[quote=ārookie77ā]Hi,
Probably it is already somewhere on this fora, however let me ask again.
As from December, Januari 2016/2017 I will take the jump to live in Taiwan for 5 years for business reasons covering Complete ASIA. In the Netherlands I am having my official UCI license and participate on several Amateur category Crits. (45Km/h average on the flat 
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The intention is to live in Tianmu /Neihu with my family (wife and 3 sons). Any idea about crits in Taipei area, what about UCI registration, training possibilities, cycling clubs etc. etc.
Ofcourse besides that, I love to just cycle around in the mountains, So Taiwan KOM is definitely something for mme to participate in :-).
Anyway, can I find a cycling club, how to get in touch. Columbus cycling club is something to think about?
Something about my self Strava: Michel Wouters
I never put all my rides on strava. Competition reasons
Br,
Michel[/quote]
Hi Michel,
Iāll try to answer your questions one by one.
Unfortunately, UCI sanctioned crits donāt really exist in Taiwan (or even Taipei). Thereās a huge following and cycling is a growing hobby amongst the locals, but just not enough talent or cooperation from local government to close off roads. Thereās the few Taiwan national teams, but you of course, need a local ID to be eligible.
There are a few sponsored teams including TutorABC and Kuota Syb. To my understanding, sponsored means the team will cover your expenses for some āchallengesā that they participate in throughout the year and also provide a support car. To explain these āchallengeā races, they are like sportives, if youāre fast enough you compete against others, if youāre of the slower bunch, you compete against yourself. Almost anyone can sign up, you do not need points or credentials, just a team/club name (which can actually be completely made up between you and your neighbor with a random team name of āTeam Aā or āTeam Bā).
Do not get me wrong though, challenge races or, sportives, some can have open registrations in the thousands and some under one hundred, however, thereās always competition amongst members of the lead pack. However, the smaller and short races tend to attract the faster bunch.
For cycling clubs, thereās plenty. You can join me on weekend rides and I can show you the routes and etiquette, I can probably can learn a thing from you too! From the credentials you listed, you are much much quicker than I am. If riding with me doesnāt suit you, I can get you in contact with the right people. Just shoot me a PM, I am friends with a few guys that are in the above two clubs that I mentioned and can probably help you more than I can.
Tianmu is very nice and if your kids are attending the American school or even the European School on Yang Ming Shan, itās very convenient, but you tend to get stuck in an area where maybe half the population of foreigners live in Taipei. If I had to pick, I like Neihu, however, it may depend on whatās most convenient for you and your family to live. If I may make a suggestion, I would not rule out places like Dazhi or maybe even Songshan.
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