My Introduction To Cycling: Tyke Bike

An Ad for the Tyke Bike

Inspired by Darryl at Lovingthebike, I instantly remembered my first experience with my own machine of me-powered locomotion. The leopard spot seat and foxtails.... Yup, pretty pimp for a 2yo!

The imprint our early experiences with bicycles last a lifetime. I still have flashbacks to childhood when I hit a trilling curve or outrun a dog. The same feelings of freedom and independence linger. I can't wait to get back on the saddle.

Cycling When I'm In Heat... and Humidity.

Cooling and Refueling

It is mid-summer in Taiwan, which means the weather is both hot and humid.

I make no secret of my love for long, long, long, endurance rides and in pushing myself to the limits of fatigue. The way this year seems to be shaping up, I should be able to put together several rides over 160km. Lately I have been experimenting with rides in the 200km range with plans for longer as my strength and fitness increase.

The question I get asked a lot by cyclists and non-cyclists alike is how I can possibly put in that type of distance in such extreme temperatures in excess of 35C/95F. My usual response is, "With awesome 70's tan lines."

I really don't mind riding in the heat as much as I mind riding against the wind. Still, hot weather riding requires proper training and preparation to be done safely. The greatest danger to high temperature athletes are the effects of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If left untreated these conditions could be fatal to an endurance athlete.

It is common to hear people scream heat stroke whenever they feel a little discomfort out in the sun, but actually heat stroke or hyperthermia is a term used to describe the body's inability to cool itself when the natural temperature controls, such as perspiration, shut down. What a person may be feeling are the minor effects of heat exhaustion.

Heat Exhaustion:

Heat exhaustion is the result of dehydration. The body has exhausted its supply of H2O reserved for sweating and can not allocate any more water for temperature control without affecting the vital organs.

Some typical signs of heat exhaustion include:

thirst

weakness

cramping

nausea

headaches

lightheadedness

excess sweating

weakness

Now, as athletes, we have probably all felt these symptoms while training and it does not necessarily mean we are suffering from heat exhaustion. We will, now and again, get a little dehydrated out in the elements. That is natural. Cramping can also be caused by a variety of factors beyond heat as well. Still, these are symptoms to be aware of while on the road.

Heat Stroke:

With heat stroke the body loses its ability to regulate its core temperature through sweat or radial heat and starts to shut down. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention and may lead to cardiac arrest and death.

Symptoms:

Nausea

Disorientation

Extreme Fatigue

Inability to Sweat

Hallucinations

Rapid Breathing

Seizures

Coma

Red Skin

Riding in the heat will not necessarily lead to these symptoms if it is done with right with a healthy dose of awareness and caution. I have returned from some very long rides in temperatures exceeding 35º C with a temperature at statistically normal or unchanged (Though I am slightly hypothermic).

For riding in Taiwan's heat and stifling humidity I deploy a combination of tactics to ensure a long, safe ride at maximum power.

1. Training: My first summer of riding in Taiwan's heat was an eye opener. I didn't know what I needed to do it right. I built my bike up and it was ready to ride by the beginning of June, I think. It took all summer to get used to it and I did experience some extreme headaches upon coming home. I would do 40-50k, come home and crash on the couch. My body simply wasn't used to working in the heat. It takes acclimation time to be ready for the high temperature and a lot of good fitness to resist working too hard. Ease into the temperature with several incrementally longer rides in the heat until you can do several hours comfortably. It takes 7-10 days to build up your blood plasma for the heat.

2. Liquids: Drinking water is a no-brainer. As lame as it sounds to most roadies, a Camelbak might be a good investment for long, summer rides. They can hold more liquids and don't require too much effort for the occasional sip. I also like to drink water to FIN sport drink at a 2:1 ratio to ensure I can resupply my body with electrolytes. Sport drinks have a higher concentrate of sodium and potassium that help with the body's natural electrical conduction and replace the electrolytes lost in sweat. The added sodium helps the body retain water better than straight water to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion. I like FIN better as it is not as sugary as Supau or Pocari. If you have two water bottles, one could be water and one sport drink. It is ok to stop for water. Drink before you get thirsty. Maxim: Cash is lighter than water.

Occasionally, I like to use a bottle of water to dump over my head for cooling. This helps bring my temperature down and wash the salt off my face. There have been several times I have come home looking like a margarita glass. The salt on my skin just pulls the moisture right out.

In Taiwan we are lucky to have hydration available nearly everywhere, but it can take a little more planning in some of the more remote mountain areas. Politically I choose Family Mart over 7-11, but I take whatever I can get when I need liquids. Taiwan also has a wonderful network of betel nut stands that sell water, sport drink and other refreshments if you need them in a pinch.

It is also a good thing to start your hydration program a day or two early to ensure the body is saturated with fluids before the ride. That may mean waking up in the middle of the night to pee a couple times, but it mitigates the natural dehydration that occurs through perspiration and respiration during sleep. Don't over do it and wash out all your electrolytes. Sweating is a good sign, so be sure to keep it up.

3. Ventilation: Always try to wear something that allows airflow over the skin. For men, a full zip jersey can be opened up and allow the maximum benefit from sweating. A helmet with more holes the better. Of course the less helmet you buy... the more money you spend. Proper cycling clothing works best. Some people like to bring a handkerchief to wipe away the salts. Others like to wear full hot weather arm covers and leggings to protect against the UV rays and some people say it is actually cooler.

4. UV Protection: I always bring a bottle of waterproof sunscreen in my jersey pocket and although I get the sexy 70's tan lines, I don't get burned. I also need to remember to apply it to my head. There have been days I have felt spots of soreness on my head and found burn marks where the sun penetrated the holes of my helmet. Doh!

5. Nutrition: I try to eat a high carb, high sodium meal the night before a long ride to fill my glycogen and electrolyte stores before I ride. For breakfast I usually have a couple bananas for potassium and tums for magnesium. I take along a few granola bars for nutrition and sodium, but if I need to get water I like to get an occasional bag of Tong Yi Instant Noodles (統一麵). The instant noodles are portable, high carb and extremely high in sodium. They make a perfect snack for the heat. Eat before you get hungry.

6. Mental Preparation: Mentally prepare for the heat. Understand it will be hot and get over it. Keep the mind busy and push the heat out of mind.

Other Options:

If you really don't feel ready to ride in the heat of the day, there is plenty of heat and humidity at night. A good, hard, regular night ride can be a great way to build and maintain endurance while getting used to the heat. I actually love the relative coolness of the night rides. It is a good idea to get eyewear with clear lenses to protect against nighttime insects. There are fewer cars and a good light makes you easier to spot.

Tan lines are sexy

Cycling Around The News

*Taiwanese couple and French couple meet to cycle Australia. Check out the difference in gear. Except for those gawdawful handlebars the Taiwanese couple has it right.

* The CNA through Taiwan Focus reports on a group of Taiwanese indigenes who are embarking on a cycling trip to circumvent Taiwan. The report states:

The Tsou youths will practice writing and taking pictures to chronicle their cycling trip.

This is a very good example of living indigenous culture rather than the forced traditionalism we are used to. By forced I mean it is often not accepted as indigenous by non-indigenes unless it is framed in a traditional context.

*Taiwanese students are manipulated into a propaganda tour of Tibet with some very troubling political undertones by helping to assert Chinese hegemony over the area. Here.

*Cycling Satin Cesena has an interesting write up and response on ECFA from an industry insider's perspective. My opinion is that the economic effects will be marginal but the political motivations behind the deal may be more malevolent in nature... or to paraphrase a comment I saw elsewhere... "It is not the candy, but the stranger in the van."

Tour News:

After a Prologue Time Trial in which Lance Armstrong finished a surprising 4th place, Stage 1 could only be described as a festival of carnage. Slippery roads on some tricky descents turned the peloton into a meat grinder with many of the major GC contenders hitting the deck. Garmin-Transitions team leader Christian Vande Velde was forced to withdraw from the TdF with broken ribs following a crash. This leaves Tyler Farrar in the driver's seat.

Overall:

• 1. Sylvain Chavanel, Quick Step, 10:01:25
• 2. Fabian Cancellara, Team Saxo Bank at 2:57
• 3. Tony Martin, Team HTC-Columbia at 03:07
• 4. David Millar, Garmin-Transitions at 03:17
• 5. Lance Armstrong, Team RadioShack at 03:19
• 
  

Oh! And now Frank Schleck is out with a broken collarbone after stage 3. Armstrong flatted and lost about a minute on his main competition. Another rough day on the tour with the Mighty Thor taking the sprint finish.

台中--頭份--台中 (220km) Wind is a 4 Letter Word.

Morning Light

Sunday morning I decided to do another long ride, so I figured I would head up Highway 3 to Toufen at the northernmost edge of Miaoli County. I felt fit enough from last weekend's 201km and I wanted to do another ride over 200km to test my fitness.

Rays of Hope

I figured on another weekend of intense heat and humidity and had made all the proper preparations. I decided to leave early in the morning to get a few more kilometers out of the way before it got real hot. Still, I forgot my stash of granola bars and ended up having to eat when I stopped to get water. On a long ride this is not necessarily a good thing as you should be putting food in your mouth about once an hour, or before you get hungry.

Pests!

I started making time up the Highway 3 and my legs were beginning to warm up. I still feel it takes too long, though. There were few cars out all morning and the majority of traffic seemed to be those BIG motorcycles. I think I ran into three or four big-bike jamborees on my route. After a dozen of the screaming pests buzzed me at a distance that was too close for comfort, I am sure they all met up and bitched about how dangerous people in cars drive.

This guy got soooo laid in 1984

As I cut through the rolling hills of Miaoli I was getting a good push from a pretty strong wind from the S.E. It was enough to cause me to correct my balance on occasion and I knew nothing comes for free. I took full advantage of the tailwind and the scenery was gorgeous. I arrived in Toufen in three hours and some change. The thing about a tailwind is that you still push yourself to go faster, and thus, still use energy.

Toufen

As soon as I broke off the Highway 3 to the Miaoli County Rd. #124, my speed dropped by nearly half. I was using the same amount of energy to go half as far. It was time to pay the piper.

I pushed against the wind until the junction between the Highways 13, and 1. Improvisation is not always a good thing on a long ride as the unknowns can lead to disaster. Here, I took a chance and took the hillier Highway 13, which goes through Sanyi. I thought I would see if the hills would provide some form of barrier and mitigate some of the force of the wind. I figured the coastal route, although flat, would be more of a fight against the wind.

I took the Highway 13 on a gorgeous route near the Mingde Reservoir. It was hilly and that was no problem, but I soon discovered the route was as windy as any other and if I stayed on it I would have both wind... and hills.

Cow Art

After climbing on the Highway 13 out of Miaoli city there was no reprieve on the descent. The wind was just too strong and I had to do my best to keep my momentum going down hill. I passed several students from Taipei who were going loaded up for a tour to Changhua. It is always nice to see young people out biking and enjoying what Taiwan has to offer. Unfortunately, they were struggling against the wind as much as I was.

I decided my gamble was just not worth the price and I detoured along the Miaoli Local Rd. #119. This is one of my personal favorite roads. It cuts through a river valley and links up to the Highway 1. The scenery could be described as "Pastoral Formosa."

View From Highway 1

Upon hitting the Highway 1 I found the wind to be just as strong as anywhere. My speed was cut nearly in half from my normal average. If I hadn't been passing every other group of cyclists I would have thought I had bonked. At times the wind was like taking blows to the face. The constant mashing to make headway was demoralizing and it was taking a toll.

I met up with a young couple biking to Taichung at a 7-11 and later caught them on the road. I made small talk and offered to make a pace line to give everyone a rest... mainly thinking of myself, but offering to lead for a while. The guy seemed to feel threatened by my presence around his girlfriend and declined the offer, and thus we all continued into the wind at maximum effort.

It seemed to be taking forever to get home, but little by little home was getting closer. The wind had beaten the hell out of me for 100km and I was ready to go home and lie down.

I finally crawled up the stairs and called it a messy victory. 137mi/220km!

Bike route 573516 - powered by Bikemap

Is Cheaper Better?

With ECFA signed, the boat loads of money should be arriving at the docks any minute. An article in Bicycle Retailer paints a pretty rosy picture of the situation.

"The agreement appears to have little if any impact on pricing for bicycles made for overseas consumption in the U.S., Europe or other nations—at least for now. Currently, Taiwan-made parts shipped to China for assembly on exports arrive through a duty free zone.

Pat Cunnane, president and CEO of Advanced Sports Inc, said the company and its manufacturing partner, Ideal Bike Corporation with facilities in Taiwan and China, could benefit from the sweeping trade agreement. “It will bring down costs of bikes in China that are made in Taiwan and it makes it easier for Taiwanese companies to sell in China,” he said.

Bonnie Tu, Giant Manufacturing’s chief financial officer, told the Financial Times the agreement could help the company better manage its production. Giant has factories in Taiwan and China. Giant builds its high-end bikes, particularly carbon fiber, in Taiwan. Lesser value models are made in China.

“If there is no tax issue, we can really integrate our factories and shuffle production as we like,” Tu said. “China’s economy of scale for high-end bicycles could be really big,” she added.

Cunnane said the future impact of the trade agreement doesn’t appear to offer either nation a major competitive advantage in the bicycle market. But the continued thaw in relations between the island nation of 23 million and its much larger rival is significant."

On a news report tonight, bicycle retailers were interviewed and mentioned they would now be free to sell more bicycles that are made in China. The average price is estimated to drop by at least NT3000 for the Chinese models. This is excellent for the large manufacturers like Giant, but it puts greater pressure on the smaller shops to provide value. No wonder King Liu has gotten so cozy with Ma.

The news report estimated ECFA costing 150,000 jobs.

Chasing The Malliot Jaune

Ok! The TdF kicks off with the Prologue Saturday night (Taiwan Time).

How can you watch the action?

Some tips HERE!

Memorial: R.I.P. Jiang Wei-jing [江瑋菁]

Taichung's cycling community lost a young, talented rider last week. Ms. Jiang Wei-jing died from injuries sustained during a contact crash in the Federation Stage 6- YunLin Road Race on June 20 .

I did not know Ms. Jiang personally and so I am a little cautious about writing this, but as a fellow cyclist and Taichung resident I can't help but feel saddened that another good, passionate rider and person is now gone and my heart goes out to those who did know her. These things always ripple through our ranks.

As members of a greater community of cyclists I hope we can lookout for ourselves and for others when we are out on the roads.

As human beings we are inherently fragile in this world and with a little determination and a bicycle, we are capable of doing some incredible things. We can propel ourselves to some amazing speeds and climb to some of the highest points, but we are still weak in the greater scheme of things.

Please ride safely and wear your helmet at all times. Please!

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A Facebook Memorial Page has been established for Ms. Jiang here