The Impact of Climate Change on Cycling: Future Challenges for Taiwanese Riders

In 2024, numerous weather stations across Taiwan recorded historic high temperatures. Typhoons are growing stronger and increasingly irregular in timing. The northeast monsoon in winter sometimes vanishes, sometimes turns abnormally strong. Climate change is no longer a distant future — it is changing every ride Taiwanese cyclists take.

Taiwan’s Climate Change Data

Temperature Trends

According to long-term records from the Central Weather Administration:

Indicator	Change over the past 50 years
Average annual temperature	Up approximately 1.3°C
Number of summer days above 35°C	Roughly tripled
Number of winter days below 10°C	Down 50%
Nighttime lows	Rising faster than daytime highs

Direct impact on cycling:

• Comfortable riding windows in summer have shortened
• The spring–autumn transition period has shortened while the hot season has lengthened
• High-mountain riding windows have shifted (some mountain roads become suitable earlier or later than before)

Changing Rainfall Patterns

Taiwan’s rainfall patterns are shifting:

• Plum rain season (Meiyu): Increased unpredictability, sometimes arriving late or early
• Typhoons: A higher proportion of intense typhoons, with longer periods of impact
• Extreme rainfall: Higher single-event rainfall totals, and “once-in-a-thousand-years” floods are becoming more frequent
• Dry season: Longer, drier dry seasons in some regions

The Effect of Heatwaves on Cycling Performance

Physiological Effects of High Temperatures

Temperature (wet-bulb)	Physiological effect	Impact on riding performance
Below 25°C	Minor effect	Almost no impact
25–29°C	Increased sweating	Power drops by about 5%
29–33°C	Elevated heart rate	Power drops 10–15%
33–37°C	Rising core temperature	Power drops 20%+
Above 37°C (hot and humid)	Dangerous	Intensity must be forcibly reduced

The Urban Heat Island Effect

The heat island effect in Taiwan’s cities (Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung) makes urban temperatures 3–7°C higher than in the surrounding suburbs:

• Riding in flatland cities on hot summer days is becoming increasingly uncomfortable
• Mountain and coastal areas tend to stay relatively cooler
• The comfortable morning and evening windows have shrunk

The Impact of Typhoons on Cycling

Typhoon Intensity Trends

Research shows that typhoon (hurricane) intensity is increasing globally, even if the total number doesn’t necessarily increase. The main challenges Taiwan faces:

1. More super typhoons: A rising proportion of Category 4–5 storms
2. Slow-moving, lingering typhoons: Slower translation speed means longer duration and more rainfall
3. Earlier or later onset: The traditional typhoon season (July–September) is becoming increasingly blurred
4. Post-storm mountain road hazards: Longer repair times for landslides and road damage

Impact of Typhoons on Cycling Infrastructure

• Mountain roads: The Suhua Highway and Provincial Highway 14A (the road to Wuling) frequently suffer rockfalls and surface damage after typhoons
• Round-island routes: Eastern sections (Suhua, Provincial Highway 11) are especially vulnerable
• Bike paths: Flatland bike paths require time to clear standing water and fallen branches

Changes to Seasonal Riding Windows

Taiwan’s Traditional Riding Seasons in the Past

Month	Traditional characteristics	Suitable riding type
Jan–Feb	Northeast monsoon, partly cold	Flatlands, southern Taiwan
Mar–Apr	Warm spring, before the plum rains	Best conditions island-wide
May–Jun	Plum rain season	Uncertain
Jul–Sep	Typhoon season, hot	Dawn and dusk riding
Oct–Nov	Crisp autumn	Second-best conditions island-wide
Dec	Northeast monsoon begins	Southern Taiwan, high mountains

Adjustments After Climate Change

Observed trends:

• The comfortable riding period in March–April has shortened (heat arrives earlier)
• Autumn (October–November) remains the most reliable riding season
• The early-morning window in summer (5–8am) has become the primary time to ride
• High-mountain riding (above 2,000m) has become more popular precisely because it’s too hot lower down

Adaptation Strategies for Riders

1. Adjusting Timing

Summer riding schedule:

• First choice: 4:30–8:00 AM (around sunrise)
• Second choice: 6:00–8:00 PM (lingering light after sunset)
• Avoid: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (the hottest hours)

Many Taiwanese riders have already shifted to a “head out at first light” riding culture.

2. Heat Acclimatization Training

Proactive heat acclimatization can improve heat tolerance:

• 10–14 consecutive days of moderate-intensity training in warm conditions
• Effects: increased plasma volume, higher sweat rate, lower core temperature

Note: Heat acclimatization should be progressive — avoid sudden high-intensity training in extreme heat.

3. Upgrading Hydration Strategy

As temperatures rise, fluid needs increase:

• Moderate heat (28–32°C): 0.7–1L per hour
• Severe heat (33°C+): 1–1.5L per hour
• Adding electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium) is more effective than water alone
• Pre-chilled drinks help lower core temperature

4. The Rise of Cooling Gear

Climate change has driven innovation in cooling equipment:

• Phase-change material vests: Can maintain a cooling effect for 20–30 minutes
• Ice neck wraps: Simple, effective neck cooling
• Cooling sprays: A lightweight cooling option
• Aero time-trial helmets: Some designs stay cooler than vented helmets in high heat (by reducing direct sun exposure)

Cycling Culture’s Response to Climate Change

The Role of E-Bikes

E-bikes carry particular significance in the context of climate change:

• They let more people commute in high heat while sweating less
• They expand the age range and fitness range of people who can ride
• As a substitute for cars, they help reduce carbon emissions

Taiwan’s e-bike market has grown rapidly in recent years, which is, to some extent, connected to the riding challenges brought on by climate change.

The Rise of Indoor Training

The popularity of smart trainers and platforms (Zwift, RGT, MyWhoosh) is partly driven by:

• Increasingly poor outdoor riding conditions in summer
• The unpredictability of extreme weather (typhoons, heavy rain)
• Air quality issues (PM2.5, dust storms) that are severe in certain seasons

What Cyclists Can Do

At the Individual Level

1. Adjust riding habits: Adapt to new suitable riding windows
2. Upgrade gear: Lighter, thinner jerseys and more effective cooling equipment
3. Adjust routes: Favor shaded routes and higher-elevation routes
4. Heat acclimatization training: Proactively build heat tolerance

At the Advocacy Level

The cycling community can also actively advocate for:

• More bike lane construction in cities (to encourage low-carbon commuting)
• Greening of bike paths (planting trees for shade)
• Corporate support for bike commuting (shower facilities, bike parking)

Conclusion

Climate change is a real and urgent challenge facing Taiwan’s cycling community. It is not only changing when and how we ride, but also reminding us: cycling itself is part of the answer to climate change.

Every time we choose to ride instead of drive, we contribute a small part to the solution. And adapting to a constantly changing climate — learning to ride safely and enjoyably under new conditions — is a new lesson for every Taiwanese rider.

The challenges lie ahead, but the joy of riding won’t disappear — it will just take a bit more wisdom and flexibility.

Related Reading

• A Summer Survival Guide for Taiwanese Cyclists: Riding Strategies for the Sweltering Heat
• Heat Acclimatization Training for Cyclists: Boosting Performance in Taiwan’s Scorching Summer
• Bike Maintenance in High Heat: A Special Guide for Taiwan’s Summer
• Heat Acclimatization Training: Strategies for Improving Performance in Taiwan’s Hot Summer Conditions