicular traffic. Many in the cycling community are discussing limiting the event to a fixed number of participants or delaying the start by category.

Neverstop has, so far, been unresponsive to these suggestions as they would like to get as many people put on bikes as possible.

This blogger can sympathize with the concerned cyclists as novice cyclists can easily be a danger to themselves and to others, especially on such a demanding route. My scariest cycling moment occurred coming down from Wuling when an impatient driver tried to pass three cars and a tour bus on a series of curves on a section with no shoulder, just a half-meter rain gutter on the side. Scary stuff.

Weekend Rides

This weekend saw some breaks in the foul weather that were just right for some riding. I managed to get a couple rides in as I attempt to claw my way back into form and fitness after my vacation. This has really been a nightmare for riding as I took nearly a month off while on vacation, and then upon my return the weather is just rainy enough at the wrong times to interfere with some good solid training. The promise of sunny skies in the morning is dashed by rainclouds in the afternoons.

My first and favorite ride was with my wife, Joyce, who is starting to really enjoy her new Colnago. We did a beautiful 33km. up and around Dadu Shan, which was her first attempt at a little hill climbing, and she did excellent. We then cut through some rice fields down below to the HSR station and then back through Wuer.

The temps were pretty high and it was humid, but at least it didn't rain on us. The rains came about an hour and a half after we got home.

Every evening now holds the promise of another great ride with my beautiful wife. I love watching her improve and enjoy herself on the bike. Watching someone go through that is the most enjoyable thing about cycling.

Sunday was supposed to be something a little harder to help get me back into fighting shape after nearly two months of fits rest, fits and starts. I put the call out to see if anyone would like to join and had a few people interested. I just love it when a plan comes together. Alas, last minute plans and other changes saw the potential for a small group ride disintegrate.

I ended up meeting with one of Taiwan's most capable riders and racers, Virginia Xing, for a route on the 137 over Bagua Shan, in Chang hua.

The great thing about Bagua Shan is that it has relatively little automobile traffic (lots of cyclists). After climbing up to the ridge, the road becomes an undulating ribbon of roadway; perfect for working the legs out for a variety of conditions. We are also in the midst of pineapple season and the smell is incredible.

Upon leaving the mountain and a taking a hydration and calorie break, my legs refused to start back up again. My strength from earlier in the day refused the show up for Act II. Maybe I hadn't eaten enough earlier and my glycogen was low, maybe I had sat too long, or maybe it was a case like a heroin junkie who goes back to the regular dose after a lengthy hiatus and takes too much than the body can handle. I hope to get out in the next few weeks to bring my fitness back to pre-vacation levels. I got home and didn't feel "bad". Huh!

Regardless, Virginia is an excellent rider with some great riding skills and some real spinning chops in the flats. It was a good training day.

(Video) Taiwan's Cycling Culture

I found this short video produced in part by the Taiwan News, to give a short summary of cycling related issues in Taiwan.

I think the video goes a step further in demonstrating the importance cycling plays in Taiwan's new identity and how Taiwanese have taken the bicycle as a symbol of national pride. The fact that they even produced a video is evidence for this.

Imaging the bicycle as symbolic of Taiwan or an expression of Taiwan pride may have its roots in the bicycle being at the same time, a prestige item of luxury/leisure which conveys social status, a symbol of technological aptitude, and an imaging of the environmental awareness that divides groups of people into various constructs of social order (i.e. First World vs. Third World). The bicycle may also symbolize a type of personal freedom while allowing for the imagined safety of a group activity, the type that all Taiwanese are socialized to participate in through school clubs.

Michael Turton's photo essay on campaign signs helps demonstrate the salience of the bicycle image and its meaning to Taiwanese. Although many people all over the world ride bicycles and it represents different things in different places, Taiwanese have taken the bike and infused it with their own meanings, making the bicycle a very unique expression of Taiwanese culture.