So it turns out that I’m going to Taiwan next week, courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau (TTB). Â I’ll be checking out the cycling along the east coast of Taiwan (primarily in Taitung and Hualien) and in Taipei. Â The agenda is packed, but I hope to push out regular updates while I’m there, and then produce some more thoughtful pieces after I return. Â Free time will be at a premium, but if you’ve been (or are thinking about going) and have any suggestions for must-sees in the areas I’ll be in, please let me know. Â One universal response I’ve already gotten is Taroko Gorge, which I’m pleased to say I’ll be visiting.
I’m particularly excited to be coming at this trip from a cycling-specific perspective. Â While my personal travel has come to more frequently involve cycling (riding the Koppenberg in Belgium, mountain biking in Australia, or hitting the road in Nova Scotia), I’ve never made an overseas trip for the primary purpose of riding. Â It’s something that I’ve been thinking about (one day, to the Giro!), so I’m really quite excited to be doing this, and hope that – afterwards – I can help others figure out what’s involved in doing this themselves.
As you might already know, I quite enjoy writing about travel and all of its bits and pieces.  From the need to move, the means of getting there, and the destinations themselves.  Sometimes you can do it with just a photo.  Other times, many words are required.  And then there’s always music.  If I do this right, I’m sure Taiwan will give me all three.
Finally, I want to note that this only happening because of Richard Masoner, who was kind enough to connect me with the folks at the TTB.  He will be hosting much of the content that results from this trip at Cyclelicio.us.  If you’re into cycling, you’re already reading Cyclelicio.us.  And if you’re not, give it a try.  My larger travel pieces will be here (along with everything else . . . eventually), but the cycling-related stuff will show up at Cyclelicio.us first.  I’ll soon be posting more about the trip itself, but I thought this would be a good way to kick things off.
Photo by Alex Lin.