5/22--Meishan Township Climb--梅山鄉

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Upward and Onward?

Seeing as the weather up in northern Taiwan is going to be a mess and I still need to get some climbing into my legs, it appears this weekend will be southward bound. If everything works out I hope we can do this hilly route without getting rained on and salvage a weekend of riding. It isn't the rain that worries me as much as descending off those hills on slick roads.

If anyone is interested or would like to meet near Douliu, let me know. We have limited vehicle space and may not be able to accommodate everyone. This should be a good warm-up for June if we can make it work.

NY Times on Crashing

The New York Times has an interesting piece today about that little fear we all have in the backs of our minds... the fear of crashing.

I have never had a... you know... c-r-a-s-h, but the fear of my last moments in the grill of a cement truck is ever present. It is a healthy fear that keeps us alive. We pay attention more and our brains often react to danger before we realize what we've seen.

I know many cyclists who have a heightened sense of perception when riding in traffic. Years of living in Taiwan makes this "Spidey Sense" extra sensitive. I don't know how many times I have visited the U.S. and flinched at cars approaching a controlled stop. You learn to anticipate what drivers will do (and they usually do the stupidest thing at the stupidest time). The only way to keep fear in check is through the confidence of practice. When we know what a crisp corner should feel like because we've done it enough times.

Still, the close calls always keep you alert.

The Perfect Climbing Bike

The Perfect Climbing Bike:

For the coming weeks I hope to do more climbing to prepare for the June ride across the Central Cross Island Highway. As I get back into climbing shape after 6 weeks in the flats, I can feel I am not as sharp as I had been before. Often, the cyclist’s first reaction is to blame the bike. The bike is too heavy, flexy, the wrong gearing, the wrong geometry.

So it got me thinking… if I were to start over and build up a bike specifically for climbing, what would I look for. Taiwan has a lot of steep grades and good climbing characteristics are definitely a plus in a bike.

First, the bike should fit really well. When riding a bike in general and especially in climbs, the body is asked to undergo some pretty hard stresses. An ill-fit bike on a climb can cause minor fitting issues to become major very quickly. The last thing anyone needs on a sustained day of climbing is your body screaming at you for having a poor center of gravity or bars that are too narrow.

Second, is stiffness in the bottom bracket and chainstays. Frame stiffness helps transfer power into motion. Though, there will be some flex, so the energy is not necessarily lost on a rigid framed bike, but this can be limited by the proper design.

A climbing bike should be as small and compact as the rider can ride. This allows a compact bike that can be pulled up hills and compensate for a forward position and out of the saddle time. A shorter TT with a longer stem can be a help on the descent.

For lighter riders a lighter bike might make a little bit of difference, but for most people, and especially larger riders, a .lb off the bike is not going to be seen in the climbing. Some people suggest relaxed geometry for quicker standing climbs, but it could be a liability later on.

The bars, stem, fork and crank arms should be strong and stiff to best handle the stress from the amount of snap and upper body work that goes into a climb. A lot of the climbing technique involves the upper body and it is easy to torque on the interface components.

A stiff set of wheels is a plus to not bounce or flex with each pedal stroke.

Lastly is gearing. For a road bike a wider range of gears at the top end would be ideal to the tight range of gears typically used in the flats. The last time I rode Taroko there was a poor guy on his first new road bike. The guys at Giant set him up for climbing on a standard 53/39 crank and an 11-23 tooth cassette in the back. Ouch! Even a lot of pros prefer the compact crankset (50/34-11-26 or 12-27). There is nothing wrong with being geared for climbing to pedal more efficiently. I don’t know how far he made it, but if he keeps it up he should have legs the size of tree trunks.

The Perfect Descending Bike:

So I got done thinking about what a fantastic climbing bike should look like… and then started thinking about the other side of the equation…what a great the descending bike would look like.

Some of what I outlined above should be factored in. A smaller bike with shorter wheelbase and stays should handle quicker in taking the corners. The rider can more easily tuck into the bike and reduce drag. An aero frame doesn’t help a lick going up, but going down it may lend an advantage. A deeper dish rim might be helpful too. A higher degree HT angle will allow for better tracking.

The Engine:

But really, the issue of a climbing bike isn’t as influenced by the bike as it is determined by the engine. Proper training, conditioning and experience will get a rider up a hill much faster than creating the perfect climbing bike.

When climbing it is good to ride with the arms open a little bit and stretched out enough to open up the lungs and diaphragm. Relax the entire upper body. We need to get the oxygen into the bloodstream and breathing kinda helps. Slower deep breaths with plenty of air helps supply the muscles with enough oxygen.

To conserve energy, the cadence should be between 75-95 rpm. Some people go faster, but you don’t want to waste energy mashing up a hill and blowing out your big muscles before you summit.

When I was a kid I would just stand and pedal to get up a tough hill. I was four feet tall and weighed nothing. Now I like to stay seated for most of the climb. A seated climb distributes the workload between the muscles better and brings the powerful glutes into play. Standing climbs can be great for short periods to rest overworked muscles, but it is far less efficient. When I find my legs tiring I point my toes up to bring my hamstrings into play.

To really become a skilled climber, you need to get out and climb. Interval training is a great way to quickly increase your climbing chops. Just go out and find a steeper hill you can ride up in 15-45 sec. then hit it as hard as you can. Then roll down and rest for 30 sec. and then do it again and again and again and again until you feel like you want to puke. It is brutal, but it works wonders.

If that doesn’t sound like a good time, then keep working hills into your rides and try to fight through them until they become easier.

The other thing to consider is using the dinner table to lighten the bike. More weight can be shaved from a bike at the dinner table than anywhere else. A little self-control and diet consciousness can really take a lot of weight off the bike. Every extra pound of fat you have on your body is one extra pound you are lugging up a hill. Those 20 extra lbs. should be imagined as cans of coke. It is like carrying a bag filled with 20 cans of coke up a hill. But spending $$$$ on a lighter bike is so much quicker and easier than losing the weight.

Lastly, if you have the money or you have somebody buying your equipment for you then the idea of a pure climbing bike could be really appealing. For most of us, we don't just climb and don't just descend. We do a variety of riding. The perfect climbing bike might not be what you want for your next century, criterioum, tour of India or Gran Fondo. A balance of characteristics is often a good thing.

The Great Northern Cross Island Tour: Join Us May 22-23

*CANCELLED!* Sorry folks! Due to weather concerns and other issues, we will have to postpone this event.

I have been conspicuously absent this weekend and sadly I couldn't do any riding. I was judging speeches (yuck!) and attending my sister-in-law's wedding... therefore I earned myself a full weekend of cycling this coming week.

May 22-23 we are planning a great social ride over the Northern Cross Island Highway. This is a fantastic trip for cyclists of all levels and abilities. For these social rides it is not about suffering or competition, but rather about spending time with good people. It is often like sharing a conversation over a beer with friends, but instead of a beer it is over a bike. I am really looking forward to seeing and riding with some great people and I am looking forward to meeting some new ones. I hope to see you all there. There is room for everyone.

* Here is a report Michael T. has posted from a previous trip. Northern Cross

Michael T. has passed along a little info on the trip for anyone interested:

1. Map of the route here.

2. Schedule
Day 1 we start at the Yongning Metro station at 7. On Saturdays certain metro stops accept bikes, please check on Friday where you can put yours on in Taipei. We'll end up in Baling at around 3, approximately 70 kilometers from Yongning. The pace will be leisurely, with stops for lunch and afternoon coffee and slushies. Plenty of time for photos, conversation, or just plain gawking. The ride consists of climbing to 400 m, dropping 200 m, then a long climb of 400 m to Baling at 600m. Dinner and sleeping at the Youth Hostel there, which has washers and dryers and room inside for the bikes. If not there, the hostel across the street.

Day 2 starts in Baling at 7 or so, depending. There is NO breakfast on this day, so breakfast must be purchased the night before in Baling. Ditto for water. If we leave much earlier, like at 5:30, we can make the $300 buffet breakfast at Mingchih Forest Park. Frankly I don't see the need. We should arrive in I-lan around/a little after lunch, plenty of small eateries there. Those of you returning to Taipei for work on monday can take train or bus from I-lan town. A small group of us will push on to Jiaoxi where we will spa, eat ice, and graze our way through the eateries of that tourist town, sleeping over to ride on Monday.

Day 3 (Optional) on Monday we take a leisurely ride up the flat, truck-choked but lovely northeast coast back to Keelung or Taipei. You more sturdy types can take the mountain roads like 9 back to Taipei.

LOGISTICS:
Non-Taipei people: I will be staying in Taipei on Friday night so I can pick up your bikes if you ship them there to me, or perhaps carry them up to Taipei in my van on Wednesday. Contact me (or through Drew from Taiwan in Cycles) privately about that.

REMINDERS:
Weather up in the mountains this time of year is as changeable as an incumbent facing electoral anger. Be sure to bring a light waterproof jacket/gear and front and rear lights in case we find ourselves riding in the dark. Long riding pants and long-sleeve riding shirts might also be a good idea. Light energy snacks are also good as there is not much food on Day 2 until we reach the outskirts of I-lan.

Michael

PS: M O'C, let people know in your organization if you like. Would
love to have you and/or compatriots along.

Another Night Loop

I finally had a chance to do my evening ride again after over a month of century rides, recovery and other events that life likes to put in the way of solid, regular training.

I was a little reticent of doing this ride after not doing it for so long. Aside from last weekend, I have hardly climbed any hills over the past six weeks. Most of my training has been paced for distance and endurance over long hours in the saddle as opposed to sprints and high-speed pack riding. I was down with nasal allergies all week and tonight my stomach was queasy. I have a bunch of work that has been stacking up and a million other excuses that I could have used to give it another few days.

I am glad I went. The speed and time was not bad considering the bad traffic hoodoo I was feeling on the road. The traffic was heavy for after 8:30pm and I had a few more close calls than I am used to. You know the kind like when you are cruising down a hill with a car on your left as a "shield car" to protect you from cars that might want to make a left in front of you and then some asshole pulls out in front of you but doesn't accelerate and when you try to avoid them a scooter driving the wrong way down the street comes right at you... you know those days... just bad traffic hoodoo. You can just feel the vibe on the roads and proceed with a bit more caution. There were also slow cars preventing me from opening up on Hsi Tun Rd. near Feng Chia University. Still, when I hit Wen Hsin Rd. I was able to push up the speed between lights. The best part was that I felt like I still had plenty left in the tank and my calves didn't threaten to cramp up. The new cleat position shifted some of the work to my glutes, hips and quads-- away from my calves. I had plenty at the end with traffic the only thing holding me back from maxing out.

Feeling... not bad! I hate this ride as much as I love it.

Distance: 21.4 km.

Average Speed: 28.3kph

Maximum Speed: 62.9kph

Time: 45.16 min.

Conditions: Meadium-Heavy Traffic

Cycling, Community and Cancer

Sometimes being a cyclist is all you need to imagine a community beyond your own direct experience. With the advent of the internet this has become easier and more dynamic. I have met many people through cycling and there are others I have never met, but as a cyclist I feel a shared sense of community. That is one of the greatest things about this sport.

Aside from this blog as an outlet I participate in some other online communities and one of these communities is full of cyclists.

In November, 2008, one of the community members disclosed that his infant son had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and we received regular updates detailing the little boy's progress and setbacks. It seemed like just as things were looking better an infection would set in and push the boy to the brink. It was also very uplifting to hear when the little boy had fought back with all his strength to eat or play with a toy.

As a community of cyclists, strangers from around the web used their available resources to raise money and awareness to help this family and others like them who are locked in the battle with cancer. Cyclists from all over donated spare parts and time to build a complete bicycle for a raffle with all donations going to the family. Two more bikes were in the works. It was wonderful to see the community rally around this family. It just always reminded me what stands behind those little nods on the road when you pass another person on a bike.

I admit at times the updates were too many and there were times I didn't want to follow this seemingly endless story. Things were looking much better a few weeks ago and after nearly losing the fight the news all seemed positive. I would just scan the post titles waiting for the announcement that the little boy was going home.

I was shocked today when his father posted a message to inform the community of the death of his son, and I actually fought back tears for people I have never met or even corresponded with directly. I could simply empathize with their fight and their deep loss.

Cancer is a terrible disease that does not discriminate by age, race or gender. I hope everyone can make a little effort to support the fight against cancer. It is especially hard to see a little boy lose the fight.

My deepest condolences.

Collin Marsh

April 23, 2008--May 12, 2010

Sugar to Attract The Ants: The Government Seeks Foreign Cycling Tourists

Lief Garrett and The Sychophants

The Focus Taiwan News Channel has just published a CNA article detailing the Ministry of Transportation and Communication's optimistic plans to woo "foreigners" to Taiwan for the purpose of bicycle tourism.

"Taipei, May 10 (CNA) Cycling holidays are a new approach through which Taiwan is promoting itself to foreign travelers, government sources said Monday.

Taiwan is known for its high quality bicycle manufacturing, and the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) is using this image in its efforts to attract visitors to explore the country using cyclist-friendly routes and integrated infrastructure, the sources said.

The Tourism Bureau under the MOTC has been working with world renowned Taiwanese bicycle maker Giant to target cyclists abroad, with Tourism Board brochures available in Giant's 2,000 stores in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Germany, along with videos showing Taiwan's scenery.

One area of particular focus is eastern Taiwan, where the mountains meet the Pacific Ocean and where a four-year project from 2009 to 2012 is under way to create a cycling network along the eastern coast, according to a Tourism Bureau press release.

Highways in the region have been improved to make them more cyclist-friendly since the project began, while five cycle routes have already been established and will be further expanded.

The Taiwan Railway Administration is also playing an important role in the government's plan, according to the press release, as cyclists are permitted to take their bikes on board certain trains, allowing them even more travel options." (By Kay Liu) ENDITEM/J

First, I would like to say I am happy there is some dialogue (...Wait! After some thought I retract this statement as I feel it is more of a monologue...) going on to expand the current cycling infrastructure beyond the current scope. Any inclusion of cycling into the discussion is a positive step. Furthermore, I obviously love cycling in Taiwan and I feel Taiwan has a lot to offer the cycling world beyond being simply a manufacturing hub. Taiwan should be regarded as a testing ground for the world's greatest bicycles. I get tired of so many cyclists fixated on touring Napa Valley or Tuscany; beautiful places and cliche. Taiwan is for some and could be to many more, a cycling paradise-- if we can get it right. This means putting together a comprehensive and integrated network of cycling routes that appeals to a variety of cyclists. It also needs to refrain from falling into the Taiwanese concept of the "Tourist Trap", where all roads lead to a sausage stand and T-Shirt counter (which might pay the local "official" an unofficial operations tax). This idea could be very, very good.

I also find the target to be very interesting. Here, "foreigner" means "caucasian" as all Asians are regarded by Chinese Nationalist ideologues as part of the "Yellow Race"... or in the words of Dr. Sun Yat-sen:

"These alien races do not number more than 10 million, so that, for the most part, the Chinese people are of the Han or Chinese race with common blood, common religion, and common customs-a single, pure race." --Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

I think Japan has a very well developed cycling culture that is in close proximity to Taiwan. The Japanese already have a generally positive sentiment toward Taiwan. The Japanese are also the big spenders when it comes to spending tourist dollars. Europeans may represent a type of validity in the cycling world. Europe has a type of classic charm that ignites the imagination. It is the land of Eddie Merckx, Fausto Coppi, Colnago, Pinarello... the Spring Classics and the Grand Tours. Europeans taking cycling vacations to Taiwan may appear to validate our worth as a great cycling nation... possibly. If it is done right. If potential cycling tourists are consulted. If there is cooperation and coordination. If a plan is taken seriously. If bikes can be safely transported at a reasonable price. If there is a little space left for a feeling of freedom and adventure. It is so crazy... that it just might work.

Still, I have my reservations and I have blogged about them here. Based on the current difficulty in coordinating and executing a cohesive network of bike routes, I think this press release may be a little premature and more political posturing than action.

Taiwan's cycling infrastructure is NOT integrated by any means, though I am aware that the R.O.C. government has a history of taking its interpretive liberties with an unsigned press release or two. From the Taiwan Review article I blogged about on April 10, and the handling of the Dunhua Rd. debacle, it is clear that Taiwan still has a long way to go to make Taiwan appealing internationally as a cycling Mecca.

According to the article above, Taiwan's East Coast is now the prime target of the government's cycling investment. According to a number of friends who have recently returned from tours down the East Coast the ride is becoming a disaster. I was actually encouraged by a few people to ride Hualien to Taidong A.S.A.P. before it becomes unrideable. The growing number of large tour busses and tourism activity directed at Chinese tourists is, I am told, making a once beautiful and serene coastal ride, a stressful disaster. The few pleasant routes along the East Coast are now limited, and the stretch from Iilan to Hualien has become even more dangerous. It is hard for me to suggest these routes to Taiwan neophytes who do not understand Taiwan's unique traffic culture.

The Conductor Who Kicked Me Off

As far as trains go...(ouch! Bad pun) I have had mixed results taking my bike on trains around Taiwan. The number of express trains with room for bicycles is limited and I have found myself waiting for a few hours for a suitable train. If a cyclist can not read Chinese, the information is simply not available to inform them when the next available train with a bicycle car will arrive. For my last trip to Hualien I left Taichung at 5:00pm and arrived in Hualien at 11:00pm for an early morning ride across the island. I spent a lot of time waiting for my "bike train". In Taipei the local trains are great with bikes, but in other places I have been met with confusion and contradiction on bike rules. In Yuan Lin I was told there were no bike trains, then I was told that there were, and then I was told that I couldn't get on, then I was told I could proceed... only to be stopped and told I couldn't take a bike on a train. I finally got on a train. It was insane and by no means convenient.

Now one thing in this article did catch my eye. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has one resource available to it that could be invaluable to promoting tourism. Railways!

I am not talking about the existing railroads that are in current use, but rather the abandoned agricultural lines of narrow gauge track that the Japanese installed during Taiwan's 50 years as a Japanese colony.

A Sugar Railroad Line (In Use Seasonally)

During Japan's colonization of Taiwan, the Japanese government initially poured an obscene amount of money into Taiwan to build up an infrastructure to help exploit Taiwan's resources for agricultural and forestry production. By 1908, the Japanese administration already had 395km of passenger rail from Keelung to Kaohsiung. Along with the passenger lines the Meiji Sugar Company, alone, laid over 3000km of narrow gauge track to transport sugar from the farmers to local refineries and then out to the major transport hubs. By 1965 Taiwan transferred from an agrarian to an industrial economy and the old agricultural lines were abandoned and many simply lie in disrepair. Many of these old lines and others like them still exist and are now owned by the central government. They create a ready-made network separate from other vehicular traffic. Many of these railways reach out to some of the distant, rural communities tourists hope to see, rather than another shopping mall-food court or T-shirt stand. This could at least be part of a solution. The drawback is that the railway infrastructure is already in place and may not require the type of meaty government contract that makes the [owners of construction companies-gravel-pits-entertainment venues-alcohol distribution and other services] a lot of money when rigging negotiating a bid. I hate to be so cynical, but experience and research overrules. There was a valiant attempt at transforming a train tunnel from Fulong to Jiao Xi, near Iilan. I have ridden this route before and it is a fantastic short cut, but incredibly dangerous. It is dark and many riders simply stop in the middle of the narrow path. There are often children weaving and stopping without warning. I was terribly afraid I would hurt a small child in there.

The Fulong Bike Tunnel

The potential is here, but I fear the execution will be flawed, premature and the funds better spent elsewhere to promote cycling. I hate having such little confidence in the central government's ability, but thus far, under the current administration I have not seen much in the way of leadership and accountability... nor have I seen much in the way of transparent government disclosure of economic projects that are touted to benefit Taiwan. For many years the Taiwan government has explored... "creative" ways to attract foreign press to the island in the hope of securing favorable stories to boost foreign tourism. Many of these efforts are thought to have ended badly. Maybe I worry too much?

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