Cycling Around Taiwan - Bikepacking Route One - Huan-Dao Bicycle Touring - 環島1號線

Join me on this 1000km bicycle tour around Taiwan on the Haun-Dao (環島). I took the counterclockwise route down the west coast, over the mountainous Shouka climb, and north through the East Rift Valley. Stops at the Mr. Brown scenic area and Taroko Gorge made for an unforgettable trip.

Bike Rental:
www.mathewbike.com
Mathew and May went out of their way to secure me a bike. Typically you need 2-4 weeks advance reservation. They found me one in about 7 days. Luckily I had no firm departure date. If you are picky about gear then consider bringing your own bike. All the rental bike companies in Taiwan use basic aluminum frames which are adequate for light loads; like a tent, sleeping bag, and clothes.

Season:
Based on the information I read on Paul & Anja's website (link below) I decided on late October and early November. I experienced only two days of rain, but sunburn became a problem. There were rainy forecasts for solid weeks on the east coast before leaving Taipei. This is how I decided on the counterclockwise route. The west coast forecast was dry as a bone. The best antidote for bad weather is more time and a flexible departure schedule.

Distances:
You will hear me say at the end “the tour totaled right near 1000km”. My distance counter got wet on the last leg of the trip and stopped working. I have a picture of it at 985km before it reset itself. That last leg was over 60km so the total was well over 1000km. However the counter started at 85km from cycling around Taipei at the beginning. A trip to Tamsui and Bitan were good warm-ups before the tour. Getting over jet lag is a concern depending where you are from. So, plan for 60-100 km per day over 9 cycling days and you will make the trip on schedule if you follow the downloadable guide below. There are several tangent paths off route one that you can take, including the southernmost point of the island, Kenting, and Taroko Gorge. Whatever you do, don’t skip Taroko.

Other notes:
If you think about deleting the entire west coast from your itinerary, I won’t blame you. Consider the eastern regions between Taipei, Taitung, and Kaohsiung. If you are into hiking, Taroko gorge and the surrounding areas offer several days of activities.

Most cyclist stay at hotels every night on this tour, so camping equipment is not totally necessary. In late October and early November there were always hotel vacancies. The hotel strategy also gets you close to all the exciting food options throughout the country. This is not to be missed! That said, I like to camp when the opportunity arises. The light equipment demands make Taiwan a dream for the road cyclist. Roads are smooth and maintained at a high level. An experienced rider could make the entire journey with a change of clothes and a credit card.

Special thanks:

Tips from Paul & Anja. See the extensive cycling record of this Dutch couple:
https://www.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl/destinations/asia/taiwan/

Dee Goo Cafe, Tainan:
https://www.deegoocafe.com/

John Saboe for the excellent general guide to Taipei:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYBd1grhWrz6caCX7bJDnMw

China Unscripted Taiwan. This podcast discusses the delicate position of Taiwan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKq2sTCV1Q

Maps:
http://itaiwanbike.iot.gov.tw/en-US/Other/Opendata

Cycling Around Taiwan Guide:
I followed this guide most of the way. It was accurate and helpful. There are several tangent routes.
https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/att/0024052/04_0024052.pdf

My architectural photography work:
www.unitedspace.co

Music credits:
Wayne Jones - “A Quiet Thought”
Kevin Macleod - “If I had a Chicken”
Doug Maxwell - “Lao Tzu Ecru”

Thanks for watching!

Видео Cycling Around Taiwan - Bikepacking Route One - Huan-Dao Bicycle Touring - 環島1號線 канала Michael Parker