Cycling Taiwan’s Central Cross-Island Highway

It’s a bold statement, but Sunday’s ride was the best one I have ever done.

150km starting in Puli, the geographical center of Taiwan, over Hehuanshan followed by an epic 65 km descent through Taroko National Park. The route was simple: follow the provincial hwy 14 until the split and then continue along the alternate up to the top of Hehuan. Afterwards, connect with the 8 east towards Hualien.

Eight hours in total on the bike; it was insane, but awesome. Amazing roads and sights, basically everything you could possibly want for a good ride.

The climb, which basically started more or less the second I left the hotel in Puli, took well over 5 hours, and seriously kicked my butt. I’d be willing to say that about three hours in I thought I was doing amazing, and then I realized how much further I had to go, an extra 10 km that I wasn’t expecting, about 50km of climbing, brutal. Elevation I think played a role, and flashbacks to Nepal replayed in my mind. Crawl along for a few minutes, stop to breathe….

After finally reaching the summit, I snapped some photos and then began the descent into Taroko. Time was everything, so off I went.  There were two short climbs immediately after a 12km drop from Hehuan, the second of which was testing my mental limits. I made it over and was finally rewarded with the seemingly endless downhill.

The descent was filled with crazy turns, canopied roads, dangerously pitch black tunnels (which I basically rolled into walls to get through – not fun and really scary), a monkey gang which started to amass and forced an end to my photo shoot, beautiful scenery, construction, random gravel patches in the road (not ideal when coming around a corner doing 55km/hr) and absolutely stunning scenery.

Couldn’t ask for more. I’m beat, but it was amazing. I’m so happy I didn’t leave the island without doing this ride, I never would have forgiven myself. Enjoy the photos!

[slideshow]