Cruising The Gaomei Wetlands

Shouldering Over Obstacles

This weekend I had the pleasure to ride with a very fit and capable rider from Calgary, Canada. Chris, who is a regular reader here at TiC, will be out in Caotun for three weeks and is looking to fill many of those days riding. He is a compact and fit athlete with a power to weight ratio that is ideal for climbing the hills of central Taiwan.

Sadly, I am still miles from getting back into the type of form that would allow me to show him around the better climbs in the area, so this Sunday's ride was just about getting on the bike and introducing Chris to another one of central Taiwan's more infamous features-- the traffic.

Dom Relaxes

We put a small group together with Michael from The View From Taiwan, Dominic from Hold These Green Balloons, Chris L, and myself, for an easy ride to the Gaomei Wetlands and along the coastal mudflats between Gaomei and Da-jia.

Michael and Chris

The weather had been a gauzine haze all morning with the threat of rain. After a few short kilometers the scenery would disappear behind a veil of mist. Not an ideal day for photos, but marvelous for a few hours on the bike.

I was nervous about my injury and even more disappointed when I started feeling a familiar tightness under my knee. My plan was to stop if the knee pain flared up.

Fortunately, I was able to keep the sensation to a discernible discomfort for the entire ride as it would threaten to end my ride and then mysteriously subside. Not good, but not too bad.

Looking for Fish

Our first stop would be the fishing port in Taichung Harbor, where there are dozens of booths set up selling the same seafood dishes. Each stall was staffed by ladies with either poor eyesight or simply bad taste as they kept calling out for our patronage by peppering us in a staccato greeting, "Shuai Ge! Shuai Ge! Lai!" meaning, "Handsome dude, handsome dude, come over!"

Chris and his Kestrel

It was nice to get a little food before taking off along a nearby bike trail, one of the few that isn't too bad, just narrow.

Bike Trail

We made our way to the Gaomei Wetlands, a natural preserve in the mudflats that is adorned with ornamental wind turbines (I have never seen them actually producing electricity).

Gaomei

It is common for visitors to roll up their pants and wade out onto the flats to chase mudskippers and collect clams.

Mudskippers?

We took a nearby path along the water and eventually wrapped our way back to the Highway 1 to Da-jia.

Resting

Cutting Through Rice Fields

Just over the bridge before Da-jia, there is a road that will lead back to Houli and Taichung. If you ever choose to explore this route, be sure to give yourself lots of time. It is a labyrinth of farm roads and dead ends.

Chris Soaks In The Scenery

Luckily, Michael is an expert in this part of Taichung, and he helped us successfully navigate our way through to Houli.

Onward!

Working Up A Storm

Leisure Cycling

Michael tells Chris about his plans to join the Rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire.

From the traffic blitz in Fengyuan we all decided to go to the 185 Warehouse near DaKeng for some food, refreshments and a few bicycle tweaks and maintenance.

Yummy!

I had a great chicken and cheese sandwich with a coffee while James from 185 helped Chris work on his rear wheel.

It was an excellent ride.

Moreover, the last hour of the ride my leg felt perfect. I feel out of shape and slow, but I was not in pain. Things are looking up.

It was also great to meet up with Chris for some riding. He loves Taiwan traffic.

If anyone in central Taiwan would like to ride mid-week, Chris is looking for company. Contact me if you are interested.

A Quick Fix

Black Armband Saturday: #108

I am sorry for any inconvenience, but Blogger has been down for a couple of days.

Today it Black Armband Saturday in honor of Wouter Weylandt (#108), the Giro rider who died in a violent crash during a descent on Stage 3. It is also in honor of all the nameless and numberless others who have lost their lives cycling the world's roadways.

Wouter Weylandt Links:

• Photo of Giro Tribute to Weylandt.
• Foundation to support Weylandt's girlfriend who is pregnant with his child.
• How dangerous is cycling? Some perspectives.
• VeloNews Editorial: A Death in the Family.

From the FB Group:

As cyclists we wear different jerseys, ride with different teams,groups, shops or clubs however one thing doesn't change - we are a community who love and share the same passion. This Saturday, no matter where you are or who you ride with why not wear a black armband as a sign of your support and a showing of our strength and unity as a cycling community who together mourn the tragic passing of Wouter Weylandt of the Leopard Trek team and local Australian youngster, Shamus Liptrot both talented cyclists no longer with us. May they rest in peace.

Whilst the passing of Wouter and Shamus has lead to this event being created let's also use this day to remember those that have lost their lives or been injured through racing/training accidents in the past.

Remember you don't have to be on the bike on Saturday to show your support - you can wear the black armband wherever you will be.

Death Links For May:

• Cyclist dies in Anchorage.
• Abu Dhabi: Where They Hunt Cyclists For Sport.
• Father and son killed by driver high on "bath salts".
• Cyclist killed by garbage truck.
• Oak Park Memorial Ride for all those killed on two wheels.

Ride Safe!

It Is Definitely Not About The Bike... But Sometimes It Might Be A Good Idea To Consider

Old man rides his Dick in the market

Another recent story that has been making the rounds through the Chinese language media about geriatric cycling in Taiwan, is the curious tale of Li Rong-yu, a trim athlete in his mid-fifties, who has found triathlon success despite his unusual handicap.

In the sea of molded carbon fiber racing bikes, Mr. Li insists on riding his trusty old steel framed utility bike... complete with rusty vegetable basket.

Mr. Li, from Taichung, who has been a regular long distance runner, decided to try his hand at triathlons and rescued the old bike from the trash heap to use during the bicycle leg of the competition.

Despite some ridicule and other riders questioning the legality (and safety) of his equipment, Mr. Li successfully competed in the 113km Taidong Triathlon, in which he placed 4th in the Master's Over 55 age group with an official time of 6:46:58.

In watching some of the news reports featuring Mr. Li, I don't think I would recommend doing the same... despite what I have seen from Mr. Li and Ryan B.

Mr. Li is quoted as saying, "One's ability is not reliant on the tool".

I still think Mr. Li should invest in a bike that fits properly to avoid the elevated risk of injury from a poor fit and low seat.

For more info and pictures:

Liberty Times Report (Chinese) United Daily Report (Chinese)

Tragedy On The Giro: Wouter Weylandt (1984-2011)

Wouter Weylandt

1984-2011

I was watching as tragedy unfolded at the Giro yesterday and went to bed hoping everything would turn out ok. Sadly it did not. On the descent off the Passo del Bocco, the Belgian rider for Leopard TREK apparently clipped a pedal going into a corner as he tried to make up ground on the pack.

The televised images of a rider face down on the tarmac was chilling and a sobering reminder of how dangerous this sport can be... and how fragile we are as riders.

Ride Safe!

-------------------------------------------

"I am unbearably saddened by the loss of Wouter today. As many know, he was my friend, training partner, and in many ways, another brother to me. His death marks and irreparable change in my life but more importantly, in the lives of his family and most loved.

"Wouter was one of the kindest, funniest, and most admirable people I have ever had the opportunity to know and his death is a tragedy to his family, his friends, and to the sport as a whole.

"I can only convey my deepest of sympathies to everyone who cared about him as deeply as I did, especially his family, his friends, his team and his fans – we celebrate his life and morn his death in equal measure.

"Wouter was and is the soul of this sport we all love – an athlete who sacrificed himself for the better of many and a champion who celebrated each glory as a victory for his family, his team, and his friends and fans.

"I will remember him always, and will always strive to do him proud, as he has always done for the sport and people he loves."--Tyler Ferrar (Cycling News)

A Pair Of Michaels Review The East Coast And Rift Valley

Be sure to check out these two great reports (Report 1 and Report 2) of Taiwan's East Coast and Rift Valley. This is an ideal area to tour by bicycle. Again, I was left off this trip with an injury and will have to live vicariously through some of these wonderful photos.

Taichung Bike Shops: Tai-Hao Bicycle Supply Store

Tai Hao Bike Supply Store

Manager: Huang Chao-hsien

Address: No. 90 Han Xi South Rd. Sec-3

Beitun Dist. Taichung City, Taiwan

Tel: (04) 2437-9499

If you live or ride in the Beitun area near the river, this little shop might come in handy. Although it is not well stocked with the newest bikes, fanciest equipment or dazzling displays, I can imagine coming to Tai Hao for a deal on a new or used bike (primarily mountain bikes), or if you are in the area and really need a tube, tool or service, then this place would be fine.

The owner, Mr. Huang is extremely enthusiastic and cherishes his beloved orange Bianchi road bike. The bike has been loved to the state of having to have the head tube rewelded, but Mr. Huang will extoll its virtues at length. Sorry, no English if you need it.

Bottom Line: Limited, but cheap. Hey... it's there if you need something right away.

IN OTHER RETAILER NEWS:

I was in T-Mosaic yesterday looking into some wheels and I saw they had stocked some new, less expensive steel framed bikes. If you are interested in a steel frame that won't break the bank, they are selling GIOS again. I think GIOS makes some pretty looking bikes, with some complete bikes staring at NT$ 31,000 for the Arione and NT$ 33,800 for the Vintage, which is in the colors of the Italian flag. For more follow this LINK.

Linked To The Future?: Taiwan's Bicycle Master Plan

According to a brief report from the Council For Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), an economic advisory council to the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's government has earmarked increased spending aimed at expanding the current bicycle transportation network.

The plan allocates NT$ 4 billion with the goal of laying 3823km of bicycle lanes and related infrastructure.

Part of this plan allocates NT$870 million for 2011 intended speed the completion of the "Integrated Bikeway Network Construction Plan", which aims to link existing bicycle networks and create bicycle transportation corridors between urban and rural communities, and between business and residential districts.

The plan also seeks to invest in other centers for bicycle culture, including velodromes and recreational resources.

I. The Good:

It is refreshing to see Taiwan's government taking the initiative and pledging funds for wider bicycle networks beyond simply recreation, which has, thus far, been the major recipient of public funding.

The report highlights the importance of building bikeways between districts and localities. It speaks to the diversity of Taiwan's bicycle cultures, and it imagines the bicycle as a means to seek economic revitalization of some areas; this could potentially include areas that have seen economic decline due to alternative transportation routes, or other demographic changes that have had a negative impact on the local economies.

II. The Bad:

A project like this will also encounter many potential pitfalls, which include:

a) Planning:

The central government will have to resist special interests and take this plan directly to the localities to see what riders and potential riders might require to become interested in such a network. This plan can not be directed from the board rooms of the bicycle manufacturers or in a paternalistic top-down approach directed from a politician's personal viewpoint. This network needs to be built from the ground up if it is to serve the public with open public debate.

It is not just the bicycle interests that pose a threat to an effective bicycle network, it is also politics at the national and local level. There will undoubtedly be local politicians, factions, organized crime groups, business leaders and a muddy mixture of all of them fighting to pull and manipulate these routes for their own benefit, which may run counter to the interests of the rider. We have seen this with other transportation systems (bussing), where a powerful local interest shifts public transportation routes to benefit their own businesses.

Another problem is graft. It is not inconceivable for local representatives to be allocated a budget reserved for bicycle trails. The local representatives *may* simply purchase several dozen "bicycle" tiles to embed in existing sidewalks and designate it a "bike trail", and thus pocketing the difference. This process, much like any other public construction project, is ripe for organized bid rigging as well. It is not unheard of for organized crime groups to collude on rigging bids for construction projects and inflate a bid two or three times the competitive rate. In many cases local representatives are linked closely to these construction companies and interest groups. It will take dedicated oversight to ensure the public is benefitting from this investment and it is not just a scheme to buy votes and influence elections.

b) Management

This system can not work if it is not regularly managed, supported and enforced. The government must allocated annual funding for maintenance, public safety and law enforcement to ensure these bikeways remain safe and unobstructed at all times. The trouble with many of the current systems is that they are made useless by unauthorized obstructions like parked cars, scooters, private vendors and pedestrian traffic. The purpose of any transportation system is to ensure flow. I can also imagine some locations being ripe for both petty and violent crime if not regularly enforced. Regular, fair and predictable enforcement is one of the key necessities for any transportation system to work well. Riders need to feel comfortable riding these systems.

c) Balance

Although thus system pays lip service to balancing the interests of Taiwan's different types of riders, there has been far too much emphasis on bicycle tourism. The government has made very much noise over the past 3 years about boosting tourism and its economic agreements with China, but it risks a) over emphasizing one area and b) replacing good, high earning jobs in competitive industries with low earning

service jobs in tourism. Although the government can boast some success in job creation through tourism, the type of jobs being created are not on par with those being exported. Moreover, these jobs do not require the the type of competitive skills educated Taiwanese hope to leverage with their college degrees. Tourism is a superfluous industry of leisure. It is open to manipulation and political interference. Putting too much emphasis on Chinese tourists is especially risky for this reason.

Taiwan's bikeways should focus on bringing people to their jobs and not simply be the job.

I am glad to see an enhanced vision coming from such a conservative body. I am also glad the CEPD envisions bicycles as a part of Taiwan's future economic development beyond export and tourism. Now we need to see lip service transformed into public service.

I will be watching these developments closely.