Get high on two wheels

"Shut up, legs," I muttered as yet another steep incline on Yangmingshan National Park showed itself. Poor anguished quads.

It was the first leg of the cycling expedition, and we were barely halfway to the top of Yangmingshan.

The plan over the next three days, was to cycle from Wanli district to Keelung, board the Superstar Aquarius cruise ship to Ishigaki Island, then ride from Ishigaki port to the beaches of Kabirawan Bay. Total mileage: 105km.

Fortunately, it was just the itinerary that looked intimidating. The programme allowed everyone to ride at his or her own pace. Ultimately, that made 105km achievable - even for leisure cyclists.

For a first timer, attempting a long distance overseas ride, a trip like that teaches you a few things.

Lesson 1: Cycling and food make the best social glue

Strangers though we were at the start, the shared experience of cycling bonded us.

That camaraderie truly made riding more enjoyable. Every so often during the ride - up Yangmingshan, from Wanli to Keelung, Ishigaki port to Kabirawan - there was always someone who would ask: "Hey, are you all right?"

The seasoned cyclists in the group would volunteer tips on seat height, gear combination, cycling techniques. Words of encouragement from another cyclist are priceless on that uphill climb.

The sumptuous Taiwanese food made for good social glue, too. It's hard not to be friendly and filled with good cheer when you are served the freshest seafood near every meal: sashimi, steamed fish, steamed tiger prawns and shellfish.

Lesson 2: No shame in stopping - remember to signal

I stopped many times on the way up Yangmingshan, but it wasn't a bad thing.

I snapped pictures, fully appreciated how fresh the air was and how beautiful the landscape was, that's something that's a little tough to do.

Enjoying the view was easier with the Ishigaki Island ride which had fewer inclines. Plus, we were also blessed with sunshine and sea breeze, en route to Kabiwaran.

Lesson 3: Downhill is sweet - just stay alert

While the Yangmingshan ride - 20km uphill with 800m elevation - was the toughest, going downhill was simply sweet. Glee best describes how we felt.

The wind in your face, the relief in your thighs and the thrill of speeding - we felt like conquerors after the two-hour ascent.

"Going downhill, damn shiok, right?" yelled Andrew, one of the cyclists in the group, as he passed me on the way down.

It was - until I took a tumble at a steep turn.

As I learnt from the more seasoned riders later, there's technique involved in riding downhill.

That entails keeping your weight on the outside pedal, butt off the seat post, feathering your brakes - and don't go too fast.

Lesson 4: Good rental is half the job done

On this trip, Giant Adventure (www. giantcyclingworld.com), the travel arm of Giant Taiwan, supplied the safety vans (and guides) that followed the group on the ride. We didn't have to worry about water refills, bananas, plasters or replacing a broken seat post.

They planned the logistics, including transporting the bicycles to the hotels. As Tabitha, one of the cyclists on the trip best put it: "It's nice to have everything organised for you."

Lesson 5: Enjoy the in-between time

As Star Cruises planned it, the fly-cycle-cruise trip gave us time to eat, shop and visit the night markets for which Taiwan is known.

The six restaurants and a spa onboard the ship were just what we needed to reacharge between the Taiwan and Ishigaki rides.

Indeed, a trip like this is great for outdoorsy types who want more than just the usual eatshop- sightsee kind of holiday.

"We don't like the ordinary sort of vacation where you just fly, eat and shop," said Irene, who was on the trip with her husband. "We wanted something different." And different is exactly what you'll get on a cycling holiday.

The writer's trip was organised by Star Cruises and Taiwan Tourism Bureau.

GETTING THERE

China Airlines flies to Taiwan more than 10 times weekly.

TRAVELLER'S TIPS

For more information on cycle-cruise trips organised by Star Cruises, call 6226-1168 or go to www. starcruises.com.

Other cruise-cycle destinations it has covered include Phuket, Penang and Langkawi.

This article was published by the Special Projects Unit, Marketing Division, SPH.

This article was first published on October 28, 2014.
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