This guide aims at helping our customers solve the most common mechanical issues that may occur during the cycling trip. 

How to Adjust Saddle Height

Most of our bikes feature a quick-release seat post clamp for easy saddle height adjustments. To adjust the saddle, open the quick-release lever, move the saddle to your desired height, and then close the lever securely.

If the saddle slips because the clamp doesn’t provide enough friction, use the thumb screw to fine-tune the tightness while the quick-release lever is open. However, if you can’t close the lever with bare hands after adjusting the thumb screw, the clamp is too tight. 

How to Remove and Install Wheels

You may need to remove your bike’s wheels for several reasons, such as bagging the bike for train or public transportation, fixing a flat tire, or replacing brake pads.

Numerous YouTube videos, https://youtu.be/hdjB_wHW0-Q, provide clear instructions for removing and installing wheels on various types of bicycles.

However, I’d like to share some practical tips to make the process smoother, especially when you’re working roadside.

Quick-Release Skewers

Quick-release skewers come in two types. The most common requires flipping a lever to clamp or unclamp the wheel at the dropouts. Newer designs involve turning the lever to loosen or tighten the skewer. Before removing a wheel, check whether the lever flips or turns.  

Front dropouts often have retention tabs (sometimes called “lawyer lips”) to prevent accidental wheel release. To free the wheel, unscrew the skewer further (about six counterclockwise turns).

When installing a wheel, ensure the skewer seat properly with both dropouts to prevent a tilted wheel. For the front wheel, stand the bike on a firm surface, press down on the top tube with your armpit, and secure the quick-release lever with your hands. For the rear wheel, apply gentle pressure with your torso against the saddle while locking the lever. For non-flipping levers, the angle of the levers can be adjusted by pulling out the levers.

Thru Axles

Thru axles are common on bikes with disc brakes. Unlike quick-release systems, where the wheel and skewer drop out from the frame, thru axle systems require removing the entire axle from the frame to release the wheel.

After removing the wheel, reinsert the thru axle into the frame for safekeeping to avoid losing it. Avoid squeezing the brake lever when the wheel is off, as this can close the gap between the brake pads, making wheel reinstallation difficult. If transporting or storing the bike, insert a spacer between the brake pads to prevent this issue.

When reinstalling the thru axle, avoid over tightening, as this can damage the axle or misalign the disc brake caliper, leading to brake pad rubbing and scraping or squealing noises.

How to Fix a Flat Tyre

The fastest way to fix a flat tire is to replace the inner tube with a new one, included in our kit. Many YouTube videos, like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqR6nlZNeU8, demonstrate the process clearly.

Here, I’d like to highlight key tips to make the job easier, especially when you’re fixing a flat roadside:

Preparation

Choose a clean, safe spot with minimal stones, sand, or debris before starting. When replacing the inner tube, the tire is open and laid on the ground, allowing small sharp objects to get inside. If trapped between the tire and the new inner tube, these objects can pierce the tube when inflated, causing another flat.

Removing the Inner Tube

As shown in the video, you can remove the entire tire from the rim to replace the inner tube. However, it’s often quicker to remove just one side of the tire bead, leaving the other side on the rim, to swap out the tube.

Finding the Cause of the Flat

After removing the inner tube, identify what caused the flat to prevent a repeat issue.

Puncture

A puncture occurs when a sharp object pierces the tire, creating a small hole in the inner tube. Always remove the sharp object before installing a new tube to avoid another flat. To locate it:

• Find the hole in the inner tube.
• Align the inner tube with the tire, matching the valve to the valve hole, to narrow down the search area.
• If you’ve removed the tire completely, align the valve with the tire’s label, as we typically position the label near the valve during installation.
  

Once the sharp object is removed, the tire is usually reusable unless it has a large cut exposing the inner tube. (More about tire cuts in the next section.)

Common Culprits

Here are some of the pesky objects I’ve encountered that cause punctures:

Compromised Rim Strip

A compromised rim strip is less common, but if you notice a large burst on the rim-facing side of the inner tube, check the rim strip. The rim strip is a protective fabric band wrapped around the rim to cover spoke holes, preventing the inner tube from expanding into them under high air pressure, which can cause a burst. It also shields the tube from sharp metal edges. A rim strip may fail if it doesn’t fully cover the spoke holes or becomes too worn to withstand pressure.

To diagnose, use the burst in the inner tube to locate the compromised section of the rim strip by aligning the valve with the valve hole. In most cases, the rim strip needs replacement. For a temporary roadside fix, insert a folded banknote between the rim and the inner tube to cover the exposed spoke hole. Then, carefully ride to the nearest bike shop for a proper repair.

Pinch Flat / Snake Bite

A pair of holes on opposite sides of the inner tube is usually caused when the bike hits a pothole or a curb. The tube gets pinched between the rim and the tire, resulting in cuts that resemble a snake bite. Riding with insufficient tire pressure increases the risk of pinch flats. Check and top up your tire pressure every three days to reduce the risk.

Installing the Inner Tube

After installing the inner tube and moving the tire bead onto the rim, make sure all the  innertube is tucked inside the tire body by running a full circle of the wheel on both sides. If you see the innertube poking out, you need to tuck it in before proceeding to inflate the tire.

Tires with Cuts

A punctured tire can still be used after the inner tube is replaced. However, a tire with a cut that exposes the inner tube from the outside must be replaced. The exposed tube is vulnerable to the rough road surface and high internal pressure without the tire’s support, another burst is very likely.

For a temporary roadside fix, stick a tire boot (like a Park Tool TB-2) inside the tire to protect the tube. If you don’t have a tire boot, a folded bill (like a dollar bill) can work for a small cut. Then, carefully ride to the nearest bike shop to get a new tire.

Unusual Noises

Bikes can make all sorts of sounds, but unusual noises often point to simple fixes you can handle on the go. Here’s how to diagnose and resolve common noises you might hear while cycling:

Rattling Noises

Rattling noises often come from loose components. Check the bolts on your water bottle cage or pannier rack, as these can loosen over time and cause rattling. Use a hex key to tighten them—hand-tight is enough to secure them without overdoing it.

Another culprit could be a loose valve core lock ring on the inner tube. This ring, which secures the valve core, can vibrate and make noise if not tight. Gently tighten it by hand, but be careful: overtightening can damage or tear out the valve core.

Noises Related to Bike Speed

If you hear noises that change pitch with your speed, loose straps or covers on pannier bags might be the issue. These can flap against the spokes or rub against the tire, creating a sound that gets higher-pitched as you ride faster. Inspect your pannier bags and secure any loose straps or covers to stop the noise.

Noises Related to Pedal Cycle

Noises that sync with your pedaling often indicate a drivetrain issue. Check if the chain is rubbing against the front derailleur while pedaling, which can happen with cross-chaining—using inefficient gear combinations like the big chainring (front) with the two largest cogs (rear) or the small chainring with the smallest cogs.

Cross-chaining strains the chain, increases component wear, and causes noise.

To fix this, shift to a better gear combination to avoid cross-chaining. For Shimano road bike groupsets, use the trim function on the front shifter to slightly adjust the front derailleur’s position when moving to larger rear cogs. As you shift to bigger cogs at the rear, the chain moves inward, and trimming moves the derailleur slightly inward without changing the chainring, preventing rubbing. Personally, I avoid using the two largest rear cogs when on the big chainring to minimize wear and noise.

Conclusion

With these tips, you’re equipped to handle flat tires, especially to avoid repeated flat tires, and pesky bike noises, keeping your cycling adventures smooth and enjoyable. Regular maintenance and quick fixes like these can make all the difference on the road.

The roads in Taiwan are exceptionally well-maintained. In cases where damages are caused by earthquakes and typhoons, repairs are swiftly carried out, ensuring that roads, including those for cycling around the islands, are quickly restored. However, in some remote areas, such as the mountains, road repairs can be more challenging and may take longer.

During the repair period, some roads may be temporarily closed, while others may allow passage only during specific windows of time, potentially interrupting our rides. To ensure smooth cycling through these areas, it is crucial to check the website of the Highway Bureau MOTC, which provides a ‘Provincial Highway Real-time Information Service.’

• Visit this website:  https://168.thb.gov.tw/thb168

• Click on the “Switch Language” at the top right corner to change the interface to English

• Click on “Prov. Highway CCTV” to deselect it. Then, click on “Construction Info.” and “Disaster Info.” to select them.

• On the map, zoom in to the area you plan to visit
• Click on the icons on the map to view the text

• Select the text, copy it, and then Paste to computer translation services like Google Translate or ChatGPT

At times, traffic control information can be found in ‘Construction Info.’ while at other times in ‘Disaster Info.’ Therefore, it’s important to read information from both categories. Please do not blame the translation services if you find it hard to understand. The original text may pose challenges even for a Chinese-speaking person, and occasionally, I find it necessary to call the nearby police station to confirm my understanding.

It’s crucial to note that this website only displays road conditions for Provincial Highways. In instances where we prefer cycling on County Highways, Township Roads, and Industrial Roads, for quieter traffic and better views, I have yet to find a centralised website for that. In such cases, searching for news about a particular road or calling nearby police stations to check becomes essential. Additionally, when booking hotels or restaurants, staff members may provide valuable information about any road closures. In case of poor road conditions, it’s safer to switch to larger roads.

If you have the latest models of the Edge series, including 1050, 1040 or 840, and the latest firmware, you will be able to download a map of your choice directly to the device, without needing a computer. You only have to follow the procedures in this post if you have older models.

Garmin devices are preloaded only with maps of your country. If you plan to use your Garmin device for navigation overseas, you will need to load the maps of the foreign country onto your device beforehand. Otherwise, you will only see a blank screen or a single line on your display.

According to this web page of Garmin, if you own one of the Edge® 540/840/1040 Series devices, you don’t need to purchase maps separately. You can utilize Garmin Express, a computer software tool, to perform free map swaps and load them onto your device.

For other series, purchasing the map at USD 19.99 is required. However, even if you are willing to pay for the map, you might not find the map of Taiwan available for purchase on Garmin’s website. Thankfully, there are alternatives: OpenStreetMap and BBBike Extract Services. The process is straightforward. Simply visit this website, https://garmin3.bbbike.org/, and follow the instructions to download your desired maps. Unzip the file and copy the “gmapsupp.img” file to the “Garmin” folder on your Garmin device. If you need to download maps of multiple areas, you can rename the file, such as “gmapsupp_Taiwan.img”. When you power up the device, the map will be automatically loaded. There are various formats available, and you can find details about the formats on this link, https://garmin3.bbbike.org/garmin.html. I wanted to use UTF-8, but my Garmin EDGE 530 only supports Latin1.

To double check that the map of Taiwan is properly loaded on your Garmin device, you can send one of our routes to your device and check if the map displays the details correctly. If the map is loaded properly, the route on your device should appear as shown in the picture below.

Step by Step Guide to Download the OSM for Garmin devices (e.g. EDGE 530)

• On your computer’s browser, navigate to the website: https://garmin3.bbbike.org/. This website allows you to extract data from OpenStreetMap and package it in your preferred format for Garmin devices.
• Once you’re on the website, you’ll see various format options. Look for the “Format” section and select “Garmin Openfietsmap Lite (latin1)”.

• Click on search and key in “Taiwan” to jump to the Taiwan section

• Fill in your email address and click the button “here”. An orange box will appear on the map.

• Click on the orange box. Two small circles will appear. Use the one inside the box to move it and the one on the right bottom corner to resize the box.

• Hit Extract and the page below will appear.

• Click on the link  “service status” page
• The “Taiwan” is being generated. Enable the auto refresh and wait until the download link is available.

• Click on the “Download” to download the map.

• Unzipped the downloaded file. For MacOS computers, the file is unzipped automatically
• Connect your Garmin Device, say Edge 530, to your computer. It will become a USB drive of the computer
• Copy the file named gmapsupp.img to the folder “Garmin” of the USB Drive. (i.e. Garmin Edge 530)

• Eject the USB drive from your computer and then disconnect the USB cable.
• When the Garmin Edge 530 powers up,  it will use the map automatically.
• Feel free to make some donations to OpenStreetMap and BBBike.org

GoogleMaps, Velodash, komoot and bike computers are the navigation tools I find very useful when I am having a cycling trip in Taiwan. The pros and cons are also discussed in each sections.

When using the navigation tools, please pay attention to traffic conditions and obey traffic rules. Some roads do not allow bicycles, such as freeways and expressways. You can identify these roads by looking for four yellow Chinese characters, ‘禁行機車’, painted on the road surface at their entrances.

For more details, please refer to this post: https://www.bikeexpress.com.tw/2019/my-first-cycling-trip-in-taiwan-day-2/#trafficrules

Google Maps

Google Maps is an essential tool for travelling. I use it to find restaurants for meals and places to stay when planning my cycling trips on my desktop or smartphone. Once the destination is found, it routes on the fly and guides us there by giving us clear turn-by-turn instructions. Google Maps in Taiwan has had a cycling mode for several years. With this mode, we can see the elevation profile and estimate how difficult the route is going to be. It is also getting better at routing us to the dedicated bikeways in Taiwan. However, on some rare occasions, I found myself being guided to some paths that were closed.

Google Maps is good at finding the shortest route for you but that may cause you to miss some nice spots or scenic roads if you don’t plan carefully. We need to do our research and plot the route by ourselves if we want a better experience.

One time I managed to load a GPX route to Google Maps and tried to use it for navigation. Not only did the process involve lots of taps, the turn-by-turn navigation feature was not available in this mode. Furthermore, the route could disappear suddenly. So my conclusion is we need some dedicated cycling Apps to guide us along the way. But I still use Google Maps when there is a change of plan or get to my hotel for the night when I am on a trip.

Velodash

Velodash is a cycling event management App. We can either use the App itself or the Velodash website on desktop to plot a route, or import a GPX route into our account. Then we can follow the route on the App. Turn-by-turn navigation is not available on this App so we need to figure out the turns by ourselves. But once we get out of the cities, the roads in Taiwan are rather simple and straightforward. 

If you are cycling with a group of friends, you can create an Event on this App and invite your friends to join. You can then see each other’s location and speed on the App. We love this feature! Even if you are cycling as a group, some may want to stay a bit longer at a particular spot for photos, some may want to do a spin from time to time. It can be annoying if you always have to wait for someone or try to catch up. With Velodash, we can check on each other without keeping each other in sight, stay on the same course without being bound by the speed of others. I have a post on how to do it.

komoot

I started looking into komoot after learning that many of our customers from Europe are using this App. The minute I tried the App and realised that it provides turn by turn navigation, I decided to import all the routes on our website to komoot and post the links for our users. It’s very easy and convenient to use. Once you click on the link, you can use the route to navigate right away.

To create your own route, you can import the GPX route to your account with a desktop computer or with the App running on a smartphone. Or you can just plot a route all by yourself. If you find the route you’ve imported is going in the opposite direction, you can copy the route to your account and use the built-in function to reverse the direction of the route. 

The routes and the map information can be stored locally for off-line use. Even if you have unlimited mobile data, this feature still comes in useful because it will save your phone’s battery life as your phone will consume less energy when it does not need to communicate with the server frequently for the map data. Not to mention that you might be cycling in an area with no mobile phone signal coverage. 

You can also connect your Garmin account to komoot. The routes in komoot will Appear in your Garmin account. Then you can load the routes in your komoot to a Garmin device.

Limitations of Smartphone Apps

So, the abovementioned Apps running on our smartphones should be enough for navigation when cycling in Taiwan. I believe there are a lot more good Apps available out there. When you hire a bike from us, we will provide a smartphone case mounted on the handle bar for your convenience. 

However, there are limitations when using a smartphone for navigation. All navigation Apps drain battery especially in the sun, when the screen is put to maximum brightness. A powerbank is essential for a full day trip.

On the other hand, most of our phones are not waterproof. Even if they are when they are brand new, they will no longer be after several months of use. I once had my iPhone 8’s lens all fogged up after using the phone in the rain for hours for navigation. It will help to put the phone inside a waterproof zipper bag. But then the water will make it quite difficult to operate the touchscreen.

That is why I use a dedicated bike computer, such as a Garmin Edge 530.

Garmin

Garmin specialises in GPS technology for aviation, marine, automotive and outdoor activities. They have been making portable GPS devices well before the age of smartphones. I have a Garmin Edge 530, which is specifically designed for cycling. I usually plot my routes on the Garmin Connect website (https://connect.garmin.com). The map on the website has a Popularity Heatmap showing how popular a road is among fellow cyclists. Once a route is saved in our account, we can load it to our Garmin devices. There are different ways to do that. The most handy one is using the Garmin Connect App on a smartphone paired up with the device. However, you need to prepare your Garmin device before you can use it for navigation in Taiwan if your device is not purchased in Taiwan.

I love my Garmin Edge 530. It’s amazing that even with such a small screen, it can still give me very clear turn-by-turn directions. Prompts for upcoming turns are pushed to me in advance. When I see that the next turn is, say, 10 km away, I can just relax, follow my current route, and enjoy the scenery or other interesting things to see. If I deviate from the planned route, the device will plot a new one immediately for me to get back to my route.

The device will also analyse the route for sharp turns and long climbs. Warnings are sent in advance. When it’s time for climbing, it will turn to climbing mode by showing the elevation profile, the steepness and how many metres left to climb. All this info helps me allocate my effort and manage my speed more efficiently and effectively. 

The device can operate under very harsh conditions. The screen is still very clear even on a very bright sunny day. Rains pose no issues, too. The battery can easily handle a full day trip.

When it comes to limitations and short-comings, I think it is not easy to zoom out and get an overview of the route. It’s also not easy to plan a route on the road. You can give the Garmin Connect a destination and it will make a route for you, just like what Google Maps does. You can then load it to the device. But you cannot plan a very detailed one. Also the device cannot reverse the direction of an existing route. You will have to do it on a desktop. The Garmin Connect App on smartphones can reverse short routes only. For longer ones, you can use komoot to do the job before uploading it to the device. 

In short, it’s better to plan your route in advance on a desktop and you have to do it very carefully. If you put a waypoint on the opposite side of a road, the Garmin device will prompt you to make a U-turn to get there. This could happen when we import a route or when the GPS position is not precise enough. So, we still need to get an overview of our route before using the navigation.

To load the routes in the posts of this website to your Garmin device, just install the Garmin app “Connect” (Android iOS) on your smart phone. Tap on the link of the route and the Connect will be launched to open the link. You can then send the route to your Garmin device. You will need to load the maps of Taiwan to your Garmin device if your are bringing your Garmin from overseas.

Garmin happens to be the only bike computer I’ve used. Again, I am sure there are other great options out there.

[This post is last updated on November 2025]

How to travel with your bikes on public transportation in Taiwan? I have some experience to share, including taking bikes onto the Taipei Metro, Taoyuan Metro, intercity buses, High Speed Rail, and the Taiwan Railways.

Taoyuan Metro and Taipei Metro

With a few exceptional stations, both Taoyuan Metro and Taipei Metro allow unbagged bikes between 10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and all day during weekends and holidays. Since 20 June 2022, Taipei Metro has been taking bikes after 22:00 during weekdays. You can buy a ticket for you and your bike at the service kiosk and the staff will let you get into the paid area through a special entrance, usually right next to the service kiosk. You shouldn’t use the stairways or escalators when carrying a bike, but should instead take the elevators. And bikes are only allowed in the first and the last car of the train. It is always a courtesy and a safety measure to make sure your bike does not inconvenience other passengers or obstruct the way. When leaving the paid area of a station, you should return the bike’s ticket to a staff member and again you will be led outside through the special entrance.

I use this service mostly during weekends. Trains are usually not very crowded but there can be exceptions of course, like when getting close to the stations for transferring to another line. I once boarded a train at Hongshulin Station and it was pretty empty at the time. But more and more people came onboard as the train was approaching the city center. It got so crowded that I couldn’t get off the train when I needed to make a transfer. Another example is stations located at tourist districts, like Ximen Station. Although bikes are allowed in those stations, it will usually be busy and crowded inside the stations and the elevators will be in super high demand with baby trolleys, senior passengers, and tourists with huge suitcases. So it’s easier to just board or get off the train in the previous or the next 0station. 

Here’s a short list of the stations where unbagged bikes are NOT allowed in. We will try to keep the list up-to-date but you are advised to cross check with Taipei Metro’s info page, just to make sure. 

Metro stations with no access for naked bikes:

• All stations on the Wenhu Line and Circular Line 文湖線及環狀線各車站
• Tamsui Station 淡水站
• Taipei Main Station 台北車站
• Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station 忠孝新生站
• Da’an Station 大安站
• Zhongxiao Fuxing Station 忠孝復興站
• Nanjing Fuxing Station 南京復興站

Kaohsiung Metro

Kaohsiung Metro also welcomes people to bring their bikes on board the Orange and Red lines at all times during operating hours. To do so, simply head to the station service desk to purchase a ticket (NTD 60 for the bike and passenger). You can then use the elevator or ramp to access the platform. Please ensure that you board the first car of the train, as opposed to Taipei and Taoyuan, where the first and last cars are allowed. For more detailed information, please refer to the following link:

https://www.krtc.com.tw/eng/Guide/regulations?id=b2a28dd7728f4202a8190f449da3c03e

Kaohsiung is a bustling city with heavy traffic. Fortunately, the Kaohsiung Metro offers a convenient means to bypass the city’s congested traffic. 

Intercity Buses

“Bus Stations” can be found in the six municipalities and most mid-sized cities in Taiwan. With countless buses running from one Bus Station to another via national highways each day, these Bus Stations form a vast network of intercity buses that supplements the coverage of trains and domestic flights. There are many operators of intercity bus, Kuo-Kuang 國光客運, Ubus 統聯客運, Aloha 阿羅哈客運, Ho-hsin 和欣客運 and Solar 日統汽車客運, just to name a few. There is usually a large cargo compartment underneath the passenger seat deck on these buses, and an onboard toilet. Each bus operator has their own policies regarding passengers travelling with bikes. Some would let you leave your unbagged bikes in the cargo compartment for a fee half the price of a passenger’s ticket per bike. Some would only accept bagged bikes but with no additional charge. I have travelled with those intercity buses during regular weekends. The cargo compartments were practically empty. 

There are overnight buses connecting Taipei and southern cities like Kaohsiung and Tainan that provide passengers with spacious, reclined seats for sleep. I once took one to Tainan that set off around midnight, planning to get some sleep before a cycling trip. It is a 5-hour ride according to the bus timetable. Turned out the flickering light from the lamps on the highway was very annoying – an eye mask would be needed. I managed to fall asleep after some struggle but was soon woken up by the driver at 3:30 am. It only took 3 hours to get to Tainan in the small hours of the day.

Here you can find an official overview of the intercity buses: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0029049

High Speed Rail

The High Speed Rail (HSR) runs on the west coast of Taiwan, offering a comfortable and efficient way of traveling between Taipei and Kaohsiung, and the major cities en route. While it takes from 4 to 6 hours for the Taiwan Railways or the intercity buses to go from Taipei to Kaohsiung and vice versa, depending on the number of stops in-between, the High Speed Rail can make it in as less as 1 hour and 45 minutes.

A passenger can board the HSR trains with his/her bike as long as it is bagged with two wheels removed and within the following limits as specified in the Passenger Guide:

1. Either side of the bag is less than 150cm
2. The sum of width, length and height should not exceed 220cm
3. Weight less than 40kg

Onboard the train, bikes should be kept in the dedicated areas for big luggages, which can be found in each car. Sometimes the luggage compartment could be occupied already. The space between the last 3-seat rows and the wall has enough room for a bike, though this is not a dedicated location for luggages.

If you have a bike travel case that exceed the limit of the 220cm as listed above, you may purchase one or two tickets with reserved seats for your bike case for car 1 to car 5. But there are still limits on the dimension of the case and this option is not available during peak seasons as announced by the HSR

1. Height: 120cm, Length: 100cm, Width: 35cm
2. Sum of Height, Length and Width 240cm
3. Weight: 40kg

We have learned from an email by Ms Diane S about some policy changes regarding carrying bikes onto the High Speed Railway in 2020. I have checked the website of HSR (only Chinese version available) and contact the customer services to clarify. This section has been updated on 7 May 2021 accordingly. Thank you, Diane, for helping us maintaining accurate informations.

Taiwan Railways

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) operates via a vast network that covers the majority of the island. I use its service the most when I go cycling. TRA has been making lots of effort to become more bike-friendly, both in terms of its trains and in terms of its rules and services. Unfortunately, the information available on its current website is not always easy to understand. Therefore here are some quick notes for you. At the end of this session, I’ll also show you how to look for the latest key information on the website.

Bagged bikes can board any train (Carrier Bag)

A passenger can board ALL the trains with his/her bike as long as it is bagged and within the same limitations as imposed by the High Speed Rail, which are:

1. Either side of the bag is less than 150cm
2. The sum of width, length and height should not exceed 220cm
3. Weight less than 40kg

We are responsible for taking care of our bikes when onboard and make sure they are not causing other passengers any inconvenience. If your train is one of the Puyuma Express 普悠瑪號, your bagged bike should be left in the “large baggage space” in car no. 1 or no. 8. The TRA is not responsible for the safety of the bikes.

When I go for a single-day cycling trip in the small towns around Taipei, I will usually take the Local Trains / Semi Express Trains 區間車. Their cars are similar to those of the metro, with a spacious area in the middle. These trains stop by almost every station en route. There are usually 3 to 4 trains every hour. The ticketing system is also similar to that of the metro: you only get a ticket with a date and the starting and end stations of your journey. There is no seat train number or seat number. You can board any one of the local trains and the seats are available on a first-come first-served basis. I often do cycling trips during weekends and start early in the morning. I seldom find the train too crowded for my extra large luggage, ie. my bagged bike. I can usually leave it the way shown on the picture below. But this may be another story during rush hours.

I have never get a chance to carry my bike onto an express train 對號列車, i.e. Puyuma Express 普悠瑪號, Chu-Kuang Express 莒光號 and Tze-Chiang Limited Express 自強號, because they usually run on a less frequent schedule and stop by bigger towns only. Seats are arranged in rows and occupy all the floor area. The long narrow space behind the last row of seats, like what we find on the High Speed Rail, is the only place to leave your bike.

Push Your Unbagged/Naked Bike onto a Train (Bicycle Boarding) 

A passenger can board some designated trains with his/her unbagged bike after getting a ticket half the price of a passenger’s. But do note that not all stations would allow unbagged bikes inside the paid area, e.g. Taipei Main Station. Therefore, even though your train is stopping by those stations, you can’t board or get off the train there.

Local/Semi Express Trains

Many Local Trains / Semi Express Trains will allow unbagged bikes. While, as mentioned above, the passenger ticket is good for any Local Trains / Semi Express Trains within the day with no seats reserved, the ticket for your unbagged bike is different. You buy the ticket for one of the specific trains that take unbagged bikes, and your bike is only allowed in the first or the last car. As you can see on the picture below, the train number is marked on the ticket on the left hand side, which is for your bike, while the passenger ticket carries no such information. 

I always try to take the designated trains and get a ticket for my bike because I am too lazy to bag it and carry it around. That means sometimes I will have to skip several trains. There are also times when the bike tickets for the day are all sold out. Then I will use my contingency: bike carry bag. 

Express Trains

Some Express Trains will also take unbagged bikes. There are designated cars with bike racks, where you can safely store your bike while sitting comfortably nearby. There are 15 to 45 racks available, depending on which train you’re taking. You can also reserve a bike rack when you buy a ticket. This is certainly the most preferred way to travel with your bike, though these trains run on a rather infrequent schedule and the number of racks available is limited.

Here is a list of the relevant train numbers. Unfortunately the information is only available in Chinese. I will show you later how to search for the train schedule on-line.

Drop off your Bike in Station A and Collect It in Station B (Checked Bicycles)

About 50 train stations scattered around the island provide shipping service for personal luggage at a very reasonable price. Bikes are deemed personal luggage. It usually takes a day for your bike (and any luggage) to get to its destination, ready for you or the receiver to collect. Free storage for up to 2 days is offered. A nominal fee will be charged daily from the third day onward if the bike/luggage is not picked up in time. The Luggage Centre/Room 行包中心/行李房, where this service is provided, is not always located in the main building of the train station. But you can always ask the staff for directions. Here I have marked all the stations that provide such services with the truck icon.

(Last update: June 2025; for most up-to-date information, please visit Taiwan Railway Administration’s official website)

List of train stations where the checked bicycles service (shipping bicycles by train) is available

(Update in June 2025: Bike shipping service is currently suspended in Zhongli 中壢, Tianzhou 田中, Ershui 二水, Shanhua 善化, and Ruifang 瑞芳 stations as construction work is underway)

I love this service! It gives me lots of flexibility. When I was doing my first cycling trip in Taiwan, I was not sure how far I could go. But with this service, I was given the option of sending the bike back to Taipei and continuing my journey as a regular tourist whenever I felt like it and could make it to one of those stations. I was also able to temporarily get rid of some of the stuff and souvenirs that I didn’t need during the trip, and got them back at my convenience.

But if you are planning ahead, I would strongly advise you to first call the Luggage Center/Room that you mean to use, to make sure they can ship your bike on that particular day. The shipping service for bikes may become unavailable when the trains are expected to be very busy and crowded, e.g. at Chinese New Year Eve. There is no harm in double checking.

Information for Cyclists on TRA’s website

The English version of the TRA’s website does not always have a permanent link for each page. That means, to reach the information we need, we sometimes have to navigate all the way from the top.

Here is how you can navigate to the pages about services for cyclists. Screenshots below are captured on mobile, but the same goes for the desktop version.

1. Tap on this link: https://tip.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip?lang=EN_US; it should bring you to the English version of the TRA website.

2. Tap open the navigation menu and tap to expand the “Tour package booking”, where you can access the “Bicycle-friendly train” page. If you are browsing on desktop, look for “Tour Ticket” on the navigation bar instead to access that page. 

3. On the “Bicycle-friendly train” page, you can find 3 sessions that detail the services I mentioned above, including:

• Bicycle Boarding (Unbagged Bike onto a Train)
• Checked Bicycles (Drop your Bike in Station A and Collect It in Station B).
• Carrier bag (Bag Your Bike and Board Any Trains). More information about the requirements for the bike bags is available here.

How to check vacancies for unbagged bicycles

This section shows you how to check for the trains that allow passengers to bring bikes onboard without putting them in a bag. You can also see how many bike spaces are available on each train. A ticket for a bike costs half the fare of an adult passenger.

There are two types of trains – Express Trains with dedicated seats (Individual with a Reserve Seat) and Local Trains with free seating (Individual with a Non-Reserved Seat). Tickets for Express Trains can be reserved on-line, and they open for booking much earlier than Local Trains. However, they are relatively limited and often do not  match our schedules. Local Trains run more frequently. Tickets are available for purchase up to 3 days in advance at any Taiwan Railway stations with a ticket office. 

To check for the  available spaces for unbagged bikes. Please follow this link

https://www.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip/tip00D/tipD11/goEmptySeat?lang=EN_US

Desktop

You will see the following page on a desktop. It should be straightforward to continue with your search. Just remember to select the train type. Some stations are not available for selection (e.g. Taipei Main Station) because unbagged bikes are not allowed to access the trains from those stations. 

Mobile Phones

You will see the following page on a smartphone after tapping the link. The buttons for selecting the train type may have overlapping text because of the small screen. Simply tap them as shown below.

For example, when I searched for Express trains that depart from Songshan and arrive at Taichung on 8 Oct 2020, I got two results. You can see there were “10 empty seat” available for bicycles. Tap on the grey button that says “訂票” to book your tickets. You will be asked to provide your passport number and you’ll also need to present your passport to collect the tickets.

A search for Express trains from Songshan to Xinwuri on 8 Oct 2020 gave me the result of “No data found”, meaning there is no Express train connecting the two stations. You may need to try other combinations.

Tap on the right button for Local/semi express trains. There are 24 results for my search of trains from Songshan to Yingge on 8 Oct 2020. No button for on-line booking. We can only buy the ticket 3 days in advance the earliest at the station.

• Where: Taipei
• When: 27 Aug 2017
• Who: Peter
• Goal: To explore Ximending (西門町) and ride home along the Tamsui River (淡水河) and Keelung River (基隆河)

Taipei Metro (MRT) is willing to take passengers with bicycles during weekends, holidays and non-peak hours of the weekdays. Cyclists can bring their bicycles with them to the front and rear cars of each train after paying TWD80 per trip at the customer services kiosk. With the exception of the brown line and 5 other stations, we and our bikes can take a ride in the Metro and go anywhere we like.

Thanks to this generous support from the MRT, I don’t need to worry much about the return trip for I may get exhausted or break my bicycle. I can just find a Metro station nearby and be back home on time for dinner safely. My cycling range thus extends to anywhere covered by the MRT. I took the MRT to Ximen station and explore the area. Then ride home along the Danshui Riverside Bikeway 淡水河河濱自行車道 and Keelung Riverside Bikeway 基隆河河濱自行車道.

A naked bicycle in one piece inside a MRT car. Yes, you can bring it here on weekends and holidays, 10:00 -16:00 on weekdays.

I bump into this Taipei Cinema Park, which has some great graffiti.

These alleys are quiet and safe for cycling. You may spot something interesting around the corner.

There are lanes built especially for scooters, which are ubiquitous in Taiwan. Cyclists can also use these lanes. However, some of the scooters, though categorized as slow vehicles, can run at really high speed, which makes me feel no safer than sharing the road with other vehicles.

This sums up my trip: head north from my index finger along the Tamsui River, then turn right at the scratched area to head home (my pinky) along the Keelung river on these nice bikeways.

Lots of interesting scenes

More to be explored around the Ximen MRT Station

• Presidential Office 中華民國總統府
• National Taiwan Museum 台灣國立台灣博物館
• Postal Museum 郵政博物館
• National Museum of History 國立歷史博物館
• National Central Library 國家圖書館
• Evergreen Maritime Museum 長榮海事博物館
• Museum of Medical Humanities 國立臺灣大學醫學人文博物館
• Taiwan Provincial City God Temple 臺灣省城隍廟
• National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
• Bopiliao Historical District 剝皮寮歷史街區