BREAKING!!! Contador Tests Positive

Three-time Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador has tested positive for clenbuterol

OUCH!!!

Travelist: Vote For Taiwan Cycling Route

The Travelist is conducting an online poll for the "Best Cycling Routes", and Taiwan has a couple spots on the list to compete against Arizona and the Paris-Roubaix route.

If you like cycling in Taiwan, vote on it. HERE

Training Notes:

I completed my training loop in record time last night. I usually do this route solo, every Wednesday between 6:00p.m. and 7:30pm. The roads are dark and there are lots of traffic lights and traffic to wait for... with all that in consideration, the effort is pretty good.

The best part was my feeling after I warmed up. I just forgot there was a bicycle under my ass and just was concentrating on my immediate goal in front of me. The tension in my legs melted away and I was just spinning away. Glorious!

Now this performance will be the monkey on my back until I can recreate it.

Caotun Loop:

Distance: 50km/31mi.
Max Speed: 50kph/31mph
Average Speed: 32kph/20mph

Bike route 716556 - powered by Bikemap

Taiwan Tourism and Economic Cycles

Taiwan's central government has recently projected an estimated 5.2 million tourists this year, which would set a new record. The report also eyes bicycle tourism as one of the central targets of the government's tourism push.

The report states:

President Ma Ying-jeou said Saturday that the number of visitors in Taiwan is expected to reach a record 5.2 million this year, mainly because improved cross-strait relations have brought more Chinese tourists.

In the latest edition of his online video journal, Ma defended his administration's policy of allowing more Chinese tourists.

"I think I am doing the right thing, so I will continue to do it and not be afraid of criticism"

To take a more critical look at the government's claims, they have provided only partial and flattering data to support a program that smacks of ideology. I think it is plainly obvious that the Ma administration is hoping to draw speculative conclusions to draw support for its controversial policies that have degraded Taiwan's sovereignty and seek to integrate Taiwan into a political and economic Chinese state as a subordinate member.

It also appears tourism is being targeted to replace the industries in which Taiwan still retains its competitive edge; industries including high-end electronics, semiconductors, sports equipment, and high-end bicycles. It seems Taiwan is slated to become a vassal state of Chinese tourism.

In the report, government representatives also saw a rise in Malaysian visitors and seeks to attract cyclists with more independent modes of travel.

Lai attributed the steep rise to airlines increasing the number of flights between Taiwan and Malaysia. She also said many Malaysian tourists preferred to travel without tour groups, staying in guest houses or riding bicycles.

She said the Tourism Bureau planned to promote the Lantern Festival in the spring, local cuisine in the summer, cycling in the fall and hot springs in the winter.

One alternative source to the increase in tourism may be that the global economic recovery is allowing Asian tourists to seek vacations, but those vacations are less costly and closer to home.

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Taiwan Cycling Festival:

Primavera Cycles has posted a wonderful ride report in its "Newsroom", with some more details regarding the upcoming festival in Hualien next month between October 16 and October 24.

The central government hopes to attract over 10,000 foreign visitors to participate in the event, and I have been hoping to provide a little more information on the activities, but in reading the Chinese language event page from the Tourism Bureau... I am really unsure which events are open to the general public or where exactly to register for the events. Sorry guys. This is really unfortunate as I am aware of several foreign visitors who are interested in attending, but do not have access to the information. Maybe when I have a little time (which I really don't) I can sift through the Chinese information and make an English translation. Maybe not.

I think the aspirations of the central government to be a cycling tourism destination must still overcome some massive hurdles to draw tourists from all over the world and not just from Chinese speaking (reading) countries. Here we can see another event where the vision is wide, but the execution is narrow.

News Cycles:

• Virginia learns the cerebral joys of riding solo: here
• Videos from the Cyclocross USGP: here
• Allen Lim, the sports physiologist for Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis will testify (Oh please let me go to great lengths to give Taiwan ownership of him ala Michael Chang.... Lim's parents fled China at different times and met in the Philippines, then moved to Taiwan, before moving to L.A. where Allen is from. Pride of The Nation... LOL!!!): here
• Just the good ole' boys... and they mean us some harm! Kentucky driver seeks to harm cyclists: here

Cycling's Ultra-Man DEAD: 5 Time RAAM Winner Jure Robic Killed In Tragic Accident

Jure Robic, the Slovenian ultra endurance racer and five-time Race Across America winner is dead following a collision with an automobile on a mountain road just 5km. from his home.

Ride Safe!

Jure Robic

April 10, 1965--September 24, 2010

UCI Road World Championships

The 2010 UCI Road World Championships kick off this Wednesday with a series of events that will lead to the Elite Men's Finale on Sunday, October 3, in and around the Australian city of Geelong.

Unlike the grand tours, the UCI World Championships are organized around teams of competing nationality, and not by riders working for their trade team (i.e. Saxo Bank, Rabobank, Liquigas... etc.). The winner earns a medal and the opportunity to wear the UCI WCC five-color jersey for a year. Often, companies that supply the winning bike will also include the WCC emblem into their paint schemes.

This year there is still an interesting field of competitors still hungry for some kind of victory after a season of disappointment and woe.

Who to watch:

1) Mark Cavendish, the polarizing sprinter from the Isle of Man, has been making some high talk around town about taking another prize to add to his 2005 and 2008 victories. Cav has had a spotty season with several stage wins, and several self-made implosions. He often comes across as a talented, albeit whiney brat, like Luke Skywalker from the 1977 Star Wars film.

2) The Aussie and current WCC defender, Cadel Evans, is looking to earn his stripes on home soil in full view of his countrymen, and to also atone for his failures in both the Giro and the Tour de France, which he rode with a fractured wrist. Evans looked promising early in the season, but the victories never materialized. This would be a good opportunity to make things happen.

3) Andy and Frank Schleck are back to try their luck on gaining the top spot. So far they have either fallen to injuries or been left holding the bouquet.

4) The Mighty Thor Hushovd will be eagerly awaiting a chance to make Cav eat his words. Thor is another top sprinter who revels in making Cav whine.

5) The Spanish Riders are looking for Milan-San Remo winner, Oscar Freire, to add a fourth WCC to his 1999, 2000, and 2004 titles.

6) The Italians will be fielding a team headlining the young 2010 Vuelta champion, Vincenzo Nibali, to bring Italy back into the ranks of 'World's Best". The Italian teams have taken a beating in recent years, which has raised questions of Italy's commitment to a sport they once owned.

7) The Americans are putting their hopes on Tyler Ferrar, who has had some excellent sprinting victories this season, but the big wins have been elusive.

In any sense it appears to be a sprinter's race this year and it should be worth following. Link

明德水庫 Mingde Reservoir Century: 190km/119mi

Views Along The Highway 3

Today I really needed to test my legs with a long ride, so I decided to make a trip up to the Ming de Reservoir in northern Miaoli County to see where my legs are after so much down time. It was a sunny morning with patchy clouds later in the day and a northwesterly wind blowing in to take couple kph off my speed.

Dutchman's Pipe Cactus/Epiphillum Oxypetalum Cactaceae

I have done this route before, and it is one of my all-time favorites. The ride combines flats, climbing, descents and urban riding. There are beautiful mountains, rollers, lakes, streams, pastures and oceanscapes. More importantly, the roads are absolutely beautiful. It is really the "perfect century ride" if there ever is one.

Some Nice Rigs Out Today

I first did this ride as part of my project to do five centuries in four weeks, and I was blown away by the entire scope of the ride. Upon leaving Taichung and Fengyuan, I just stayed on the rolling hills of the Highway 3, all the way up to Shih Tan. This stretch is a lot of fun and you can really push the speeds up above 50kph for spurts from the Liyu Reservoir to Dahu and beyond.

I was making good time, but I have ridden the same stretch of road much stronger in the past.

Shih Tan 7-11

At Shih Tan, there is a great little spot outside the 7-11 to chill out, eat, and prepare for the next leg of the trip. While I was there a group from Taoyuan arrived coming off the Miaoli Local 124.

I had actually met one of the riders on a previous trip. We said our surprised greetings and I was off again toward the Ming de Reservoir on the Miaoli Local 126.

Climbing To Mingde Reservoir

I have to state here and now that the 126 is one of my favorite roads ever. Although the climb started at about the 80km mark in my trip, the grade is completely doable. It is a gentle rise up over a deep river valley. The views are amazing (the pictures just don't do justice), and moreover, the road looks as if they had cycling in mind when they built it. It is one of the widest and smoothest mountain roads I have ever ridden. There are rapid descents with banked curves, and clean, well manicured shoulders with decorative flowers. Most of all... there is almost no automobile traffic. I love it. Ride it!!!

Sparkling Waters

The 126 lets a rider cruise along the inlets and islets of the reservoir. The entire area has been transformed into a wetland full of egrets, cranes and other wildlife.

Fishin'

The Banks of the Mingde

I was happy to see the reservoir was so full. It was absolutely brimming with the tears this cyclist has shed over the September rains that have ruined most of his monthly riding schedule.

A Good Sign

The entire route through the reservoir is a designated cycling path and there are several alternatives for riders to explore the entire area.

By the time I left the reservoir I was feeling worse than usual. I couldn't understand where my energy had gone or if the wind was having any bearing on my performance. My butt was getting sore and I just couldn't keep a strong pace.

I stopped at a fruit stall for a banana, and then sat at the 7-11 for a while over a gel and some juice. That gave me just enough energy to climb the hill out of Miaoli and find enough energy to make it to the Miaoli Local 119, which appears just before Tongluo. The 119 is another one of my favorite roads. It rolls down out of the hills under a tunnel of shady trees and out to the Highway 1.

Xihu Government Housing

I took a few minutes to check out a strange, seemingly out of place little neighborhood of government dormitories for the nearby agricultural center. These lonely modernist houses just sort of sit there in the middle of nowhere. Just odd.

I finally took the Highway one back toward home. The Highway 1 is one of Taiwan's ugliest roads... except around this place. From Xihu to Tongxiao, the Highway 1 hugs the coast offering a wealth of seaside views. There are plenty of sections where a cyclist can make up some time on a poor showing earlier in the day.

After the big hill climb that awaits just after the 119 ends, I started to gain precious speed. I was keeping a solid pace around 40kph. This pace carried me to Dajia, where I stopped one last time for an ice cream bar, and then powered my way to Shalu, where I decided to make the hill climb over Dadu Shan to Taichung.

Residential Taiwan?

I made a respectable effort up the hill to Dadu Shan and then, in a burst of raw energy, I mounted a standing attack on the final third of the hill. I felt as though I had just started out. It was amazing.

I crested the hill and made my way down the other side. Just before the Tunghai market soem asshat decided he would try to recover a missed turn and cut across traffic right in my way. I did a little fishtail as I tried to avoid an accident. The simmering tension of a full day of riding and working my ass off in the saddle only to have that happen already had me on edge. Then I saw the guy smiling and laughing with his buddy about it... and I guess it made me go a little ape over things. Enough said. I'm sure he thought he was going to die as much as I had earlier.

I cut through the Industrial District and made it home bounding with energy. I felt much better. I hope to get a few more of these long rides in as I build back into form. I would like the whole ride to feel like the last third of this one.

Lastly, I would like to encourage all of you Taiwan cyclists to try these roads out. They are really that good.

Also:

Don't forget to check out Joe Friel's fourth installment in his series about cycling and aging. here

Crank Arm Length and Efficiency

I recently came upon this wonderfully wonky blog that focuses more on competitive cycling and how to record rides for posterity... but it also has a lot of useful information for any cyclist. This topic on crank arm length and efficiency is particularly interesting. One important note is to remember that efficiency and speed do not necessarily correspond. So when the study says 1:60 RPM is the most efficient cadence, that does not mean it is the fastest.