cycle group listings

[upandover]

Hey

does anyone know a good website or have info on cycle groups in taipei?
or on clubs that arrange day trips and the like

cheers

[trubadour]

go to LBS

[upandover]

Hi

I did a google search for taiwan LBS cycling, and didn't get any results

What is LBS

thanks

[the bear]

Hi

I did a google search for taiwan LBS cycling, and didn't get any results

What is LBS

thanks

LBS = local bike shop

Finding group rides in Taiwan can be problematic but bike shops often organize their own (with often drastic range in abilities). Alternatively get out there and ride and you'll meet other riders who will often welcome you to join their rides.

[hugachuga]

Since moving here for a few months here is what I have found...just from personal experience

Yes you may go to some local bike shops and ask about rides but some of them will be a little apprehensive and intimidated because of the language barrier. The next thing would be liability which I have heard a few times, so its not an official ride but make friends first and then go as a group.

If you have friends that can read chinese or if you do yourself, you can go to mobile01.com forums and look up cycling clubs that way, I have done that and most have been very welcoming.

Depending where you are and what you like to ride you can explore yourself and when you see fellow cyclist just start chatting up with them and the connect that way. Works best this way for me. Just add them on FB or email and then follow them to rides.

Most cyclist will have short training or riding days during the weekdays and weekends will have longer full day rides.

You could always PM me and let me know what type of riding your are into and where you want to ride, we can ride together and I can introduce you to a couple clubs. I am starting new here too so the more the merrier.

[upandover]

thanks, appreciate all the responses

mainly I don't know the routes here, I just want to hook up with some people so I don't end up getting lost for 3 days on a 2 hour ride

or even if you know anywhere on line where people have routes posted, and things like where to stop overnight etc...

[maunaloa]

routes? you could do alot worse than the riverside bike paths. safer, too.

[Feiren]

routes? you could do alot worse than the riverside bike paths. safer, too.

There's quite a bit of information for Taipei, Taichung, and beyond.

I've written up a number of routes. Thebiking viking has great photos and details of some of these taipei routes.

See michael Turton's View From Taiwan and Drew's Taiwan in Cycles (Taichung focus).

I'm sure that you can join some of these folks on rides if you get in touch.

[dizzyhytes]

What level are you and where do you live? There are a lot of cycling/triathlon groups out there, they are either organised by bike shops or by individuals who have got their own group going. Most rides start out in the north, Tianmu or Danshui, and either go over Yangming Shan, or around it to Jinshan on the north coast. Tianmu folk are often expats, while I've found that my local contacts tend to start around Danshui. Not sure why there's such a distinction. maybe coincidence.

The groups I've ridden with, hardcore or not, are all very welcoming, but it's a lot of pressure to keep up at speed for 100km when you are not fit like me!

I have only been 5 or 6 times in the past 5 months since I arrived because the rides start early and I don't have a car so I have to get there by MRT. I am not a morning person so a 7am start would mean I get up at 530 am to reach Tianmu. Some people start at 5 or 6am! I live in Guting and would love to find a few rides starting from this area.

I am out of shape and really want to get back into it so if you are around my area, please contact me...

Hope this helps.

[CTaitung]

From Guting MRT station, take Roosevelt south down to Shi-Da Road 師大路, take a right turn to go towards the river. When you hit Tingzhou Road 汀州路 (the next light actually), there's a gas station on the left and a Hakka Culture Center across Tingzhou Road from the gas station. There's a bridge (a very nice bridge in fact, and the center has a nice park) from that Hakka Culture Center that takes you over the river-side road and onto the river bike path there. Left turn takes you to Hsin-tien (Xindian), right turn takes you on a long ride to Danshui.