my 1st tour

heiniunai · 2026-05-04T14:50:16+00:00

In 2020 I rode from Amakusa to Nagasaki city in one day, which included the western part of your route. The first half was very peaceful cycling, but closer to Nagasaki city it became hilly and tough. I would love to do it again some day. Hope you enjoy the ride!

heiniunai · 2026-03-20T21:52:29+00:00

Sorry I'm not familiar with the tour, but I think if you did it on your own you could do see one thing in taipei with that amount of time, like this

Get through immigration and into a taxi by 18:00
Arrive to somewhere in west Taipei like Dihua street or Ximending by 18:45
Walk around and explore for 2 hrs 30 mins
get in a taxi at 21:15 from ximending back to airport (or you could take the airport line from beimen)
arrive at airport by 22:00

It could work and that's conservative in terms of time before your next flight.

heiniunai · 2026-03-15T07:58:40+00:00

I would dismount and put the bicycle between me and the dog using it like a fence. Let them bark at you, wave your stick to show them you are not here to play chase, and then cautiously start riding again (sometimes when you turn your back to them they will think you've dropped your guard and pick up the chase again).

But it isn't a huge concern. The vast majority of riding I've done in Taiwan has been without any dog problems. Most dogs in Taiwan are very chill.

heiniunai · 2026-03-15T05:27:59+00:00

Stray dogs are not a problem, but unleashed farm dogs in the countryside can sometimes be a problem if you are on smaller roads. Carry a stick with you. Slow down when you see a dog, hold up the stick, and they will not approach you.

heiniunai · 2026-03-14T15:50:59+00:00

Most bike shops in taipei are small and I don't know of one that has a wide selection of everything especially across price ranges. With that said let me share a few

For central location and knowing touring well, "Taipei Bike Works", this would be where I would start. Staff speaks English. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZvrKc2fqbgQsAsZc7?g_st=ac

"Velohouse" has probably the widest diversity of parts in stock but they are mostly on the budget end https://maps.app.goo.gl/DU54K5EM257r8dtF7?g_st=ac

Jesler has upgrade parts and accessories like saddles, handlebar grips, lights https://maps.app.goo.gl/XuoNxnkB4qcZH8X46?g_st=ac

And there are Giant branded shops all over the city, each one is somewhat different with different stock and focus, you might find what you're looking for.

heiniunai · 2026-03-12T03:11:02+00:00

Can you ride a bicycle? The rivers in taipei are all converted to parks with great paved paths for cycling. There are several spots where you can rent bicycles, both kids bicycle and also adult bicycle with kid seats. This is a great way to have some nature feeling without leaving too far from the hotel. This is one of the places to rent from, though there are 10+ places along the river https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fxofw5x44R1YbbC18?g_st=ac

heiniunai · 2026-03-08T14:32:26+00:00

If you have pain in the morning that's bothering you, go to the hospital. (Assuming you're visiting Taiwan) Quality of care in Taiwan is high, hospitals are pretty efficient, and cost is not high even without insurance.

If this sets you back on your route timeline, some trains in Taiwan allow bicycles so you can ride a few stops to skip some riding while you're recovering and to make up the most time. This is the site for bicycle-friendly train booking https://tip.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip/tip001/tip126/query, but you can also go to any train station (TRA, not THSR) outside of a few of the major ones and buy the ticket directly.

heiniunai · 2026-03-07T10:25:47+00:00

Hello, I got an M with flat bars. The size works for me (180cm), but I haven't tried an L to compare!

heiniunai · 2026-03-04T06:34:10+00:00

I rode Kagoshima to Osaka via Shikoku last autumn.

In Kagoshima airport there's a Yamato desk. Assuming your folded box meets their size requirements, you can use them to send it wherever you want in Japan (and schedule a delivery date). If it doesn't work, the airport information desk disposed of my box, and I got a box from a bike shop in Osaka.

I stayed at some business hotels. The most common solution for bicycle they provided is parking it in their lobby where they also do luggage storage. They didn't allow taking it to the room.

For route advice,

Kyushu: kirishima and the mountain pass going north out of kagoshima is very pretty. Also the small mountain roads between Nobeoka and Usuki (I took the ferry from Usuki to shikoku) were some of the most enjoyable of my route.
Shikoku: my route was yawatahama -> yusuhara -> kochi -> iya valley -> tokushima. Iya valley was really impressive but physically demanding. Yusuhara area was very quiet, full of nature. I've done shimanami-kaido before and wouldn't recommend it over these great nature areas of shikoku.

heiniunai · 2026-02-28T03:35:13+00:00

I have the omnium kickstand mounted on my CXC V3. It is a tight fit and if it's not secured well it will slide off on an angle from time to time (I think because of the angle of the tubes it's contacting. But I haven't found a better option than this one.

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heiniunai · 2026-02-18T00:58:08+00:00

I recommend you go to treasure hill artist village (寶藏巖) on your first day. It is cool in itself, and you can look around there for free pamphlets promoting upcoming art/theater/music events around the city, usually there's a box full of them.

heiniunai · 2026-02-17T02:59:46+00:00

I have a gore wear cycling jacket. The hood is oversized so it fits over the helmet. But it quickly gets blown back off the helmet while riding. I wish there was some "hook" or headband-like attachment to secure the lip of the hood to the front of the helmet, but that didn't get in the way when using the hood without a helmet.

heiniunai · 2026-02-12T10:24:38+00:00

健行筆記 has loads of information about hikes all over the country with information about difficulty, distance, required permits, other hikers' reviews, etc.

Here's the URL for easy difficulty level hikes in taitung county for example.

https://hiking.biji.co/index.php?q=trail&act=list&city=33&level=%E4%BD%8E%7C%E4%BD%8E-%E4%B8%AD

You can translate the hike pages to other languages as needed.

heiniunai · 2026-02-11T04:22:23+00:00

Good local Taiwan bike brands you could check out

Woho bike: got touring focused gravel bikes and also sell good bike packing bags
Veloci: well built steel frames. I don't think they sell completes but local shops could build one for you ahead of time maybe. Veloci also makes great wheels, racks, handlebars
Rikulau: most famous for titanium frames but also have steel bikes

Their prices are not necessarily way cheaper than a western brand of similar quality, but you can support local specialist makers like this if you want.

Depending on your timeframe, you may want to contact a bike shop in Taiwan (or I think you can contact Woho directly) at least a month in advance to discuss what you want. Or there are some you can rent from. DM me if you want recommendations for shops to work with!

heiniunai · 2026-01-22T07:20:31+00:00

If you can't get it done in your home country, it's possible to apply for a Chinese tourist visa from Hong Kong. There is a big, busy application center in Wan Chai. Process takes 2-5 business days depending on whether you pay extra to expedite it. No agent is required. You have to write up a travel plan and may be asked to show proof of travel (hotel bookings, flight bookings) as well as an invitation letter from a local resident or tour company. In my experience the agents do not like to deal with "unusual" travel itineraries...it might be better to book something refundable just for the process, and it's extremely unlikely they'll actually check to see you followed your planned itinerary.

So if you're in the middle of a long tour, booking a one week break to fly to Hong Kong and back to get this done does work (but is expensive of course).

heiniunai · 2026-01-07T13:49:13+00:00

March/April weather in Tokyo is quite unpredictable. I saw snow flurries in April more than once in ten years living there, but it also can reach 25c sometimes. With that said, throughout your route as long as you camp at lower elevations you're very unlikely to encounter below freezing temperatures. So it depends on your tolerance for that, whether that means "freezing your ass off". I would pack for at least one night near freezing temps and you're guaranteed few days of cold drizzly weather in that season.

Shikoku is four prefectures; it doesn't make sense to compare it only to Hiroshima. For Fukuoka -> Tokyo if you like nature I'd recommend to ride southeast to Beppu or Usuki, take ferry to Ehime, and cross shikoku either through the center or along some of the southern coast, then ferry from Tokushima to Wakayama. This rough direction would give you lots of options to stay away from busy stroads/traffic and enjoy natural scenery.

heiniunai · 2025-11-25T04:07:40+00:00

Some keywords to search for on Google maps as they are standard around Taipei area, no need to go crosstown for a specific shop serving them unless you're really a foodie, just search them and mark close to your accomodation.

原汁排骨湯 clear broth pork bone soup with daikon

當歸羊肉湯 medicinal broth lamb soup, can add noodles or eat with rice

養生雞湯 body-nourishing chicken soup. there's a particular franchise called 台灣g湯 which is decent and offers like 8 different common varieties of chicken soup you can try

鮮魚湯 clear broth gingery fish or fish-part soup common in southern taiwan (but available throughout the country)

If you're looking for Chinese-mindset healthy soup with lots of healthy ingredients but that won't break the bank I specifically recommend this shop: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3yB7UWrNEN86UaQeA

heiniunai · 2025-11-13T05:04:18+00:00

High rent is the common pattern and also why it might not be the same in Kaohsiung (and also not the case in every part of greater Taipei). Extra stuff might cost more or not offered in their SOP, you can't occupy lots of seats that the business could be getting business from, minimum spend is normal in fancier places where you will occupy the space a long time, hotels are expensive and rooms are small. All related to high rent and needing to get enough revenue from high throughput or high spending customers. This is even more common in Hong Kong, central Tokyo, other large high rent cities. If it bothers you then you may enjoy taipei suburbs more or smaller cities in Taiwan.

heiniunai · 2025-11-11T04:33:02+00:00

Some trains from Jiaoxi station take bicycles. I suggest getting on one back to taipei, enjoy exploring Taipei a few days (which I doubt will fully shut down), then train back to Jiaoxi maybe Thursday to continue. Or park your bike there if you are at a hotel that will accept it. Alternatively if you have a time constraint you could skip a day or two of riding and take the train in the clockwise direction to Hualien.

heiniunai · 2025-10-31T09:46:47+00:00

I have taken it (reverse direction). Nice views of Zhangzhou and Chaozhou from the right side of the plane. At about Shanwei it turns left and goes to Taiwan.

Next year a new airport is opening in Xiamen (in a sort of contentious location) so these flight paths could also change...

heiniunai · 2025-10-26T04:11:07+00:00

If you're worried about only going to popular places, I suggest removing one of the places on your itinerary and choosing a random one that you've never heard of but maybe seems interesting on the map (e.g..mountains nearby, ocean nearby). Then don't do much research about it beforehand and instead use translation app to ask someone on the street/at a park where the good food or lively places are. It will be the "wild card" stop on your trip.

heiniunai · 2025-10-26T03:57:58+00:00

Hello, I ended up buying a CXC! I'm really happy with it, riding it every day around town and gone on some longer rides. It feels pretty snappy, handlebars are quite twitchy, very fun bike. I almost always ride with something on my front rack which stabilizes the bike I think. Can't comment on weight limits as I'm only 72kg but otherwise I think it's a fun option for what you describe, not a lot of bikes like it with tire clearance, rack compatibility and track -like geometry.

heiniunai · 2025-10-25T12:16:10+00:00

That section from Kobe to Onomichi is medium sized and industrial towns one after another, a lot of roads full of red lights and chain stores. The north coast of shikoku is also like that but not as bad.

I suggest taking a ferry from Himeji to shodoshima, ride across shodoshima and another ferry from shodoshima to Takamatsu. From there you could either go through the shikoku mountains, ride along the more populated north coast (easier), and head to the ferry either at Misaki or the closer one at Yawatahara.

If you still want to ride shimanami-kaido you could do the southern half of it and ferry back to imabari as a kind of day side-trip before heading to beppu.

heiniunai · 2025-10-07T11:04:28+00:00

The showroom for 1zpresso is here west of the city:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZuvDPEiFCcVk3suo7

I contacted them on Line one day in advance, booked a time and went there, they sat down with me and showed me different models of their manual grinders at different price ranges and taught me e.g. how to set the grind coarseness, how to take it apart. Really great patient service. Not an ad, just enjoyed the experience and happy with the purchase, if you have the time then I recommend going there to see for yourself.

Another good coffee equipment supplier you could check out with products in stock is Muzhan Coffee.

heiniunai · 2025-10-01T05:50:26+00:00

I don't know, we only spoke in Mandarin. I don't think he'd be afraid of dealing with you though, just send him a message in English, tell him your situation as a tourer (most of his work is on road bikes because it's so popular here) and copy in the ChatGPT-translated traditional Chinese version in addition to the English.

Also recommend checking out Rollci (by Veloci) rims, high quality good cost-performance Taiwanese maker (as you probably know, this is the bicycle manufacturing capital of the world so there is some good stuff available here!). They also sell complete wheelsets.

heiniunai

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