Outside the convenience store at the intersection of the roads to Pingxi and Pinglin at 8.30 on a Sunday morning
This Sunday should have been a hiking day, but someone got stranded in China and so we decided to go biking instead. Finally. After a month off the bike due to typhoons and back problems, Xiaogetou felt like a safe choice, and it's always nice to end the ride with the views and a cup of coffee at Helen's Coffee shop.
Waiting for Ho Yi, Xiao Yi and Tangmu outside the Muzha Zoo McDonald
We met the others down by Muzha Zoo at 8am. The original plan was to go over Fudekeng on the way to Muzha Zoo (my Google map of the ride) because it is much nicer than Jungong and Muzha roads, but Diane had a busy day Saturday and wanted to sleep half an hour extra, so we bit the bullet and did the ride through the cty. The weather was great although we had a five minute drizzle halfway up the mountain. Ran into Tim the Giant man on the way up and lost half an hour talking about biking, rides and bikes. Told us about a 130km ride out to Toucheng on the coast that sounded nice that we'll have to when we get back from Sweden mid-November.
Mr and Mrs Yours Truly over a cup of coffee at Helen's in Xiaogetou
Facts: Here's a previous road description. A nice ride of intermediate level, maybe, that keeps you pushing and working hard without being too steep and exhausting. Easier than Fengguizui in northern Taipei, but it could still be a challenge to do it without getting off the bike.
Ha! I dream of having an active lifestyle right now. I do cycle to college every day, but then then majority of my time is spent sitting in the library!
Still more active than I was at TT though… I think.
Deream on. But, hey, you get to wear a funky gown,and that’s pretty cool, too.
I suspect Tim’s 130km ride out to Toucheng is something like this.
http://rank.blogspot.com/2008/09/great-taiwan-bike-rides-xii-taipei.html
That sounds about right. He called it a one-day ride, though, 130km from Taipei and back to Taipei. But then he’s the kind of guy who does the Northern Cross loop from Taipei and back to Taipei in one long day.
Thanks for the Google Map – I have been using the Google Earth to map out my rides also – some great rides out here in Danshui – however on Sunday man it seems everybody and their brother is out on a bicycle – completely different compared to Japan.
Get in touch when you touch back down in Taiwan
Yeaj, Sundays are crowded!Hope your new ride is as good as it looks. I’ll be back mid-November.