Stage 7 - The Strong Comeback

Stage 7 complete. Taimali, Taitung → Ruisui, Hualien. 117km. 972m of climbing.

After Stage 6, we had a point to prove. Stage 7 was the answer.

A 6:25am start into light headwinds that gradually eased as the day progressed, almost as if Taiwan was offering a quiet apology for Friday. 

What followed was a rock solid ride from start to finish. Strength maintained, speed maintained, no drama.

The landscape gave us everything the east coast promised. Lush green mountains, rice fields, long valley stretches with the kind of scenery that makes you forget your legs have already covered several hundred kilometres this week. The encouragement from locals was relentless, more 'Jiayou' shouts than we could count, from cars, scooters, roadside strangers. This island really does get behind its cyclists.

Nutrition was handled differently today. A high protein light breakfast before the off, a proper carb and protein stop at 9:30am, and a Snickers at the right moment later in the day that did more work than it had any right to. We had planned a third stop but the pace was strong enough that Ruisui came into view before we needed it.

The stage didn’t let us off easily at the end, a 2.5km climb gaining 100m to finish, because apparently arriving gently wasn’t on the agenda, it was earned.

Average moving speed of 20.4km/h. Overall average of 18.7km/h, the best of the trip. 91% moving time across 117km and a total time of 6h16m.

Once we arrived in Ruisui, we had a thoroughly enjoyable lunch at a road side noodle shop in the village, then hot springs followed later. The legs, for once, have very little to complain about.







Alex & Adam 
Rusty Rhinos

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