Cycling in Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday 6:00AM

Ok.. a little a bit about cycling here, took some photos on this morning's ride to accompany this post. Taipei is surrounded by some pretty decent mountains.. it does not take long on a bike to get out of the city and up into some fantastic climbing.. closer than going up to Nyack from Brooklyn.. the local stuff tops out at about 9000 feet and there are some climbs upwards of 9 miles long that are just out of the city... this morning I left my place at 4:30am, rode North across the city (about 7 miles) and met up with the expat cycling crew, they ride Tuesday and Thursdays at 5am leaving from TAS (Taiwan American School).. after a few miles of flats we start climbing a 1600 foot climb that is long and gradual and one of their favorites.. we crest out and they had back to get to work.. I continue on up another 1200 feet or so to the top of the road I was on.. I turned back partly because I had entered the clouds and visibility was going down quick.. cruised back down into the city then cut over a few blocks and hit a small 900 foot climb to finish off the day.. then back South through rush hour and scooter madness to get back home..

today I rode about 50 miles and got in about 4000 feet of climbing.. this is actually pretty average for local rides, and you actually start to get used to the scooter madness that is Taipei traffic..