Quick question…anyone know who’s selling power bars in Taipei at the moment?
To my known knowledge, power bars (and their ingredients) are not approved in Taiwan, thus, not retailers will have them. Going to have to look on Ruten or YahooTW auctions for someone who’s bringing them over.
I myself have been testing out the gels from 7-11. They taste nice, but not sure if they’re giving me the kick that I need before rides.
To my known knowledge, power bars (and their ingredients) are not approved in Taiwan, thus, not retailers will have them. Going to have to look on Ruten or YahooTW auctions for someone who’s bringing them over.
I myself have been testing out the gels from 7-11. They taste nice, but not sure if they’re giving me the kick that I need before rides.[/quote]
They were here for a while. A lot of gels were banned because of the caffeine levels. Not into those 7-11 gels. At the moment I just get muesli bars and mix them with Jelly Belly jelly beans.
There was a guy who used to turn up to races with a whole range of gels and bars for sale. I think he might have been hand carrying them in.
To my known knowledge, power bars (and their ingredients) are not approved in Taiwan, thus, not retailers will have them. Going to have to look on Ruten or YahooTW auctions for someone who’s bringing them over.
I myself have been testing out the gels from 7-11. They taste nice, but not sure if they’re giving me the kick that I need before rides.[/quote]
They were here for a while. A lot of gels were banned because of the caffeine levels. Not into those 7-11 gels. At the moment I just get muesli bars and mix them with Jelly Belly jelly beans.
There was a guy who used to turn up to races with a whole range of gels and bars for sale. I think he might have been hand carrying them in.[/quote]
How about to DIY? you can buy bettlenuts, a big bunch of them, smash them along with hamster food, and compact it. Can’t be that different from the commercial ones 
To my known knowledge, power bars (and their ingredients) are not approved in Taiwan, thus, not retailers will have them. Going to have to look on Ruten or YahooTW auctions for someone who’s bringing them over.
I myself have been testing out the gels from 7-11. They taste nice, but not sure if they’re giving me the kick that I need before rides.[/quote]
They were here for a while. A lot of gels were banned because of the caffeine levels. Not into those 7-11 gels. At the moment I just get muesli bars and mix them with Jelly Belly jelly beans.
There was a guy who used to turn up to races with a whole range of gels and bars for sale. I think he might have been hand carrying them in.[/quote]
There’s a race coming up this weekend in south eastern Taipei. Try the start/finish line there.
To my known knowledge, power bars (and their ingredients) are not approved in Taiwan, thus, not retailers will have them. Going to have to look on Ruten or YahooTW auctions for someone who’s bringing them over.
I myself have been testing out the gels from 7-11. They taste nice, but not sure if they’re giving me the kick that I need before rides.[/quote]
They were here for a while. A lot of gels were banned because of the caffeine levels. Not into those 7-11 gels. At the moment I just get muesli bars and mix them with Jelly Belly jelly beans.
There was a guy who used to turn up to races with a whole range of gels and bars for sale. I think he might have been hand carrying them in.[/quote]
There’s a race coming up this weekend in south eastern Taipei. Try the start/finish line there.[/quote]
Ah yeah, that’s kind of why I’m asking… 
That betelnut idea is a good one. We should totally organize a betelnut challenge. Betelnut and Whisbi every 10 k.
Powerbars scare me. Too much caffeine. I’d go the homemade route as well. Oats, Gojis, a little Chocolate, Honey. Squisch it into a ball.
[quote=“the bear”]
That betelnut idea is a good one. We should totally organize a betelnut challenge. Betelnut and Whisbi every 10 k.[/quote]
Is there a reason why I haven’t asked you and you haven’t joined the tp cycling club? More of a solo rider? There’s a few riders from the club riding that race this weekend and you know what they say about how you don’t win races riding by yourself. ;D
A tip, if you do get your hands on a bar or gel, stuff the packet in your cycling shorts. No need to reach deep into your back pockets. 
[quote=“ranlee”][quote=“the bear”]
That betelnut idea is a good one. We should totally organize a betelnut challenge. Betelnut and Whisbi every 10 k.[/quote]
Is there a reason why I haven’t asked you and you haven’t joined the tp cycling club? More of a solo rider? There’s a few riders from the club riding that race this weekend and you know what they say about how you don’t win races riding by yourself. ;D
A tip, if you do get your hands on a bar or gel, stuff the packet in your cycling shorts. No need to reach deep into your back pockets. [/quote]
The bear rides for the Breton National Cycling Team (Taiwan division). We’re a small but enthusiastic team (membership one). I’ll be looking to animate the peloton in the first 5 kms, i.e. the flat bit before the first climb, at which point I’ll just be looking to move upwards at my customary 7 km/h. Yec’hed mat!
[quote=“the bear”][quote=“ranlee”][quote=“the bear”]
That betelnut idea is a good one. We should totally organize a betelnut challenge. Betelnut and Whisbi every 10 k.[/quote]
Is there a reason why I haven’t asked you and you haven’t joined the tp cycling club? More of a solo rider? There’s a few riders from the club riding that race this weekend and you know what they say about how you don’t win races riding by yourself. ;D
A tip, if you do get your hands on a bar or gel, stuff the packet in your cycling shorts. No need to reach deep into your back pockets. [/quote]
The bear rides for the Breton National Cycling Team (Taiwan division). We’re a small but enthusiastic team (membership one). I’ll be looking to animate the peloton in the first 5 kms, i.e. the flat bit before the first climb, at which point I’ll just be looking to move upwards at my customary 7 km/h. Yec’hed mat![/quote]
Best of luck to you, sir!
I never rode any bike race. I did run a couple or three running races or whatever you call them. I was in the upper half, at the bottom of it xD.
I think I would never ride a race… too much stress for my muscles!
Hahaha Right 
Do you have any experience with racing in Taiwan bear? (asking from a newbie perspective) I heard that it’s usually very busy before the first climbs. So when you’re talking about a peloton, do you mean a big slow mass of people? Or is there usually a faster group at the front somewhere? How to best position yourself?
If you have any advice that would be great 
Good luck tomorrow guys! ciao!
Hahaha Right
Do you have any experience with racing in Taiwan bear? (asking from a newbie perspective) I heard that it’s usually very busy before the first climbs. So when you’re talking about a peloton, do you mean a big slow mass of people? Or is there usually a faster group at the front somewhere? How to best position yourself?
If you have any advice that would be great [/quote]
Yeah bear in mind that the “race” we’re talking about tomorrow isn’t a real race. Its a timed sportif. So you don’t have to leave with the main “peloton” in order to win. Also there are no real traffic controls which leads to some bizarre situations where 50 riders can be stuck at a light but if you time it right you can swing past them at 40 km/h. But yeah, you’ll have a couple of teams pushing it real hard at teh front to drop everyone else since its too dangerous having inexperienced riders in a paceline. There is no real peloton since there isn’t enough road available. What I try and do is jump on small pacelines and ride them for as long as I can. Course as soon as you hit a big climb its an instant selection since only the really fit riders can maintain their effort on northern Taiwan hills. The real racers tomorrow will all be at the Wuling Cup down south, but since I weigh 80 kgs there’s no way I can get up that climb without some EPO.
Yup, I’m aware of the fact that the Kolai event is not a “race”. Nonetheless I would like to try and find a paceline somewhere (and stay out of the mayhem at the back). Note that I’m NOT experienced with riding in a paceline (started cycling this year), but I think I should probably manage OK. I’ve been a cycling fan (tv-watching only mind you, no riding) for about 10 years now and noticed that this virtual experience actually makes a difference in real life when handling the bike, understanding how to draft etc. etc. (which makes me wonder why I haven’t picked this stuff up years ago)
So based on that I don’t think I’ll need to be all the way in the front… They’ll be way too fast and I might get in the way. However, is there any specific strategy that I could use during the start that positions me in those smaller pacelines you’re talking about? I don’t want to wear myself out on the flats, but I think it’s an advantage to be a little ahead of the bunch when starting the climbs. I really wouldn’t like to get stuck behind slower riders on the climb, because climbing at a low pace will only cost more energy uphill in my experience.
And, oh yeah… I’m 82kgs and I’ve got my mind set on conquering the wuling climb next year during one event or another. Care to join?
P.S. Ahem… off-topic 
Perhaps I should start a new thread on this if it continues much longer 
[on-topic]Are you strictly looking for power bars? Or would gels also be OK? I bought a bunch of gels 2 days ago. I think that shop also had something that resembled a power-bar, but not 100% sure.
The shop is located on the 4th floor of the core pacific city mall and has two areas (one focused on - for lack of a better word - sports, one focused on outdoor/hiking). The “sports” area had a reasonable selection of gels, while the “outdoor” area had some power-bar-like products around the cash-register.[/on-topic]
Yup, I’m aware of the fact that the Kolai event is not a “race”. Nonetheless I would like to try and find a paceline somewhere (and stay out of the mayhem at the back). Note that I’m NOT experienced with riding in a paceline (started cycling this year), but I think I should probably manage OK. I’ve been a cycling fan (tv-watching only mind you, no riding) for about 10 years now and noticed that this virtual experience actually makes a difference in real life when handling the bike, understanding how to draft etc. etc. (which makes me wonder why I haven’t picked this stuff up years ago)
So based on that I don’t think I’ll need to be all the way in the front… They’ll be way too fast and I might get in the way. However, is there any specific strategy that I could use during the start that positions me in those smaller pacelines you’re talking about? I don’t want to wear myself out on the flats, but I think it’s an advantage to be a little ahead of the bunch when starting the climbs. I really wouldn’t like to get stuck behind slower riders on the climb, because climbing at a low pace will only cost more energy uphill in my experience.
And, oh yeah… I’m 82kgs and I’ve got my mind set on conquering the wuling climb next year during one event or another. Care to join?
P.S. Ahem… off-topic Perhaps I should start a new thread on this if it continues much longer [/quote]
To be honest I wouldn’t worry too much. Only the first five kms on the flat will even seem like race conditions. The profile is so bumpy that after that you’ll be racing against your own physical condition, except for about 50 riders up front maybe. There’ll be mini-pacelines but it’ll all be in a constant state of flux. To gain experience by all means grab a wheel whenever you can. Be careful though for the first 5 kms, some riders stop at lights and some don’t. I rode straight into the back of a rider last time out when he decided to sit up as a light turned red. That Shenkeng straight though you don’t need to stop at many lights since almost no traffic comes from the right, especially at 6.30 am. Oh and the descent after the first climb is very steep with some very tight hairpins. Do not even think of doing a Nibali.
Also they might do a controlled start, groups of 50 or so, you’ll need to push your way to the front if you want to really mix it with the big boys.
I keep planning to get a meat grinder and making my own fruit/nut bars. Basically this is a larabar.
Alternatively you could order from here iherb.com/bars There’s a megathread with advice (keep the overall order <100USD to avoid customs) on here about the place.
I used to go on some pretty epic 10+ hour motorcycle rides fueled by said ingredients, then I found out those drinks are 10% alcohol. Probably not a good idea with the rather…err…aggressive new DUI laws.
Nothing stopping anyone from drinking it and cycling though. I’ve thought about it before but decided that the dehydration factor would cancel out any advantage given by the diabolical buzz that shit gives ya.
Mr. Brown coffee is a good cycling pick-me up though. I don’t know what they put in those little cans but it ain’t natural and it ain’t coffee…good for a solid 25km!
Bettelnnut + hamster food + Kaolin sounds like a solid product. It could be added a bit of shredded paper to give it more presence.