Taiwan Bike Plan B: A New Direction?

After a bit of confusion over the warrantee on my old bike, it appears all systems are go for a replacement frame. Once everything is finalized, I will surely blog on the bikes, the process and some of the help I have received.

As far as my NEW BIKE is concerned, the frame and fork were shipped via Fed-Ex on February 18, and it should arrive at any time. I officially submitted my order on January 24th and a new, fully custom frame was shipped by February 18th. Not bad!

Shimano Ultegra 6700

I am now confronted with some tough decisions as far as my components are concerned. I was offered a great deal on Shimano Ultegra 6700, but to paraphrase Zira from Planet of the Apes... "but it's so damned ugly!" The whole futurama look of the crank and clunky grips just doesn't feel right.

Campagnolo Athena

Campagnolo Chorus

Campagnolo Centaur

There is Campagnolo, which provides a whole new set of problems as the top tier groups are all 11 Speed. No, they couldn't just make 10 better... they had to turn it up to 11. These groups are all covered in carbon fiber. Black. Elegant, but black. The Athena group was downgraded to a 10spd last year and back to 11 this year, and comes in silver alloy, which looks ok, but seems less refined and 100g heavier than the Ultegra. They have Centaur, but Centaur is limited in cassette choice. Not a lot for mixing climbing with flats. It looks nice though. It is Campy's 105.

SRAM Red

SRAM Force

I could always think about SRAM. Red is supposed to be really great, but is the wrong look. Force and Rival look ok, but has a lot of painted black.

None of the groups that would make a great Ultegra replacement seem to work with the build I am going for.

Shimano is reliable, Camagnolo has the crisp mechanical shifting and you know which cog you are on by touch. SRAM is inexpensive with Double Tap.

GADS!!!

Comfort is the first priority and thus I need to be sure whichever system I use works with my hands. Function is next. Last, but not least would be looks. You can always say it is about the function of the parts, but something has to be said about feeling good about the way your bike looks.

What I do love is the fact that each gruppo reflects the aesthetics and values of the companies and their home countries.

Tour de Taiwan Schedule (English)

David Reed has done an excellent job translating the schedule for the upcoming Tour of Taiwan, which kicks off this March, and I am grateful for David allowing me to post the info.

It is always fun to welcome the pros in this UCI sanctioned race, and by the looks of things it is similar to other TdT events in the past. I would love to be in charge of the route mapping, but I understand there are seasonal and political considerations that take precedent over amazingly awesome routes.

So if you have a chance to catch some of the action going through you area, be sure to don the El Diablo suit and put on the antlers.

The Chinese language page is here.

Here is the Translation (Sorry, I can't make it fit on the page).

My First Road Bike: The Daily Bubble Tea Is All Grownsed Up!

I would normally rather spend a sunny Sunday afternoon riding through Taiwan's hills, dropping through valleys and beating my legs unto useless appendage of throbbing pain.

Normally...

Unless I have the opportunity to shop for bicycles vicariously through others.

This time it was my friend Todd from the Daily Bubble Tea. If you ever have the chance to browse his website, you will see some work by one of the most gifted photographers I have ever met.

Buying bikes can be intimidating and it can be very difficult to transition from the Schwinn Pixie of your youth, to the full-on trappings of a modern road bike. Everything from the drop bars, gear ratios and braking systems can be confusing. Throw in the deliberate marketing nonsense companies propagate to sell bikes, and it can be impossible to feel confident in making the right purchase.

Some simple questions to ask:

• What is my budget? (It is good to be willing to be flexible as to avoid buyer's remorse).
• What kind of rider am I... really?
• What kind of riding do I do now and how is that likely to change in the next few years as I improve?
• How will my bike be used? (utility, commuting, racing, touring, fitness)
• What do I like and what don't I like about my current bike? If you don't have a current bike then take your time to test how bikes feel.
• How long and how often do I expect to use my bike?
• What are my goals for riding?

I recently saw a post on a cycling forum where a guy was asking about ditching his relaxed entry level road bike (triple crank) for another relaxed entry level road bike (triple crank) for use in Time Trials, Criterium Racing and Triathlons. (Wrong tool for the job)

Too often bike shops are too eager to move merchandise and do not listen to the customer. They will dictate to the customer what the customer wants. In many Giant retailers where the sales staff is often relatively new to the sport, I have seen some serious lapses in trying to provide the customer with the bike they are looking for.

Neophytes are also struck by the sticker shock of what a bike costs these days. For a road bike the price can range from NT 18,000 to NT 400,000. A solid, lower budget, lower-end bike for casual fitness and riding should be between NT 25,000 to NT 60,000. That is not to rule out an old iron "ama" bike for really cheap, if it fits your purpose. The level of engineering that goes into modern bicycles is astounding.

Todd went in with a budget of around NT 50,000.

Todd Tries A Small Climb

For Todd, he was coming off a bohemoth of a mountain bike that weighed a ton. The mountain gearing was great for his steep climbs around Wufeng, but the whole set-up was pretty inefficient for longer fitness rides and road touring. Another one of Todd's problems was that he is 193cm tall. Most of the larger bicycles are sent overseas and Taiwan maintains stocks of road frames between 45-54cm. I find this surprising as there are plenty of tall Taiwanese guys out there. I have been told by several retailers that ordering a larger frame from abroad can often take 6 months.

Tester

Michael Turton and I joined Todd on a shopping expedition around Taichung. After starting our day with coffee at Terry's, where we ran into Matthew, an accomplished cyclist in Taichung, we made our way to visit Rocky at T-Mosaic. Rocky properly sized Todd and found a solid set of Kinesis bikes that would fit Todd's size, needs and budget. At the same time Michael tried out the buttery smooth ride and fit of Mosaic's steel TYA branded bikes for shorter people.

We then checked out a few other stores that were closed before checking in with Specialized. Specialized came up with an off-year Tricross and off-year carbon Roubaix Pro within Todd's budget.

After Specialized we hopped in the van and went to Warehouse 185 to visit James Murray and see what he could do. James is also tall and understands the difficulty in finding a bike.

At Warehouse 185, both Michael and I had the pleasure of meeting Philip, a loyal reader of both our blogs. Philip is busy building up a project with the theme of having no logos-- A Stealth Bike weighing 5.9kg.

James introduced Todd to the house brand bike, which is sold abroad under a well-known brand name. It is an alloy frame with carbon stays. It is designed as a good all-rounder. The selling point was that Todd could pick up the bike fully outfitted with SRAM Apex.

Apex has recently swept onto the scene as a viable alternative to the road triple. Apex offers a compact crank (50/34 front chain rings) with a rear cassette offering cogs that range from 11-34 teeth. Although the jumps between cogs are greater, they provide an excellent option for neophytes who wish to climb without the mechanical complexity of having three chainrings. Apex also offers SRAM's patented double tap shifting system, which has received raves.

We took the bike out on a tester, which was a bit small, and had no problems. James explained everything clearly, which gave Todd enough confidence in the ride and the after sale service.

Todd was sold. He even managed to go under budget to save some cash for clipless pedals, cycling shoes and other accessories.

The components are exactly what Todd was looking for and suit his riding. If he ever wants to upgrade, he can easily do so. Apex is an excellent system for all types of bikes and the frame should put Todd in a better position to take advantage of his strengths.

I am happy to see someone get a bike they are happy with. It is always good when someone gets a new bike.

Special thanks to Rocky and especially James for his help.

James at 185 did a fantastic job of working with Todd on getting all set up for a new ride.

James, Michael and Philip watch Todd discover road bikes

Janet Hsieh Wants You To Go East

If Janet of Fun Taiwan wants you to ride the East Coast, you better just do it.

From the CNA:

Cyclists visiting eastern Taiwan to get certificates

02/18/2011 (CNA)

The Tourism Bureau said Friday that it will hold a series of events on the country's east coast to promote eco-friendly traveling and community awareness by presenting certificates to those who visit the area by bicycle.

The campaign will kick off March 26 with two biking tours of 100 km and 200 km, respectively. The routes, starting from Taitung County's Jialulan Recreation Area famous for its driftwood art, the bureau said, will allow cyclists to visit scenic spots such as Sansiantai and the Basian Caves.

Other events to be held April 30, May 14, 21 and 28 will feature travel on Green Island, which lies off the Taitung County coast. The bureau will also hand out certificates to participants who visit the island with their bicycles.

Janet Hsieh, ambassador of the campaign and presenter of Discovery Channel's "Fun Taiwan" program, said the tours appeal to her as they offer both mountain and ocean scenery at the same time "without too much physical exertion."

"It's like you've gone to an island paradise," she said. "And if you think about it, Taiwan is an island and Taitung is a paradise."

Australian Man Bikes Taiwan To Raise Funds For Charity

Andrew Bonello of Melbourne, Australia will embark on a bicycle journey around Taiwan to raise money for The Garden of Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of all kinds of physical and sexual abuse. Sexual and domestic abuse/battery is often under reported in Taiwan in cultural deference to the family, and thus it is even more important to raise awareness for the types of services that are available to victims.

Cycling Taiwan for charity is an excellent way to raise support, awareness and funds for any cause. The Clatterbridge Foundation had a very successful trip earlier in the year to raise money for cancer research. I hope Mr. Bonello can see the same level of outreach.

If anyone is interested in supporting Mr. Bonello or would like to follow him on his ride, you can contact him at his website here.

Itinerary:

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...I will embark on a 2 week journey cycling around this AMAZING country, in the name of a great cause, AND a great adventure!

Saturday FEBRUARY 19th, AT 9am, starting AT Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall - My ride around the island begins.

I hope you will join me if you can, if you feel fit enough, if you feel like having a lot of fun, for an hour, a whole day, a whole week, or even two!

If not, please try to support my chosen charity: The GARDEN OF HOPE foundation; supporting the woman and children of our wonderful world, sadly affected by sexual abuse, trafficking, and domestic violence..
http://www.goh.org.tw/english/
http://www.goh.org.tw/iso/main.asp

MY CYCLE ROUTE PLAN ~ 我的計劃 :

• 19 FEB: 09am Taipei [Chiang Kai Shek Mem. Hall main gate] >>> Hsinchu City
• 台北 [中正紀念堂大門] >>> 新竹市
• 20 FEB: 09am Hsinchu Train Station >>> Miaoli City
• 新竹 [火車站] >>> 苗栗市
• 21 FEB: 09am Miaoli Train Station >>> Changhua City
• 苗栗 [火車站] >>> 彰化市
• 22 FEB: 08am Changhua Train Station >>> Chiayi City
• 彰化 [火車站] >>> 嘉義市
• 23 FEB: 09am Chiayi Train Station >>> Tainan City
• 嘉義 [火車站] >>> 台南市
• 25 FEB: 09am Tainan Train Station >>> Kaohsiung City
• 台南 [火車站] >>> 高雄市
• 26 FEB: 08am Kaohsiung Train Station >>> Fonggang Town
• 高雄 [火車站] >>> 風港
• 27 FEB: 08am Fonggang Station >>> Taitung City
• 風港站 >>> 台東市
• 01 MAR: 09am Taitung City >>> Changbin Town
• 台東 [火車站] >>> 長濱
• 02 MAR: 08am Changbin Station >>> Hualien City
• 長濱站 >>> 花蓮市
• 04 MAR: 09am Hualien City >>> Su-Ao Town
• 花蓮 [火車站] >>> 蘇澳
• 05 MAR: 08am Su-Ao Station >>> Rueifang City
• 蘇澳站 >>> 瑞芳市
• 06 MAR: 09am Rueifang City >>> Taipei [Chiang Kai Shek Mem. Hall main gate]
• 瑞芳 [火車站] >>> 台北 [中正紀念堂大門]

Bike For Taiwan: Taiwanese Exercise Bicycle Diplomacy in Japan

A group of Taiwanese have just embarked on a diplomatic mission to Japan in the hopes of encouraging the Japanese Diet to draft and pass a Japanese Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), similar to the one which was signed into law in the United States following the United States aptly extending full diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of China in 1979.

The TRA outlines the position of the United States in regard to Taiwan's security in the face of Chinese aggression.

In the wake of the Chinese military build-up and several provocative moves by China to challenge Japanese claims to sovereignty over the Senkaku Islets and other territorial waters, a Japanese TRA would create a legal link between Japanese security interests and a non-Chinese Taiwan.

The group calling itself, Bike For Taiwan, aims to use cycling to spread their message around Japan.

I will let the group speak for themselves below:

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Website and information here.

Cheer us on, ride for a independent and free Taiwan. Bike for Taiwan takes place in Japan this year!

Description:
The First purpose of Bike for Taiwan this year is to support the normalization of Japan – Taiwan relations. Furthermore we support the creation of a Japanese version of the “US Taiwan Relations Act”. The Taiwan side will be composed of the a Taiwanese cycling team taking it to the streets petitioning the Japanese people support stronger friendship and to push for the normalization of relations between the two nations.The cycling team members will be introduced on Valentines day, February 14th at new Taipei 101 (exact location to be announced) at Lin iHong’s office along with announcements of activities and schedules. For the next two weeks the cycling team will bike all over Japan spreading the message of peace and friendship.

Mission:

First, we welcome and support members of the Japanese diet that are considering the establishment of a Japanese version of the United States’ Taiwan Relations Act. We hope to express the strong support from the Taiwanese people for this bill and have signatures of support from prominent Taiwanese.

Secondly, we hope that this act would result in closer Japan – Taiwan ties and the eventual normalization of relations considering the long peaceful historical and geopolitical ties.

Third, we also hope to bring it to the attention of the Ma administration. The Ma Administrations’ “Flexible Diplomacy” strategy entails flexibly kow-towing China’s demands but seems designed to neglect relations with other nations, thus placing Taiwan’s democratic future solely in China’s hands. We believe actual flexible diplomacy should entail developing relations with everyone especially our neighbors, not just the Chinese government, giving Taiwan the most options for it’s future.

Press Contact:
Chen Shaoting 0935-211012 (If calling from abroad please dial 011-886-935-211-012)

How can you help?

Support and join the ride for Taiwan by buying a commemorative T-shirt.

We need your support, get a special long-sleeved sw

So far the amount fundraised is not enough to cover the entire 14 day trip.

Order the Bike for Taiwan commemorative T-shirt

1) Single commemorative T-shirt is 1,500 NT + 70 NT, available in four sizes; XL, L, M, S.
2) Transfer money to E. Sun Bank, Zhongshan Branch (Branch Code 808), 0417-968-036-281) made out to the Lin party.
3) Transfer by remittance account and fax it to 02-2758-6285 as a check, also e-mail limithong@gmail.com
4) Please email or fax your full name, phone number, shipping address, and appropriate delivery time.
5) We’ll send out the t-shirts as soon as we get them.

You can follow their progress on Facebook

The 137 to Davale and Back (151km)

In preparation for a lengthy post I have in the works, I decided to push my luck with the weather and make a loop through Douliu in Yunlin County.

I started out having to change my inner tube as the patch I had used last week was slowly leaking. I replaced the tube with another lying around... only to discover it was the leaky tube from Thursday (Lesson: get rid of leaky tubes). I changed the flat less than a kilometer from home and continued on my way.

With all the delays I decided to save time at the expense of a little fatigue by going straight up the Highway 74, which does a direct shot over Bagua Shan, in Changhua. My goal was to hook up with Route 137 on the other side and ride down to an area near Er Shui, which had been known as the village of Davale during the period of Dutch colonization and administration.

I found the area I needed to find and met some locals. After an enlightening discussion with several people, I headed out past one of the few recreational bikeways I really like. The Ershui Bikeway is actually a really nice trail that goes around the base of Xiang Shan to Mingjian. It follows the old railroad through some great farm country.

I still had some work to do on my bike-top ethnographical tour and so I headed toward Douliu 斗六.

In Douliu I cut through town and made my way down Taiping Street; a street of restored Japanese era buildings that has been turned into a shopping district with little boutiques and shops.

What I really enjoyed about this street is that it was a restoration and not a project where they replace the originals with a facsimile and then sell tourist goods.

Aside from the uniform signs outside the shops, the facades were painted and restored to give a glimpse of how Douliu may have looked during the 1920's and 1930's.

The most remarkable part is that these old buildings were allowed to continue to function as living retail space and not as tourist kitsch.

For more on the restoration of Japanese Era Taiwan, you can read an earlier post here.

As I left Douliu, I had to investigate another site under the bridge to Dounan. Nearby a work crew was busy harvesting potatoes.

It was soon time to turn into the wind for a long ride up the Highway 1 back home. Despite the effort, the going was slow. I had to just bear down and take the body blows from the headwind.

Closer to Changhua a very light drizzle began to fall making the ride more unpleasant.

With my research done for the day, I crawled through the door a little worse for wear.

Still, I am looking forward to putting this post together. It should be pretty ok.