[quote=“Incubus”][quote=“sandman”][quote=“Muzha Man”]
What are you talking about? The 9 is a wide road. Are you confusing it with the 195 which runs parallel? But even this is relatively flat and is used by most cyclists now as there is little traffic. The narrow steep roads are the ones connecting the 9 and 11 such as the 23 or 64. Or the 197 which runs from Taidong to Fuli. But that is still dirt in places so few riders take it.[/quote]
OP asked if there were any roads connecting the 11 and the 9, so that’s what I was talking about. There’s at least one that I’ve used, but there are probably more.[/quote]
The “OP” here. Didn’t realize a simple question would cause such confusion. But thanks for all the replies. It’s all clear to me now.
MM, that JSY historic trail looks sweet. :lick: I should make that my next goal after the Tonghou ride I did last year.[/quote]
It does look great. I hiked a little of it two years ago and have been wanting to go back. Can’t decide whether to bike it or hike it.
I heard last night there’s anannual organized group ride from Hualien to Taidong and back on April 25 and 26.
Friday night stay in hotel in Hualien, Saturday down the coast to Taidong, then Sunday back up the valley to Hualien. The guy telling me about it has done this group ride a couple of times in the past and really enjoyed it. It’s a lot of riding per day (a little over 100 miles), but there’s still 2 months to get ready, so it definitely should be doable.
Has anyone here done it? How was it? Will you do it this year? Does anyone have a link or further info on it?
[quote=“Mother Theresa”]I heard last night there’s anannual organized group ride from Hualian to Taidong and back on April 25 and 26.
Friday night stay in hotel in Hualian, Saturday down the coast to Taidong, then Sunday back up the valley to Hualian. The guy telling me about it has done this group ride a couple of times in the past and really enjoyed it. It’s a lot of riding per day (a little over 100 miles), but there’s still 2 months to get ready, so it definitely should be doable.
Has anyone here done it? How was it? Will you do it this year? Does anyone have a link or further info on it?[/quote]
Sounds great! (but I doubt I’ll be able to keep up on my trusty Giant Halfway)
[quote=“Mother Theresa”]I heard last night there’s anannual organized group ride from Hualian to Taidong and back on April 25 and 26.
Friday night stay in hotel in Hualian, Saturday down the coast to Taidong, then Sunday back up the valley to Hualian. The guy telling me about it has done this group ride a couple of times in the past and really enjoyed it. It’s a lot of riding per day (a little over 100 miles), but there’s still 2 months to get ready, so it definitely should be doable.
Has anyone here done it? How was it? Will you do it this year? Does anyone have a link or further info on it?[/quote]
I cycled taipei to taidong in CNY. The highlight was definitely riding from hualien to taidong. The inland road is flat, i was fully loaded with camping gear and averaging 20 - 25km/h. The total distance inland is 170km between the two. We were aiming to do it in a day, however about half way along there was a hot spring, so we stopped there for lunch and then found out across the road there was a go-kart place, so by the time we left it was almost dark, so much for doing it in a day. I’d like to try it again though, I think it is definitely do-able in a day, it would just be a long day.
Since its straight and flat you wouldn’t have to worry too much about doing parts of it in the dark. Hualien - taidong and back would definitely be a good weekend trip…
I think the annual organised ride people are referring to might be the citizens’ companion ride to the Tour of East Taiwan, a two day stage race between the two east coast towns. it’s a long, long day for the underprepared, especially day two… but it’s easier without luggage
though how do they come back up the Rift, on the 9 ( ) or the 197 and 193 ( :bravo: ). Suspect they do the 9, which is far less idyllic than the smaller roads, but shorter and easier. A combo of 9 back upto Rueisuei and then 193 to Hualien would be about right.
Agree that Highway 9 is big and boring. 197 and 193 are much better. Rather than rushing down and back, I’d recommend riding down Dulan the first day and then up 193 to Guanshan on the way back. You can now ship your cycle back from Guanshan on the train.
Yes! That’s it. I couldn’t find a link for this year’s race yet, but lots of references to it online, such as at this site: taiwanracing.com/
. . . where they say the following:
April 25-26th Tour of East Taiwan 2-Day Cycle Race (National Club Cycling Series Round 2 & 3) HUALIEN-TAIDONG (Day 1 140km along coast from Hualien to Taidong, Day 2 160km from Taidong to Hualien inland route)
My friend who was telling me about it yesterday described how the Challenge Ride is actually slightly longer than the race, so late in the day one sees the racers pulling in to their hotel and if you’re on the Challenge Ride you realize that. . . damn. . . you’ve still got 40 km to go for the day.
Yes! That’s it. I couldn’t find a link for this year’s race yet, but lots of references to it online, such as at this site – taiwanracing.com/ – where they say the following about this year’s event:
My friend who was telling me about it yesterday described how the Challenge Ride is actually slightly longer than the race, so late in the day one sees the racers pulling in to their hotel and if you’re on the Challenge Ride you realize that. . . damn. . . you’ve still got 40 km to go for the day.
Apparently three foreigners from AnimalsTaiwan rode it in 2007: Dane Erik Trock-Jansen, American Michael Saxon and Alex Gray from Scotland, according to this link carmenrussell.net/?p=26 I wonder if they’re forumosans?
I just completed it (Taitung to Hualian) two weeks ago–actually, I started in Pingtung a couple of days before. At this time of the year, it is cool—er than normal and the colors are more vibrant, I think, because the the sunlight isn’t very strong. It won’t be an easy one-day ride, though. well, I guess that depends on the kind of shape you’re in. But you may want to consider going one way–unless you’re into racing.
Both roads–the #11 and the valley road–193/195 are spectacular and well worth ambling through, taking pictures and stuff. Plus, are you really sure you want to ride with a huge group?
There was only one other rider going from south to north a week before last and it was great. Everyone else was going with the South-East wind–from Hualian, south. Though it was a bit tough, it felt good going against the trend.
How about starting in Taitung on Saturday morning and ride north as the pack heads south? I’d be up for that. Plus,both roads–a part of the coast and a part of the inland road–could be ridden.
Just a thought.
Well, we made it and had a great ride: 182 km from FarGlory Ocean Park Hotel in Hualien to Royal Hciphen Hot Springs Hotel in Hchipen (Jhipen).
No problem finding the way, straight down Highway 11 all the way. Weather was fine: cloudy but no rain. Left Hualien a little after 7 am, pulled up to our hotel in Hcipen about 4 pm, just minutes ahead of our wives and kids, who drove it.
The whole thing is working out perfectly. The wives and kids played at Ocean Park, which looks like a terrific amusement park with dolphin shows and rides, etc., while we started riding. They had a blast. And now we’re in this great, fancy hot springs hotel (not expensive either; special rate about NT3,200 including breakfast). I thought I’d have a heartattack yesterday after I arrived here, had a couple of big Taiwan beers and sat in a 42 degree hot tub. But I survived and am feeling great today. Glad to have put in all those miles, cuz now it’s endless all-you-can-eat buffets.
Pics of the ride to follow in a couple of days. Right now, the hottubs are calling.
Wow, cool ride Feiren. Looks like you climbed a few hills.
Wind wasn’t an issue. Didn’t notice it any particular direction, oddly enough. I had expected it to be fairly gusty but it wasn’t.
Anyway, it was a fantastic ride and has truly inspired me. In particular I’ve seen a little of the road south from here and it also looks very beautiful. I believe I saw a sign saying 140 km to Pindung. So, next time perhaps it would make sense to do Hualien>Taidong on day 1, then Taidong>Pindong on day 2. One could then return north by train, I suppose. Or better yet, hopefully there’s another good route back up that doesn’t include Kaohsiung and the heavy traffic/pollution of hte West Coast.
Also, I definitely wouldn’t want to ride from Taipei>Hualien via Ilan and then the narrow, windy coastal road. Too nerve-wracking and dangerous. So I guess the only other way to Hualien is down to Sun Moon Lake area and then over HeHUanshan to Taroko Gorge, right?
So, maybe that’s how it goes:
Day 1: Taipei > SunMoon Lake area
Day 2: Sunmoon Lake area over Hehuanshan, through Taroko to Hualien
Day 3: Hualien> Taidong
Day 4: Taidong> Pindong
Day 5: train back to Taipei
The ride from Puli to Hehuanshan is a bitch. trust me on that one… a 3000 m climb. pretty road, though.
perhaps easier to ride Taipei-Taoyuan county-Lalashan-into the Yilan valley, or around the top end into Yilan and Luodong, or even across the 9 via PingLin (a gorgeous road) an then follow the valley south past Nanshan and Lishan then drop down Taroko gorge. not quite as high as Hehuanshan, may be a little longer.
Suao is not so bad if you’re fast, as you can draft many of the slower buses: far safer and easier to draft than to be pushed.
Way to go, MT. That’s a long ride for one day. :bravo:
I’m planning a similar ride (to the one you mention) down the island ride for later in the year. If the riverside bike paths are ready around Sanxia I will ride all the way down there (avoiding all the city traffic) before popping onto the 7 for a couple km until the turn-off for Manyueyuan Forest Reserve. Feiren blogs about this. I’ll then pop over a mountain road and find myself on the North Cross Island Highway. After riding to the junction at Chilan it’s south, passing Wuling Farm and Lishan. Then east down the 8 to Taroko and the coast. Then of course down the coast to Taitung and on to Kenting via route 199 (not highway 9) or back up to the Southern Cross Island Hwy and then south at Baolai through the Maolin Scenic Area and on through Pingdong to Kenting.
) or the 197 and 193 ( :bravo: ). Suspect they do the 9, which is far less idyllic than the smaller roads, but shorter and easier. A combo of 9 back upto Rueisuei and then 193 to Hualien would be about right.