Sunday, March 05, 2006

Taipei Bike Show & Riding with Bill Bryson

The Taipei Bike Show is this Wednesday-Saturday (www.TaipeiTradeShows.com.tw/cycle). It's usually fun to check out, but children under 10 are not allowed in. I have some extra tickets (thanks, Aaron!) and I know Leon does as well (thanks, Sean!). If you need tickets, let me know, and I can probably get some for you.

The North Coast race is this Sunday. It looks like 659 racers are pre-registered. Information (in Chinese) is available at www.cyclist.org.tw. We have a number of racers- Bill, Bill, Bill, Steve, Steve, Leon, Peter and David and perhaps more. Should be fun!

Bill Bryson writes with some information about the Tour of East Taiwan which will be held April 19th & 20th from Hualien to Taidong and back:


On the Tour of East Taiwan, the challenge ride is actually longer than the race course, and is 175k on both days. It runs from the Astra Hotel in Hualien to the Naruwan Hotel in Taidung, and then back again on Sunday. While it follows basically the same roads as the race course, it ends in a different place on both days (the race ends on Sunday at Carp Lake rather than the hotel). So, if anyone thinks that 300k is not long enough to merit the drive or flight to Hwalien, they can enter the 350k challenge ride, which also has some pretty fast riders in it.


Bill also writes about his regular weekday morning rides:

BTW, a group regularly meet for rides on any non-rainy Tuesday or Thursday at 0500 in front of the school. Pace varies but the route is generally either Incinerator (Smokestack - 42k of mostly level riding)) or Wimpy Hills (ride to Starbucks through Peitou - 25-30k of climbing and descents). Would be happy to have you post this on the site. We usually have 2-8 riders show up, depending on where everyone is in their training schedule.


Bill has sent along a note and a photo essay of a typical early February ride in the mountains:

On Saturday, we had planned to ride up Helen's, down to Wan Li and then let Kaight lead us up 101 from Bai Shia Wan. We were also supposed to meet a group of Chinese riders from Howard's Bike Shop on the way up to Helen's. We got up to the Helen's saddle and the weather was about as bad as it ever gets there - rain, wind, fog, and very cold temperatures). We were heading down when we ran into Howard and his group. Marcus, Kaight and Ron (being the sensible ones), headed down the hill to a well-deserved latte at Starbucks in Tien Mou, while Bill F. and I continued with Howard and his riders to Wan Li. Resting (and warming) at the 7-11 in Wan Li, we decided to return to Tien Mou through Tam Shui instead of going to 101. Last rally stop was the 7-11 on the hill above Tam Shui, where we once again, after some very fast-paced (but dry) paceline riding, enjoyed some nice hot Mr. Brown's.

Photo essay provided by Victor Shar:

At the first 7-11, we only thought about eat…eat…eat…



And of course drink…drink…drink…



More drinking and eating.



Yes, eating and drinking is much more fun than biking.



Bill was well protected from the cold and rain from head to toe. I bought two heat packs to put under my clothes because I was so cold after coming down from Yang-Ming Shan.



Here's the route map in English:



And in Chinese:




Keep spinning,

Bill

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