tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post6907037281157144412..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Using Taichung as a Biking Base: Routes and commentaryMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-64865178354578558252016-01-06T06:48:53.181+08:002016-01-06T06:48:53.181+08:00Hi Michael, a friend and I are coming to Taichung ...Hi Michael, a friend and I are coming to Taichung this weekend for a 2 day cycle and we were wondering if you could suggest a route that would take us somewhere scenic but also offering a nice ride and challenge. We were thinking of leaving the city (any direction is fine) ride for 65-80 km and then get lodging for the night in the country and then come back another route Back to Taichung maybe 50 km. Part of the Saturday ride can involve heading back towards Taichung on a circular route of sorts. Any suggestions, we are semi flexible with distances. We are flying out at 2:00 pm on Sunday. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11871053103062854714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-16595110307783284162015-10-12T15:01:36.966+08:002015-10-12T15:01:36.966+08:00A very quick, simple question: Is there a map that...A very quick, simple question: Is there a map that shows all the designated cycling trails in the Dakeng/Taiping area? There's a trail in front of Warehouse 185, which I didn't even know about until a couple weeks ago.<br /><br />Thanks.SlowRainhttps://twitter.com/_SlowRain_noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-65221830984158497122014-03-29T20:33:42.564+08:002014-03-29T20:33:42.564+08:00Ally, the Dongchi Road route is a gem and not diff...Ally, the Dongchi Road route is a gem and not difficult. Take the bike path out to Dongshih, climb to the peak of Dongchi Road, roll 40 kms home bcak to Taichung. Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-72356223371783908582014-03-23T16:21:26.519+08:002014-03-23T16:21:26.519+08:00Hi thanks for sharing these. I noticed most routes...Hi thanks for sharing these. I noticed most routes seem to be good work outs and I applaud your fitness. Which easier route would you suggest for a beginner who hasn't ridden a bike in years?<br />Thanks!Allynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-17056797145685227112014-03-11T22:13:20.612+08:002014-03-11T22:13:20.612+08:00One of my private students in Taipei is an avid cy...<b>One of my private students in Taipei is an avid cyclist with one of those groups, but from his Facebook posts, they do take longer rides (around Taiwan, down the entire East Rift Valley, up and over Yangming Mountain and down to Sanzhi etc) and they do enjoy good views (or cherry blossoms) and stop at the coffeeshops along the way. They don't seem to rid</b><br /><br />Sure, but when they ride the Rift, they ride the 9 and the 193. They don't ride the 197, or the Zhuofu Industry Road, or the Hua 64 or the 23. They stick to the same few roads, predictably. The Sanzhi ride is the well known route above YMS. There aren't many routes there, but you can be sure they are not on any tiny agricultural roads....<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-73320825513536859132014-03-11T19:02:13.692+08:002014-03-11T19:02:13.692+08:00Huh. If they're never going to take longer rid...Huh. If they're never going to take longer rides then what's the point of "training" on the short steep hills? And I wonder why they always do the same roads. Since nobody ever thinks "I want to do an inferior bike trip", I have to wonder what about this is appealing.<br /><br />One of my private students in Taipei is an avid cyclist with one of those groups, but from his Facebook posts, they do take longer rides (around Taiwan, down the entire East Rift Valley, up and over Yangming Mountain and down to Sanzhi etc) and they do enjoy good views (or cherry blossoms) and stop at the coffeeshops along the way. They don't seem to ride roads for historical purposes though.Jenna Lynn Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032277820150000198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-72345007539895950182014-03-11T16:43:32.632+08:002014-03-11T16:43:32.632+08:00"the chariot race from Ben-Hur" That co..."the chariot race from Ben-Hur" That comment cracked me up. Good one. And true.<br />Well-done post, Michael. <br /><br />Cheers from Merican Teachr (otherwise known as Surly Mike)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-51487256636001642742014-03-11T07:26:05.296+08:002014-03-11T07:26:05.296+08:00""They probably think they've chosen...""They probably think they've chosen the best routes. What's the disconnect here?""<br /><br />They like riding up short, sharp hills, for training. But because the hills are short, they often don't have good views and lack other stuff (coffee stops, etc). And their length of their routes is short. For example, they ride up the 136, 700 meters, but then they turn around at the top, a few kms outside of Taichung. They seldom head out to Nantou or Changhua for a longer ride. I never run into them doing rides for any historical purpose. Finally, they always do the same roads. Again and again and again. It's very predictable. <br /><br />That's the disconnect. <br /><br />Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-47095076260058543062014-03-10T23:55:40.805+08:002014-03-10T23:55:40.805+08:00I wonder - why would the routes popular with local...I wonder - why would the routes popular with locals be inferior? I can't imagine that locals think "well I want to go biking, let's choose the worst route!". They probably think they've chosen the best routes. What's the disconnect here?<br /><br />Also is it wrong of me that when I saw this post my first thought was "the best thing about Taichung is talking about how to get out of Taichung"?<br /><br />Sorry. <br /><br />(not sorry)Jenna Lynn Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032277820150000198noreply@blogger.com