The plan is to complete the route over 12 days, with 10 cycling days and 2 planned rest days. The rest days are not an indulgence; they are placed deliberately ahead of some of the longer and more demanding sections, particularly on the east coast, where the scenery is spectacular but the climbs tend to arrive in an unbroken sequence.

Riding anticlockwise means starting relatively gently along the north and west of the island before the route gradually tightens its grip further south and along the east coast. By that point, daily decisions become less about pace and more about rhythm, eating before hunger arrives, stopping before mistakes creep in, and making sensible use of Taiwan’s famously frequent convenience stores which are close enough to be reassuring, but far enough apart to keep things honest.

Nothing about the opening days suggests drama, but the route grows increasingly persuasive as the kilometres and elevation accumulate. Distance, weather, and fatigue have a habit of clarifying priorities. Rusty Rhinos would have it no other way.

Fun Facts about Taiwan Route 1

• Taiwan Route 1 is part of the country’s official round-island cycling network, designed to allow riders to circumnavigate the island largely on signed routes.
• The official 0km marker for Route 1 is located in Taipei, symbolising the start and end point of the round-island journey.
• Cycling infrastructure along the route is well developed, with regular rest points and supply stops, making it one of the most accessible long-distance cycling routes in Asia.
• The eastern section of the island, while quieter and more scenic, accounts for a disproportionate share of the route’s total elevation gain.