Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around
Crazy biking Michael strikes again!
This time it’s Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 or bust. Actually flat, a mostly flat 152 kilometers with 950 meters of climbing last Friday.
This ride was kept very straightforward as it was considered a personal challenge to see if I could ride that long and that far. After 6 hours and 43 minutes of riding, I pulled into Michael Turton’s place in Taichung with an overall average of 22.5 kph.
During my first three hours of riding, I managed 25 kph. Now 25 kph isn’t all that fast, but considering I was going into the wind almost the entire time, I think it’s a decent pace for a first trial ride at pace, yet comfortable breathing.
This pace means I have a very good chance to complete the 1-day 200 kilometer Neverstop challenge this September in a timely manner. I’ll begin concentrating on more 80 to 120 kilometer rides with hill climbs in the 1,000 to 3,000 meter range now.
Staying with Michael and his family in Taichung was quite enjoyable and they treated me well the whole time. Bummer to you folks that haven’t gone down to visit him and family.
Michael’s place is decently located for getting rides on the flats and into hills in. With the heat over the weekend, we both took an easy on our rides. Saturday stayed flat and casual exploring one of the new bike trails between Taichung and Fengyuan for 32 kilometers.
On Sunday, we rode to breakfast and then onto the hills behind his place that wondered around the mushroom farms up there. In coming down, we took one of the longer, steeper roads that I’ve seen in Taiwan down. I’m looking forward to going back up that way. All said for Sunday, we rode 50 kilometers.
Sunday afternoon, Michael dropped me off at the Taichung train station. Though I was in time to catch an express back to Taoyuan-桃園, I wanted to take my bike with me. So 3 hours later, after walking around and seeing the seedier parts of downtown Taichung, I choo-chooed away.
Once in Taoyuan, I put my bike accessories back on and rode furiously, in the dark, up onto the Linkou plateau, into the wind… Stupid wind… I’m looking into aero bars now.
I rode 250 kilometers for the weekend. How about yourself?
Help Me Please
Suggestions for a 1-day 200 kilometer round trip around Taipei with over 2,000 meters of hill climbing are welcome. Leave your suggestions in the comments.
Take Your Bike on the Train Note
If you want to take your bike with you on the train, visit baggage services first to get them to let you know which train will work. After that, pay for your bike shipping. Then go to the ticket counter and get a rider ticket for the same train that you’ve already paid bike transportation for. The information services and ticket agents don’t have a clue which trains can take bikes or not. They sadly say “no can do” too fast.
Bike route Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中
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- Crumbling Taichung
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-2
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-3
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- Lunch time!
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- Overseas contract workers hanging out
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- Michael and Michael riding along in Taichung-台中
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- What’s the flag mean?
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- Same angle up!
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- Mushroom trimmers
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-10
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- He’s dogging it…
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- Hot ride!
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- Family breakfast
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- Hungry guys
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- The land takes over
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-16
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-17
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-18
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-19
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-20
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-21
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- Fresh pork
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- Michael’s new laptop
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- To each their own
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-25
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- Below Sanyi karoke stand
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-27
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-28
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- Maoli slushie shop – awesome watermelon & mango drinks
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-30
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-31
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-32
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-33
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-34
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-35
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- Biking Taiwan: Linkou-林口 to Taichung-台中 and around-36
July 15, 2009 - 7:57 AM
From the looks of the pic – you in the blue jersey, you have lost some weight.
July 15, 2009 - 9:08 AM
Thanks!
Yeah, I jumped on Michael’s scale with dry clothes on and it said 93.5 kg. So I’m guessing I’m below 94 kg naked finally. Still, I’ve got the love handles, second chin and 2 beers belly to knock out.
Still stinks that 10 hours of cardio a week aren’t making that stuff go down. Must get back in gym and lift some weights.
July 15, 2009 - 8:35 PM
Quite a ride! Makes my longest route (80km) look pathetic!
July 15, 2009 - 10:02 PM
Todd,
My first ride here in Taiwan with a group was 50 kilometers. I was scared I wasn’t going to make it. Now, I loaf along with those folks and buzz hard when not.
We all can surprise ourselves for the riding. Drew out of Taichung knocked out 300 plus kilometers I believe this past weekend. You can build up the distance if you want.
I’ve got a 1-day Neverstop 200 km ride coming soon. For that, I’ll be putting in some long days.
Thanks for the daily photos at thedailybubbletea.com
July 19, 2009 - 10:31 PM
Sounds like fun. Some guy from the Giant store mentioned a mountain not too far away. It’s about 50 km away and hilly. So back and forth would be 100km. I’m sure you could take the scenic route. It sounded like Yunlin or something like that, though it can’t be since that’s way too far away.
July 20, 2009 - 9:12 AM
Which Giant shop were you visiting?