LTF E-Adventure Day 1 - Taichung to Sun Moon Lake. 57km

2 very different approaches to wet weather footwear!

Fermented Smelly Tofu - the "durian" of Taiwan. Delicious!

For those who know Taiwan, the East Coast is much much more attractive than the West Coast as the latter tends to be very industrial and even polluted. If you are thinking of doing a round island, the best way to traverse the West Coast is by High Speed Train at 280kmh/h and spend more time exploring the magnificent mountains, valleys, rice plains, endless coasts of the eastern part.

But we had to collect our bikes from Taichung so the plan was to get them and ride east to Sun Moon Lake asap. We chose to stay at the Mini Hotel near the Feng Chia Night Market. This hotel has a British theme based on the iconic Mini and as an incorrigible car fanatic, it resonates. Being near the night market meant great pickings for dinner but the main reason is that it is not far from the Giant Flagship Bike Store.

It was a very wet morning and we taxi-ed to collect our bikes after a sumptuous breakkie. The bikeshop boasts of an impressive showroom but unfortunately due to a misunderstanding, our 8 E-Bikes that we ordered were not ready for collection despite our telephone confirmation a few days earlier. The staff were apologetic and started to source racks and panniers for the majority of the bikes who were not tour ready. This meant a 2 hr delay but with the pouring rain, we didn't mind. It was great too to finally meet up with Alice who trained up from Chaozhou, some 3 hrs away. For all the trouble, the staff decided to compensate us with a spare battery each and this was truly a God sent blessing which saved us on more than one occasion.

We left at about 1pm and rode 5km to the central train station into the heart of town in the soaking rain. It was a strange but pleasant experience to be on these E-bikes which is a pedal-assist type. This meant that the power only kicks in when you cycle and the boost you get is rather addictive. I was quite worried if the water would affect the electric components of the Ebike but that proved unfounded. It was rather fun just getting completely soaked wet as we cycled through the streets of Taichung.

Note my most effective wet weather foot wear!

One unfortunate consequence of our later start meant that we missed the 130pm train to Ershui and we had to decide whether to cycle the 40km there and continue to SML or wait till 4pm to take the next train. For safety reasons, we decided on the train even though it meant riding to SML in the dark. This long wait enabled us to enjoy a lovely burger lunch at Freen Burger just across the Station. It was surprisingly good with super fresh ingredients and a tasty burger! Just wearing our shorts meant we got a discount as the tagline for this eatery was - "Be living in your shorts" - something that we would be doing for a week on our bike trip.

The train ride to Ershui was uneventful and it was only about an hour. However, it is always good to have our own in-house entertainment in Uncle KC for he never fails to bring the house down, or rather the train down.

Upon arrival at Ershui, Alice tried to talk to a conductor of a train heading in the direction of SML to allow us to board but to no avail. That train was not designated to take full-size bicycles unfortunately and we sorely missed the advantages of travelling with a foldy. 

The ride to SML was about 50km and we had only about an hour of sunlight left. The sky was already dark and cloudy with pregnant rain clouds but the kms flew by quickly as we put the Ebike advantage to good use. We were all cruising easily at 25-30km/h through quiet roads and it was magic to be gliding at such a quick pace with not much effort. The soft whirling sound of the motor was something we had to get used to and we did so quickly.

We stopped at 711 after about 30 km to refuel and then began the 20km plus climb up to SML Although the Giant Ebikes had lites as part of the rental package, they were rather dismal and it was a challenge to ride up the mountains in pitch dark roads. Only Gary brought proper lights and I nearly crashed into a low hanging branch, which added so much to the night adventure. We started the climb with 70% left in our battery but this was depleting at a faster pace than expected. That got me worried!

7km before the top, we stopped at a Police Station for a quick toilet stop and more importantly, to switch batteries as some of us were dangerously low. The Policeman came out wondering what mischief this mortley crew of 8 were up to in the dead of the night!  With a fresh battery, we powered our way up with confidence and I set it to Sport Power and literally flew. The all too familiar SML town centre soon appeared and we made our way through the back lanes to Shui Yang Boatel Hotel. This lovely place is situated just by the lakeside and is reasonably priced - another gem recommended by YC! The owner was expecting us and greeted us warmly, directing us where to park our bikes. This is one plus of travelling Taiwan, most hotels are so bike friendly.

Pic fm Booking.com  Shui Yang Boatel

Arriving at 9pm plus, most eateries were closed except for the life saving 711 but we were not fussy. After a quick shower, everyone was in high spirits and I had my absolutely delicious Jpn Curry Rice with Taiwan Grape Beer!

We had done a total of 57km on our first day and climbed a respectable 1470m. It was pleasantly effortless. I reckon we used only 30% of our strength to get here thanks to electric technology. If this was a sample of what's to come, we can't wait to enjoy the rest of our adventure.

Everyone slept very well that night and before I slipped into dreamland, I thought about the blessing of the very unplanned extra battery. We thought we could make do with one but someone up there knew better and was keeping a close watch over us.

*Photo credits - KC Auyeong

A thoroughly electrifying climb up 3275m Wulin, Taiwan and beyond! Apr 2019 - Introduction

Our beautiful LTF E-Adventure decal done by Taiwanese artist Alice Ko.

Both pics above fm Yee Chao

Drinking coffee at 250kmh and more, onboard the excellent Taiwan Hi-Speed Rail.

Whether we like it or not, age creeps up upon all of us and as invincible as we sometimes feel as cyclists, our performance is affected as the years go by and as our bodies wear down slowly. This means that some of the tough routes we have done when we were younger, could possibly be precluded as we age. But is there a satisfying alternative and hope for us young Seniors?

One of the most beautiful bike rides I have encountered in my 15 years of bicycle touring is the route from Puli to Hualien on Hway 14 across the 3275m mountain pass of Wulin through the breath-taking Taroko National Park, Taiwan.

Prof Celia Tan on her trusty Bike Friday Pocket up Hway 14, 8km from the peak. 2012

My first time in 2012 doing this tour organised by George Lim of LCSG changed my life. The 50km climb was super tough especially near the end and my knees were out of action for 3 months. My second experience through this route was on a Kymco 180 Scooter in 2017 and that was a breeze but somehow, not as fulfilling nor memorable as doing on a bicycle.

The itch to do it again, this time with friends new to cycling needed to be scratched but how do we go without dying from sheer exhaustion and pain? A cyclist friend Yee Chao posted about a tour he did along the East Coast of Taiwan on a Giant E-bike with his wife and this sparked something in me... Was it possible to scale the daunting Wulin on an Ebike? Nobody as far as I know have done this before and I could not get any advice despite thorough research. But I was all game for a challenge. It would be like scaling Everest wearing an Exoskeleton Robot if you were a Mountain Climber.

This would be an amazing experience if it all worked out to plan and we actually tried this out some years back in Ibaraki University of Health Science in Japan.

Yee Chao was very kind to share his experience of his tour on the E-bike and it was encouraging to know that a full charge, if ridden carefully, could give a touring range 60-70km. Perfect for a typical LTF tour. However, climbing a steep mountain pass was a different story. The Ebike gobbles heaps of power going uphill and this is what Yee Chao shared...

"This climb (10km, 800m) alone for my weight already used 60-70% of the battery." 

The first stage of climb up from Puli to Cingjing is already 28km and from CJ to Wulin is much steeper and about 25km. One solution was to carry an extra battery but the cost of renting a Giant E-bike is not cheap. This was the 2018 rates pick up from Hualien. 7 days rental will cost S$200 and an extra battery would be another $80.

As we wanted to start out from the West and cut across to the East, the hard work and research kindly done by our buddy Ying Chang indicated picking up the bikes from Taichung was possible. After a flurry of emails and phone calls, the deal was made however Giant only had 8 Ebikes available. Furthermore, this would cost us 30% more due to the fact they have to transport the bikes back from our drop off point in Taitung. To put this rental cost in perspective, a scooter costs only $10 a day or is 4 times cheaper and a car is about $50 a day - the price of our Ebike!

However, Yee Chao's words resonates - "The E-bike rental is not cheap. The price can rent car already but the experience is priceless!"

Though this made no financial sense, some things in life must be experienced regardless. I managed to rope up a team of 8 who was game to give this tour a try and I applaud them for their keen sense of adventure!

Missing Alice!

With that, we flew to Kaoshiung on Apr 15 and caught the speedy HSR bullet train to Taichung with so much uncertainty. Can we do it with just one battery? What would the weather be like? Would the E-bike have enough power to bring us and our luggage up those long and steep climb?

The plan was to train from Taichung to Ershui, then cycle to Sun Moon Lake. Then down to Puli, Cingjing, Wulin, Hualien and along the beautiful coast to Taitung. The unknowns, adventures and dangers that awaited us beggared belief.

But on a wing and a prayer, we began our first E-bicycle tour trusting Him who hold us in His good hands!

Mae Hong Siong (Hokkien for tough) Adventure - 26 Nov to 12 Dec 2018

I have always been enamoured by N Thailand ever since I drove this 600km loop 10 years ago. If memory serves me well, I have done this twice on scooters and twice on bicycles. Yet, I'm preparing to fly there again as I write to do my 3rd ride this time on my Bike Friday Expedition. Previously, I used a Dahon Speed Pro and last year, the Marin Four Corners. It has been serviced by the ever thorough and skillful Lewis of Unique Custom Cycles and it is ready as can be. The real question is whether the twin piston engine of yours truly is up for the challenge of long, long inclines and fun, speedy descents.

Our team consists of 17yo Wayne, who did it last year and that changed his life literally. He is hooked on cycling ever since and is keen to flatten them hills with his new 7kg carbon road bike.  3 other MHS newbies are joining us. Gary and Siew Wan, who are like me, the slow and steady bicycle tourists (note - not tourers) who like to enjoy the ride more than the pain. They too will be flying the Bike Friday Flag, namely the NWT and the Crusoe. Also, a well known long distance champion cyclist who I respectfully call Nuclear Heng. He enjoys pain and has taken part in numerous Audax and ultra long distance riding. He will be on his Dahon Speed Pro - a true classic foldy that is fast!

Last but not least, I am so glad my trusty LTF buddy, Ying Chang is coming along to pilot the Mothership. He did this with me last year and it is a joy to be able to have him on the team again for this most important role. I forsee spending a lot of time with him in the cockpit - judging from my very ill-prepared physical condition. 

So why am I going back again and again and again?  Words are hard to express and capture the sheer beauty, the majesty, the people, the food, the experiences and of course the sheer satisfaction of conquering crazy mountains on the humble bicycle. 

Stay tune on LTF and find out!

A bike-train commute to retrieve Sir Song

Singapore soon celebrates its 200th year since Sir Stamford Raffles founded her in 1819. A huge celebration is planned by the government and with its amazing economic miracle and transformation, there is every reason to do so.

On that note, it is interesting that a century ago, a prominent Cambridge Lawyer Sir Song Ong Siang, a Straits Chinese, wrote his classic book, "One Hundred Years History of the Chinese in Singapore" and published in London, 20 Dec 1922.  This is a must read and not many copies exist today.

Therefore I was so excited that my Aunt Ruth, an avid heritage historian, asked if I could retrieve her one and only copy from a friend who lives in Swanbourne, Perth.

Of course I happily obliged as I was too excited to get my hands on this rare book as our forefather Chia Ann Siang was given a mentioned.

Swanbourne is about 20km from where I live and a 40km commute by bicycle in the hot sun didn't appeal. I could drive or ride my Tricity scooter but decided wisely on a bike/train adventure.

Turned out to be the best decision ever!  A 2.5km easy ride to Canning Bridge Station, hopped on the super fast train to Perth City, change to Fremantle line and before I knew it, I was at Claremont Station.  A scenic 2km ride around a lake brought me to Peter's huge home and as arranged, the precious book was waiting for me by the front door.

It was unfortunate that Peter was not home but I was glad to get my hands on the book. I took a different route back to Claremont Station via the other side of the lake and was back home in under 2 hours.

Best of all, the train fare costs less than $3, cheaper than the fuel for my thrifty Golf and even Yamaha scooter.

I reckon a bike-train way of commuting is unbeatable. Cheap, fast, pleasant and fun.



Reflection - As we journey on in life, perhaps the best way of going about it is with God who watches over us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3,5,6

Testing - why my photos in this blog have all disappeared

Im still puzzled as to why my photos have all disappeared.

One possible reason is that I copy and paste them from FB and this is somehow affecting it.

I shall try now uploading the pics from my computer and see what happens. Here is it and done on 16 Oct 2018.

Lets see if it stays. Most frustrating!