Hey everyone,
Just new here. happy to see all the folks gathering here.
Quick introduction : I'm a passionate cyclist and photographer from Taiwan, and I thought I'd share a slice of my cycling life from this amazing island.
I've been a dedicated roadie for years, but lately, I've been bitten by the gravel bug.
I see all these amazing photos and stories, and the idea of exploring unpaved paths is really calling to me. For those of you who have made the switch or ride both, is it worth it? I'm getting lost in the choices!
For me, the magic of cycling has always been about that feeling of freedom and pushing my own limits. There's nothing better than conquering a brutally long climb, that moment of pure bliss at the summit when you crack open an ice-cold drink, and then the pure joy of carving down the descent.
It’s a feeling that washes away all the stress of life.
I'm lucky to live in Central Taiwan, not far from the route of the famous Taiwan KOM Challenge. It's a stunning area with endless mountains to explore.
Fun fact: I used to work as an English tour guide here (not my job anymore, it's purely my passion now!), so I've spent a lot of time hunting for those cycling hidden gems that don't show up on a map.
Anyway, I'm mainly here to share photos and chat about bikes. But if you're ever planning a trip out this way, or if you're an expat or local rider in Taiwan, seriously, shoot me a DM. I'm always happy to share routes or find a new riding buddy.
Cheers and ride safe!
by SecurityOk7245
1 Comment
I‘d say it depends a lot on the roads and cycling infrastructure around you. Some people get gravel bikes for things like ridding on broken streets in comfort and I think that’s so far from their true potential. For me they were an absolute game changer because around here (Southern Germany) I can ride to most neighbouring cities on forest roads and spend dozens of Kms at the time away from cars and traffic lights… and still be FAST!
Do you have enough gravel-/dirt-roads around you? If so, I’d say absolutely try gravel! For what it’s worth, I did Taiwan’s Cycling Route Nr.1 some years ago and I absolutely loved it, but I did find all the cars and mopeds in the West Coast to be quite annoying 😛