#taiwankom

[gilles1974]

. Taiwan KOM Challenge🚴‍♀️ . 距離105Km、海抜0メートルから台湾道路最高地点である3,275mの武嶺まで駆け上がるこのレースは、世界一過酷なヒルクライムレースと呼ばれています。 昨日山登りして、今日は自転車でまた登るの？バカなの？ ‥ハイ、バカなんです！ キツければやめよう、やめようと思いながらも、なかなかやめられない‥ 結局、完走しちゃいました😆 バーチャルでの距離47.7Km、獲得標高2,860m。およそ3時間半のクライミングはまさに「苦楽しい」の極致。我ながら不思議なものです😅 . さ、次はどこを走ろうかな🚴‍♀️ . #台湾 #taiwan #🇹🇼 #合歓山 #武嶺 #武嶺3275m #kom #taiwankom #taiwankomchallenge #サイクリング #ロードレース #ヒルクライム #バーチャル #ar #vr #アバター #zwift #rouvy #strava #自転車 #ロードバイク #サイクリング #ロードバイクが好き #ロードバイク好きな人と繋がりたい #自転車が好き #自転車が好きな人と繋がりたい #サイクリング好きな人と繋がりたい #ヒルクライム好きな人と繋がりたい #カメラ #写真 #写真好きな人と繋がりたい (合歡山武嶺3275) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmWXdw5LLGX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bikeroar]

This weekend's #TaiwanKOM showcases climbers and Taiwan as cycling adventure destination.

LEARN MORE: http://roa.rs/2eb6dnN

[youcantbuyland]

#Repost @veloclub.cc ・・・ For those of you who haven't heard of the Taiwan KOM Challenge, it's something to put on your bucket list. 3300m of climbing over 100 km on the most spectacular road you'll ever see. There's another chance this October and we're thinking of organising a trip to ride the event and a few other cycling gems. Let us know if you're interested and we'll send more info. . @taiwankomchallenge #taiwankom #taiwan #taiwantourism @tw_cyclist @crank_punk

[takeikyosuke-blog]

完璧な展開 #funnytk #sugoi #taiwankom (公正街包子店)

[tough-job]

First time to experience an actual road race abroad. What a very challenging event. Taiwan KOM that ended up the peak of Wu Ling from Hualien (Distance of 103km with a total elevation of 3275) was Voted one of the top 30 tough bike climbs. It didn’t disappoint from the start of the climb to passing through the mountain range with bridges tunnels and underpass and off course the climb and switch back. Each part has gradient with little time for recovery. With a maximum of 26 gradient which you will feel at the last 10 km. I would have say I would have conquered this but I did not just riding 75 % of the course. Something to try again soon but wish there was no time limit. Till I meet you again Wu Ling #TaiwanKOM.

[thaibikesnet]

That road.... #Repost @pikey100 (@get_repost) ・・・ Can’t get enough riding through the Taroko Gorge. Recovery spin today #Taiwankom #ttbaunz Banger 📸 @newoods #cycling #cyclist #cyclinglife #cyclingphotos #cyclingshots #cyclingpics #ilovecycling #lovecycling #roadbike #instacycling #cyclingaddict #cyclingshots #outsideisfree #fromwhereiride #procycling #ilovecycling #ไทยไบค์ #ชุมชนจักรยาน #จักรยาน http://ift.tt/2hgsXay

[bigmacsg]

Taiwan KOM Challenge

"Challenge" is defined as a call to participate in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength. In Taiwan KOM, the fight is not against the 400 other nutters on the road but with the Yuling Mountain. You versus the Blood Stained Beast and her 3250 metres of vertical hell. The winner is never in doubt and Mdm Yuling doesn't fight fair...

Training for such a monster in Singapore was always going to be a challenge given our lack of hills. Instead CrankPunk had me on a diet of overgeared TT efforts for the month prior and I only did one session that could even be considered as a hilly effort. Given some of my companions were racking up 4000m altitude per week, I was secretly anxious about my prep. The legs were more ripped than Hincapie mainlining Viagra but I had concerns about whether it would be enough.

The trip itself started well when my replacement MaxiCab to the airport turned up sporting blue neon shag lighting. I took this as a sign of good fortune to come and went to the 1am flight smiling with my 6 other ANZA companions.

Landing at 5am after zero sleep and no food is rarely listed in the Race Prep manuals as the optimal way to a win. Our Taiwanese guide had some grand ideas to get our mojo back & we were promptly in a McDonalds for breakfast followed by a dip in a volcanic spring!

We then took the scenic trip down the coast road to Hualien. Views were spectacular and flitted between huge mountain cliffs scabbed up with gaping rockslide wounds, industrial powerplants and some fantastic beachfront. I had no idea what to expect from Taiwan prior to the trip and so far, it was exceeding on many fronts.

The event hotel was a 4 Star smasher although lost a couple of stars in my estimation when they announced that our rooms wouldn't be ready for another 3 hours post arrival. Redemption was at hand as they foolishly agreed to let us all build up our bikes in the middle of the grand foyer!

Crystal baby Jesus even popped in to bless my Pinarello. Good lad!

Not to be outdone by a  minor deity, Simon Clarke also stopped by for a picture.

Race briefing was unevenful - apart from the constant mentions of rock slides from the organisers. The name card guy clearly had Seb pegged as our top boy from the get-go...

RACE DAY: Taiwan KOM: 104km, 3,489m climbed

It was an early 4am wakeup to get breakfast and out to the start.Thankfully the weather looked good and I ditched the arm warmers and rain jacket that I'd bought specially.

I had my first experience of "size envy" over some of the cassettes on show on the other machines. Whilst I'd squeezed a 30 tooth sprocket on, I'd retained the standard crank whereas many others were going as low as 34:32 with Compact and WiFli mashups. We were treated to some massive drums & a flexible sumo boy hopping around to get us piped up prior to the start. The F16s next door and the drone cameras overhead also made it a bit more impressive than the usual SG event.

The first 18km were neutralised through the city and the 400 riders rolled out at a brisk 40km pace. I got talking to last years winner (John Ebson) in an attempt to buy his kit as it matched my new bike perfectly...

At the 18km mark, we were going up a decent 3% gradient and then it was game on! Immediately we were in the foothills and the speed strung the race right out.

The course was as beautiful as the marketing hype promised with some truly awe inspiring views through the gorge. Massive waterfalls, huge deadface cliffdrops and lots of overhanging rocks. There were a score of narrow unlit tunnels carved through the bare rock and these proved to be the hairiest moments of the race. With some riders going without lights, you were literally just guessing where the riders might be and praying that they weren't slowing down in front of you.

I clung to the front group till about 40km in. Already my back was hurting and the pace was simply too fearsome. Seb Bo was long gone and Dave Cox came past and wished me luck at that point. From then on, I was largely alone for the rest of the race.

The route was really a game of two halves. The first 90km is similar to Fraser Hill in Malaysia. Relatively gentle (3-4%) meandering climbs through the jungle which was absolutely silent and great riding. It then opens up at the mountain top into the steep bit and the last 10km averages over 10% (including a 1.5KM downhill) with some sections well over 25%. That bit reminded me of a more natural, less industrial version of Genting. So, 2x Frasers Hill and then straight onto Genting and you get an idea of what the day is like... 

My gearing decision proved to be the choice of fools and I struggle badly in the last 10km - being simply unable to push a big gear on the steepest parts. I lost about 30 places & 10 minutes in the last 10km alone - much of it due to the need to, er, stretch the legs at points...

The last 10km were brutal & I saw people puking on the bike and one simply keel over mid-pedal stroke and fall down! The rain came on heavy at the end just to add a whiff of misery to the stench of agony pervading the mountain. I came across the line in 4:40 - 10 minutes down on my target but a good 1:20 ahead of the cutoff time.

I was freezing and immediately found the ANZA van and got changed into something warmer. Unfortunately the police came along and forced our van to go down the mountain - forcing me to descent the freezing mountain in pouring rain in a pair of flip-flops. Sketchy (but stylish!).

At the lunchstop, we waited for the rest of the ANZA team to arrive & discovered that Seb and Dave had both podiumed in the 30s category. Gigantic Knights Of the Templar style pyramids were awarded and attractive podium girls appeared to add some glamour to the affair. We also got the news of Pierre's Tour De Bintan success and a rapid trip to Taiwan's highest 7-11 for beers was ordered.

Sun & Moon Ride, 29km. 400m Climbing

The next day we were invited to come along to a VIP ride as part of the week long Taiwan Festival of cycling. We were expecting this to be a gentle sight-seeing photo-op session but we arrived to find over a 1000 riders with timing chips and numbers on... Smells like a race!!

Admittedly many were kids but the local clubs were out in force - along with a few busloads of the top American Giant bike dealers over for a incentive trip....

The flag went down and the crowd gently followed the VIP dignitaries over the start line. This lasted for about 50m before everyone went full gas and the field split between the fun riders and the racers. The road round the Sun Moon lake proved to be a cracker with lots of challenging uphill and twisty technical downhill and the legs were burning following the previous days efforts. ANZA took 1st,3rd,6th and 7th place for the event and it was a real fun surprise to end the trip. I could never imagine simply turning up at a huge event in Singapore and joining the ride without chips and numbers on - but no-one seemed to care one bit!

Overall, Taiwan impressed me no-end. The scenery was amazing and the riding fantastic. When I finished the KOM, I immediately said "never again" - I've since moderated that to say "Never again - On a standard crank!". I'll be back for sure.