As we ride around Taichung, more and more wonderful roads keep turning up. Not that I feel like we’ve seen them all by any stretch, but just when I think I’ve got a handle on a particular area, I go on a ride with others to that same area, or go explore on my own and then get exposed to a whole new network of roads. It’s big fun to see how things connect up and be continually surprised at new vistas. The only tough part at the moment is the heat. Haven’t seen any leeches though, so that’s nice.
Both Julia and I have been doing a bunch of great riding. She rides to and from work several days a week, usually with some colleagues. I often join in for one or both ways of the ride, which is big fun.
As I type, we’re watching the Tour de France on TV. This is always one of my favorite 3 week stretches of the year, and in past years when it is finished, I end up having some measure of withdrawal. I think some of that used to spring from the fact that we didn’t have that much cycling on TV to watch. Curiously, moving to Tai ewan has allowed us to see a great deal more pro cycling on TV. There’s much to love about Eurosport Asia coverage - not only the Grand Tours, but the shorter stage races, Classics, and significant one day races, so it’s a wealth of amazing cycling telecasts.
We also have a place to go watch all this coverage with others similarly addicted - a great coffee shop called Caffe Terry. It’s a coffee shop that is covered up in cycling memorabilia, tables made of bike wheels, shod with tires etc. Terry’s a great guy, a strong rider/racer and also a bike builder. They make really good coffee and food, and have a wide selection of beers available too. http://taiwanincycles.blogspot.tw/2010/11/caffe-terry.html
I’ve always been interested in transport issues and specifically how bicycles can be integrated into a transport network, so it’s been fascinating to notice Taiwan and Taichung’s efforts to support cycling. Unfortunately the Taiwanese too often miss the mark in my opinion - the overall thrust of the local efforts can be summed up in this one photo... (it’s not Photoshopped, honest, come visit, I’ll take you there to see it).
We’ve only been here for 6 months now, so I cannot really comment too much, but if you’re interested, I’ll direct you to a great blog whose writer can speak far more eloquently than I on this topic, plus he’s got some other staggering photos
http://taiwanincycles.blogspot.tw/2012/11/delusions-of-grandeur-mayor-jason-hu.html
There are some really nice rails to trails that have been built around Taichung, and some nice signage designating cycling routes on existing roads, so it’s not all for naught, but there are far too many misses as well. To me, cycling could be a viable addition to the larger transportation infrastructure here. Much of the city itself is flat, ideal for actually getting around by bike, but most all cycling infrastructure efforts seem to focus on recreational cycling, as with the aforementioned rails to trails and cycling route signage. Hopefully this will all change with time.
The link above on Caffe Terry is also from the blog Taiwan in Cycles.
I owe Andrew, the blogger, a big debt of gratitude. Right after we learned of the possibility of Julia getting a job over here I immediately started doing some research about what it would be like living (and riding here). Taiwan in Cycles is such a great and wide ranging resource and it really helped me wrap my head around aspects of Taiwan and Taichung life such that I could imagine living here. It certainly wasn’t the only point of information to our decision making process, but it sure helped!
