Riding Through February: My Major Taylor Riding Challenge Recap

February might be the shortest month, but for me and 60 other cyclists in Taiwan, it was packed with miles, camaraderie, and a whole lot of pedaling. This was my second year participating in the Major Taylor International Riding Challenge, and once again, it did not disappoint. It’s a month-long cycling challenge that brings together riders from all over—mostly from the U.S.—to push their limits and honor the legacy of Major Taylor, one of the first Black professional cyclists.

Taiwan Represent!

Most of the teams in this challenge come from cities across the U.S.—New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Mississippi—you name it. But here in Taiwan, we were the outliers. That didn’t stop us from putting up some serious mileage. With 61 riders on our squad, we clocked an impressive 57,000 miles. That averages out to nearly 1,000 miles per rider—a serious accomplishment, especially considering some of us still had to work around jobs, family obligations, and the occasional bad weather.

Setting the Bar: 1,600 Kilometers

When I signed up, I committed to riding 1,600 kilometers (just about 1,000 miles) over the course of 28 days. That meant averaging 57 km (around 35 miles) per day. Miss a day? That meant making up the difference somewhere else, either by doubling up or squeezing in extra kilometers whenever possible.

The challenge included multiple categories, with some riders opting for 1,000km, others going for 1,600 km, and a few truly ambitious cyclists racking up insane numbers. One guy managed over 3,000 miles—more than double my total. Safe to say, I wasn’t competing for the top spot, but I stayed focused on my goal and crossed the finish line right on target.

The Daily Grind

The month started strong with back-to-back 100 km rides. Then, of course, the rain showed up, forcing me indoors while visiting my wife’s family on the East Coast. No indoor trainer meant no riding that day. But I got back to it, keeping a steady pace of 50-60 km per day, with the occasional 80 km push just to stay ahead of schedule.

Chinese New Year also landed at the start of the challenge, which made things interesting. Between family gatherings and travel, squeezing in rides required some strategic planning. Still, I managed four consecutive weeks of 400km—a bit more than my usual training but nothing I couldn’t handle.

Highlights from the Road

Riding in Taiwan is always an adventure, and this month gave me plenty of memorable moments. I spent time on the stunning east coast, where the ocean views made the miles fly by. There were days when I dodged rain showers, nights when I rode under chilly skies, and a few long climbs that left my legs burning but satisfied. One of my favorite stretches was up Highway 21 in Nantou—challenging but rewarding, with beautiful scenery all around.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I broke a pedal at one point but got it replaced without too much hassle. And while I didn’t snag any major KOMs (King of the Mountain segments on Strava), I did have a few strong moments where I pushed my limits and felt good about my efforts.

A Unique Part of Cycling Culture

One unexpected thing I found myself documenting? Betel nut boxes. If you’ve never seen one, they’re these brightly colored, sometimes artistic little boxes used for selling betel nuts—an addictive stimulant popular in Taiwan. While I’m definitely not a fan of the stuff, I couldn’t help but appreciate the designs of the discarded boxes I spotted along the road. Just another reminder of how cycling immerses you in the little details of a place.

Wrapping Up the Challenge

As the final days of February approached, I made sure to finish strong. Two back-to-back 85km rides sealed the deal, and on the last day—a national holiday here in Taiwan—I crossed the 1,600km mark right on schedule.

One of the best parts of this challenge was the sense of connection. Even though I haven’t met most of my fellow Taiwan team members in person, the active LINE group kept us all motivated. The event’s organizer, Lynn Wen, did an incredible job keeping things running smoothly, and the whole experience was a great way for me to practice reading Chinese, even if my spoken skills still need work.

Will I do it again next year? Absolutely. It’s a great excuse to ride consistently through February, meet other passionate cyclists (even if just online), and push myself to hit new goals. For now, though, I took it easy for the first week of March – but reckon with the warmer weather on the way, I should be pushing solid rides without much fuss.

And here is a list of the various sponsors, also I should note Lynn Wen is the team captain or head organizer of the Taiwan team, not of the main event boss, sorry for any confusion if you listened to my chat and were thrown a curveball.

@dtswiss
#dtswiss
#engineeringperformance
#ambitiouscyclist

＠twPocariSweat 
@SOYJOYTaiwan 
@TWMATCH
＠WiseMansDiningTW

@HWJcentuple.tw #千沛運動補給 #新萬仁

#力山科技 @rexontec1990

@Santini Cycling Wear Taiwan  @Hhsport︱禾宏運動‧好好運動
#Santini客製化車衣  #AsianFit