Posts tagged “taipei”  

Introduced at the Taipei Bike Show, SRAM’s new X7 mtb group is “aimed at mid-level XC to entry-level downhillers and freeriders.” No pricing announced yet, though. The group has many of the features of the vaunted XX group, SRAM’s pricey pro-level XC group. Both groups use a double chainring crank coupled with wide-ratio 10sp cassettes, including choices with 36tooth cogs.

Much like with the XX group, most of the components are branded SRAM instead of the cranks being labeled Truvativ. The hydraulic brakes still bear the Avid logo, but all the components are stylistically integrated with a dark, matte finish. Also interesting is the matching hubset, since SRAM hasn’t in the past marketed hubs.

I’ve been to Taiwan three times now, but it wasn’t till this last trip that I really saw how many class bike shops Taipei had. We went to Rui Guang Road, where there were 3 bikes shops next door to each other in a fairly new commercial district. One was the Merida flagship store, the middle was the Orbea shop where I was compelled to buy a Catlike helmet, and the third was another of the ubiquitous Giant Bicycles stores. Each of the shops carried a full range of bikes from budget to premium.

Last year when I went about the smaller, older neighborhoods with my then girlfriend, I visited a bunch of hole-in-the-wall shops, some cool and some mundane. Together with these larger shops employing a bit more retail design, I’m really impressed with how much cycling culture seems to be growing in Taiwan.

After plucking serious cash for a Catlike helmet, I’m wearing it everywhere on the last day in Taiwan. I’m here at the Grand Hotel, Taipei. It’s been a crazy 8 days in Taiwan, I’ll tell you about it when I get back.

Mark V is in Taiwan with other bloggers and journalists for a cultural tour, including Cyclelicious.

Mark left for the tour on Friday, the day after Interbike and our Mobile Social.

Mark V is joining a Taiwan Cycling and Cultural Tour the day after Interbike. In the few years we’ve traveled, ridden, and blogged Taiwan, it has become a bike country.

Cycling is the national pastime and they’re working now on promoting the country as a cycling destination. We’re happy to help! The tour itinerary includes:

1. Sun Moon Lake, Round the Lake Road
2. Poet’s Aria Taroko
3. Dongfong Green Green Passage
4. Guanshan, Taitung County
5. Taipei Guandu Left Bank of Bali.

While on the trip, I’ve asked Mark to watch out for dogs in shoes, bring back a crazy small folding bike, and enjoy a Hello Kitty Pie. Also obey the traffic robots and get some Pizza Cut Five shirts.

Previous Taiwan Coverage

• Taiwan Tag
• Taiwan photos
• Taipei Blogger Party

As the post title would suggest, no we're not working on a calendar of the world's-sexiest bike commuters (hey maybe!), but instead answering questions about riding to work in the summer and trying to stay cool.

Working hard on our Hugga Comfort line of gear, we've been thinking a lot about bike clothing. Last year, during an unusually hot day in the Pacific Northwest Pam and I were caught up in a Commuter Challenge on Seattle's Alaskan Way when we heard the rattling sound of an old Schwinn Varsity approaching. As the rider's breathing increased followed by the rush of the pass and his final push ahead of us, I noticed the commuter was dressed in jeans and a cotton tee. A few minutes later we passed the commuter and he was tearing his shirt off, obviously overheating.

We've told this story many times to our contacts in the bike industry and hope someday we'll end up with a greater variety of smart yet attractive technical apparel for commuters. We want gear we can wear on the bike and then wear right into the office--until then commuters are going to have to choose between "dorky" bike gear or sweating through their cotton street clothes.

Nabiis goods. Bike parts, DVDs, from the fixie scene in Taiwan. We missed this crew during our trips to Taipei -- won't do so again.

Uploaded by Αdward | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Last year in Taipei, we along with everyone else, were amazed by the increase in ridership and cyclists. Following that up, Taipei is testing a Bike Share program. They've already got Bike Parking. Eric Mah, Marketing Specialist from Dahon demonstrates how it works in this video

Bike Share aside, I dig that Giant bike with its funky-fender, dynamo hub, and all.

Eric is blogging about biking to work with his co-workers, including the gas masks they wear.

1/2 links seem in these days (3 posts and counting from us); especially on a Vintage Dahons. This bike was spotted by Steve Gluckman, Brand Manager Novara, during a trip to Taipei for the bike show.

Read more about Steve in a MTBR forum from 2002: Bike jockey by design.

Riding in the rain requires skill. You don’t want to ride through puddles and prolly shouldn’t do it while holding an umbrella.

This photo reminded me of all the craziness we’ve seen while riding in various Asian countries. Like this scooter-assist in Shanghai or this guy cooking a shoe or shiny human sculptures.

Noticed on RabatJoie a mostly NSFW site.

While we’re here in Austin for the MoSo SXSW, the Bike Expo is kicking off back in Seattle and there’s the Taipei Bike Show in Taiwan.

Metrofiets is bringing their flavor of cargo bikes to the Expo and that’s one of the bikes we’d want to see. We’d give them the thumbs up right back.

Readers,

Tell us how the Expo goes in the comments.

While in Taipei, we spotted a bike parking attendant. This was between the hotel and the trade center.

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Don’t know how we missed this crew during our last trip to Taipei, but we’re looking them up next time …

Uploaded by fhaione :: subcrew | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Iris and I went to visit her aunt who lives in the apartment where Iris lived until she was 11. Just a couple blocks from the address, tucked in on a small alley, was a little bike shop with a showroom smaller than a American SUV. Despite its size and rather low key shop face, it was chock-a-block full with cool bikes.

One day while in Taiwan, Iris and I saw this robot re-directing traffic. Powered by a car battery, it waved its arms constantly and neither pissed in the street nor made lewd suggestions to my girlfriend.

We had gone to visit her aunt and uncle who live just outside Taipei proper. After stuffing ourselves on a Taiwan feast of stinky tufo, shrimp, greens, and tropical fruit, they invited us for a walk outside.

What often seems to happen when Asian countries become more prosperous is that cycling takes on a negative aura in the eyes of the public as they rush headlong into the trappings wealth and consumerism. Seduced by petrol drenched dreams of success, people leave behind the bicycle as if its humble drivetrain chained them to old ways and poverty. And while the heavy industries, upon which their hopes rise to the top of world commerce, choke the air foul and the now swarming cars fill the gaps between with rivers of emissions, the bicycles are further pushed to the margins of the road and sidewalks. But the Taiwan government seems to be aware that the quaint bicycle, together with improved public transportation, can be a terrific foil to the issues of air quality, traffic congestion, and infrastructure of a society overly dependent on automobiles.

A couple times while we were in Taipei, Iris and I went to the Ximending shopping district, sometimes called the Harajuku of Taiwan, a place where youth, consumerism, and culture collide in corridors of bright lights and gaudy colours. We walked through the many shops and arcades, amongst street performers, shoppers, and shopkeepers. We saw these tricycles, apparently advertising escort services with internally lit panels.

Apparently bookstores are the new hangout in Taiwan. The Eslite booksellers franchise has a huge flagship store about 6 blocks from Taiepi 101. They have 5 floors topped by a fancy restaurant floor. The basement level is a food court.

On our way, I spotted this bike labelled “Rollo”. What’s so unusual about it? It’s model that Bianchi sold in the states, basically a downgraded version of the Bianchi Milano with green metal-flake paint and a stupid clown head horn. I don’t think that Bianchi had a Taiwan presence when this model was produced, let alone sold it Taiwan. How did you get here, you little ugly bike?

Iris took me to a couple of the night markets in Taipei. These are spectacles that shouldn’t be missed. For one reason, there’s the food, which is both really good and really cheap. Another is the atmosphere of the Taiwanese passing the time, leisurely winding their way through narrow passageways, and the shop people in their semi-busy routine that must have been formed through countless nights just like this one.

In between eating treats of squid legs and yam fries and shopping for handbags, I spotted this work bike. It’s a longtail trike, single speed with what appears to be a frame mounted brake lever. I would see these trikes here and there but never in the new Taipei core around the 101 tower. As the city is almost pancake flat, nestled amongst mountains and dressed with good pavement, the trikes need only be sturdy and simple. Chances are that these trikes were manufactured long ago, and yet despite the onslaught of motorscooters and autos, they live on because of their economy and durability.

I’m in Asia on vacation, and one of my amusements is finding interesting mini velo and folding bikes. Here’s my current object of obsession, the Gios Panto. I saw one parked outside a bike shop while in Taiwan.