The Mayor of Taipei has completed a 380-km cycle ride in less than 21 hours - saying that he had to believe in himself, and follow his ‘crazy dreams’.
With a group of other cyclists, mainly bodyguards and logistics experts, Dr Ko Wen-je, 56, went to a temple in Kuandu on Saturday morning to pray, before setting off at 5am in cold rain.
He arrived before midnight in Kaohsiung, having said that he would not be able to stop for interview or photographs en route, as they might slow him down.
"The most important thing is to leave on time after each stop," he told Focus Taiwan. "Quite often, it takes more than 30 minutes just to pose for pictures with people."
Yang Po-chien, a fellow cyclist, said before the ride: ”If all goes well, it will be no problem for the cyclists to reach Kaohsiung by 2 a.m. Sunday," adding that the northeasterly winds along the way will help the cyclists.
Ko will now stay overnight at a hotel before travelling to Pingtung, Taichung and Hsinchu by car to take part in campaigning ahead of the Jan. 16 elections.
Dr Ko Wen-je, a high-flying surgeon who established Taiwan's standard procedures for organ transplant, won the mayoral race in late 2014 despite no previous political experience. The job is widely seen as a stepping stone to presidency.
In March 2015 he announced the he was seeking to integrate the bicycle into the Taipei transportation grid - a city where bikes are mainly used as recreation as opposed to transport.
He said at the Asian Cycling Forum 2015 in Taipei that he would aim to build bike paths on all roads that are 40 meters or more wide.
Just my opinion, but sorry that bike is UGLY! I can't see that sort of price for a completed bike, not alone for just the frame and fork!...
I find it deeply jarring and disappointing that Sir David agrees with these people not wanting a cycle lane. Whenever I watch one of his excellent...
May need insurance, tax and a licence. No problem with the lights though.
Yes, they look just like the Lezyne Zecto model. My club bought a couple of sets from the LBS for our midweek TTs so if someone turns up without...
If you can't see a %^$&ing large tractor what ^%$£"!*ing hope is there that you will see a cyclist ?...
Well if you *can* interview the original riders at all surely they worked, at least?...
Live: Car plunges over wall and lands on beach rocks...
Looks like yet another bike share service that's going to fold because of selfish idiots.
This should do it...
And finally: I wonder how many of the "more than 3,000" signatures on that petition are actually locals, who live or work there (and are not just...