Gravel Bike Off-Road Riding: The Rise of Gravel Roads and Taiwan Routes

Gravel Biking is the fastest-growing cycling discipline worldwide in recent years. Sitting between road bikes and mountain bikes, the Gravel Bike allows riders to explore a variety of unpaved surfaces, perfectly combining the efficiency of road cycling with the adventurous spirit of off-road riding.

What is a Gravel Bike?

A Gravel Bike is a bicycle designed for riding on unpaved surfaces (gravel roads, dirt roads, forest trails, and gravel paths), featuring:

• Wider tires: 700×35–50mm (road bikes typically use 25–28mm)
• Dropped handlebars: Similar to road bike drop bars, but offering more varied hand positions
• Longer wheelbase: Enhances stability and comfort
• Versatile mounting points: Supports bottle cages, saddle bags, and fork packs
• Hydraulic disc brakes: Provide reliable braking power across various surfaces and weather conditions

Comparison with Other Bike Types

Why is Gravel Rising in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s unique terrain makes the Gravel Bike particularly well-suited:

1. Extensive forest road network: The island has a vast number of forest roads, many of which are not regular highways
2. Farm roads and riverbank paths: Industrial roads in agricultural counties are ideal for Gravel exploration
3. Indigenous community connector roads: Roads linking indigenous villages, mostly gravel-surfaced
4. Cycling-friendly policies: The government promotes bicycle tourism, and some Gravel routes are listed as officially recommended

Popular Gravel Routes in Taiwan

1. Yilan Forest Road Series

• Route features: Forest roads around Qilan Mountain Road (Provincial Highway 7A), coniferous forest scenery
• Difficulty: Medium-high
• Distance: Approximately 40–80 km (extendable as needed)
• Surface: Mixed asphalt and gravel, with some sections requiring hike-a-bike
• Best season: Spring and autumn (summer has frequent afternoon thunderstorms; winter temperatures are low)

2. Miaoli Provincial Highway 3 Farm Roads

• Route features: Hakka village hill farm roads, especially beautiful during the tung blossom season (April–May)
• Difficulty: Medium
• Distance: 50–100 km (Provincial Highway 3 main route plus farm road exploration)
• Surface: Mostly paved farm roads, with occasional gravel sections
• Highlights: Rural culture, Hakka food supply points

3. Hualien County Road 193 and Ruisui Forest Road

• Route features: Quiet roads on the eastern side of the Huadong Rift Valley, away from Provincial Highway 9 traffic
• Difficulty: Low-medium
• Distance: 50–120 km (can be combined with Provincial Highway 9)
• Surface: Primarily well-maintained farm roads
• Scenery: Rift Valley farmland, distant views of the Central Mountain Range

4. Taitung Liji Badlands Area

• Route features: Gravel road exploration of badlands terrain
• Difficulty: Medium-high (some sections have steep gradients)
• Uniqueness: Moon-like landscape, Taiwan’s most distinctive Gravel terrain

5. Southern Maolin and Wutai Mountain Areas

• Route features: Mountain connector roads between indigenous communities in Kaohsiung and Pingtung
• Difficulty: High
• Surface: Mixed gravel and dirt roads
• Note: Some sections require permits to enter indigenous areas

Essential Gravel Riding Gear

Bike Setup

Items to Carry

• Spare inner tubes ×2 (tubeless systems require sealant)
• Pump (CO2 inflator)
• Multi-tool
• More than 2,000ml of water (refilling is difficult on forest roads)
• Extra food (1.5× the estimated ride duration in supplies)
• Power bank (navigation drains battery)

Gravel Events

The world’s most famous Gravel events:

• Dirty Kanza (now Unbound Gravel): Kansas, USA, 200 miles of gravel roads
• Land Run 100: Oklahoma, USA
• Taiwan Gravel Series: Homegrown Gravel events in Taiwan that have emerged in recent years

Getting Started Tips

1. Start with short distances: Choose a familiar 30–50 km route for your first Gravel ride
2. Lower tire pressure: 10–15 PSI lower than road riding to improve comfort
3. Keep a slower pace: Gravel riding is about exploration, not racing
4. Ride with experienced companions: Having company is safer on unfamiliar forest roads

Gravel Biking represents the trend of cycling returning to a spirit of adventure, and Taiwan’s abundant unpaved terrain is a natural Gravel paradise. Open the map and ride toward that gravel path you’ve never taken!

Related Reading

• Gravel Bike Beginner’s Guide: The Perfect Balance Between Road Bikes and Mountain Bikes
• The Rise of Gravel Bikes: How Off-Road Riding is Changing Road Cycling Culture
• Recommended Gravel Routes in Taiwan: Riding Adventures Off the Pavement
• Romance and Reality on Gravel Roads: A Gravel Riding Adventure in Taiwan’s Mountains