Climbing 16,000ft in Taiwan on the Giant TCR Advanced SL

A couple days after the launch of the new Giant TCR Advanced SL, David Arthur and I tackled Buddha's Palm, a hand-shaped route north of Taipei with a healthy amount of climbing. How much climbing? We weren't entirely sure. And was undertaking such a big, unknown route a good idea considering the weather? We weren't sure about that, either....
Turns out, the info listed on BikeExpress was accurate: the ride was 11,000ft of elevation gain, which we added to the 5k of climbing from the previous ride on the bike.
www.bikeexpress.com.tw/2021/c...
-
The Ride is supported in 2024 by:
Castelli clothing: tinyurl.com/43k6pftp
Giro helmets: tinyurl.com/72svzzxp
Feedback Sports stands & tools: bit.ly/3S9Dq8r
Silca maintenance: bit.ly/47xxvzj (save 10% with code 'theride')
First Endurance nutrition: bit.ly/41SDgqq (save 20% with code 'THERIDE')
Shimano shoes & glasses: tinyurl.com/ye274tep

[@FourReelProductions]

Ben- I just completed this ride in Nov of 23. I rented an AL rim brake Giant TCR from the local Giant store. I actually stayed in a hotel right where you started the ride near Jiantan station. Hands down the best ride I've ever done in my life even while slugging a Al frame up the mountains. My only regret is I didn't have a friend there to enjoy it with. Very cool to relive the ride through this video augmented with my own memories of it. 7hr43 minutes of going wow, wow, and wow... Can't wait to do it again along with the KOM challenge at the end of the year.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Super cool. Was it clear for you on top of the mountain?

[@FourReelProductions]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney a little foggy in the morning on top of the first climb, clear for the rest. You missed out on a few killer views however you found a few things up close that I over looked. Did you see monkey's in the road on the first descent? I saw around 15 and it was the first time I've encountered wild monkeys.

[@FourReelProductions]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney foggy in the morning on top of the first climb. Did you get to see monkeys on the road during first descent? It was my first time ever seeing wild monkeys.

[@dasf89]

This is such a cool video, just like watching two buddies on an epic ride. Also nice to see the much shier, "off-camera" personality of Dave Arthur. Also props for the dedication of bringing a friggin usb mouse :D

[@johngracely7373]

Finishes the Midsouth and immediately posts a YT video. Good riding with you today. Classy cycling content we can trust and classy on the bike

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Good riding with you! The hotel wifi was giving me fits! Been trying to upload that since yesterday afternoon. 🤷‍♂️

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

David Arthur is a quality guy. Well done sir.

[@andrewb6541]

2 blokes having fun in a foreign land....love it!! real memories.

[@user-cl1tt8xj2o]

Two of my favourite KZbinrs in the one video. Thanks for sharing.

[@downundermtb4744]

Been pondering thoughts of visiting Taiwan, now I’ve seen how much fun you guy’s are having, can’t wait. ❤

[@slantedorbit]

Solid episode of the BYEU-the Bike KZbinr Extended Universe. Bring in James Huang and you’d have the Bike Avengers.

[@6ft8incyclist]

Man thank you for this video.. It has been decades since I have been in Taiwan( last time 1978).. Seen it has changed a lot but still A Beautiful country.

[@FL-ym6hm]

Really good seeing you two get together for this ride, Enjoy that a lot.

[@imagistatheimagista1870]

Fun seeing you and David together! Great music too!

[@ChrisCorless]

Love it, what an adventure and to be able to share with David. Your channel Ben continues to grow!

[@fabianmolyneux2308]

Great Vid. What a ride and good on you guys for keeping it 100% real. Despite all the climbing, cold and rain you both seemed to genuinely enjoy doing the challenge and forged a friendship. Thanks

[@n22pdf]

Great to see the collaboration with David 😊 awesome ride and top quality vid editing looked excellent p Pete 🚴🏻🚴🏻👍

[@bushmanontwowheels]

Great video sir, much appreciated ❤

[@Kf1rr]

Wow this was great collaboration with David, good stuff 🎉

[@invalice123]

Hope you enjoyed thoroughly Taiwan. I lived there in the 90s and have the fondest memories.

[@stuartdryer1352]

Like the description of the effect of front-end slackness and interesting point about it's effects during climbing.

[@mohammadtaufek5529]

A good test & testiment of how good & robust the New Giant TCR Advance SL 👏🏼

[@user-hm4vl7er2u]

Very entertaining, feel like I’ve been on a mini vacation! enjoy the ride☘️

[@user-ih6gm2yr1k]

Great to see you both riding together. Epic adventure and really nice video.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Thank you.

I woke up on a beautiful sunday with a sore throat, so two of my favourite youtubers doing an epic ride on a cool bike is pretty much the best companion to my morning herbal tea I could wish for... 8-)

[@adydow]

Great explanation on head angles fork rake etc and how it can effect handling, kudos for not bailing on the ride 😊

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Very well done! 👍

[@robinsonsadventures2174]

Shame the weather was so dismal would have been awesome if it was sunny, fantastic video Ben good to see Dave in your video too Great content!

[@thilo1berg]

Nice trip, nice bikes, nice guys

[@wescheslak9408]

This is freakin awesome! Two of my favorites put together in one episode. Ride On !!!! ❤❤❤

[@zaphod_beeblerox]

all of my best rides have always been in weather like this on uncharted roads, looks like a dream to me!

[@bikingchupei2447]

14:17 that building right there is a columbarium, that one is called 北海福座, some of my deceased family member's ashes are stored there.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

We rode through there earlier in the day - it is a beautiful place. I didn’t post any of the footage because I didn’t know if that would be disrespectful.

[@GeekonaBike]

Funny that you complain of the rain Ben, I watched all the way to the end & didn't feel a drop ; -)

[@ericwuwei]

This is a classical route in Taipei，glad you enjoyed it，also wondering upgrades to tcr sl

[@ichallengemydog]

Heck yeah! Looking forward to more collabs in the future! On a more serious note, how are the Cadex wheels? How do they compare to the best offerings from Enve or Zipp?

[@onehourmusicbc]

Did this route about an year ago. It rained hard and I was on a rim brake, my rim was toasted after that ride. Tho somehow still finished in like 9 hours or so, was one of the hardest ride of my life lol, except Taipei-Kaohsiung being a bit harder imo.

[@jonpoon3896]

Coastal cities have lots of temples to pray to the ocean gods for literal smooth sailing

[@genjeanson]

Loved it

[@biketrybe7071]

Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[@yushengchen9323]

Growing up in Taiwan, that song in the end you heard is the recess bells of elementary and middle school.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Oh, nice! Thank you for the information. It’s a very soothing bell.

[@MatthewJohnson85]

I hope you tried the giant chicken cutlet if you went to Shilin Night Market. Next time you should definitely try the stinky tofu - it does not taste the way it smells 😂

[@BC_cyclist]

I've subscribed for the mouse talk 😂. Thanks

[@brentcollins9727]

I’ve got this weird new condition where even if I’m wearing plenty of layers, my middle finger gets super cold. Even if it’s just 60 degrees out, that one finger turns numb, red and cold to the touch.

[@rw7172]

What cool tire pressure measure app it that you lads utilize in that rad video? Thank you!

[@bobfoster687]

measured Ben’s knee angle. About 30 degrees.

[@kirkek-ak6379]

❤

[@fabianmolyneux2308]

Great Vid. A burning question I have is at the beginning of the vid the pumping of the tyres is monitored on a phone app, but as far as I can tell you're not using a tyrewiz. Is the bike pump itself Blutetooth equipped or is some sort of other set-uo. I'd love to know how it's set up if you or anyone else may know.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

That is the Silca Viaggio travel pump. The code theride saves you 10% if you want one: silca.cc/collections/inflation/products/viaggio-travel-pump

[@51249ca]

14:50 Curious what brand/model fo gloves you are wearing

[@BikesKomsCRO]

Wtf is with the audio, had me thinking my headphones were dying.. Changed to another video and no issues..

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Sorry - the DJI camera in the wind was kinda a hot mess.

[@nationsnumber1chump]

I can't get over the normal seat stays. It has to ride differently when you swing it side to side. I assume it might be feel a bit more sluggish than previous versions

[@faisalawab8758]

i saw u pum your tyre using apps may i know what is that and how to get it thanks

[@tovinpoh]

not sure which day you were riding when this video was uploaded, I was in Taiwan on 7~10th in March riding 3 times in 4 days reachi.g up to the top of highest mountain Wuling. It was so cold the temperature was 0°c my legs non stop shaking and both my palms were numb with pains which suffering when going down from the top. The weather was too cold as it was continuing raining 4 days during my ride in the mountain area.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

We rode March 6: strava.app.link/rZ7ThJos2Hb

[@3TZZZ]

Great to see you two hanging out together, out of your comfort zones. …A local guide on our ride would have made all the difference in terms of cross-cultural interpretation and nuance. The journey would have been richer. Nevertheless, it was great to see a USA desert dweller ‘loving' the precipitous natural habitat of a UK fog dweller, and you both riding the calm hand of wisdom on the other side of the world.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Agreed, a local would have been a huge asset. For instance, Brandon and many of the team would led our ride in Taichung were super helpful and generous with both logistics and local info. I mean, we had a lunch stop in Brandon’s hometown… 😁

[@woolfel]

being taiwanese-american stinky tofu is an acquired taste. It's ok to not try it :) hope you got to try beef noodle soup.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Lots of beef noodle soup, pork and rice, rad breakfast sandwiches from an old couple in a tiny place, dumplings, squid, milk tea, ginger tea, banging strawberries… all kinds of great stuff.

[@bike2452]

Any recommendations in terms of kit so as to avoid "shivering for about half of the three hours?" This is my back yard and despite decades of experience, some days I still mess it up and it's just down right miserable coming down wet and cold. People don't seem to understand how it could possibly be that bad when it's 13 degrees out - not even close to freezing. From now on, "4:44 Aggressively, hands-about-to-come-off-the-bar shivering" is how I will impress upon people how cold it will get.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Two fails on my part: -I neglected to bring warm clothing, simple as that. A warm base layer would have done wonders. -I neglected to put on my rain jacket on the first descent. Which was stupid. And then it took my forever to warm back up. So kit recommendations - just more layers. It's a lot easier to take off what you brought that put on what you left at home.

[@mohammadtaufek5529]

What type of lube or chain wax do you use on this ride ???

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

We just used the factory grease that was on the bike.

[@hmcps89]

its locally referred to as the buddha hand, not the palm ;)

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

That makes more sense! 😁

[@weiwei9491]

ohh

[@gaminghouse173]

What are cyclist trying to proof? They try to tell us they are superman?? 🤣🤣🤣

[@zzz66606]

Yes due to humidity you feel colder at the same temp number

[@fucktheworld1207]

So between 11,482 feet - 14,763 feet 👌🏻 good old-fashioned feet 👌🏻