台灣 Team Cinelli Ritchey 車隊

I stole a couple of hours to ride around the Sun Moon Lake this morning. The trip around the lake is about 28km of undulating terrain, interspersed with 1~2km climbs and descents, nothing more strenuous than 5~6% grade. I’ve always thought it’d make for a classy World’s course.

From our apartment in Puli the trip to the Lake and back takes just about 2 hours. I’ve always loved cruising around the Lake during the week when there’s much fewer cars – something I haven’t been able to do much since ModusVelo opened in Taichung last year. The Lake sits about 700m above sea level, the route is mostly shaded, and the surface well-paved — super nice riding, an escape from the stifling summer heat.

With the Taiwan bike boom of the last few years, Sun Moon Lake has become a mecca of sorts for cyclists. The tour buses around the Lake are now equipped with bike racks, and there’s a shop that specializes in bike rental. The well-meaning government officials, finding themselves behind the curve as usual, try to do something for the peeps by- what else? – putting up signs.

The last time I rode around the lake was during the TCR Chinese New Year training camp. I am sure the signs weren’t up then. The first few I noticed this morning were innocuous enough, like “Slow down for the descent”. But this one had me do a doubletake and I just had to stop.

It’s located at the bottom of a gentle (ave. 5% if that) 1.5km climb, the last one on course if you do the Lake from Puli clockwise. Let me translate if the figure at bottom puzzles: Continuous grade, advise walking your bike.

Really. We need advice from officials who obvious don’t ride like we need saddle sores. What we need are real urban bike paths instead of fancy promenades. We need policies that encourage companies to install shower and locker facilities for employees who commute by bike. We need to educate drivers to share the road (or just how to drive). blah blah blah. But hey, who cares what we the people need? Offcials know the best – slow down on the descent, walk your bike going up hill.

Ahh, the joy of living in a land where one’s constantly babied and baby-talked to.