dongshan mountain | RandoTips

2014 New Year Dongshan Ride

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-JVaSQ1_1jfY/Uu8AGKCo0VI/AAAAAAAARiU/_C1cmPxrVKU/s144-c-o/IMAG2331.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5975995336318570834″ caption=”Carrots” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2331.jpg” ]

Same ol’ story. Kids went to their aunty and uncle’s house so I went out for a ride. As I was dealing with an ample amount of time I decided against a flatland cruise and opted for the pristine beauty of the hills of Dongshan.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-yE-2pvrrPvE/Uu8B__ySzgI/AAAAAAAARik/BqEilS9xnFY/s144-c-o/IMAG2332.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5975997429509705218″ caption=”Farm Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2332.jpg” ]

I set off at about 10:30 after a short chat with the neighbors kids who are here for the holidays. They were telling me that the other kid was there because her mother had stayed up all night playing majhong so was too tired to take of her and had just left her there while she went to sleep. Hmm, kids are so damn honest, not a soul would mention the illegal gambling there, despite how blatantly obvious it is.

Gambling aside, I headed off in the wonderfully warm weather that has been dished out this lunar new year.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-JUAnqBsoU5c/Uu8F5tHMruI/AAAAAAAARi0/xnxXWqLhssw/s144-c-o/IMAG2333.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976001719464406754″ caption=”Baked Sweet Potato” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2333.jpg” ]

After a long stretch I passed the familiar sweet potato guy. I really don’t know how much business he gets there, but he’s there almost everytime I pass by.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-vzt8rdDU3HQ/Uu8Kih4iMTI/AAAAAAAARjE/D7inxkKwfsU/s144-c-o/IMAG2334.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976006818871259442″ caption=”Betelnut Stand” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2334.jpg” ]

In Liujia I took a slightly different route which bypassed some of the more crowded parts of the town.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-Cx4QtlFC1ZU/Uu8K69FqjpI/AAAAAAAARjQ/DRE0a8NNtO0/s144-c-o/IMAG2335.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976007238490951314″ caption=”Liujia Sports Center” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2335.jpg” ]

The sports center was quite empty as the sun was out. Oh, the wonders of have the opposite thinking about sunny skies.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-s4ZGcEopXUY/Uu8PBEtBgoI/AAAAAAAARjg/hIMp2P3Far8/s144-c-o/IMAG2336.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976011741660807810″ caption=”Into the Hills” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2336.jpg” ]

Shortly after I hit the foothills. The picture above was for no reason other than “here are hills”.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-qtmMNwr5w2s/Uu8QyHz03QI/AAAAAAAARjw/z08O9Hn2h6k/s144-c-o/IMAG2337.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976013683819863298″ caption=”More into the Hills” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2337.jpg” ]

I took a short break to remove my shirt as I was getting quite warm and wanted to bathe in the sunshine.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-bKiPaurDMrE/Uu8Ro-xXIqI/AAAAAAAARj8/7mNzT2yTNlM/s144-c-o/IMAG2338.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976014626286412450″ caption=”174 Signpost” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2338.jpg” ]

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-ecSxErZbFnw/Uu8S7KcWOTI/AAAAAAAARkM/c8DjM1IDIdw/s144-c-o/IMAG2339.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976016038168770866″ caption=”Cliff” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2339.jpg” ]

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-QP0EBsbuMmA/Uu8YOqUIddI/AAAAAAAARkg/hl-lmezTDn0/s144-c-o/IMAG2340.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976021870699902418″ caption=”Rest Stop” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2340.jpg” ]

I was hot enough at the rest stop to need to fill up with Super Supau. The motorbikes in the view decided that trying to slip in before the convoy of cars would be a good idea, then changed their minds and just sat in the middle of one lane waiting to get hit. Never mind that behind the convoy was completely clear, they still wanted to squeeze in. Quality of driving… sigh.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-VC-nWmsk76U/Uu8ZAGwk9AI/AAAAAAAARks/0aa-_RpKVoM/s144-c-o/IMAG2341.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976022720148993026″ caption=”River” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2341.jpg” ]

The rolling hills came and went. As I ride this area more and become familiar with the hills, so the easier they become. Perhaps it is for this same reason that I ride the flats so much. They are so familiar, there are no surprises, I know how long it will take to get home, I know when the next tough climb is and when I can get some water. I also know exactly what is good about the ride, similar to watching a favorite movie again and again.

[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-BS-poHqU2zQ/Uu8cCrpFXyI/AAAAAAAARk8/tY8CsWHMwRw/s144-c-o/IMAG2342.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976026062944296738″ caption=”Sunny, Hot and Quiet” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2342.jpg” ]

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-DshcCOg3IP0/Uu8dD2nu4_I/AAAAAAAARlI/ddkaajEvbfI/s144-c-o/IMAG2343.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976027182582916082″ caption=”Turnoff to main climb” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2343.jpg” ]

The turnoff to the temple signals the start of the main climbing portion of the ride. It heads up fairly steeply, but the road has been paved recently and is quite easy to zip up. The main portion to the temple took me around 20 minutes, but could be done in much less.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-7hwafOeJryo/Uu8e3p__7CI/AAAAAAAARlY/_ogAalSh_CU/s144-c-o/IMAG2344.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976029172059860002″ caption=”Enjoying the sun” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2344.jpg” ]

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-AgGWk7V2oso/Uu8gK_-DwXI/AAAAAAAARlo/_5GtwiRDjtk/s144-c-o/IMAG2345.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976030603886444914″ caption=”Stairs for walkers” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2345.jpg” ]

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-beIcXMPfr7M/Uu8jMnhyKII/AAAAAAAARl4/lvH-tT2ckd0/s144-c-o/IMAG2346.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976033930220021890″ caption=”Almost to the temple” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2346.jpg” ]

The temple is when the real fun begins because there are almost no cars or people up there. Although the road to the trailhead is rough, it’s still driveable. It’s a bit of cranking in very low gears on the bike. The short burst to the flatter top section is brief.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-hiV6bvssUTg/Uu8nBKxlPGI/AAAAAAAARmI/iZiLXXhA3hg/s144-c-o/IMAG2347.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976038131569605730″ caption=”Hiking Trail Map (I took the small loop just north of the You Are Here)” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2347.jpg” ]

There is trail system around here which I have never explored so today would be a good time to start. An MTB with slicks is not the most sensible choice, but is quite doable. Only the rockiest of trails are too tough to ride and those tend to be short sections.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-eVoRQ37T5NU/Uu8pBLhWq8I/AAAAAAAARmY/mZvwBL9G1Nw/s144-c-o/IMAG2348.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976040330793233346″ caption=”Tiny Paved Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2348.jpg” ]

The path up looked quite steep but started off with quite a promising cemented section. Usually this means that someone at some time has needed to get a car up there. That also means that it will be rideable, even with only slicks. Actually a road bike should be fine too, except for the lack of low gearing (ie. you just need stronger legs).

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-64ZNwNrgqfA/Uu8rV3NKCLI/AAAAAAAARmo/psDGI6qXOKo/s144-c-o/IMAG2349.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976042885140318386″ caption=”Hiking Trail” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2349.jpg” ]

After passing a small house the cemented sections disappeared. But the trails that were left were wonderful. Having little gusto left in my legs I did have dismount for some rockier sections and take breaks after hard pushes. Sometimes the going is so steep that walking makes more sense and probably uses less energy overall.

An aside:

This has started me thinking how rideable these trails are for a regular (front suspension, knobbly tires) mountain bike. There are further trails to explore and it turns out that I’d picked the short “tourist hike” which has a stairway straight up from the temple below. Something for another day.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-jzwwLRgaT2A/Uu8tgRmLFLI/AAAAAAAARm4/eWGRTJ19Fgw/s144-c-o/IMAG2352.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976045263046513842″ caption=”Trail Map” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2352.jpg” ]

The scale is so large that the orange loop on the map above is, by my calculations, barely a square kilometer.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-7gWC13N8ERY/Uu8uStgsXiI/AAAAAAAARnE/-KJF4_rS28I/s144-c-o/IMAG2353.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976046129533181474″ caption=”Panorama from the peak” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2353.jpg” ]

From the top it’s a bird’s eye view of the hills. The clouds had come over and blocked the view somewhat, but it was good. I had a long chat with some folks at the top, and the most talkative guy suggested I should start an English school in his town and he’d invest financially. Who knows?

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-CU8F8jsKoNg/Uu86FGBe3WI/AAAAAAAARnY/oLHHaWRl-F8/s144-c-o/IMAG2356.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976059089734524258″ caption=”Big temple” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2356.jpg” ]

I made the dash home as I was feeling tired, the main temple came and went.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-NXKoA2Y4BdM/Uu89_A8ouQI/AAAAAAAARno/O6UtXbf9kn8/s144-c-o/IMAG2357.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976063383339317506″ caption=”Not so big temple” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2357.jpg” ]

I stopped in briefly at the other, smaller temple (is there a theme developing).

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-iXSTbb4sjbE/Uu9NxK0ASJI/AAAAAAAARn8/1u0stKcQ8y4/s144-c-o/IMAG2358.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976080737655343250″ caption=”Resting on the road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2358.jpg” ]

I just took in the miles, taking a rest by the road as I headed past Liujia.

I stopped at the sweet potato guy and ate two of those while on the road home, which provided some relief for my hungry tummy, although it didn’t relieve my headache. The headache was most likely from all the sun on my pale skin. Now that spring has sprung it’s time to get some rays.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-l-S4VPCHuHQ/Uu9YHMSx1sI/AAAAAAAARoQ/ETaVprO0zj4/s144-c-o/IMAG2359.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976092111126255298″ caption=”Farmlands near home” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2359.jpg” ]

And, as all my rides conclude I went through the farmlands. More and more I’m avoiding the towns and cities, I was shattered by this point, but still chose the tiny, unkept roads.

Next time around I’ll aim for the much longer trail to the south of the trailhead. It appears to be about 4km and lands up by the smaller temple above, even it becomes unrideable I can still push my bike. Preparing some appropriate footwear for walking, or just going barefoot, would be in order if I were to try that.

Dongshan Exploring Again

[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-csUwE37KvNo/UYip1ooUmEI/AAAAAAAALF4/G4fQ5pyURro/s144-c-o/IMAG1634.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132452809513026″ caption=”Small and Quiet” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1634.jpg” ]

Sunday saw the rest of my family head off to the dream mall in Kaohsiung.

I headed off into the hills to do some more exploring of those foothills that beckon me when time permits.

The start was as usual, with a quick flat spin up towards the hills.

Over the past few months I’ve mastered the avoidance of busy roads in the neighborhood. What that means, in essence, is that I’m doing a fair amount of cruising through farm roads. These are not nearly as well maintained as the main road, but allow me to avoid the evil, metal beasts that threaten to disturb the sanctity of my ride at every turn.

There was one final stretch left to conquer that would plop me down right at the end of the stretch I want to avoid. With a fair amount of double-checking the route on my phone I managed to get to just where I had wanted. The detour adds roughly ten minutes to my journey, but is more than worth it.

Pressing on, I munched up the rest of the flats like the pancake they are.

And then the hills.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-JU19gUXZyIY/UYip4rii9pI/AAAAAAAALGA/zqNwd0QerrE/s144-c-o/IMAG1635.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132505130202770″ caption=”View From the Small Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1635.jpg” ]

My new alternate route to get to the main road at the foot of the big hills is a nice, winding road, almost two cars wide in places, but only a lane and a half in others. It’s a fairly quick, although fairly steep, climb that’s over before you know it and gives you the first taste of the thick, humid air in the hills.

The single, thin cycling top I was wearing was drenched from sweat once the paths headed upward.

The last ride into the hills I had made the mistake of doing so after a long period without food and was also short on water.

This time I finished off two Zefal Magnum bottles of water before I stopped off at the 7-11. Two sandwiches and two liters of water and it was time to head on to the good stuff.

The main route of choice that heads straight to near the entrance to “the big temple” is steep, brutally so. Despite a brave effort to push it in the middle chainring, I was in granny ring and by the time I was halfway up was searching for gears beyond the teeny weeny ones my bike is sporting.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-Mbu3YUTJFiM/UYip7i2_H-I/AAAAAAAALGI/TKj7U4xJzyw/s144-c-o/IMAG1636.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132554339622882″ caption=”On the Coffee Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1636.jpg” ]

Finally, I hit the no.175 coffee road and headed toward what Google Maps promised to be a good little, hopefully long, climb from about 300m to 800m.

It needs to be stated that Google Maps is great for most roads. However, the tiny roads mapped on this route are completely wrong. That just adds to the adventure.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-ESdpE8SCd2U/UYip-lo_UwI/AAAAAAAALGQ/axkDvFB4dFU/s144-c-o/IMAG1639.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132606625829634″ caption=”Fancy Sign on Coffee Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1639.jpg” ]

Straight into the baby chainring and up towards the clouds.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-7Xkc_Vq1MX8/UYiqCg4_OyI/AAAAAAAALGY/k8XPNlsyCRc/s144-c-o/IMAG1640.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132674070231842″ caption=”The Rock Sign at the Start of the Big Climb” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1640.jpg” ]

The thick clouds sitting on the top of the hills were threatening to pour bucketloads of water on my head, but had been kind in providing me a moisture-free ride so far. The atmosphere that the looming mists added were well worth the humidity that they were pressing directly onto me.

[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-FzjkzhnwWzk/UYiqIsFo4hI/AAAAAAAALGg/3dG3GkKxsFw/s144-c-o/IMAG1641.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132780155298322″ caption=”Trail Marker” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1641.jpg” ]

After passing what appeared to be an abandoned Buddhist center, I hit the first trail marker. I was in two minds as to whether to follow it’s advice on where to go or to blaze my own trail with my phone as my navigator. I chose the latter and headed off in the other direction to the trail that was most likely to take me close to the peak and into the clouds.

The roads were getting more and more patchy, but were still quite rideable. I pushed on and up, still able to keep the pedals turning around despite the pitch of the climb and having to fight to keep my bike from pulling an easy wheelie.

Riding the steepest hills provides a great challenge to both your skill and endurance. Once you’ve exhausted your gears, at speeds around 4-6km/h it becomes increasingly hard to keep your bike on track. The front wheel becomes light and in order to not go so slowly that you just topple over you need to keep pushing to keep the speed up a bit. This becomes even more difficult when the paving falls away and you’re wrestling for traction. In addition, at these speeds the cadence drops, there’s no choice but to “mash” the pedals. At the top sections I had to stop at every second switchback to catch my breath. The humidity plus the huge effort was just completely draining and I was heaving like I’d just finished an all-out training interval.

[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-YEdoXBYw-_U/UYiqLHj0-8I/AAAAAAAALGo/gMVtA4RZLJw/s144-c-o/IMAG1642.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132821889416130″ caption=”Up to the Clouds” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1642.jpg” ]

And then another sign. The virtual world and the physical world were showing no convergence whatsoever. The signpost pointed me to an unpaved road that looked like it would head me in the wrong direction so headed the other way.

Upwards, then dirt.

I was not prepared for this.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-K6m59NpkNDE/UYiqOeXKQoI/AAAAAAAALGw/qP-rF-UD438/s144-c-o/IMAG1643.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132879549907586″ caption=”Bamboo” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1643.jpg” ]

When the trail started to fade it was a sign that I read as needing to turn back. Perhaps the sign was right.

So I headed back down to the signpost and with a minimum of confidence in the direction it was heading and then pushed on.

The dirt on the signposted section quickly changed to old cement road, which gave me a slight confidence in the road ahead. Unsurprisingly that changed as all paving gave way to dirt roads.

The roads were getting steeper and there were no plantations of betelnut trees, or anything to suggest that any human had been by recently. There were beehives, however, artificial ones that were just erected at the side of the road. At least it was something.

Then came the rain.

It started as a light drizzle, nothing that wouldn’t make me wetter than I already was. And then it started to rain harder. There was no point in heading back, just push on upward.

Up, up, up until finally I arrived at the end of the trail.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-TAR_KkXVzK4/UYiqTGIPzCI/AAAAAAAALG8/cYXhFRYvmNk/s144-c-o/IMAG1645.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875132958944250914″ caption=”Shelter for Bees” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1645.jpg” ]

It started pouring down and I took a slight refuge in the shelter of a tree. The covered area was home to two big beehives and preferred to just leave them alone.

It was a tad cooler and the air was fresh. The pitter patter of raindrops in the peace and quiet of the hills. Nothing better.

My shelter was not providing much protection from the rain, so I headed back down.

Mountain biking is one thing, but I’ve learned from experience that slicks don’t provide much grip. The chainring scar on my left thigh is testament to this.

So feathering the brakes I headed down the steep, and now wet, path. I was starting to remember why I always loved mountain biking so much and why I’ve been reluctant to switch to a full-on road bike for all my riding.

With butt over the back of my saddle and my eyes peeled for the best route around or over obstacles, avoiding slippery patches of concrete with their slimey coating of moss waiting to drop me on my ass.

[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-sVibdRrzOe8/UYiqVvanNkI/AAAAAAAALHE/jcQxOd83DJU/s144-c-o/IMAG1646.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875133004386874946″ caption=”Mountain Biking” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1646.jpg” ]

All went well and before long I was back to navigable roads. My perceived exertion on the way up had me thinking I was much further away than I really was.

And I set on my cruise back home. Cracked 60km/h freewheeling down the big hill I had come up on, then stopped at the 7-11 again to sit down and get some nourishment.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-QgexT-4z69Y/UYiqZ-MAPdI/AAAAAAAALHU/0i3XvKD7K0M/s144-c-o/IMAG1648.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875133077071609298″ caption=”Rest Stop” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1648.jpg” ]

The hills coming back were as expected, it’s amazing how familiarity makes hills seem a little less daunting.

On passing through Liujia a group of roadies passed me by. They were going a tad faster than me so I seized the opportunity to suck some wind and make some quick progress through this final segment.

As it turns out, they were from the same town as me, so I got to suck wind all the way back.

[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-DZ-ngUn7knc/UYiqcGeHD8I/AAAAAAAALHc/yytU0ALI8Qw/s144-c-o/IMAG1649.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanExploring#5875133113654775746″ caption=”Roadies Hauling Me Home” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1649.jpg” ]

On the final, long stretch into town I tried to see who would take the bait and pick up the pace for the last section. Head down, I picked up the lead pace to 40km/h with the front guy holding his spot behind me.

At least that’s what I thought. When I got to the traffic lights they were all some way back.

My favorite part about road races, when I used to do them, was the group sprint to the line. At least in those local races, I found almost everyone did a lot of training, but that was limited to long miles in the saddle. My rides were long, with intermittent sprints all the way through, it was the greatest feeling to look at the person who I was riding with, see the slight nod, and then both head into a frenzied sprint to some arbritrary location on the road ahead. When in Taipei, “The Fly” gave a me a good run for my money, we need to have a challenge again.

The sprint was not without pain however. My legs were starting to cramp, and although I maintained all the way to the line, my hamstrings and quads were both giving me warning messages to ease up on the pace. Since moving my saddle forward about 4cm my hamstrings are getting a little more work done. Bliss.

Another trip into the hills is in order, and hopefully I’ll find a way to the summit at around 1000m.

But that’s for another day.

Exploring Dongshan Mountain Coffee Road in Tainan

I had the morning off work, so with the kids at school and around four hours on my hands I set to exploring.

I have been keen to explore the mountains around Tainan. This hasn’t been hugely successful in the past, but I was determined to make it work out this time.

Alishan was one of the first I found. After riding up Alishan I had found that the ride to Jiayi City and the base of those hills was only around 50km from my front door. That is doable in 2 hours along pretty quiet roads.

The problem is that is still four hours of commuting time simply getting to the hills which doesn’t make it easy to get out and climb if you really want to.

The other one is the route to the southern cross-island highway. This route is, unfortunately, quite sucky. It involves a lot of traversing through towns and traffic lights and once you hit the hills they are really not all that pretty or inviting. It takes a long while to get to the awesome parts of that road. Maybe I’m picky, but if the hills are sucky, I’d rather just ride the flats. The southern cross has wonderful dramatic scenery with mountains plunging straight down into the rivers below, but if takes a good 80km or more to get to that good stuff.

An adult student of mine told me of an area quite close by that he said was both beautiful and quiet, a sacred combination in Taiwan, and another friend of mine had mentioned the area before too, so I searched around for the roads of Google maps and then headed off.

The route starts with a quick 10 minutes flat along my least favorite road to the nearby town of Madou, most famous for the scrumptious pomelos that I am so happy to gorge down on when that time of year comes around.

I have come to deal with the unpleasantness of this bit, and find that it now passes by quite effortlessly. Once through this town it’s quiet country roads, heading in a North-Easterly direction. All flat and quick going.

After passing through the small town on Liujia, I quickly arrived at the hills. Just 28km of flats and I was into the luscious green tree-lined roads that so epitomize Taiwan’s most beautiful mountain roads.

It slowly dawned on my that I had ridden these roads before, about 10 years ago, and they started fitting together like the pieces of a half-forgotten dream.

I continued climbing at a moderate pace in preparation for the much bigger climb I knew was waiting. The road twisted and turned, and rose and dropped gently enough to give me respite on the downs and not tax me on the ups.

Unlike the last time I was on these hills, I had a better idea of where to find the good stuff. Although modern technology has removed a lot of the element of surprise from most journeys, it has also opened up the way for finding the biggest and highest routes without exploring every road and without resorting to paper-based contour maps. Google Maps is my tour guide.

So at the butt-ugly rest stop I hooked a left onto the Dongshan Coffee Road, Tainan’s route 175. I was expecting endless lines of coffee shops but was actually greeted by nothing. A pleasant surprise, I have to say. I later found out that the vast majority of the coffee shops are in the vicinity of the huge temple on the hill. Not too surprising.

This road looked promising for further exploration, heading toward Guanzilin and Baihe, and being in close vicinity of a number of roads leading down to quiet rivers and the like. But today, my plans were taking me upward.

I was keeping my eye out for the climb to the top, but when I got to the first notable intersection I had already passed it.

I backtracked and found the actual route to be a road possibly too narrow and too steep for a car. This was a slightly ominous sign, but with nothing to lose, and just fun on the menu, I just pressed on.

As it turns out, Google Maps doesn’t quite differentiate between road sizes. What I ended up on were concrete strips heading directly up the hill. I was straining to keep upright while pommeling away in granny gear.

At one point I was following the concrete strip but had to backtrack (again) and take a path that was just dirt, but then connected up with concrete again.

After plodding along for a little further I got to a road that looked like it might have been used by scooters at least a handful of times in the past year and after a last slippery section I popped out at a fully-fledged road.

I had inadvertently taken the road straight up rather than taking the twisting, turning route up.

A quick , short, flattish section brought me to the crossroads of a few walking trails. These trailheads are often very well concealed and I was happy to find these and with a little more time can explore further into the hills. The detailed map shows where the paths head to. These all head to the top of the hill, or along the mountain range to who knows where. Trails for exploring.

So after some quick pics and avoiding a few very nasty wasp-like things I headed back on down the hill. This time I followed the main road. Passed the huge temple, cruised on down for 300 vertical meters and was then back on the coffee road for the trek home.

I have to make a shout out to Corne who had mentioned these roads before. I had come to believe that Tainan was without any hills but as it turns out they are only a short hop from my front door. Less than an hour with a bit of a push.

All photos of Dongshan Mountain Coffee Road in Tainan ride on Picasa.