If you have spent any time cycling in Taichung, no doubt you have ridden 136. It is a heart-in-mouth experience, a true litmus test of fitness, and indeed one of the most popular climbs in Taichung. This 14.5km hill climb with an average gradient of 3.7% and 540 meters of elevation gain is a true test of physical and mental strength for any rider. The starting point at the Hi-Life in Taiping isn’t much of a gathering spot, but many local clubs do hold impromptu Saturday morning events from the location.
As the rider begins the climb up road 136, the gradient is basically a false flat and the route doesn’t seem very challenging. For the first 5km of this route, you can really push the pace. There is only one traffic light you need to consider which is about 1.5km from the start location. Many cyclists will do this route because you are instantly transported out of Taichung city proper once the climb starts. There may be a few cars or trucks on this road near the start however as you climb higher the traffic will thin out.
The beginning of this climb is not really a gradient challenge, granted you can go full gas hitting possible speeds of 40km/hr+ which would require a powerful effort. However about 7km into the climb the challenge becomes immediately clear. The climb quickly hits 7% to 10% for about 2km. There is a short downhill section, which is only a couple hundred meters. This is a fast moment and requires good bike handling skills to take advantage of the gained momentum. It won’t last long, there is about 5km of grueling climbing to reach the summit of 136.
The reason we have decided to put this climb in this position is due to its obvious popularity. This route is indeed an excellent training hill, a challenge for a new rider, or perhaps a tested and honest section of the hill to take on the Everesting Challenge. However, this route does not even reach 1000 meters of elevation gain.
A personal note from the author of this particular route. I have worked in Taichung for over 10 years and have ridden up and down 136 multiple times. This one is never easy. The views of the 99 Peaks from the summit are worth it every time I have done it. There are plenty of other routes in the surrounding area that offer a good challenge. I once considered this climb a bit of a nemesis but I have come to accept this one as a formidable hill that should be on the menu of any cyclist living in the Taichung area.
Here are the KML and GPX files.
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Good one. It may end up well down the list, but it’s popularity with local riders does give it some credibility.