After School Ride

Nope, I didn't get up at 4:30 to ride with the early group, but I did get out after school. I got around 13-16 miles. Not sure because my computer went wacko. I had it wired to the back wheel last winter so I could use my trainer and count miles. Found out I hated the trainer, and the stand I park my bike on messed with the sensor so it was always out of adjustment. Stopped at Giant after a laborious ride out toward Dadaocheng Wharf and one of the nice young new helpers put the sensor on the front fork. Cost...about $1.50 US. Why would I do it myself for that price???

Traffic was whizzing this afternoon...one of the bad things about riding in the afternoon instead of in the morning. But at least I don't have to rush to get home in time for a quick shower and a bite of breakfast before heading to school. I only had a couple close calls...pretty typical for Taipei.

Today was rather nice because school was dismissed at 2:00 instead of our normal 2:30. (now don't go thinking them's all the hours we work, cuz we routinely work till 5:00, get to school before 7:00 am, take work home with us and work on the weekends)

Taipei was holding an air raid drill, which means all traffic stops, and nobody is allowed out in the city streets. School buses needed to run earlier in order to get the kiddos home. I got a bit of work done, visited with a former 5th grade student who will soon be on her way to a boarding school in Switzerland, and left school at 3:30. It was nice to be on the bike by 3:50. It wasn't nice because I had a bonker of a ride...sore muscles from Jillian's workout, plus not having had much lunch (not enough time) and the heat did me in again. At least I got out, and I expect the heat will improve day by day, so I won't have that excuse to whine before too long.

After School Ride

In trying to ramp up my miserly miles, I've tried to get out after school a few times a week, and before school (at 5:00 am) a few times as well. One of my favorite after school places is to ride the bike path that goes in front of the Grand Hotel along the Keelung (I think) River. It's easy to get to without having to navigate too much insane traffic, and after school it's not ridiculously busy. I was riding happily along two weeks ago when I saw these kayakers out practicing. I like the colors of the kayaks and Taipei 101 in the background.


And this is an amazing photo because there is no one in it! It is not often there is a stretch of clear pavement.

Gave up on the Metric Today

I had fully intended on getting in 62.3 miles today for my second metric century of the year, but winds, traffic, and unknown riding areas kept me from completing my task. I had started out toward the National Palace Museum, but decided to change direction and go towards the coast. For some reason, I missed the turn to go in the scooter lane toward Tanshui, so I ended up going to Bali in the traffic over the Red Bridge. Not a task for the faint of heart!

Since I wanted to avoid bike paths as much as possible, I just went where the road took me. And it took me into areas I had not been in before. It did take me to a new to me bike path as well, which I followed to the very end. Got off to follow some bikers and rode the road for awhile and marveled at the insane traffic. The bikers stopped to drink and I was able to ask where the road was going. Inge? Nope, better not go there today, but it's nice to know where the road went.

I turned around and sort of followed my same way back, but stayed more on the road than the bike path, which was far too busy for my comfort. I wasn't entirely sure where I was, so when I came to the place where I needed to carry my bike up a ramp to get on a bridge that would take me to one of my normal bike path rides, I was pretty ecstatic. I did get off the path at Dadaocheng Wharf, and after stopping at a convenience market for a much-needed snack, proceeded to take the roads home.

I complain about the traffic a lot here, but today was one of the worst days ever. Yes, I had a few too close scooters and buses, but I made it home unscathed, and thanked God for the safe trip. I had one really hairy event when I was heading up a bridge in one scooter lane, which merged with another scooter lane, and as I was looking for traffic, my front tire got caught in a gap in a metal plate in the road. Since I didn't over-react and steered in the direction of my skid (think ice) I made it out of the situation easily. And luckily, there were no scooters close to me as I was swerving.

I watched these clouds for a long while before I finally found a halfway decent spot to take a photo.



I needed to walk my bike to the convenience mart because the traffic was so heavy and thought these Chinese mushrooms and other energy enhancers looked pretty cool.

Yeah, Me.

Another restless night...man, I just can't seem to sleep through the night any longer. I hit the snooze button on the alarm three times, then shut the annoying thing off. Darn near decided to just go back to sleep, but I actually crawled out of bed, got dressed, and went out for a decent little bike ride. Rode up and over Jianaan Road, a small 500 foot climb, which darn near did me in, what with the ridiculous headwind and my lack of conditioning. However, I DID make it over without stopping. From there I headed downhill around all the switchbacks to the Grand Hotel bike path, and back to Tienmu.

The wind was fierce again today, but the temperature was great and I even needed a light jacket. This was a good biking morning. Now I get to spend the day at school sans students because it is the last professional development day of the school year. What does that mean? Moronic meetings and lots of nonsense. Speaking of which, I guess I'd better get a shower and head to school.

Went Out Anyway

Yep, the streets were wet, as were the bike paths, but the heavy rain had stopped, so I went out for a short bike ride. Just went out past the Grand Hotel a bit, then headed back in to Tienmu. Just before the baseball fields, my tire started to flat. The front, thankfully. This is the first flat I've had on the Freeda so it gave me a chance to learn how to disconnect different brakes than I am used to. Got the wheel off easy enough, tube out, tube in, then struggled with getting the tire back over the rim. Gotta get some hand strength going! At any rate, even with the little old man peering over my shoulder for awhile, I got everything situated just fine and continued on home.
Of course I had to take a photo of the bike, sans front tire!


Happy day...this is a new addition that will get us onto the bike path without having to go through one of our most heinous intersections.


I do hope the child who discarded this stuffed animal received a new one for Chinese New Year.


Uh, no, no idea what it says. Guess I should have someone translate it for me.

Odd place, this Taiwan

Sunday, November 25 was a strange bike riding day. I was soloing, as I normally do on Sundays, so I headed out to do a River Loop ride. A nice ride that David and I used to do regularly. The route is from Tienmu to Guandu, then up and over the red bridge. Once over the bridge, I rode the bike path along the river. The first picture is of the bike path from Tienmu to Guandu, a nice stretch that can be incredibly busy.


This photo is near the end of the bike path on the Bali side, not too far from the pedestrian bridge.



This photo is taken from the same spot, just looking the opposite direction. I have always loved this bridge.




Once over the pedestrian bridge, the route then goes to Dadaocheng Wharf. On this day, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, there was a bike rally/show with hundreds of people milling around. Sometimes these crowds drive me crazy, other times, like this day, I don't really mind them.




The strangest sight on this day were these singers dressed as native Americans. Singing Mandarin songs. In front of a sign promoting bike riding. Odd place, this Taiwan.

Wind, Hills, and Walkers

Today was a solo Sunday, so I thought I'd head for the hills a bit. I rode up to Psycho Squirrel Bridge, back down to the National Palace Museum, then back up to Psycho Squirrel for a second time. The elevation gain to the bridge is about 850 feet. In about three miles. It's a decent climb and I breathe hard each time I climb it. The picture of the creek is past the National Palace Museum before the girl's school.
Once down to the National Palace, I headed over to the bike path (oops, atop Piglet Bridge I looked down and saw about 1,000 or so walkers enjoying walking day. Thanks for that, guys.) You have to look closely at the photo to see the snaking line of walkers.


Since the bike path was out of commission for bikers, I went out to WenLin Road with traffic, thought about heading up the hill to Peitou, changed my mind when the wind nearly blew me sideways, so back to Dexing, Chung Shan, Cheng Chung, Shidong (right at Takishamaya) u-turn and safely to the apartment. This was one of those days with high highs and low lows...highs from the climbs and descents, lows from the idjits and weather. Darn near kissed the ground when I reached the safety of my apartment.