Today: Tour of Flanders

Just a reminder that the Tour of Flanders will be held today. Last year Fabien Cancellara motored away with the win as he flew up the final cobbled climb un challenged. Maybe this year will be different.

Taiwan International Bikeman Rally 2011: Dajia Mazu Loop

I wasn't riding today to give my leg more time to heal, but I did get on the scooter to follow the Bikeman Rally as it passed through my area. The event was open to all riders for an NT200 fee, and followed an 80km route from Dajia, looping through Taichung City and back to Dajia to kick off the upcoming Dajia Mazu celebration, which has become less about religion in recent years and focusing more on tourism activities.

It was nice to see riders off all shapes, sizes and degree of skill together sharing the road for a friendly ride. A pair of support vehicles followed the riders carrying statuettes of the goddess Mazu to make for an interesting spectacle.

Though, I must admit, I could not help but feel the pangs of jealously as hundreds of bikes passed my house on a beautiful, sunny Saturday... and I was not on a bike.

Also:

The members of the Japanese Tour of Taiwan team have volunteered their earnings from the Taiwan race to help support victims of the multiple disasters that have swept Japan over the recent weeks.

Cycling and Behavior Modification: Would You Do It For A Colnago?

It's A Major Award!

TTV is reporting that a civil servant from Chiayi has collected on a wager he made with his wife in which she promised to buy him a Limited Edition Colnago Ferrari CF-7 with full Super Record components, a bike valued at over NT 400,000, if he would simply quit smoking.

According to Mrs. Tsai, although friends and acquaintances have been quick to point out the huge amount of money she has had to shell out for a bicycle, she says that by her own accounting the bicycle more than pays for itself in her husband's improved health and by eliminating the continued purchase of cigarettes.

Mrs. Tsai claims that her husband has tried several times to quit smoking, but it was the promise of a prized bicycle combining two famous brand names that made the difference between failure and success.

Upon receiving his prize, Mr. Tsai removed the wheels and seat for his current bike and put the Colnago on permanent display at their home to avoid damaging his prize.

Riku-Riku-Rikulau......Hoooooooooooo!

I have spent a lot of time discussing custom bikes and, in particular, custom titanium.

There really is nothing more durable and smooth as a great fitting titanium or steel custom frame. I could go on at length about the importance of riding a bike that fits, and how this trumps frame material any day. I find too often that manufacturers make a big deal about the ride characteristics of their materials to sell whatever bike they would like to hawk. Right now it is carbon composite.

What you can argue is durability. For long lasting frames that can take a little abuse and be more easily repaired, steel and titanium are tops. These materials are the top choices for a long term frame, though there are many alloy and carbon frames that have been holding up for decades.

When I made my choice for a new frame, I came very close to going for a domestic custom titanium frame. You may be surprised to find out that Taiwan is not entirely OEM/ODMs. Taiwan actually has a few small players in the custom metal frame business. One of the better known is Rikulau.

Rikulau is a Taiwanese custom frame shop named after the Formosan Clouded Leopard, which had once been one of the top predators in Taiwan before its habitat was reduced and it was hunted to extinction. The localized name that is indigenous to Taiwan makes a very clear statement and I am happy to see some pride in being a Taiwanese brand.

The company makes a wide range of road and mountain bikes in steel (4130, 853, 953), and titanium, both 3Al 2.5V and 6Al 4V. These are all very high quality materials, with varying degrees of hardness.

I have seen several of these frames up close, including my buddy Dwight's orange Grateful Dead custom painted road bike. The workmanship is quite good and the paint quality is top notch.

The reason I decided against showing my own Taiwan pride through this domestic builder, is simply their limited degree of customization, which is mainly in the finishing (paint).

Still, for anyone looking for a high quality metal road bike with a custom paint job that doesn't cost a fortune, take a look at Rikulau. Taiwan pride, baby. Taiwan pride.

Made in Taiwan is definitely a badge of honor.

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This company review has in no way been paid for or supervised by anyone other than Taiwan in Cycles.

Taiwan In Cycles Policy For Advertising and Product Placement.

Random Bike Stuff

June 15, 2011: The Race Across AMerica (RAAM) kicks off for another grueling ride. Sadly, this year's race will be ridden without Jure Robic, the Slovene RAAM record holder and certified baddass, who died in an accident last year. Maybe I'll have to heal up and do a tribute to one of my cycling heroes.

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Here is a beautifully shot, if at the risk of sounding full of itself, documentary about mountain bikes and downhill riding. Some of the photography is absolutely amazing.

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Seven was nice enough to make the Axiom SL their featured product, and they include a lot of information about the bike and how it compares to other models. Here

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RBR has a thread on a new Salsa Casseroll build. Purdy bike.

The View From Pingtung Part II: Hounds of the Baskervilles

Basilica of Pingtung County

Michael from The View From Taiwan continues to taunt me with more pictures and wonderful reporting from his bike trip through Pingtung County, while reminding me of all the fun I would be having without a gimpy leg. Check out Part II of his series here.

Tour of Taiwan Wraps Giving Austrian Eibeggar The Win

Austrian, Markus Eibeggar walked away with the Tour of Taiwan GC title after coming back from behind in the 9 stage race.

This year's race ended on Yangmingshan for a little more of a finale, where Eibeggar found his legs and the win over his teammate.

Taiwan's top finisher, Huang Hsin-hua, finished 25th overall and the Aussie team Drapac Professional Cycling won the team classification as a little gift for David on Formosa.

Now if only they'd come up with a more original winner's jersey. The gold jersey outside the TdF is kind of cliche.