Cyclists As Equals?

A Change Is Gonna Come...

According to an article by Jason Kambitsis in Wired Magazine, The U.S. Department of Transportation is finally catching up with some other parts of the world in shifting from an automobile-centric approach to city planning, to a policy which puts cars, cyclists and pedestrians on equal footing... or at least if governments would like to receive a federal funding for transportation related projects. This is good news for those who are sick of seeing federal funding largely wasted the unsustainable dream of communities centered around the personal automobile. This dream was the dream of my grandfather who was known as one of the fathers of the Interstate 5 and former head of the Washington State Highway Dept. before the creation of the DOT. His generation believed the answer to congestion was to simply build more roads. This type of thinking has formed the core of DOT policy since its inception in 1966. During the campaign Barack Obama promised to seek significant changes in transportation policy and we are just beginning to see the results.

The policy statement reads, in part:

"Walking and bicycling foster safer, more livable, family-friendly communities; promote physical activity and health; and reduce vehicle emissions and fuel use,”

The Republican response can be read here:

"To laughter, Republican House members suggested LaHood was taking drugs, dismissed the very idea of bike lanes and derided any change to a car-dependent society."

Some American cities have already gotten on board. Portland Oregon is often rated the most bike friendly city in the United States, while other municipalities have crafted long term development plans focusing on bicycle transportation. The Seattle Bicycle Master Plan serves as an excellent blue print for other cities aiming to integrate cycling into their transportation infrastructure.

This is a fantastic development, but most parts of the United States have a long way to go to becoming more environmentally and cycling friendly. Whenever I go to the United States to visit, I am always amazed at how far everything is from home. When Americans want pet food or ice cream, they get in the car for five minutes to get to the strip mall. From an environmental standpoint, this is far from ideal.

If humans are going to make the most of their natural environment and leave a livable world for many more generations of people and creatures we need to learn to accept alternative models for living. Period!

This is where Taiwan comes in. As shocking and ridiculous as it may sound, Taiwan has the potential to become a leader in creating and promoting a more environmentally sound model of living. Crazy, I know.

Unlike the United States, Taiwanese life is concentrated in the urban centers. Everything a family needs can be found within walking distance from home. Rather than one mega-supermarket supplying huge blocks of the population, the corner 7-11 supplies many of our daily needs. There are really no suburbs. You are either in town or in the country. This is a huge advantage to building an infrastructure that is not centered around the automobile. If people can live and work within a walk or bike ride from home it greatly reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and becomes a highly efficient model for living. Ahhhh... the idealized future.

Unfortunately, Taiwanese localities remain aloof to the needs of cyclists. The infrastructure just does not exist in any reliable, interconnected form, to integrate cycling into the urban transportation system. There have been some efforts to make space on some trains and the High Speed Rail for mostly folding bikes and there are a few designated bike trails, but most of these are for weekend recreational riders and do not reliably connect to areas where people work. They often don't reliably connect to anything. The city streets are a scrum against scooters and dangerous drivers without bike lanes or reliable law enforcement and busses are not equipped to carry bicycles. These drawbacks keep many potential riders from choosing the bicycle for commuting. Simply, the plan is... there is no plan.

Taiwan's government really needs to take a coordinated and centralized approach to making cycling a positive alternative to motorized vehicles. I don't think this can be achieved on just the local level as political rivalries and special interests often influence the outcome of urban planning projects. Projects like bike paths and lanes are, more often than not, the victims of election year promises and not very well thought through but look nice on the campaign trail and in a stump speech. A long term, integrated transportation plan that realistically incorporates cycling into the project would be a major improvement for a more sustainable future and I hope the new U.S. policy can spark Taiwan's politicians to make the same paradigm shift.

Taiwan has the potential, but is there a will?

We're on an island after all.

Giant SCR Review

Giant SCR First Look:

Michael Cannon gives his excellent and balanced review of the Giant SCR road bike as his current Taiwan Bike.

"Overall, the Giant SCR is a great value for a road bike. It’s somewhat lightweight at 9.4 kg, has a stiff rear triangle, has very smooth working Sora shifters and deraillers and rides comfortably on Taiwan county roads.

Gearing wise, I’m very surprised at how well I’m adapting to the compact double 50/34 in front with an 8-gear 12-26 in back. I’ve been used to spinning a 48/38/26 front and 10-31 back for the past year.

For now, I’d prefer a rear 11-27 and later, a 10-26 when back in shape. That rear cassette change would make going even faster and climbing easier.

In the flats, between the gearing changes and bike stiffness, my casual riding pace and in spite of not being in riding shape, is 4 kph faster. I’m finally realizing how much pedaling energy my Giant LTD shocks have soaked up. On hill climbs, the SCR is grinding up than spinning, but I’m at the same pace and more energetic at the top."

Read the full review here.

Taichung County #129 to #136

The Wilds of Taiping:

Crack Kills!

This route is one of my favorite short routes around Taichung. It includes a whole variety of road types. There are sustained climbs, soaring flats, tight descents into deep valleys, ridge-top cruises and urban work. Best of all it is just outside the city. Within a short period of time you can suddenly be among hilly farms and flowing streams. Best of all, the whole ride can be done in a couple/three hours depending upon your fitness.

Tight Farm Roads

From Taichung City's Bei tun area take Dong Shan Rd. all the way out to Da Keng and follow the Local Highway 129 all the way up the "death spiral" to Hsin She. The climb up to Hsin She can be rough. Not only is it a 250 meter (820ft.) climb for a warm up, but sometimes traffic can be unforgiving. Holiday makers and large trucks both love this road up to Hsin She. The best thing is to just stay close to the shoulder and ride predictably. The most annoying part is when you are in a good gear hammering up the hill and some jerk waits, waits, waits at a side street... and then pulls out in front of you.

In The Valley

From the top of Hsin She you can go right and it takes you directly to the road down to Taiping (see map). I prefer going through Hsin She, which was once part of the satellite villages of the Anli Pazih (Pazeh) group of plains indigenes. From Hsin She proper you can take a right and gain speed on the flat, straight road that passes Hakka style farms and a helicopter base. When you get to a little crossroads in a mushroom growing town... stay right.

I just don't like this climb

The road snakes through some pretty farms and up a sustained grade that, while not steep, can be a real pain in the ass. I can't explain it. As you crest the hill you will see a steep valley below.

The descent plummets down a set of switchbacks. Manage your speed through the descent as there is one particular stretch of concrete that feels like it was laid by monkeys. It will rattle your eyeballs out. Once this patch is over the road narrows and I always get the feeling like a "Battle Star Galactica Colonial Viper launching". It's just great!

Michael T. Tames the Hill on The Red Bomber

You finally empty out into a wide, empty road. You can get some speed through here to get past the eco-tourism disaster of a sprawling "hostel".

Japanese Era Agriculture Station

Eventually, you will get to a fork in the road. Take the high road. It is is a good climb with some steep section, but it leads to a ridge top that is just a rewarding ride to take a little fast.

Choose Up!

The Wrong Road

If you choose to go straight there is another hill climb out to Taiyuan Rd. The main road leads to a dead end, as I discovered.

In Deep Doo Doo

I thought maybe I could shoulder the bike to the other side. I ended up knee deep in mud with visions of making the evening news as another "stupid foreigner" story.

End Of The Road

You finally keep taking rights until you plop down onto the Local Highway 136 that goes to either the Taichung or Puli sides of the mountain.

Route map

This route is great if you are stretched for time or if you are a beginning cyclist looking for a way to improve your skills outside the city. The road had been cleaned up a bit since I took these pictures, so it is a bit smoother for road tires.

Bits and Pieces from the Interwebs:

• David blogs of on Taipei Cycle
• Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal Has Eaten His Fill in Forbes
• Tour de Taiwan
• The Insanity of Paris-Nice

Frame Materials

Material World

Part of my idea for this blog is to provide helpful information for people biking in Taiwan or people who are interested in biking in Taiwan, including routes and tips. I hope to discuss Taiwan related issues through bicycle metaphors and share historical, cultural and ethnographic information that can help turn the next ride into something beyond simply a route past concrete and rice fields.

Another goal is to touch upon cycling as a sport. I really didn’t care as much about professional cycling until I started spending some time in the saddle trying to improve. All of a sudden, as I evaluated my own improvement, did I gain a newfound respect and understanding for the skills of those gifted enough to make the pro-tour. The amount of guts, grit and finesse is truly worthy of respect.

Lastly, I hope to discuss hardware and all those things that make us figure out complex algorithms to justify spending NT15,000 on 100 grams less bike.

Most of all I hope the information here can be useful in some way to help make cycling in Taiwan more fun and help strengthen our community, which has a tendency to lean toward the petty elitist if we let it. Lots of folks are interested in joining and are afraid to jump in because they lack the information they need to feel good about getting a bike.

I have covered types of bikes and bike geometry, so now I should probably add something about frame materials.

The basic bicycle frame has remained largely unchanged for over 100 years. It is still, essentially, two triangles back to back, creating a diamond shape; triangles being the strongest geometric shape. And for over 100 years bicycle companies have been refining and sculpting these shapes to better take advantage of new developments in materials, production techniques and shaping to create ever better bikes… and largely to convince the consumer that somehow the newest generation is ultimately better than the last and more money needs to be thrown at the latest technology. This is what bike companies do… they sell bikes. Key word SELL. They play on our fantasies and try to convince us that the engine is fine, but with the right, high-tech chassis, we could take L'Alpe d'Huez with the best. Now, I am not a luddite. I love new tech. I just think there is a lot of marketing junk out there that we oh so want to believe. “If I only had X then I could do Y and Z.” Material is not necessarily the best way to accomplish this.

In essence… a frame builder can make a bike feel (fill in your favorite adjective) with the proper geometry and design. A carbon fiber bike can be flexy or harsh. An aluminum bike can feel smooth and forgiving. A steel bike can feel stiff and light. A titanium bike can ride like a noodle or a rocket. If the material is used with its properties in mind… it could be a great bike for anyone. The argument of “identical frames” with different materials is just silly. Anyone who’d copy a design for a steel bike with aluminum should be beaten soundly. There are some great bikes out there for almost every purpose made from each of the major materials. Just because aluminum or steel are not the material de jure, does not mean they are in any way inferior. Still, each material deserves some individual attention for what it can and can’t offer.

Carbon Fiber

“So… carbon bikes are the best… right?"

Willier Monococque Frame

Carbon fiber frames now occupy just about every position of the pro peloton. There is a very good reason for this. Carbon fiber can make some very good bikes… and bicycle companies have brought the cost of producing carbon fiber frames down to the point where the mark up at sale is often many, many times greater than cost. Bike companies know that the consumer will want whatever is under Armstrong’s ass… even if there are no tangible benefits in performance. There are lots of examples of this, like low profile forks and shorter stays.

A carbon fiber or “composite” frame is made from molding different weaves of carbon fiber molded in a matrix that can determine how the frame performs. The engineers can adjust the matrix of carbon fiber types to adjust the characteristics of a given frame. Identical frames can perform in fundamentally different ways based on the weave of the carbon fiber. Carbon fiber offers new frame shapes that could not be achieved with metal tubing. Most builders use either lugged carbon techniques, where the individual carbon fiber tubes are bonded into carbon lugs, and monocoque molding (single shell).

Look 585 lugged carbon fiber

The down side of carbon is that, although it can be light, stiff, smooth or whatever you want… carbon tubing has very poor elongation qualities and thus it can not bend, and when it fails, it fails catastrophically. There have been several instances where unseen damage led to mid-ride catastrophic failure. Another problem is in the bonding. Metal filaments are wrapped up in the carbon fiber matrix at the points of rider interface i.e. bottom bracket, headset etc… There is a potential for the bonding to separate. There are reasons why there are still no carbon fiber touring bikes that need to negotiate the worst roads under stress.

Another down side of carbon fiber is that it does not biodegrade and can’t be smelted anew. There are some programs for recycling carbon fiber components, but the scope and uses for recycled carbon fiber are limited.

Titanium

“So… carbon fiber is light and stiff and smooth, but not as dependable as titanium?”

Kish Custom Titanium

Titanium is a fantastic metal. I would like my next bike to be titanium. Titanium frames can also be crafted to perform in a variety of ways. They can be built stiff and harsh, they can be springy and forgiving. You can have a titanium frame to ride like it is on a cloud or tuned to feel more of the road.

Titanium is twice as dense as aluminum and yet 56% as dense as steel. Titanium is only half as stiff as steel and thus engineers of titanium frames must take this into account to manage the desired stiffness. When designers try to thin titanium frames out too much they run into the problem of frames getting too flexy. The real advantage of choosing a well-engineered titanium frame is that the elongation of titanium is much greater than the other metals. Titanium can have twice the elongation of steel and three times that of aluminum. Stronger steels and aluminums sacrifice even more elongation for strength.

Titanium and steel both are both great for resisting fatigue. Titanium can undergo repeated flex and the high modulus properties allow it to snap right back so that a titanium frame can feel brand new after 30 years. With carbon fiber, the jury is still out. Nobody has ridden a carbon frame long enough to test the long-term effects. We just don’t what happens after a couple dozen years. Some riders claim their carbon frames feel “dead” after a couple years of riding, or that could be just bike lust. Titanium is a proven winner for longevity.

On the down side, titanium is welded with argon gas and fabricators must be careful during the welding process or risk brittle welds. Machining is also difficult, so the price to produce high quality frames is relatively high. Another factor is the environment. Titanium takes greater energy to extract and process. Environmentally minded people may consider this a problem. Then again, a bike that lasts 30 years may make up for that over the environmental cost of buying one bike every 3 years, like the big bike corporations would like you to do.

Aluminum

“So aluminum is an obsolete frame material that will just wear out in a couple years.”

Cannondale CAAD9 Aluminum

Aluminum frames really hit the scene in the mid-80’s when Cannondale started selling their notoriously stiff frames with oversized tubes and a thickness that was overcompensating. I remember riding around on these things. Tooth chatteringly rigid.

The aluminum frames on the market are alloys, usually 6061, 7005, 7000, 7075 and others.

Aluminum is has 1/3 the density of steel, which means it is really light and yet some alloys are just as strong as steel. SO a strong, low density metal, but a low modulus, so it can be light and stiff. The oversized tubing allows for a good, light bike with plenty of stiffness. Sounds like a climber. As the diameter of the tubes increases, so does the stiffness.

Unlike titanium and steel, aluminum’s elongation isn’t as great. This means that under load, stressed enough times, aluminum will fail.

Merckx Team SC Scandium Aluminum Alloy

This does not mean aluminum frames are throwaways. Engineers design aluminum frames with these factors in mind and butt the tubing to ensure there is enough aluminum in the spots that are put under stress to take advantage of its properties. This type of well thought out engineering, shaping and design can produce an aluminum bike that can last a very long time and ride like a dream. Some of the best bikes ever produced are aluminum. It can be argued that the Merckx Team SC, scandium alloyed aluminum is one of the greats. Best of all… aluminum can be inexpensive. Why pay an unnecessary amount of money if you can get an aluminum bike that rides like a dream. Just because it is AL does not mean it is not as good as any other material.

Scandium and other alloys are often added to aluminum to achieve better results and lighter bikes. When scandium is added to 7000 series aluminum it changes the structure of the aluminum grains to be smaller and more refined. This adds strength and allows thinner tubes to be drawn for a smoother feel. It also helps strengthen the welds for frames that often rival carbon in weight.

The ecological downside is that aluminum is costly to refine and recycling is not very energy efficient.

Steel

“So steel is an ancient frame material that weighs a ton and was retired long ago except by artisans and romantics. You can’t make a fast steel bike”

Speedvagen Steel Road Bike

The obituary for steel has been written many times over the years at yet it keeps sticking around like a bad rash after a college party.

The steel crowd loves to repeat the maxim, “steel is real”. I don’t buy that it is any more real than titanium, aluminum or Swiss cheese. A lot of steel’s big proponents can come across as elitist hipsters who like to imagine their bikes forged by magic elves in the furnaces of Mordor, like a scene from some fantasy rock song of the 70’s. But there is a reason why steel has its die hards (ouch…the puns!)

Bikes have been made of steel for 100 years, and despite the age of the technology, steel has continues to evolve to remain competitive with other frame making materials. Now, a frame maker can choose from CrMo, Reynolds 851, 951, Tru Temper OX Platinum, S3, Spirit, Life, Zona etc… these are all great steel tubes with some approaching titanium’s strength to weight ratio.

Steel is more dense and therefore the same amount of material weighs much more. Despite this, steel is very stiff. Steel holds twice the stiffness of titanium. This means steel tubes can be drawn smaller to compensate for the weight.

Steels used in bike frames can hold vastly different properties and therefore each should be looked into (not here, not now).

Basically, steels have pretty good elongation numbers and can withstand a lifetime of pedaling.

Steel can be repaired, welded, and cold set. It is durable and with proper care, it can last forever. Steel can be made light and many companies still sell fast racing bikes.

Conclusion

“So, which frame material is the best?”

Despite what marketing departments will tell you… they are all great materials that each have a lot to offer and each can be designed to deliver a whole variety of characteristics. The weight differences between quality frames from each material is so insignificant to most riders it can mean as much as a 20 second difference in a hill climb, but then the next 5 hours can be a tooth-shaking, back aching hell. The best thing is to try them all as equals and choose the one that works with you. The speed and performance will not come as much from the frame materials as from how those materials are used and the geometries they are designed with. A fast climber can be smooth and does not have to be too stiff. Long stays and space for 28c tires does not make a slower bike. Comfort will not come from the frame as much as it will come from a good set of wheels.

Bike companies pull a slight of hand. They want to move bikes and they offer some good looking deals. High zoot frames with recognized names on the gruppo, but upon closer inspection the wheels are crap. In almost every complete bike… the wheels are going to be crap. Pardon my caveman metaphor, but customers are quick to get distracted by the tits and the ass… the frame and the gruppo… and don’t notice the personality, which largely comes from the wheels. Shops are aware of this and will often adjust tire pressure to provide a desired ride. The pricier bikes will ride better and smoother with proper inflation and the lower end they will over inflate to create harshness. The saddle should also be comfortable. Brooks makes nice saddles, but Selle Italia and Fizik and others are great too. Saddles are like shoes… some just don’t fit. Geometry determines the handling characteristic… and lastly… fit. If the rider doesn’t fit the bike it’ll never feel great. Speed can come as much from comfort as stiffness. If a bike is too stiff a rider can’t take advantage of the properties. I know I go slower when overinflated. This is similar to a stiff bike with short stays.

The best thing any rider can do is to get a more efficient and stronger engine. The material can often be an excuse for one's own failings in training and conditioning. It is too easy to just blame the bike.

So go don’t discriminate and try ‘em all. Find the one that sings to you. You may be surprised what works for you.

Tour de Taiwan Stage 4

Tour de Tai...yawn!

I passed through part of the Taichung TdT route on my bike ride to work this morning behind one of the official cars.

With Taiwan as the world's greatest bicycle producer... by volume... we are proud to host a UCI sanctioned cycling event: The Tour de Taiwan. (Don't ask me why they insisted on using the French "de"... I guess it could very well be The Tour-的 Taiwan and hence implying UCI dominion over the event as stated in the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations).

Year after year I get a little excited over the event, but honestly, each year I am disappointed by the routes they choose for the stages. I understand that the Tour de Taiwan must serve a myriad of needs and mostly must satisfy local communities (and their representative who own or exact unofficial taxes over the roadside stalls) who want to make absolutely sure the "Tour" implies tourism dollars. This is savvy politics.

Each year the Tour organizers promise to better consult the local cycling community to choose better routes, but rarely do we see the evidence in the final results.

Each Tour I have the, "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate" moments. I have seen routes and places in Taiwan that would make protour cyclists feel Taiwan really is a world class destination for a UCI event. There are places that could truly demonstrate the beauty of this place and not just a tour through the old concrete boxes.

Anyone have a route they'd like to suggest for next year.

Sigh!

Maybe it is just because of the March weather.

Takashi Miyazawa won yesterday's stage 3.

David McCann of Team Giant holds the GC.

Tour de Taiwan News:

Taichung-Tunghai Night Ride: Cat Attack

I was pretty pleased with my ride tonight. I felt my stroke was strong and even and I felt my riding was more even across the board. Unfortunately, I forgot to turn on my GPS until the big hill. From occasionally glancing at my cyclometer I was mainly spinning about 14mph on the climbs and maxed out at 20mph climbing. The graph represents the ride from Dadu Shan along Xitun Rd. with a turn at Xitun Rd. and Wenxin Rd. I was doing ok jockeying through the mess on Xitun Rd. but I did have a close call with a cat.

As I was trying to sprint ahead and put some distance between myself and the traffic behind, I saw what looked like a white bag drifting across the road. In a split second the cat and I locked eyes triggering whatever a body in panic does when a cat is about to attempt a Japanese bike suicide. Visions of broken arms and hospital time spun through my head. Somehow there was no contact and I kept hammering away. The good thing about that road is that it is a great way to learn how to watch the road and choose lines to keep pace amid a pack of chaos.

When I was finally in the clear on Wenxin I had a little more space to speed up though traffic is never kind and it is easy to get boxed in or have cars slide over and slow down. Not too bad though.