Route name: Wind Middle Sword 風中劍 (真風中劍(劍南路-中社路-風櫃嘴) | Strava Ride Segment in Taipei City, Taiwan)
Start/End point: Jian Nan Road MRT (Google Maps)
Traffic level: Moderate
Main climb(s):
- Jian Nan Road: 劍南路爬坡—自北安路 | Strava Ride Segment in Taipei City, Taiwan
- Zhong She: 中社路 full climb | Strava Ride Segment in 士林區, 台北市, Taiwan
- Feng Gui Zui: TAS: WanLi Bridge-FongGueiZuei (5.4k) | Strava Ride Segment in 士林區, 台北市, Taiwan
Total estimated distance: 22km
Total estimated elevation gain: 1,158m
Max elevation: 500m
Difficulty: Beginner/Moderate/ Hard/Wish you never got up this morning
Description:
This route is a combination of the three most popular climbs in Taipei. The first word of their climb names makes up this route name! I set the difficulty to this route from beginner to hard, as you can do as much as you can.
There’s also no right way to ride these climbs. You can choose to do Feng Gui Zui, Jian Nan and then do Zhong She because you can!
There’s one convenient store on the above route before the final climb (Google Maps), but if you want to take a quick break, the National Palace Museum 7-11 is just right down the road from each of these climbs (Google Maps).
The first climb, Jian Nan Road, is a road many are familiar with. Many take it to avoid riding through the tunnel, others like to add bit extra to their ride. With roughly two major hair pins to it, this climb is easily accessible and finish before you know it!
The second climb, Zhong She, is a little bit higher in traffic than the others as the entire road is a community, with buses that go up and down all day. Please be careful when attempting this climb! With a police station within the first KM of the climb, you can stop here to fill up on water if you are running a bit low. This climb is quite simple if you take it slow, but relentless if you want to gun for a personal best as it is constant uphill with little to no segments to rest!
Finally, the most popular climb in all of Taipei, Feng Gui Zui. On the weekend with nice weather, this road is packed with cyclists as well as paparazzi snapping your pics! Make sure you put on your nicest kit and smile for the camera! In terms of this climb, you have everything from hair pins, flat sections, rolling hills, steep sections and a headwind finish. It is by far the most difficult climb in all of Taipei to get a good rhythm going.
For more info on the climbs, please refer to the Strava segments for distance and average gradient!