2010: A Brave Ride Along the East Coast – A Leisurely Bicycle Tour on Provincial Highway 11

What’s the most unique way to enjoy a spring trip along the East Coast? Cycling along Provincial Highway 11 with the breeze in your hair while admiring the blue Pacific Ocean scenery is a trendy and healthy way to travel. This year, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration under the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has extended a warm invitation to cyclists to join together in a brave adventure along the East Coast, pedaling their way through this iconic region.

The “2010 Brave East Coast Challenge – An International Self-Challenge Bicycle Leisure Tour” will grandly kick off on March 20. Online registration officially opens on February 12, with a registration fee of NT$500 per person. Participants will receive commemorative T-shirts, Giant bicycle water bottles, Chevrolet sunscreen, ComeBuy drink vouchers, and fitness center discount coupons, among other great gifts. They can also enjoy special discounts on famous East Taiwan products such as Amis-style sesame crackers, as well as free home delivery – a great deal overall. Riders will not only receive certification medals but also go home with plenty of souvenirs.

This year’s bicycle challenge leisure tour features two certified cycling routes. The first is a 200K self-challenge route designed for cyclists from the Asian region who plan to participate in the 2011 “Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) Bicycle Race” organized by the French Audax Club Parisien (A.C.P.). This route starts from Jialulan in Taitung, passing through Chenggong, Daren, Provincial Highway 93, and the Yuli Highway, before cycling back to Jialulan in Taitung — a total distance of approximately 217 kilometers, expected to be completed in about 13.5 hours. Cyclists who finish within the allotted time will be awarded a certified medal and certificate from the French A.C.P.

The other route is a 100-kilometer leisure cycling path, starting from Jialulan in Taitung and ending in Chenggong, covering a total of 102 kilometers. It is open to domestic cycling enthusiasts, and those who complete the entire course will receive a medal and certificate issued by the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration. The event currently plans to accommodate 1,000 participants. Cyclists interested in challenging their physical limits can register on the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration’s official website.

In addition, the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration has partnered with hotels and homestays in the Hualien-Taitung region (including An Tong Jade Hot Spring in Hualien, An Tong Hotel, East Coast Public Education Center, Kangqiao Hotel in Taitung, Fukang Hotel, Apple Business Hotel, and Naluwan Grand Hotel) to offer special accommodation discounts, as well as a “Stay & Win” gift. Cyclists can present their exchange vouchers and accommodation receipts to receive a free box of Yangji Sweet Potato Crisps — a delicious taste of Taitung.

The bicycle leisure tour event site will also feature exciting performances by live bands, beer-drinking contests, captivating magic shows, fun challenge games, a green creative market, and complimentary tours of the East Coast via sightseeing buses. The organizers have also invited photography enthusiasts to take part in the “2010 Brave East Coast Challenge – An International Self-Challenge Bicycle Leisure Tour” photo contest, with winners eligible to receive prize money of up to NT$20,000. For more details, please visit the East Coast National Scenic Area or the event’s official website. Let’s all bravely explore the East Coast!!

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Further Reading: Galloping Along the Northernmost Coast of Hokkaido (Provided by Tripass Attractions Home)