On first impression Taiwan might not seem like the greatest place to ride a bike. The cities are polluted and the traffic seems chaotic. Don't let first impressions put you off. You don't have to go too far beyond the city limits to find quiet roads and clean air. A bicycle is one of the best ways to discover Taiwan's beauty. Even in the cities a bike offers a cheap, convenient and fast way to get around once you get used to the traffic conditions.

Taiwan is a world leader in bicycle manufacturing. Although many factories have moved their operations to China in the last few years, Taiwan is still headquarters to companies like Giant and Merida. It is also a centre for research and development. The Taipei International Cycle Show held every March, is one of the world's most important trade shows for the bicycle industry.

Taiwan is also a good place to buy a bike. Retail prices are relatively cheap. For example the Giant Rincon (2006) retails for US$340 in the USA and US$220 in Taiwan.

There has been an increase in the popularity of recreational cycling in Taiwan in recent years. In Taipei this has no doubt been aided by the construction of an extensive network of bike paths, mainly along the rivers. I wrote this article on my blog about some of the obstacles to increasing the number of people cycling in Taiwan. The government policy still doesn't take cycling as transport seriously and the urban environment is not particularly ideal for cycling.

Mountain bikers head for the hills near Taipei