A view from the seat of a bicycle

Finally!

2011-08-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

With the summer not bailing out on us and life being a bit less hectic, I was finally able to get the training close to what I was doing when we were in Taiwan. When that happens, the good old happy Virginia comes back to life.

GEARs Wed. night ride.

Since CherylAnn and I usually do our climbing Fox Hollow and McBeth on Tuesdays, I decided to skip Hutch's women's ride on Wed. when they decided to do climbing. I thought going to GEARs' flat ride would be more relaxing given it was my 5th riding day in a row. It turned out to be quite the opposite. I was lucky that Jeff towed me pretty much the whole way but felt sorry that we just couldn't close the gap between the fast guys and us with only Jeff's effort. I was frustrated at first just like always knowing how competitive I am cut out to be. Luckily, I learned I was working hard looking at my Garmin data that night.

Me relaxing in our front yard in my Ironman Taiwan shirt Thursday afternoon.

Ginnie took Sean and me cherry picking Friday morning.

I worked on the floor at the bike shops Thursday morning and Friday afternoon on both my training days off. Sean and I got to go cherry picking with Ginnie Friday morning. I thought about the pre Blackberry bRamble ride on Saturday and still couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted to do the metric century or the century ride until Friday night. I thought having a run on the course before the event day was probably a good idea.

The pre ride began at 8:00, earlier than the usual GEARs rides on the weekends. I would probably prefer starting at 7 but 8 was fine. Seeing Bob first and Brad second was a relief. I thought I might try to stay with them to avoid being lost and/or exhausting myself. Everyone managed to disappear somewhere but Brad was nice to work on the pace so I had him to count on the whole way. Thanks, Brad!

Brad pretty much towed me the entire century. Thanks a million!!

The views along the way were just breathtaking! I had no idea what Brad was thinking, I know that I was having the time of my life seeing the most spectacular views, having the music Tim downloaded for me just for this long journey, and feeling probably nearly the best of my fitness level in a long time.

A hawk near the top left corner.

With a pit stop after 50 miles down the road before going on Vaughn Rd. definitely made the ride very accomplish-able. I was surprised when I saw the last incline on Royal going into Vern Ridge bike path. Home just after 2 pm and not feeling toast.

With a camera in my hand, I got to constantly remind myself not to ignore the surroundings.

Kirk joined Brad and I for the last portion of the century.

Brad not only worked with my pace from the start to the end, he took care of my dropped chain too. Thank you!!

Tim waited till I got home before going out for his ride. I cannot believe how supportive he is with me on cycling, or just about anything all along. Thanks, Tim!

Tim getting ready for his ride after I got home.

I thought I would not skip my scheduled Sunday training even though I just did a century ride the day before; especially not when my legs were feeling okay. Not seeing Brad on the ride made me think that even a crazy strong guy like him would have days when he was tired. Ironically, not only was he not tired, he did another century ride with the Newman's group ride. That really got me thinking how I still have so much more to get my fitness level up. I am just way beyond being fit enough to do more. (SIGH!)

I was very happy the month finished on a good note!

Peter, Vikki, Paul and I decided to bail on the 58 miles ride. I didn't feel bad on cutting the ride short until of course when I saw how Brad did another century- the competitive part of me was chewing up on me.

Monday nighter with Hutch's has always been my favorite! I decided to wear my heart rate monitor which I had not been wearing for quite sometime just to see how hard I worked. I was very happy to see the results, I must say.

Finally I got to tell who is who a little better on the Monday nighter and just really had a blast riding with them. Eric has been one of the nicest people I met in Eugene who welcomed me to the ride from the very first time.

Friendly Eric in red kit on the left in the front.

CherylAnn couldn't ride until 6:30 this Tuesday so instead doing our climbing we rode on the bike path to watch the OBRA Cat 1/ Cat 2 crit. It was just so much fun watching the race. It started to stir up the competitive part of me where I was thinking about racing again...

I should probably wait though.

A New Chapter Begins!

2011-07-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

I didn't think that I was ever going to blog anymore, about my cycling life. A lot has been happening for the past year- moving from the east coast of Taiwan to the west, parting half of the family in Eugene while the other stayed in Taiwan, learning how to cycle in the city in Taichung, accepting a position with Paul's Bicycle Way of Life, Inc., moving all the way across the Pacific Ocean back to Eugene, OR, reuniting with the missing half of the family which was apart for 7 months, slowly adjusting to new work, to finally, back on my bike again. Not until I started to ride to the level I used to ride this past month, did I realize just how much I love cycling.

Thanks to the local riders group, GEARs, for their very organized rides every Wednesday and on the weekends. I would have never rediscovered just how happy I am when I am on my bike.

Gathering at Alton Baker Park at 6:00 pm every Wednesday night.

The thing was, I was supposed to be riding with the ladies tonight. But given that it was my fifth day riding in a row, I decided to go on GEARs' flat ride over ladies' climbing McBeth which I did yesterday. It turned out I couldn't even keep up with the fast group, not even close! I was thinking it could have been I was tired, my legs were tired from climbing Fox Hollow and McBeth yeterday, I was hungry, the wind was crazy strong tonight, I am a woman against all the fast strong men, etc.

The fast guys!

When I was asked by Tino, "How did you do?" as I arrived home, my immediate response was, "Oh, this bike just couldn't do it!" Man oh man! Tino shook his head with a smile on his face. And then I realized- it was not the bike! It was just me! I was the one who just couldn't do it.

I was all the way in the back, all evening long!

For one minute, I was frustrated. But then I realized just how much I wanted to be in the fast lane. That's what makes me happy- to breathe like there's never enough air, to pedal as fast and hard as I can, to pump my heart up all the way, to blast, and to get to the finish fast. I love the thrill! I love the training process that takes me there. I love how everything could be left behind when I ride. I am happy when I ride. That's all that matters.

I never saw most of them again for the rest of the ride.

Jeff waited up on me to tow me home. Thanks so much, Jeff.

I am not gonna give up! I am gonna be there- however long it's gonna take! So this is the new chapter, where the cycling aspects of Virginia wakes up and tries hard again. No matter how many times people are going to drop her. No matter what bike she is riding. No matter what! She is gonna get to the finish line, fast, with the fast guys.

The Chapter Officially Ends （本章節正式結束）

2010-12-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

Sun Moon Lake　（日月潭）

I don't really know if my Blog is followed by anyone or not but I know it's been a wonderful journey for me. The friends I've made, the places I've been to, the ups and downs of my training life, the wonderful laughter, smiles, tears, and everything from racing- all of my cycling adventures and life in Taiwan are recorded most truthfully on this Blog.
我不知道有沒有人在看我的部落格，但是，我很清楚從開始到現在，對我而言，這個部落格一直是一個美好的旅程．這旅程中我所遇到的朋友，我所去過的地方，我的訓練生活的起伏，美好的笑聲，微笑，眼淚，和所有比賽中的經歷，我的公路車冒險和我在台灣的生活都真實的紀錄在這裡．

Thanks you, AS, for the most relaxing and enjoyable 140k ride to Sun Moon Lake today.
謝謝你，ＡＳ，跟我今天騎了最輕鬆和舒服的１４０公里到日月潭．

A lot of things have happened this year. I have never been able to race the same since the unfortunate death of a young female cyclist during the YunLin road race hosted by Taiwan Cyclist Federation. And now with the move from Hualien to Taichung, all the getting-used-to my little boy and I have been working so hard to survive living in the city of Taichung, and not having the company of my older son and husband, riding has never been the same for me. I missed riding with my husband, riding with my training pals in Hualien, riding next to the Pacific Ocean whenever I wanted to, riding to Taroko Gorge and practically have the whole National Park to myself, riding on the endless miles of roads without having to fight through the traffic, you name it. All and all, I just feel that I have nothing to offer on my Blog anymore. I want to write so much about my family but this Blog was crated to mainly record my cycling life.
今年有好多事發生．自從在自行車協會的雲林公路賽中喪生的年輕女車手事件後，我再也沒有辦法跟以往一般的騎車競速了．然後再加上我們從花蓮搬到台中，所有我和我寶貝需要努力的適應在台中的都市叢林求生存，沒有我的先生和我的大兒子在左右，騎車再也不一樣了．
我想念我跟我先生騎車的日子，我想念跟我一起在花蓮訓練的夥伴，我懷念想要騎在太平洋旁邊就能騎在太平洋旁邊的時光，還有那騎在太魯閣時好像整個國家公園就是你的的感覺，更別說那公里接著公里的無須與車陣交戰的騎乘，列不完的．總而言之，我深深覺得，我在這個部落格再也無法提供任何東西了，我想寫的只有我的家庭，但是這個部落格主要是為了紀實我的騎車生涯．

Thank you, Keith for the most excellent and beautiful road bike on earth! （謝謝國璽全世界上最優最美的公路車）(http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/ksmulticolor)

So there you have it! It doesn't look like I'll be racing in Taiwan anymore for the upcoming year. Before I find the passion I used to possess on cycling again, riding will never be the same for me. With this note, the chapter officially ends on "A View From the Seat of a Bicycle on the East Coast (and Now West Coast) of Taiwan."
所以，就這樣了．看來，我明年不可能再在台灣比賽了．在我找到我對騎車曾經擁有的熱愛以前，騎車對我而言都不會一樣了．隨著這個短文，＂台灣東海岸單車椅座上的視野（現在在西海岸）＂正式結束．

Stupidity Doesn't Pay

2010-10-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

It was great seeing my student Schleck before the race! A picture was a must.

I knew it would be tough racing with only the 11 of us; not to mention a good half of them were from Team Exustar and all of them are much younger than me. Plus it was that time of the month for me. All and all, things didn’t look all that optimistic for me. I was not worried one bit though, which was very good.

At the line-up, I didn’t at all want to be in the front row. I was thinking that it would be a miracle just to finish all 5 laps without being overlapped and pulled.

First 2 laps, all the ladies were having a picnic. I knew the attack would happen sometime soon as we started lap 3. Sure enough it happened soon after we crossed the senor on lap 3. I could see clear as daylight as the attack started to take place. I knew I wanted to give it a shot no matter what. I followed, probably for 50 meters? I saw soon 3 of the Exustar girls left us behind. Fine! It was expected anyway. Everyone else soon bridged up with the few of us who didn’t fly with the breakaway.

The real picnic and mind game, which are the most interesting parts in races with ladies only, came right into play. No one wanted to take a pull at the front and we were only going like 24 kms/hr. I signaled a few times for someone to take over the pull and tried to go behind the pack but my efforts were of no avail. I lost my patience! Call me stupid! I know it was stupid to make my own break but I did it anyway knowing there was no way I could out-sprint many of them by staying with them. My one-man break lived for a whole lap! They watched me dig my own grave! I passed the arch alone with the rest of them behind me, right in sight. It was just a matter of time once lap 5 began.

They kindly picked me up right before the 12 o’clock position. As we approached the 6 o’clock position, the sprint took place. I tried but I didn’t have a one-kilometer sprint in me. I gave up and let them go until I saw the last girl passing me. That was it! I knew I wasn’t gonna win but I wasn’t gonna settle for the last either. I sprinted one more time to the finish line with my last little bit of pride. There! See! I might be the oldest but I sure wasn’t going to settle for the last! No offense to the girl I out-sprinted by all means, of course.

Given my effort with the average heart rate of 169 bpm and maximum heart rate of 180 bpm, I call it a “win”! I know what I do not possess and what I need to work on clearly now. I can work on them and see if I do better next time around. Wish the Spinning Girls were with me.See: http://cyclingintaiwan.blogspot.com/2009/10/2009.html It was absolutely fun doing the ITT and TTT with you guys last year!

選手名稱	號碼布	記錄時間	排名
黃合旬	453	00:28:56.650	1
美利達申騰隊-易芳如	458	00:29:15.840	2
曾筱嘉	454	00:29:17.260	3
李育萱	460	00:29:36.220	4
蕭美玉	451	00:31:55.830	5
美利達申騰隊-黃亭茵	457	00:31:56.160	6
郭允中	455	00:31:56.453	7
王文君	461	00:31:57.703	8
黎晏真	452	00:31:57.953	9
Virginia Xing	462	00:32:04.703	10
唐先慧	456	00:32:05.203	11

Thanks you, Schleck, for all the great pictures. A very great TTT you guys did for a great year ahead of you! JiaYou!

Month Ended on a Good Note

2010-09-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Count: 20 Activities
Distance: 1,120.54 km
Time: 59:01:44 h:m:s
Avg Distance: 56.03 km
Median Distance: 56.89 km
Max Distance: 110.44 km
Median Time: 02:58:57 h:m:s
Max Time: 05:48:21 h:m:s
Avg Elevation Gain: 517 m
Median Elevation Gain: 540 m
Max Elevation Gain: 983 m
Elevation Loss: 7,538 m
Avg Elevation Loss: 471 m
Median Elevation Loss: 498 m
Max Elevation Loss: 984 m
Avg Speed: 19.0 km/h
Max Speed: 64.0 km/h
Max Avg HR: 156 bpm
Max Avg Bike Cadence: 87 rpm
Max Bike Cadence: 180 rpm
Elevation Gain: 8,271 m
Max HR: 182 bpm
Avg HR: 136 bpm
Calories: 18,980 C
Avg Bike Cadence: 72 rpm
Max Avg Speed: 30.0 km/h
Avg Time: 02:57:05 h:m:s

The month of September started with my last hope of being able to do group rides, to a success of doing a ride over 100k thanks to Drew, to completing the last race in the Federation series, to lots of solo rides including boring HSR and Gold Dome laps, to getting used to riding further and further alone, and finally to the realization and decision that weekends will be for family MAINLY; and what do you know, on the last day of September, it all ended on a good note- A fun, educational, informational, and eye-opening ride with Austin and Dave who were the very first cyclists I rode with in Taizhong back in 2008. I think there is a new direction for me in cycling and it is most definitely prioritized after my family and my health! Thanks so much, Austin and Dave, for this very day of the month that ended on a good note!

My Priorities

2010-09-28T02:04:00.000-07:00

I’ve been doing solo rides for about a month now. At first, I was doing something like 50 kilometers. Gradually, I was able to do a ride to GuoXing/國姓, climb Route-136, and back to TaiPing/太平 for over 70 kilometers. When I didn’t feel like going that far away from town at all, I did Gold Dome loop with the 2 kilometers climb in the end to Metropolitan Park for 5 laps. Yesterday was a big success, I did my solo ride out further- I took Tai-21 off Tai-14 to Tai-8, and Tai-3 home for a total of 110 kilometers. Today as I planned to climb in the neighborhood, I did WanGaoLiao/萬高寮, Gold Dome, and finished it up with HuaShan/華山.

When Sean told me that I was “wasting” his weekend time when I told him I was going to ride with my team on Sat., I realized just how true it was. Right then I decided that other than races, weekends would be for family. I felt great with my choice and Sean was happy when he saw me as soon as he opened his eyes in the mornings. When I felt a bit discouraged seeing everyone’s photo updates on their weekend rides on Facebook, it motivated me even more to go out on my solo rides once the workweek began. I guess "family first" put me in a win-win situation!

Solo rides are truly amazing! I found I talk to myself in my head a lot. I think it was incredible bargaining with yourself when you just wanted to turn around for home. I discovered that even a sip of water distribution was a game just to make yourself pedal further. Yesterday, while I was climbing Tai-21 as I had no idea just how much further it was to get to the top, I was thrilled to see the vendor with cold drinks in the cooler and bananas on the side of the road. The kind vendor even gave me a banana without charging me. I swear it was the best banana I had ever had.

I so wanted to take Sean to school by myself even through his grandmother could talk him also; which meant I couldn't start my rides until past 8 a.m. God knows how much I hate riding in the heat and the humidity; but it was definitely worth it when I saw just how happy Sean was to have me there in the mornings. In the added return, I got much more sleep in not having to get up well before 5 a.m. trying to ride with any early morning before work riding groups. Again, it was a win-win situation.

I had not really been following anything on my training program at all but had been having a blast riding. I took my time enjoying the beautiful scenery, taking pictures, talking to dogs that wanted to say hello, and listening to music occasionally. I might not even be able to stay with anyone on a group ride anymore but I really do not care one bit. Making Sean happy knowing that I have to play both Mom’s role and Dad’s role is the only way that’s going to make myself ride contently. I think for the first time in a long time, I am happy when I ride again!

Stage 7 in Club Series- AMD Cup YangMing Mtn. 全國俱樂部聯賽第七站- 陽金公路自行車大賽

2010-09-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

It was 2 a.m. when I got up on Saturday heading north to FengYuan/豐原 for the bus ride with the team. It was the first time I traveled with the team for a race so it was somewhat interesting. Not being much of a person with good sense of directions, I made triple sure I knew the way to get to our team headquarters in FengYuan the night before. I was happy once I got there without getting myself lost. Thanks to Lv DaShuai/呂大帥 and a couple of young guys on the team for loading all the bikes into the bus. With only 15 of us on the bus (the teammates in ZhangHua/彰化 and YuanLin/員林 managed to drive on their own), I got to have both seats to myself for a nap up to JinShan/金山. By the time I woke up, it was just after 5 a.m. Just the right time for my breakfast and what not for racing at quarter of 8.

A photo before the race started with my teammate, Lin YingFan/林盈汎, who finished No.2 and Li BoFang/李伯芳, who finished No.5. Good job, girls! (Photo by courtesy of A-Fu/ㄚ福, BoFang's husband.)

I knew this race wasn't going to change my overall standing for the year no matter what so I wasn't all that nervous at all. However, I did make up my mind that I would stay with the pack the entire way before the climb. Even though staying with the pack wasn't all that hard for me last year, it was a push with the way I'd been dropped on almost every group training ride.

Completely calm knowing the race results would not change my standing for the year.

So I did! I stayed with the pack for the 38 kilometers on the flats before the climb with:

Average speed: 37.2 kms/hr
Max. speed: 60.6 kms/hr
Average heart rate: 161 bpm
Max. heart rate: 180 bpm

Not getting dropped on the flats was quite comforting for me.

I thought I did pretty good considering how I was dropped at the ascent right before we made a U-turn in the same race last year. From the way my heart rate showed, I wasn't really cutting myself much slack either. But then I saw everyone leaving me behind once the climb began. Yikes! I thought my climbing improved a little after moving to Taizhong, but it felt not much different from last year seeing the way everyone leaving me behind. I hustled a little, though not much, trying to climb the last 18k. Not until I saw Li BoFang/李伯芳, the Taiwan Cycling Queen of Mountains, passing me, before I really started to take it easy. I couldn't believe she worked herself up the climb after struggling on the flats all the way off the pack in the back. I had to just hand it to her. She did well! I had my iPod with me so I wasn't lonely for the climb alone at all after BoFang and I exchanged, "Jia-You/加油" wtih each other.

The climb was quite a joy once I stopped hustling.

How I did on the 18k climb was pathetic but what was I gonna do? I am just not cut out to be a climber.

Average speed: 12.4 kms/hr
Max. speed: 37.0 km/hr
Average heart rate: 157 bpm
Max. heart rate: 169 bpm

Suffering, but apparently not enough.

Once the results were out, it was quite embarrassing. It wasn't quite an honor going up on the podium if you ask me. It wasn't really happy moments for me to finish No. 6 either. Not to mention the fact that I was passed by people who had a flat, passed by BoFang and finished 15 minutes after her. I wish I hadn't had to to go on the podium at all.

(From left) Li BoFang/李伯芳, Li BiMan/李碧滿, Lin YingFan/林盈汎, Liu XiuLian/劉秀蓮, Lin LiWen/林莉雯, me, and Wei HuaXuan/魏華萱.

But all and all, I was very glad the season had officially ended. Though I still have an ITT in ZhangHua/彰化, a relay Ironman in KenDing/墾丁, a couple of races with NeverStop I might do for training purposes, I felt it would be a new start for me. I felt if I wanted to get better results than always #4, 5, 6 finishes, I had got to be more disciplined with my training.

THIS, IS A FRESH NEW START RATHER THAN AN END!

Some nice gentleman offered me a Coke at the finish line while Penny on Taiwan Team Spinning Girls took my photo. Thanks guys!


A photo after the award ceremony with ShiLin Cycling Team/仕林車隊 (Photo by courtesy of A-Fu/ㄚ福).

Special thanks to:

My team, Centuple/ 綠油精千沛車隊, for all the help, supports, and taking me on board this year.

Team Spinning Taiwan Girls, their support crew, and Rex, for being there for me all the time. It was quite an honor racing for you on Stage 1.
The super photographers for all the memorable racing moments you captured for us. A-Fu/ ㄚ福, you know you are one of them. THANK YOU!!
Thank you, Lv DaShui/呂大帥, for unloading all our bikes from the bus in the pouring rain when we got back to FengYuan. There were a couple other teammates that I didn't get your names. Thank you!
Thanks, Keith, for your sponsorship and the most wonderful paint job you did in July. There wouldn't have been any podium finishes without this most trusty Keith you gave me. It looks like Keith and I are going to put up some good fights for the upcoming season. I can hardly wait!
Thanks to my family for their support and understanding. Especially my husband. Thanks for supporting me in everything I put my mind to.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

2010-09-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

You could tell me all you want that things will be better but as it was for me last week, they were absolutely rock bottom.

How could things be good when:
Your sweetheart and one of your babies are all the way across on the other side of the Pacific Ocean? You are always the only woman on the intense team training rides? You said hello to the riders who you had been riding with for a few times but they acknowledged with their chins up in the air? People never introduced themselves but instead they wanted to comment on just how huge your thighs are by yelling, "Look at how big her thighs are, everyone!" People gathered the ones with the same team jersey for a photo while you were the only one that didn't have it? People asked if you were going to dine with them after the ride but you just felt you didn't belong? You showed up for a ride that you had been going to for weeks and they decided to ask you why you didn't ride with your own team? You got dropped on every single ride and worse of all, ended up getting lost? The list could go on and on.

I finally had it! Last Thursday as I blew up trying to go with the one-man break for a couple of minutes, managed to get dropped by everyone after that, and then got lost trying to ride solo for the CCK Airport loop, I broke down into tears and sobbed my whole rest of the ride. I told everyone I had to go. I couldn't take it any longer. I went on to ride WangGaoLiao trying to clear my head out. "Things have to get better! I just cannot ride when I am not happy.", I thought to myself.

My family and I went to pay Dad our respects as the military held a ceremony Friday morning. It was a nice break from my lousy cycling week up to that point. On Sat., I decided to go to my team training ride knowing that I would be dropped maybe from the get-go as on Sat. it is always much more intense than any other days. I stayed with the 2-men break for 9 minutes before I got dropped. That was the beginning of me seeing my silver lining despite the comment of "You only stayed with the break for 9 minutes?!" by a teammate. I got done with the 70k ride in 3 hours and home before little Sean-sean was even up for a Saturday together.

After talking to Andrew on Facebook, well, mostly whining about how things had sucked for me, he nicely offered a ride together on Saturday to show me some nice routes and climbs around Taizhong. We rode to ZhangHua (彰化), climbed BaGuaShan (八卦山) on Route 139 all the way to SongBoLing (松柏嶺) and took Route 137 on mostly flats home. Once we started on Route 139 after BaGuaShan, the traffic was very manageable and the sun wasn't too brutal with the trees along the way. Andrew is a good climber so he went up the hills fast and easily; but he constantly checked on me to make sure I was still back there working my way up. Once we got to FengShan Temple (鳳山寺), it was a long descent and then nice flats on Route 137 home.

Photo by courtesy of Andrew Kerslake.

I was sure that "Every cloud has a silver lining" as my Garmin alerted me for hitting the 99k ride mark and burning 2000 calories mark. I had not been able to do any rides over 100k since moving to Taizhong. That was very encouraging to me. The slower and much less busier traffic on Route 139 was encouraging. Being able to see Andrew on the whole ride instead of riding solo was encouraging. Riding on Route 137 where the temperature was manageable was encouraging. Getting home right around noon for lunch with little Sean-sean and my family on a Sunday was encouraging. Things were starting to look up and I was no longer feeling so rock-bottom low all because of the rides this weekend. Thanks to my team in ZhangHua (彰化) and thanks so very much, Andrew!

For Sunday afternoon, my sister-in-law and I took the kids to the Rock in Taizhong Music Festival. The kids got to try out the drumming set up at a tent. My sister-in-law and I had a Red Bull they were giving away for sampling and I even had a cup of Vodka/lemonade wine cooler. The kids and I got some tattoos at the festival too. And then the fine day ended with a fine hot pot dinner with family before we headed home.

I think things are beginning to look good. I am going to put myself out there for a good fight. Go on ahead and knock me down all you want because I am just gonna stand right back up. If Sean-sean can do it, I can too!

Monthly totals- August, 2010

2010-08-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

Count: 21 Activities
Distance: 1,375.45 km
Time: 75:41:05 h:m:s (w/ 2 duplicate data)
Elevation Gain: 8,696 m (w/ 2 duplicate data)
Avg Speed: 25.2 km/h (w/ 2 duplicate data)
Max HR: 209 bpm (w/ 2 duplicate date)
Avg HR: 133 bpm (w/ 2 duplicate date)
Calories: 37,928 C (w/ 2 duplicate date)

Hualien Race 150k (洄瀾單車嘉年華)

2010-08-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Since I came to Hualien mainly to see old pals and to get another glance of riding in Hualien, I didn't think of today's race as a race at all. I thought the most I would just use it to build up my endurance again for my first relay triathlon in Kending end of October. Jennie told me she would do her own ride regardless where I was so I guess we weren't going to be working together as much as I wanted to.

I got to line up with all the local riders at the race start. I knew the route well so I was planning on staying with the main group all the way till we started to climb on Route-193. Everything went as planned. Once I got dropped on Route-193, I knew it would be a solo ride all the way till RuieSuie. It was a LONG and LONELY ride on Route-193 but luckily I had my iPod with me. Tino got it all set with his music choices for me Thursday night. Thanks, sweetie.

There was one feed zone before we turned out to Tai-9. I stopped to refill my water and have a banana before I continued my ride. Once I got on Tai-9, my legs were ready to cramp for the first time since I started cycling 2 years ago. I knew clearly it was from the saddle adjustment of one and a half centimeters higher A-Fu and I did right before the race. I knew it was not wise to do any bike adjustments before the race but I did it anyway since I didn't think of it as a race. It crept up on me slowly but surely. I had to make a stop on the second feed zone for a stretch. Man! I couldn't believe how far this ride actually felt.

Lots of things I did wrong before the race because I didn't take it seriously. I ate plenty of exotic food the night before and watched TV till almost 1:00 in the morning on top of the seat adjustment. My legs were beginning to cramp and my tummy was hurting as I was riding on the endless stretch of long straight road of Tai-9. I stopped for a coke in GuangFu because I was dying from the heat and falling asleep. I stopped at the 7-11 across from ZhaoFeng Ranch for more drinks and chatted with Jerry. Poor Jerry had blown up and looked really disappointed. He too had a tummy ache from our meal the night before. I had to continue the ride after seeing how disappointed he was not being able to complete the ride especially knowing how easy the rest of the ride was after that point.

I was just too pumped-up as soon as I realized I had come as close as 3 kilometers to the finish line after LaoXi climb. On my iPod it was the 2010 World Soccer theme song, Waving Flag playing when I put my Keith on the big chain ring and just giving it all I had to crank all the way to the finish line. It wasn't all that surprising to me when I heard the MC announcing through the microphone I was the first woman crossing the finish line. However, I was really eager to know just what placing I got overall.

名次編號選手姓名性別隊伍名稱成績(時間) 平均時速(km/h)
1 1228 陳穎毅男台灣微轉 3:48:28 39.39
2 1222 吳翰穎男台灣微轉 3:54:20 38.41
3 1353 楊盛健男水瓶座-北大武 4:01:27 37.27
4 1299 徐國峰男康明紀念聯隊 4:01:29 37.27
5 1311 莊清騰男康明紀念聯隊 4:01:37 37.25
6 1302 李育仁男康明紀念聯隊 4:01:43 37.23
7 1563 吳東岳男高雄縣自由車隊 4:02:48 37.07
8 1307 潘皇谷男康明紀念聯隊 4:10:04 35.99
9 1305 林正義男康明紀念聯隊 4:11:00 35.86
10 1252 曾志雄男安東尼車隊 4:11:01 35.85
11 1130 林寰澤男 KTM 4:13:34 35.49
12 1313 蔡政翰男康明紀念聯隊 4:14:33 35.36
13 1304 林正源男康明紀念聯隊 4:30:19 33.29
14 1557 湯永增男阿湯哥隨便騎 4:35:54 32.62
15 1219 鄒政學男台東美利達車隊 4:36:27 32.56
16 1155 張起進男中油生技隊 4:43:59 31.69
17 1224 張翔男台灣微轉 4:43:59 31.69
18 1318 邱坤泉男康明紀念聯隊 4:48:52 31.16
19 1309 王鼎盛男康明紀念聯隊 4:48:52 31.16
20 1148 巫家宏男 VOLANDO 4:51:22 30.89
21 1320 陳則霖男康明紀念聯隊 4:53:00 30.72
22 1294 吳清標男康明紀念聯隊 4:53:01 30.71
23 1317 謝正泉男康明紀念聯隊 4:54:38 30. 55
    24 1091 林益立男 401 4:54:54 30.52
    25 1576 林耿寬男 4:55:54 30.42
    26 1449 李全福男羅東美利達自行車協會 4:58:35 30.14
    27 1163 翁寬併男中油生技隊 4:58:52 30.11
    28 1300 曾永義男康明紀念聯隊 4:59:09 30.09
    29 1287 陳仕忠男幻象 5:01:58 29.8
    30 1201 巫昌興男台東美利達車隊 5:08:32 29.17
    31 1325 陳琦禮男康明紀念聯隊 5:11:09 28.92
    32 1295 吳滄智男康明紀念聯隊 5:12:15 28.82
    33 1543 謝文學男金鈺豐車隊 5:12:15 28.82
    34 1314 蔡進福男康明紀念聯隊 5:13:15 28.73
    35 1410 葉聰銘男珍成車隊 5:13:17 28.73
    36 1280 梁彥富男崇越車隊 5:15:12 28.55
    37 1310 簡澤聖男康明紀念聯隊 5:15:15 28.55
    38 1278 朱紹瑋男崇越車隊 5:15:28 28.53
    39 1173 林志賢男中油鐵馬社 5:15:30 28.53
    40 1210 林福壽男台東美利達車隊 5:16:09 28.47
    41 1326 高仁盛男康明紀念聯隊 5:20:25 28.09
    42 1227 陳冠宏男台灣微轉 5:21:15 28.02
    43 1536 宋昭偉男金帝國 5:22:07 27.94
    44 1458 賴博仁男羅東美利達自行車協會 5:24:20 27.75
    45 1229 陳金燦男台灣微轉 5:24:28 27.74
    46 1303 林建億男康明紀念聯隊 5:24:55 27.7
    47 1321 陳和進男康明紀念聯隊 5:25:37 27.64
    48 1279 李文旭男崇越車隊 5:28:26 27.4
    49 1283 莊樹山男崇越車隊 5:29:54 27.28
    50 1282 莊協勳男崇越車隊 5:31:18 27.17
    51 1181 許銘顯男中油鐵馬社 5:31:24 27.16
    52 1159 林培源男中油生技隊 5:32:05 27.1
    53 1288 Virginia Xing 女康明紀念聯隊 5:34:36 26.9

I was encouraged to learn that I was the 53rd finisher out of 500 plus riders who were in the race. I had been very discouraged with how my cycling was going ever since I moved to Taizhong, to be honest. The result was certainly a boost for my ever so low spirits.

Thanks all my pals in Hualien for taking very good care of Jennie and me. Thanks so much, A-Fu for the rides to the race, back to your home for showers, to the train station, and all the help you offered. Thanks for offering your home for our future Hualien visits. Thanks A-Long for your supplies on Route-193. Thanks the lady who gave me a refill of icy cold water somewhere.

Too bad our returning train was a little more eventful than we would have liked, Jennie. But everything worked out in the end, didn't it? We left Hualien right after dinner with A-Fu but my heart will always be there...

Hello, Hualien!!

2010-08-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

Coming back to Hualien for a visit and a race was like the best treat ever! Jennie and I both took Friday off and got the early train right before 8 heading for Hualien.

We arrived Hualien just before noon, checked in at Sushi's B&B (Thanks for the excellent room and the pickup at the station, Sushi!) , and headed out to get our hot pot lunch straight away.

Jennie needed a tube and Coach Luo's bike shop was right in the neighborhood so we had to go there to pay him a visit. I couldn't believe Billy, my spinning instructor was there and Coach Luo was actually in. How nice!

After the bike shop, we started our tour around Hualien. How could I possibly wait? I had been dying to ride in Hualien.

A-Fu came by to join us and toured around with us after his work. It was just so nice seeing and riding with him! We stopped at my old school to say hello. I was very lucky that my oldest students Bill and Eileen were there. A-Yi and Vera were also there. It was just wonderful running into them all.

Dinner was reserved for us by Jada. Too bad Jada couldn't come to have dinner with us. Jerry, Dts, A-Jian, A-Fu, XiaoJian, and XiaoBing all came by to dine with us at the Thai/Cambodian restaurant with us. We all went for some shaved ice afterward. It was truly amazing and fun seeing all my old pals. I felt the whole trip was so well worth-it already.

By the time we got back to our B&B, we were exhausted. I got a chance to take a few photos with Sushi's girls, Amanda and Ashley before I washed up. Too happy to fall asleep at which point, I watched some movies before I went to bed at close to 1 a.m. I guess I would be lucky to just complete the race tomorrow but I really couldn't care less.

Centuple Training Camp/Trip to XiaoLiuQiu 小琉球 (230k)

2010-08-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

Tino got up quarter of 5 to give me a ride to ZhangHua with Mae-mae so I didn't have to ride in the dark. Thanks so much, sweetie! Thanks for letting me go on the 2-day trip with my team on Chinese Father's Day weekend, too!


Our teammates from FengYuan arriving ZhangHua at around 5:45 a.m.

We had more around 10 of us waiting in ZhangHua for the guys from FengYuan. They had to add another 30 kilometers to their total mileage.

My team told me about the trip to XiaoLiuQuiu when we were at CCK Airport for TUAA. I had no doubt that I wanted to go when they asked if I was going. However, I really doubted that I would be able to complete the whole ride of over 200k in the heat.

Different guys started to lead the group at different speeds, fast, at the front of the pack. In order to not get dropped, I had to just hang with the very front of the group. It wasn't easy. I was glad once we got to JiaYi. They called for a stop for JiaYi's specialty- turkey meat with rice, for breakfast. It was just past 9 am at that time. I had my breakfast 5 hours prior to the stop but knowing how they had been riding, I had to pass on the turkey meat with rice breakfast idea. Instead, I went to a nearby 7-11 for some fruit cup, yogurt, a few bites of my leftover bagel from this morning, and a bottle of Coco Cola Zero.

As I predicted, the guys only rode relaxingly for what seemed a short time before they started to go at racing speed again. At one point, I was falling a bit toward the second half of the group. But then Captain Liao told me straight away to go to the front or I would be dropped in no time. I had to listen to the wise of course. Once we got close to TaiNan, I learned that the only other girl had gotten in the team car because she threw up big time on her bike after JiaYi. Poor girl! I was glad my decision of not eating was correct.At first I planned fight all the way to TaiNan.

Once I got to TaiNan, I thought not getting to GaoXiong would be ridiculous. However, I had no idea just how far it is from TaiNan to GaoShong. Everyone kept encouraging me and telling me how I would be the only woman who was going to make it all the way there. It just seemed so unbelievably far every kilometer after TaiNan. Plus I was getting hungry. They told me it was getting close every time I checked for hour and a half. Until finally it was really just another turn before we would arrive at the Orbea shop in GaoXiong for our lunch break. Well, after another slope up the bridge before the turn. I was shaking my head as I struggled to climb up the bridge under the hot sun. It was so hot that I was dry in short 5 minutes after the support crew poured cold water all over me a couple of times along the way.

I waited for 10 minutes before I could eat. I was absolutely exhausted. Mileage at which point was approaching 200k. I washed up and cleaned up a little in our Orbea sponsor shop in GaoXiong. Our trip manager, Mr. Lv walked over to ask if I was going to ride in the team van to DongGang as I had the first priority for being a woman and all. I checked and made sure that it was really exactly 30 kilometers to DongGang before I committed to completing the entire ride on my bike. I mean, how could I not complete knowing another 30k was all there was?!

I could not begin to tell you how thrilled I was when I saw the ferries and port of DongGang. I had done it!! 230 kilometers in the heat at 41 plus degrees centigrade at times. My team had helped me accomplish this impossible mission, of course! Thanks to the support crew for driving almost 300 kilometers to help us all you could. Thanks to YuanMao and someone for pushing me when I absolutely hit the wall before GaoXiong. Thanks to the guys who gave up drafting with the fast guys to stay behind and pull me. There was most definitely no way I could have done it without any of you! THANKS so much. Thanks to my husband for letting me go on the trip during Chinese Father's Day weekend- I simply had to complete the ride knowing you sacrificed not having me around on Father's Day for me to go on this team ride. Thanks sweetie, for your support, as always!

Unfortunately, I had no energy to enjoy our BBQ dinner or the beauty of XiaoLiuQiu after our arrival. I had a big breakfast the following day and a nice tour around the island for the magazine reporter's photo shoots though. And seafood lunch on the island was just amazing. The bus back home from DongGang was delayed for an hour or so but we got to have a wonderful dinner together north of JiaYi because of it. Thanks so very much to Centuple CEO for treating all of us on the team for the trip. It was a perfect opportunity for me to get acquainted with the team while getting a perfect training session.

And now, for the first time after moving to Taizhong almost a moth and a half ago I could say to myself that riding finally could feel the same again.

Thanks to our support crew, as always! There were plenty of drinks, power gels, and what not in three team cars assisting us with whatever we needed the entire way. I simply had to finish the ride knowing how much I owed it to you.

Posing at the Tropic of Cancer. I was beginning to feel a bit hungry.

Posing with Coach Lu. I really appreciated how he never forgot to remind us with all the details we ought to watch out for in order to be a better cyclist.

It was truly amazing seeing all of us riding on Tai-3 together.

JiaZhen and I were the only two ladies on this trip. I think we were quite brave putting ourselves out there, wouldn't you say?

Riding around XiaoLiuQiu Island for a tour and shaved ice the following day.

The magazine reporter, Mimi, who was with us the entire trip to take our photos for the magazine.

Our BBQ dinner Sat. night. Too bad I was too tired to eat much. BBQ is so my favorite.

Young riders on our team having some fun.

Riding the 12k loop around the island on Sunday.

IT WAS JUST SO HOT!

Sat. ride around the island was much more relaxing.

The ladies who shared the room with me.

All the nice road bikes!

Riding along the ocean is always the luxury in cycling.

I was so exhausted.

Mr. WuQing is always an inspiration!

JiaZhen and me.

Our beautiful room in XiaoLiuQiu. A bed was all I needed that night to put me in complete comfort.

Thanks so much, buddy, for all your encouragement along the ride.

One of the other guys who also helped and encouraged me so much during the ride.

Mr. Lv GuanDa on the support crew is always very nice, friendly, and supportive of me. Thanks!

How could I start thanking you, YuanMao? Thanks for pushing me after I hit the wall.

Coach Lu from ZhangHua. Thanks for the cycling tips along the trip!

The pace line that helped everyone complete the over 200k ride.

Sharing snacks on the bus.

So proud to be a member on the team!

The team approaching Tropic of Cancer.

I cannot wait to be riding with my team again!

Monthly totals- July, 2010

2010-07-31T23:59:00.001-07:00

Count:	16 Activities
Distance:	792.45 km
Time:	41:50:46 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:	5,063 m
Avg Speed:	18.9 km/h
Max HR:	180 bpm
Avg HR:	138 bpm
Calories:	16,342 C

Month of July- the beginning of "A view from the seat of a bicycle on the west coast of Taiwan"

2010-07-31T23:58:00.000-07:00

I have not been in the mood to update my blog as life has not been that easy for me settling in a new town and/or riding my bike in the city of Taizhong. However, life must go on I suppose.

07-04-2010 (40 k; 特三-->華山(下)-->龍井-->136(上)-->特三)

After the surgery on the back of my hand, relocating, working at a new school, and stuff, I had not been riding for a little more than a week and a half. I got my mom's mountain bike and called Kitty out for a ride today. Thanks for riding with me, Kitty!

I was so out of shape!

07-05-2010

Sean and Mae needed to settle in as well. They seemed to be doing much better than me. Thank goodness!

07-06-2010 (41 k; Providence University)

I missed the chance to ride with Kitty so I figured I would just try to find an alternative way to go to Providence University for my classes there next week. It was quite successful without much getting-lost. Other than having to fight my way with the garbage truck, it wasn't a bad ride at all. Thanks Kitty for lending me her steel bike. My Keith is still with Keith getting its paint job done. Couldn't wait to get it...

07-07-2010 (40k)

Time: 01:48:32

Distance: 39.43 km

Elevation Gain: 116 m

Calories: 626 C

Avg Temperature: 32.6 °C

Avg HR: 144 bpm

Max HR: 176 bpm

My first try on my new Garmin 500. I simply loved it!!

The ride was nothing but intense from the get-go. I managed to hang with the pack for 8 minutes including the warm-up. It was quite humiliating, indeed. But at least I learned where to go when I need a good reality check in the future.

07-07-2010 (afternoon)

Finally, we were able to get Sean to agree to a haircut. Thanks to his grandmother, who was willing to do the job under such heat. Sean looked absolutely adorable after the haircut.

07-08-2010 (60k)

Time: 03:13:53

Distance: 60.17 km

Elevation Gain: 411 m

Calories: 1,418 C

Avg Temperature: 35.2 °C

Avg HR: 145 bpm

Max HR: 175 bpm

Riding with Chilax, Austin's Thursday ride group. I had no idea on the hills I had to climb before getting to the Metropolitan Park to meet up with the guys so I was 15 minutes late. By the time I was there, I really was not in the mood to ride anymore. The traffic was much heavier getting on the road at 7 am. The heat was brutal the entire ride. I gave up before I even did one loop around CCK airport.

07-08-2010 (afternoon)

My mom and I took Sean and his cousin, Jerrry to my aunt's place. Sean got a chance to visit my aunt and pick fresh eggs from her chicken farm. He had such a blast!

07-09-2010 (39k)

Jennie and I went for an early morning ride and breakfast. The same route as the Wed. morning intense ride but much more friendlier for sure!

07-09-2010

Sean got to go to CCK Airport for some fun with his cousins' cram school field trip for the day.

07-10-2010 (55k)

Time: 04:16:52

Distance: 55.01 km

Elevation Gain: 802 m

Calories: 1,938 C

Avg Temperature: 32.2 °C

Avg HR: 139 bpm

Max HR: 175 bpm

Countless of bugs around on my way to Tiger Arcade where I met up with Team Neko. Endless of stopping for red lights. There was nothing much to do than taking photos before we got to the beginning of our TaiPin 136 climb. The level of my frustration was near the bearable range. I was ready to explode!

And then just as I thought things might start to look up after reaching the top of the climb, I got my first flat, and my second. Thanks to Terry, XaioFeng, XiaoZhang, and a few guys who helped me fix the flat. After the flats, my frustration level was just beyond manageable.

07-11-2010 (57k)

Time: 03:55:05

Distance: 57.30 km

Elevation Gain: 492 m

Calories: 1,409 C

Avg Temperature: 32.9 °C

Avg HR: 129 bpm

Max HR: 167 bpm

I still managed to get myself up this morning to fight with the bugs all the way to the meeting point. The traffic lights along the way before we really started our ride really got on my nerves. That's what I need to cope with if I want to ride in Taizhong- I really don't have a choice, do I?

07-15-2010

Sean reading with his cousin, Eric, before bed. He seemed to be fitting right into the life style in Taizhong.

07-17-2010 (74k)

Time: 04:06:09

Distance: 74.24 km

Elevation Gain: 710 m

Calories: 1,711 C

Avg Temperature: 32.9 °C

Avg HR: 141 bpm

Max HR: 171 bpm

I rode to ZhangHua to meet up with my team to do a group ride with them for the first time. It was a large group of people starting the ride at 6 am. Too bad I couldn't keep up with their speed. I got dropped. YuanMao and one of the guys stayed with me to keep me company. Thanks so much! Sorry that I was the burden. Later on Coach Lu along with a few others waited up for us before the climb to FengShan Temple as well. Thanks! I was taken to this insane a bit over one kilometer of insane climb and I had to push half way up. Man! Was I really out of shape or what?
07-18-2010 (59k)

Time: 04:48:37

Distance: 59.05 km

Elevation Gain: 605 m

Calories: 1,629 C

Avg Temperature: 33.9 °C

Avg HR: 126 bpm

Max HR: 165 bpm

Riding with K-scope Cycling with Kevin and Meg this morning. The ride was still tiring but seemed to be a little more manageable now. I guess cycling might be looking up a little for me. It was quite nice once we started to climb in DaKeng- some big break from the heat with very minimal cars and/or scooters and some break from the heat with the greens and trees. For the first time, I felt I was given the chance to reunite with the nature. Some areas I could actually feel I might be back in Hualien- the paradise for cycling.

07-19-2010

We went to Freshfields up the hills near WangGaoLiao in WuRi for my sister-in-law, Sandy's birthday. The meal was fantastic and they were running a promotion for pay one meal and get one free. Great deal for some awesome buffet. I think I will take Tim and Trevor there when they come.

07-22-2010

Finally, my Keith arrived. Thanks so very much, Keith, for your sponsorship! My Keith with its new paint scheme looked absolutely stunning! I cannot wait to ride it this Sat. for DaJia Giant Cup. The 3+ weeks wait was well worth-it.

07-22-2010 (noon)

After arranging how to get my Keith put together, Sean and I went to Costco for lunch. Hot dog and a refillable drink were my all-time favorite! Sean seemed to enjoyed it as much as I did too.

07-23-2010 (31k)

Time: 01:30:14

Distance: 31.02 km

Elevation Gain: 289 m

Calories: 671 C

Avg Temperature: 27.2 °C

Avg HR: 134 bpm

Max HR: 160 bpm

Thanks so much, Jennie, for going out for an early ride with me on my new Keith. I had to test it out before the race. And what could I say? There was nothing better than getting on my good old noble steed! Oh my gosh! Do I just love my Keith!

07-24-2010 (23k; Giant Cup (大甲風火輪決戰鐵戰山捷安特盃繞圈賽)

Time: 00:44:31

Distance: 23.11 km

Elevation Gain: 103 m

Calories: 567 C

Avg Temperature: 31.0 °C

Avg HR: 168 bpm

Max HR: 180 bpm

Results this year:
1 W40 459 林莉雯新竹航翊拱範宮 33.2 00:39:46.95
2 W40 460 劉秀蓮 CCT 33.2 00:39:47.74
3 W40 458 Virginia Xing 千沛車隊 30 00:44:02.95

Results last year:
W30組 1 Tina Haugbro e-MA Sporty 車隊 00:37:35.17
W30組 2 劉秀蓮牧野自行車運動休閒俱樂部 00:37:36.74
W30組 3 郭智雯申騰美利達 00:37:36.76
W30組 4 陳佩伶左岸歡樂騎士隊 00:37:37.05
W30組 5 林盈汎綠油精車隊 00:37:37.27
W30組 6 李伯芳仕林車隊 00:37:38.55
W30組7 Virginia Xing 花蓮TKM鐵馬聯隊00:37:41.39

Such embarrassment! When my team captain asked why I was not with the peloton, I was speechless... With my diarrhea, and cold right before the race, the scare from the crash in our peloton from YuanLin race, the flat before right before the race, no warm-up at all, and hesitation as the W20 girls started to sprint for the break, I was doomed to have a bad finish. It was very discouraging to me. I had no idea where my racing would be going from here.

I decided to forfeit the climbing race tomorrow. There was just no point for me to go while my health was at its best and climbing wasn't my strong suit at all. In fact, I have no idea anymore what my strong suit is in cycling, if any at all.

Luckily, Sean was there at the race with me. That was the only compensation to a super bad day in my cycling career.

07-29-2010 (91k)

Another 5 days off before I was on my bike again. Man! I wonder what cyclist would ever have a training schedule like this. I am clearly heading nowhere with racing. It was nice however, that I rode over 90k today. I cannot really remember the last time when I rode over 80k. Sad!

07-30-2010 (Spinning class)

I signed up at a nearby gym so I could take spinning classes. I went for my first class today with Sean. Sean played at their kids' play room while I took my spinning class. We grabbed some breakfast on our way there. First spinning class in Taizhong was a success! Something that cheered me up after being unhappy cycling in Taizhong all this time.

TUAA CCK TTT (61k w/ warm-up & cool-down)

雙人計時賽【愛的雙人組】 Loving Pair
選手編號	選手姓名	起點時間	終點時間	個人耗費時間	雙人總時間	排名
9005	李旭凡	07:53:24.39	08:07:52.44	00:14:28.05	00:28:56.29	1
9006	林怡君	07:53:24.26	08:07:52.50	00:14:28.24	00:28:56.29	1
9021	Virginia Xing	07:55:37.20	08:10:27.37	00:14:50.17	00:29:40.72	2
9022	梁元茂	07:55:36.32	08:10:26.87	00:14:50.55	00:29:40.72	2
9001	朱梵心	08:04:40.19	08:19:32.08	00:14:51.89	00:29:43.51	3
9002	林嘉慧	08:04:40.47	08:19:32.09	00:14:51.62	00:29:43.51	3
9053	Francis	08:00:08.39	08:15:15.81	00:15:07.42	00:30:14.95	4
9054	廖郁菁	08:00:08.84	08:15:16.37	00:15:07.53	00:30:14.95	4
9023	蕭國華	07:55:54.56	08:11:18.44	00:15:23.88	00:30:47.83	5
9024	林盈汎	07:55:54.57	08:11:18.52	00:15:23.95	00:30:47.83	5
9027	吳聲焜	07:56:38.65	08:12:11.39	00:15:32.74	00:31:05.09	6
9028	梁麗雯	07:56:39.19	08:12:11.54	00:15:32.35	00:31:05.09	6
9009	劉秀蓮	08:06:21.03	08:22:01.66	00:15:40.63	00:31:21.67	7
9010	毛世傑	08:06:20.66	08:22:01.70	00:15:41.04	00:31:21.67	7
9049	施其旻	07:59:34.86	08:15:19.88	00:15:45.02	00:31:29.86	8
9050	蘇淑寧	07:59:34.76	08:15:19.60	00:15:44.84	00:31:29.86	8
9033	江柏廷	07:57:47.73	08:13:40.60	00:15:52.87	00:31:48.49	9
9034	程立錦	07:57:47.06	08:13:42.68	00:15:55.62	00:31:48.49	9
9057	黃哲民	08:00:49.05	08:16:45.22	00:15:56.17	00:32:04.06	10
9058	陳思如	08:00:49.61	08:16:57.50	00:16:07.89	00:32:04.06	10

Time:	02:32:48
Distance:	60.82 km
Elevation Gain:	194 m
Calories:	1,431 C
Avg Temperature:	32.1 °C

Avg HR:	140 bpm
Max HR:	179 bpm

Finally, I could put a smile on my face! My average heart rate was 172 bpm with a maximum of 179 bpm. Our average speed was 38 kph with a maximum of 59 kph. I felt for the first time in a long time that I really gave it all I had. Thanks so much to my partner, Liang YuanMao/梁元茂. I couldn't have done it without you! No. 2 finish was a great way to finish my tough first month in Taizhong. Thank you!!

Now, if you are reading this, you might want to hope for things to start looking up for me. I need it!

A New Chapter- Life In Taizhong

2010-07-27T07:53:00.001-07:00

This is why I have not been writing much on top of being busy and all...

Everything pretty much sucks at this point of my life. Well, a couple of things don't- A student named Schleck who is the gateway for my cycling world in Taizhong and my little boy, Sean, who is here in Taizhong with me. Other than that, no spinning classes, no good old cycling friends, no ocean when I go to the sliding door in the living room, no mountains when I go to the patio, no more miles and miles of riding on my bike without sight of cars and/or scooters, no fresh air, no breakfast shop right downstairs; And most of all, not even sight of a sunshine day these days.

I miss Hualien! I miss my friends! I miss my students! I miss the east coast of Taiwan- a view from the seat of a bicycle or just from anywhere...

And most of all, I miss my sweetheart and my baby...

Week 90: 07/05/10-07/11/10 Total: 275 kms

2010-07-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

Where is my Keith?

2010-07-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Riding with k-scope/單車萬花筒 for their AoFeng Mtn./鰲蜂山 ride.

Meeting at the 7-11 near Tiger.

(Jennie)

(Dr. Ke and his wife, MeiLing)

(DaChu on the left, and Banana)

(Tiffany)

We stopped at countless of stop lights before we actually rode. Very frustrating indeed.

The ladies were working on the crops.

Tea farm.

Regrouping near CCK/清泉崗機場.

2nd meeting stop at the Specialized Concept Store in XiTun/西屯.

Banana took me with me without stopping for traffic light knowing how much I was fed up with the constant stopping for traffic light. A little dangerous but I sure appreciated his effort. Thanks so much, Banana!

The ride was not too intense today as we took our time refueling and regrouping so I got a chance to get some cool shots along the way. You could see the wind turbines through the trees.

A nice shady break from the blazing hot sun.

AoFeng Velodrome/鰲蜂自由車場地).

At the beginning of the climb overlooking the city view.

A hot-looking Trek.

I parted with the group at the 7-11 after the climb where it was near CCK thinking I could find the way home. I had a little detour due to the unfamiliarity of the Science Park but it wasn't bad at all other than riding in the heat.

Sort of nice riding around 9 am on a Sunday in Taizhong when most people were still trying to kick back at their comfortable homes.

I had to take HuanZhong Rd. a lot on my rides these days. I seemed to pass HaYu Fish Market/哈魚漁場 near WuQuan W. Rd./五權西路 quite often.

Overall, not bad today. Mostly, just very thankful that I didn't have a flat. Next week, I won't have anytime to ride as I have to teach 8, 9 hours most days of the week... Cannot believe I'll be off my bike again for another week.

2010-07-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

(About 80k total w/ my Garmin tuned off automatically on flat #2.)

The only way to avoid the traffic is to get up plenty early for a ride.

There were a ton of people today for Team Neko's Sat. ride. Dr. Ke/柯醫師 got his full Team Sky presentation today. Very cool!

Most Team Neko riders had their jailbird jerseys on. I felt I should have gotten one on just for how I had been feeling riding in Taizhong- couldn't wait to escape. (Sigh!)

We must have stopped about 20 million times for the lights before we got to the second meeting point in TaiPing/太平, right before the Route 136 climb. There we met up with 10 plus more riders.

This is the beginning of Route 136 climb. They told me the first 3k would be mild but it would average about 12% after that. I didn't think it was all that bad since I don't hustle on climbs but every turn was looking pretty similar. At some point, I actually got off my bike to take a break. My lower back was killing me on Kitty's bike and they kept telling me only 3k left every time I checked with them on the distance. I was so thrilled finally when someone told me only 400k left. Thank goodness! I hate it when I don't know what I have ahead of me.

Luckily, the views were spectacular once we got there or all the hard work would be in vain in my view.

And the drink vendor was definitely a plus!

Group photo was a must.

And then, half way down the hills, I got my flat #1. Sweet Terry volunteered to fix it for me. Thanks so very much, Terry! It was very sweet of you.

Some people waited around for me. Some went to the bottom of the hills to wait for me at the convenience store.

I promised my family I would be home no later than 10 and it was almost 9:30 once I got to the convenience store down the hills. I thought it would be CaoTun/草屯 down the hills but CaoTun was another 18 kilometers which meant it was another 35k back home. I had to tell them bye and take off on my own. A little disappointed that no one offered to go with me but oh well...

XiaoZhang/小張 and three other guys caught up to me some kilometers down the road so they pulled me for some time. Thanks so much! But then we stopped for regrouping once we had to take turn. After waiting for what seemed forever, a guy offered to pull me and take me to 63 Expressway first. I would have totally just go on my own if I had known the way. Unfortunately, only about a kilometer, I got my flat #2. I couldn't believe my luck.

This time, XiaoZhang volunteered to do it for me. Thank you, XiaoZhang. Also, thanks to Jennie's and Kondo's spare tubes for my flats. Thank you, A-Feng for your tools!

This was the view I spotted while realizing I got a flat. It might be a hint for me that something else good was out there even under some what-seemed-bad circumstances but I just had to look carefully? I certainly couldn't seem to spot it at which point.

After flat #2, we found a convenience store to pump up my tire some more before we headed home. I was home close to 11 and very fortunately, no one was upset with me. Thanks to everyone's help in getting me home as soon as possible.

Not the best day for me but hopefully, what doesn't kill me will make me stronger.

2010-07-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks for riding with me this morning, Jennie!!

See! Taizhong still had something to offer when most people were still in bed.

Ahhhh! No cars! Just the two of us.

The mountains!

THSR/Taiwan High Speed Railway.

We still needed to watch out for the elders on their bikes and/or feet. They usually just cross the streets without looking. Quite amazing! Maybe it just doesn't matter to them when their times should be when they reach a point in their lives.

Great soy milk at this breakfast shop on YongChun E. Rd./永春東路 Jennie recommended.

Jennie also had some daikon cake/蘿蔔糕 with lots of hot spices on. I would have had some if I had not eaten a bagel before the ride.

There were two happy morning risers.

And this guy this morning...

I guess Taizhong isn't really that bad after all.

Visit Jennie at her blog: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jenniesaab-710222

2010-07-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Tina, just in case you are reading this. This might be a Thursday ride but most definitely not "THE" Thursday ride of yours. You are most definitely irreplaceable!

The peloton, sadly, when you ride after 7:20 am in Taizhong.

I didn't expect the traffic to be that bad and I had no idea it was all climbing from XiTun Rd.／西屯路 to the Metropolitan Park/都會公園, so I managed to be 15 minutes late for the ride. So sorry to have you guys wait on me, Austin.

Austin was trying to make Kitty's seat higher for me so I could finally ride a bit more comfortably. Thanks, Austin!

From left: A-Wen/阿文, Austin/一哥, and KK/阿貴.

XiaoZhang/小張, in the back, joined us 5 minutes later.

Austin had to take off before we started to go around CCK Airport/清泉崗機場 loop for some personal business. He assured me that the rest of the guys would take good care of me. So sorry that I delayed your riding schedule by 15 minutes!

Each loop was about 20 kilometers around the airport, I was an absolute burden to them and myself 10 kilometers down the road. I told them to leave me. They kindly encouraged me to go easy for the rest of the way with them and ride loop #2 too. I had to say no firmly because it was just way to hot for me! The average temperature was 35 degrees C and half of the time was at 39 degrees. I was absolutely dying.

I sucked down a whole bottle of coke at a nearby 7-11 as soon as I got them to leave me. It was just how to get myself home after that.

Science Park/中科．

I ran into Team Action's/前勁車隊 team car.

This is definitely different from Hualien. My whole life experience too. But I'll survive! I will just have to.

Visit Austin, KK, and A-Wen's Blogs at:
Austin: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/fema-bikeclub
KK: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/aukkwang
A-Wen: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/chen_chang_wen

2010-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

My first ride with my Garmin Edge 500! I LOVE it!!!

They told me it would be intense! Well, it was more than just intense!

My breakfast right before the ride. Yeah, I know, it's a bad idea not eating 2 hours prior to the ride, Tino! Skipping dinner the night before the ride, of course is another bad idea.

Yes King on the left and Jennie on the right.

Terry. Nice meeting you in person, finally!

I had to beg and beg before they would gather for a photo. I mean, relax! It was well before the battle.

The gentleman in the front was our traffic control for the entire ride. He made sure the fast lead group complete the ride safely. Thanks so much!

There was a total of 41 riders this morning with only 3 ladies- Jenni, Wang YiWen/ 汪旖文, and me. Not an excuse for me to get dropped within 8 minutes with the warming up but no lady managed to hang with the lead group.

What else would I do when I had to ride solo? I took my time enjoying the early morning views of ZhangHua/彰化.

Despite getting dropped in no time, I will be back!

41 kms to Providence University

2010-07-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

I got Kitty's bike yesterday and was excited about going for a ride this morning. Somehow Kitty and I didn't get connected so it turned out we rode on our own. I thought it was fine since it helped for me to do some poking-around on my own.

My sister-in-law let me use her camera so I got to take some photos on my ride today.

This was the beginning of the climb on XiangShang Rd. that the locals refer to as Special-3. No idea why though. It was not on the map as the road just got finished a few months ago according to my brother.

As I tried to deliver my teaching materials to Providence University yesterday, I was quite fed up with the heavy traffic everywhere, especially so on ZhongGang Rd. I figured it would be a perfect opportunity today to find an alternative way to get there to avoid crowding roads.

And it was a success! With my sister-in-law's instruction and asking someone on the road, I managed to find the perfect way to get to Providence University! It looks like I won't be sharing the busy roads to teach my classes at the university next week. Hooray!!

I passed DaDu, LongJing, ShaLu, and WuQi. There was no constant climbs but enough to tire me for my current fitness level unfortunately. As my goal was to get back in shape, taking time to enjoy my ride became my priority.

Right before 7 as I rolled down the hills to get to HuanZhong Rd. It was nice.

And then the traffic started to hit right around 7:30. No fun!

This is definitely something you will NOT see in Hualien. I hope it'll never happen to Hualien.

Near the industrial area. It looked quiet cloudy.

Back on XiangShang Rd. ready to turn right on HuanZhong Rd. for home. I guess it was another lucky day of not getting lost too much. Tomorrow, I'll try to go to the intense ride everyone's been telling me about. I am sure I'll get dropped in a split second but who cares.

Week 89: 06/28/10-07/04/10 Total: 40 kms

2010-07-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

My life has been so crazily busy... Farewell get-togethers with friends and students, packing, moving, get ready for work at the new location, recovering from my wrist surgery, etc. There was just no time for cycling...

Photos by courtesy of Kitty Tsai.

Enough is enough! I had enough of not riding for 9 days and I was determind to go out regardless. My Keith is still in the shop for a facelift so all I had was my mom's mountain bike. It was too small for me but it just had to make do.

Luckily, I didn't have to do my first ride ever after moving to Taizhong alone thanks to Kitty! I told Kitty climbing it was when she asked about where to ride. The route today: 特三-->華山(下)-->龍井-->136(上)-->特三. And climbing was more than plenty for me.

I was so slow that I could not even stand it myself. Everyone had been telling me how I would come back feeling refreshed. Unfortunately, I felt nothing but so out of shape. Kitty had to wait for me at the end of Route-136 climb, it was frustrating!

Kitty told me I could borrow her road bike while I waited for my Keith to come. It looks like I'll be able to see what it's like to ride a road bike soon. Thanks, Kitty!

Total Mileage- June'10: 691 kms (Running total: 22,219 kms)

2010-06-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Year one- 12,918 kms
Month 1/ Year 2- 961 kms
Month 2/ Year 2- 1,058 kms
Month 3/ Year 2- 1,168 kms
Month 4/ Year 2- 1,010 kms
Month 5/ Year 2- 1,249 kms
Month 6/ Year 2- 1,211 kms
Month 7/ Year 2- 1,115 kms
Month 8/ Year 2- 838 kms
Month 9/ Year 2- 691 kms

Week 88: 06/21/10-06/27/10 Total: 178 kms

2010-06-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Tino's local race of 45 kms
& Luncheon at Jerry's

The race I had to cancel due to my operation. Tino got to do it as scheduled though. Lucky dog!

Not bad considering it was just a small local race.

Looking good there, Tino!

That goes for you too, officer!

Hualien Excellent/花蓮好棒!

Good job, babe!

Tino sprinting for the finish!

A-Fu/ㄚ福 sprinting for the finish!

Not bad, Jerry, for someone who blew up.

No. 4 finisher- DingBa/丁爸. Good job!!

Jerry must have worked up quite a sweat.

QingTeng/清騰, who just came back from his 3-month recovery from a crash finished No.1!! He is truly amazing!

Jerry invited us to his brother's place for lunch after the race to celebrate, as well as saying goodbye to Sean and me. Thanks for the wonderful meal, Jerry!

I will never forget the good old times I had with you guys, Hualien Excellent!
Saturday
Rest from surgery

My ganglion cyst operation at MenNuo Hospital/門諾醫院. With my Keith being repainted by my sponsor and my operation, cycling will be forced out of my life for some time...

Friday (64 kms)
NiuShan/牛山

NiuShan/牛山 was the ride not to miss!

HuangDong/黃董 came as a surprise.

ZhenHan on JiAn Joggers' Association.

Despite working till late last night, A-Fu/ㄚ福 made it for the last ride of my riding week! So glad you made it.

And the rest of the ride? I have no idea how any words could possibly describe how I felt.

Hualien Bridge.

The start of Tai-11.

I had always enjoyed riding by the ocean on Tai-11.

The boys never left me behind on the way over to NiuShan until the tunnels.

They waited for me right out of the tunnels before the long descent to NiuShan climb.

They waited for me again on top of NiuShan.

One last riding pictures with my buddies! We were still missing DingBa/丁爸.

With that, my cycling chapter in Hualien officially ended. My cycling life will also take a short pause for 2 weeks. Bye for now, "A view from the seat of a bicycle on the east coast of Taiwan."
Thursday (20 kms)
Recovery ride to QiXingTan/七星潭

Recovery ride on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Hualien Excellent/花蓮好棒 had always lived up to its reputation! It had always been one of my favorite rides that I couldn't wait to go to once a week when I could just get myself off bed. There was no way I would leave Hualien without going for the recovery ride with its regular members.

For this morning's ride, I put on my Hualien Excellent jersey. In the picture was Peter with my good old Giant which now belongs to him. Please take good care of the Giant for me, Peter!

CaiGe/財哥 who recently switched to a road bike in the picture with me. Keep up the good riding and do not ever forget your helmet, CaiGe!

Peter and me.

A-Fu/ㄚ福! Well, what could I say, buddy? We've come a long way, haven't we? Love your energy! Love your sense of humor! Love the way you live and enjoy your life! Keep it up, buddy!

Me having my banana on the way. That's what I meant when I said this ride lived up to its definition.

The route for this ride always passed this beautiful bike path though the town, BeiPu/北埔.

And we seemed to always stop at this traffic light when the road intersets with Tai-9.

On the way to QiXingTan/七星潭.

Ahhhh! The Pacific Ocean from this angle for the last time...

The beautiful mountains...

My buddy...

The beautiful clear sky...

Hualien- the place most people would die for.

My cycling pals from the east coast...

Goodbye for now...
Wednesday (64 kms)
Lightning & Thunder Ride with JiAn Joggers' Association

How could I close my cycling chapter in Hualien without the "Lightning & Thunder Ride" with the Jogger's Association? It had always been the most challenging ride for me and it was no different this morning either.

A picture with QingTeng/清騰 who just came back this week after his nearly 3 months recovcery from his crash that caused by a dog. From the ride today, he had not lost any of his incredible riding ability one bit. Way to go, QingTeng!

Jerry on the left and HuangDong/黃董 on the right. HuangDong had his new Keith this morning. It is such a beauty!

This had always been the only peacful part of the ride which only lasted for 5, 10 minutes before the battle began.

Everyone let me get away as far as possible before they swollowed me in no time.

I got swollowed by the whole team but I struggle to stay with them as usual.

I could hardly squeeze a smile for the photo.

I stayed with the pack right up to the paper factory knowing once they got on the hilly Route 193, there would be no way for me to keep up with them.

I was right. They hustled once we started on Route 193. I decided to take a shortcut and turned out in YueMei/月眉 trying to regroup with them before the LaoXi/荖溪 climb.

I once again alter my plan to try to get a head start as much as possible. I hustled to not let the group catch me knowing it would be sooner or later. Jerry was the one who caught me first becasue A-Jian/阿建 helped him with his break-away.

The rest of the guys caught me not long after the LaoXi climb and with that, I ended my second ride of my last week of riding in Hualien, not surprisingly, alone!
Tuesday (30 kms)
JiuHong climb/ 九虹坡

How could I begin with this chapter of my cycling life and/or my life in Taiwan? Tino and I had decided that it was the best for the kids this way- so Sean and I will be staying at my mom's in Taizhong for him to go to the elementary school in her neighborhood while Trevor and Tino stay in Hualien to see what'll be next for Trev. The long and short of it- it'll be the last week of cycling in Hualien for me...

I wanted to ride my Trek since it'll be shipped back to the US soon and my Keith would be getting repainted by Keith with its new racing look for the rest of the season. Thanks a million, Keith!

This week will be goodbye to my cycling friends in Hualien, goodbye to Trek, and goodbye to Hualien. So sad...

(Jerry/天樂 in the photo wth me. He is one of my best riding pals who plays an important role in my cycling life.)

(A-Fu/ㄚ福 in the picture with me. He is another one of my best riding pals and who also plays an important role in my cycling life. DingBa/丁爸 is also one of them who was on a business trip this week. So sorry that he couldn't make it for my last week of riding in Hualien.)

Jerry and I were both quiet today... I hate saying goodbye and I think he dose too.

I wanted to do the brutual JiuHong climb one last time despite my biggest cog on my freewheel was 23. I pushed quite some way but managed to get myself almost to the top. I didn't make it to the top but glad that I made it this far.

The boys got to the top and had some fun making some presentation to advise how important wearing a helmet when you ride is.

A-Xian/阿賢 on TKM came for a run with us today. It was great seeing him there this morning.

It is never fun going down this steep hill.

Jerry didn't go for a swim at the swimming hole with us since he was still trying to get rid of his cold. I was certainly glad he made it there this morning. Thanks!

With that, my first ride of the last week of riding in Hualien ended- with good pals, some difficult climbing, nice dipping in the cold water for me feet, and some sadness...
Monday
Rest

Time:	01:48:32
Distance:	39.43 km
Elevation Gain:	116 m
Calories:	626 C
Avg Temperature:	32.6 °C

Time:	03:13:53
Distance:	60.17 km
Elevation Gain:	411 m
Calories:	1,418 C
Avg Temperature:	35.2 °C

Time:	04:16:52
Distance:	55.01 km
Elevation Gain:	802 m
Calories:	1,938 C
Avg Temperature:	32.2 °C

Time:	03:55:05
Distance:	57.30 km
Elevation Gain:	492 m
Calories:	1,409 C
Avg Temperature:	32.9 °C

Time:	04:06:09
Distance:	74.24 km
Elevation Gain:	710 m
Calories:	1,711 C
Avg Temperature:	32.9 °C

Time:	04:48:37
Distance:	59.05 km
Elevation Gain:	605 m
Calories:	1,629 C
Avg Temperature:	33.9 °C

Time:	01:30:14
Distance:	31.02 km
Elevation Gain:	289 m
Calories:	671 C
Avg Temperature:	27.2 °C

Time:	00:44:31
Distance:	23.11 km
Elevation Gain:	103 m
Calories:	567 C
Avg Temperature:	31.0 °C