Chasing Chinese Cheaters and Giant Endorsements

I have had another light blogging week and hopefully I can get back to a normal schedule soon.

Here are a few stories of interest:

It should come as no surprise that bicycle companies in Taiwan and elsewhere have seen a rise in counterfeit products flowing in from China. As China gains access to greater manufacturing capabilities the number of replica ripoffs being sold on retail shelves that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing has soared.

Not only do these products hurt the name and bottom line of component companies, they also pose a danger to riders. Nobody can be sure what type of testing, if any, the counterfeit components have undergone.

Taiwan-based FSA has taken action to rein in the bad guys.

According to Tien Hsin Industries, owners and manufacturers of FSA branded components, the issue first arose in 2009 when Taiwanese retailers were noticed selling counterfeit parts. Private investigators were called in and after documenting transactions over a year-long period, the authorities took over with the re-sellers and manufacturers eventually either paying restitution or getting sentenced to time in prison for their dodgy activities.

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Ma Ying-jiu cites Tour of Taiwan as example of Taiwan's commitment to sports in an effort to win the 2017 Universidad, a worldwide collegiate sports event.

“We want to build 1,500km of bike trails around the nation. We have organized a Tour de Taiwan, just like the Tour de France, to promote cycling,” he said.

Ma also acknowledged the role of geopolitics and past conflicts across the Taiwan Strait in placing roadblocks in the country’s attempts to host international sporting events.

“The Republic of China [ROC] has faced many obstacles when participating in sports events. However, the situation has gotten better with improved cross-strait rapport,” he said. “Because we have not had many opportunities to host international events, we cherish every opportunity and will push for perfection. As the president of the ROC, I promise we will definitely achieve this.”

Aside from the president continuing to have trouble uttering the word, "Taiwan" in public there may be other problems with the bid. Taipei's city government has had trouble promoting and executing international games with problems in both execution and social snafus involving displays of national pride. Kaohsiung might be a better pick after its widely successful World Games in 2009.

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Moderate presidential candidate, Tsai Ying-wen visits Giant factory. Could this be a vote of no confidence in the radical and destabilizing policies of President Ma Ying-jiu? Giant has traditionally been closer to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and it is rare to see the company edge so close to the DPP opposition. They may be hedging their bets, which should be seen as worrying to the incumbent. Tsai may have impressed the bicycle maker in her great taste in bicycle routes by crossing the Hsiluo Bridge.

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Taipei Cycle is looking for design submissions for 2012. Interesting stuff as always.

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Hills over Taipei: Ralph Jennings Takes A Look At Taiwan From On High

Central Cross Island Highway

Ralph Jennings has a nice piece in the Taipei Times detailing some of the steeper riding that is available in the foothills above Taipei.

The accordion-shaped Pingjing Street (平菁街) climb from Zhishan Road (至善路) just above the National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) cures hangovers while penetrating deep into the less trafficked backside of Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園).

It’s just one in a maze of well paved, vista-packed and challenging roads in the park, the boundary of which is 30 to 60 minutes cycling time from central Taipei.

The article gives several route suggestions and rider opinions on the roads up to Yangming Shan, which would be extremely useful to riders who might be visiting Taiwan and do not really have to get out much further than the greater Taipei area.

What the article does not articulate, is the difficulty in getting from the city to the mountains. The RED LINE of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), which skirts along the Taipei foothills through the Shih Lin and Beitou districts, has several stops that allow bicycles in marked train cars.

Another consideration on weekends is the traffic. Taipei is Taiwan's most populous city and Yangming Shan is a closest and better known "get-away". Weekend traffic can be a pain.

Still, unless you live in Tainan or Kaohsiung, Taiwan's hills are always close enough for a bit of climbing.

Also:

• Taiwanese students win award for their bicycle tent. The device allows a rider to pitch a tent anywhere.