Cycling in Taiwan 2015

This is a marketing campaign for the launch of the Taiwan round island cycling route. I love it because its more then just cycling.
My wife summarised it very well.
放自己一个悠长的假期，以时速每小时15公里慢慢地解放自己，重新找回“我”。
Riding along slowly, and listen to your inner voice.  Rediscover yourself @ 15 km/hr. One crank at a time.

Taiwan LCSG Tour 12th Dec day 6

Route: Ang Tong Old train Stn PCN - Yushan mountain reserve part ending at start of Walami trail

Map link
Photo link

Route for day 6

taken from Google map

Shot of Gary's Go Pro mounted on the front of his bike

Yah, its abit chilly. Don't forget ur camera!

power stick to rev up the engine... 

We visited the old Antong train station. It has been converted into a bike path but perhaps business was slow. The Giant rental shop had closed for some time (judging from the wear on the wall paint)

abit crummy 

Riding on the old train PCN. Looking over the padi fields and mountains. 

Eliasha with his troll nearing the bridge 

Still it was great to be able to cycle slowly; to see the rice fields and mountain at the horizon.

what a view!

The smaller blocks are supposed to slow down the flow of the water during the floods. 

The dry river bed with lots of sediment

Geography lesson on what happened here

one for Janny

brief break at the PCN. 

As we rode towards the river, it was meeting point of two tectonic plates, which shifted during the 1999 earthquake The Taiwanese authorities had to realign the train path and the former station was abandoned until it was repurposed as a cycling path.

I chatted with this nice ah ma, She was astounded that we came all the way from SG to cycle. And she was happy to see us!

At Yuli Red Bridge

Enjoying the country side.... 

cycling and soaking everything in

We also went to Yu Shan national park which we rode all the way up the old Walami trail. This trail is an ancient trail which connects to Batongguan.  Lunch was on the top of the mountain pass and really was a nice experience. 

This concluded the super nice LCSG ride to Taiwan. Tomorrow we head back to Taipei and some would be flying off to Singapore. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be riding along side some really nice folk. Its the company that made is so fun. Also very grateful for Encik George and Cindy for their leadership and efforts. Taiwan Tourism Board, he is your man to bring more SG cyclists to Taiwan :) 

going up towards the Naan vistor centre

Why a support vehicle?  Because we can have a break where ever we want and have bananas or snacks. 

even hot coffee!

So that you can enjoy the views in quiet and slowly zip coffee. Its a wonderful feeling!

The small things in life. They are so beautiful. If u stop and see

Totally no cars... just us and nature!

The waterfall along the way

Every where is just beautiful

Entrance to Yu Shan National Park

Makan at the Nature park

Chatting invariably will turn into a poison session.. Pei Sze cannot believe how light Nixs wheel is!

Taiwan LCSG Tour 11th Dec day 5 - Dong Li old train station

Old train station convert to "Steel horse" bicycle station

Sensitively done. Not cleaning up all the remnants but leaving some as a tribute to the history of the place.

After Liushishishan, we visited the 东里 old train station on our way back. 

soaking in the beautiful vibes. 

Places of interest around the vicinity. Very suitable for cyclist to visit.

Abit about the place. There was a major earthquake in1999. The tectonic rift plates shifted so much that the Taiwan authorities had to re-route the 2 train stations (Dongli and AngTong).  The former station was then re-purposed the old  a Park connector. The old train installation were retained and built upon. Nicely done without loosing the initial character of the place . 

drip coffee with a special milk that the boss show how is done. Very nice aroma!

have a cuppa!

There was a small cafe at the old Dong li train station. Over very nice coffee, we chatted with the friendly lady boss who was originally from Taipei. She told us her story that she quit her day job and moved to the countryside to do this. Simple life and not earning much but she finds it so fulfilling loves the whole place to bits. 

The cafe lady motto. 

16th April 2013 Day 4 - Downhill from Tai Pin Shan

16^th April 2013 Tues, Day 4

TaiPingShan, CuiFeng Lake and downhill to foot of TPS

Full Set of Photos here 

The view on top of Tai Ping Shan... and I overslept......

Family photo to remember the moment

I overslept. Haha..  By the time we woke up, it was already 0615. I quickly got out to see the sunrise. Or what was left of it. The air was crisp and the fog disappeared. There was only George and Desmond out on the viewing deck to watch the changing morning sun colors. I guess yesterday uphill must have KO-ed all of us.  Should be better today... I hope..

Beautiful colors

Crisp air!

Are you ready? Let's roll!

Ready as I can ever be!  Pierre the energizer bunny

Breakfast followed and we prepared to roll. George gave another safety briefing. Stay on a safe speed – less then 30km/hr and space out. Don't follow too closely with each other. And of course, this is Taiwan, keep Right!

We cycled to Cui Feng Lake which is along the plateau (less slopely) and the nice weather meant a sweat free and cooling ride.

Tiger and Desmond warming up... hayyy shou hayyy shouu

Gary lent me his Gopro to capture the downhill part... I hope it turns out good

Marcus with his Raleigh Tourer

For today I took my DSLR and took many of the folks carving down the mountain…. Whheeeeeee…  left and right, repeat 50 times… or more… brake brake and left and right… this is scary but fun!

Desmond share the chocolate leh...

Uncle Julian on a upslope! 

Whhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee -Lisa

Ai Lim on her Pink TSR Moulton

Desmond carving with his Dahon TR!

Full concentration!

Slowly does it.. 

Elisha with this BF NWT  at one of the numerous hairpin turns...  

doping..

My trusty BF that got me up and down TPS!

In no time, we reached the Visitor centre (3/4 down the moutain) and as I lifted my camera, the metal buckle attached to my DSLR snapped! Oh gosh, it is my lucky day. 30 second earlier..  my camera would have fell off….  Lesson learned. Check and recheck your equipment. And recheck your equipment. 

Someone was definitely watching out for me... 

all the animals come out to play! 

We reached the base of the mountain in one piece, no accidents! Encik George was visibly relieved as he sat on the floor and rested for a while. 

Heng ah.. no need to medical evac... Thank you Encik for ur constant advice!

yummy Bento!

We had our lunch, packed the bikes into the van.

Then it was a long 2 hour drive along the coastal line (Su-Au highway to Hua Lien) to 南埔庭園民宿. Flatter terrain awaits.. haha!