Mountain Biking (off-road) in and around Taipei

[RoelC]

Interesting, sounds like a fun trail.
Too bad I'm on home leave the coming weeks...

[Wookiee]

Ok, I've uploaded a few pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48270289@N04/

I hope this works.

Derek, I've emailed you.

Cool pics. Upload some more, if you will. I'd love to see some more of the trail.

[GC Rider]

Cool pics. Upload some more, if you will. I'd love to see some more of the trail.

Thanks Wookie, I didn't take too many pics this time as we didn't spend that much time on the actual trail. But I will definitely bring back more pics of the trail next time I go (which should be in about ten days).

[Incubus]

If I chose your clockwise variant, how long would it take from Taipei to get to the trailhead in Jiaoxi? How's the traffic on that road (better or worse than the Xindian to Wulai road?) In any event it would be a whole-day trip at least which currently is not an option for me. But I might consider it for the future.

The clockwise loop also begins and ends in Xindian. Instead of making a right and taking Xinwu (Xindian-Wulai) Rd to Wulai, you continue to go straight and stay on Rt. 9, which will eventually lead to Jiaoxi/Yilan. It's a wider road than Xinwu and the traffic is a bit heavier (quite a few big motorcycles on weekends), but it should be pretty pleasant if you go on a weekday.

We left Xindian MRT at around noon and arrived in Jiaoxi just before dark (sixish), but that's riding at a very leisurely pace, stopping for lunch at a small restaurant near the highest point (elevation ~500m) and making a stop at the famous ice cream factory in Pinglin. The turnoff for the Running Horse Trail is at kilometer mark 59. This trail alone is worth the clockwise approach, and it dumps you right outside Jiaoxi. I've heard about people completing the loop in one day, leaving at the crack of dawn and arriving in Taipei in the dark. But you've got to be in top shape and know your way. I'd still recommend spending the night in Jiaoxi, where you can take a dip in a hot spring at the end of the day. Good luck.

[GC Rider]

If I chose your clockwise variant, how long would it take from Taipei to get to the trailhead in Jiaoxi? How's the traffic on that road (better or worse than the Xindian to Wulai road?) In any event it would be a whole-day trip at least which currently is not an option for me. But I might consider it for the future.

The clockwise loop also begins and ends in Xindian. Instead of making a right and taking Xinwu (Xindian-Wulai) Rd to Wulai, you continue to go straight and stay on Rt. 9, which will eventually lead to Jiaoxi/Yilan. It's a wider road than Xinwu and the traffic is a bit heavier (quite a few big motorcycles on weekends), but it should be pretty pleasant if you go on a weekday.

We left Xindian MRT at around noon and arrived in Jiaoxi just before dark (sixish), but that's riding at a very leisurely pace, stopping for lunch at a small restaurant near the highest point (elevation ~500m) and making a stop at the famous ice cream factory in Pinglin. The turnoff for the Running Horse Trail is at kilometer mark 59. This trail alone is worth the clockwise approach, and it dumps you right outside Jiaoxi. I've heard about people completing the loop in one day, leaving at the crack of dawn and arriving in Taipei in the dark. But you've got to be in top shape and know your way. I'd still recommend spending the night in Jiaoxi, where you can take a dip in a hot spring at the end of the day. Good luck.

Thanks, Incubus. I would love to give that a try. But for starters I will just be riding the counter-clockwise direction and see how far I can get into the Tonghou Trail, then turn around before it gets too dark. Anyone here up for it? If the weather is fine, I'll go on 8/8 morning starting from Xindian.

[greenmark]

Hi GC - if you tell us what time you want to go then I will see if I can make it. I'd like to dust off my MTB as it hasn't yet seen any trails since I moved here a year ago.

Weather is set to be hot and sunny.

[GC Rider]

Hi GC - if you tell us what time you want to go then I will see if I can make it. I'd like to dust off my MTB as it hasn't yet seen any trails since I moved here a year ago.

Weather is set to be hot and sunny.

Hi Greenmark, 2dcurb and I will ride on Saturday (ie tomorrow), but I might actually go on both days cuz another biking buddy just told me he can only do Sunday (I might try the clockwise route on Sunday then for variation). If you want to join on either day, I plan to set off at 7:00 AM from Xindian MRT station. You can PM me for details.

[alecinwonderland]

Hi GC - if you tell us what time you want to go then I will see if I can make it. I'd like to dust off my MTB as it hasn't yet seen any trails since I moved here a year ago.

Weather is set to be hot and sunny.

Hi Greenmark, 2dcurb and I will ride on Saturday (ie tomorrow), but I might actually go on both days cuz another biking buddy just told me he can only do Sunday (I might try the clockwise route on Sunday then for variation). If you want to join on either day, I plan to set off at 7:00 AM from Xindian MRT station. You can PM me for details.

Can I come too? I could do with the training. I just signed up for that torture mountain trip on Sept 5th. Are you guys riding hardtails?

[GC Rider]

Hi GC - if you tell us what time you want to go then I will see if I can make it. I'd like to dust off my MTB as it hasn't yet seen any trails since I moved here a year ago.

Weather is set to be hot and sunny.

Hi Greenmark, 2dcurb and I will ride on Saturday (ie tomorrow), but I might actually go on both days cuz another biking buddy just told me he can only do Sunday (I might try the clockwise route on Sunday then for variation). If you want to join on either day, I plan to set off at 7:00 AM from Xindian MRT station. You can PM me for details.

Can I come too? I could do with the training. I just signed up for that torture mountain trip on Sept 5th. Are you guys riding hardtails?

Sure, let's meet tomorrow at Xindian MRT. I'm riding an old rigid MTB.

[GC Rider]

We left Xindian MRT at around noon and arrived in Jiaoxi just before dark (sixish), but that's riding at a very leisurely pace, stopping for lunch at a small restaurant near the highest point (elevation ~500m) and making a stop at the famous ice cream factory in Pinglin. The turnoff for the Running Horse Trail is at kilometer mark 59. This trail alone is worth the clockwise approach, and it dumps you right outside Jiaoxi. I've heard about people completing the loop in one day, leaving at the crack of dawn and arriving in Taipei in the dark. But you've got to be in top shape and know your way. I'd still recommend spending the night in Jiaoxi, where you can take a dip in a hot spring at the end of the day. Good luck.

Incubus, as I'm now considering making the clockwise tour on Sunday, can you tell me how technical that route is, especially the Paoma Trail. I currently don't have fat knobbies on my MTB (and no suspension either). I also heard there's a long and steep uphill section where you need to push all the way. Can you give me an idea where I would encounter that section (in the clockwise direction) and how long it would take to overcome it? Thanks.