Miaoli Shitan 100K Challenge: A Test of Leg Strength and Strategy on Rolling Terrain

Introduction

Cycling challenges in Taiwan are often associated with “high mountains,” but the Shitan area of Miaoli proves that rolling terrain can break you just as easily. The roads here don’t have the jaw-dropping elevation of Wuling, with the highest point barely exceeding 600 meters, but their destructive power lies in this: the undulations are endless, and your body never truly gets a chance to relax.

The route I chose is centered on Shitan Township, extending to Dahu, Zhuolan, and Sanyi before looping back—a total distance of about 105 kilometers with roughly 2,300 meters of cumulative climbing. Compared to flat roads over the same distance, this amount of climbing is equivalent to a serious mountain ride.

Characteristics of Miaoli’s Rolling Terrain

Miaoli County sits in Taiwan’s western foothill belt, with terrain completely different from the Taipei Basin or the Changhua Plain. Key characteristics:

Terrain Challenge Table:

The biggest psychological challenge of rolling terrain is the feeling of “never seeing the end.” Climbing a mountain at least has a clear summit, but on rolling hills, every ascent is followed by another descent, and then another ascent—this cycle can easily wear you down mentally.

Route Planning: Miaoli Rolling 100K

The starting point is Miaoli Railway Station. The route is as follows:

• Miaoli → Shitan (approx. 25km): The opening section is mostly flat with gentle slopes, entering Miaoli’s mountain area
• Shitan → Dahu (approx. 20km): Rolling terrain hits its peak; this is the most concentrated section of cumulative climbing
• Dahu → Zhuolan (approx. 20km): Riding along a tributary of the Daan River, with some flatter sections
• Zhuolan → Sanyi (approx. 25km): The return leg, with the woodcarving town of Sanyi as the turning point
• Sanyi → Miaoli (approx. 15km): A final descent to finish

Nutrition Strategy: The Rolling Terrain Edition

The nutrition strategy for rolling terrain differs from high mountains. Mountains rely on “large aid stations,” while rolling hills depend on “frequent small refuels”:

Recommended Refueling Stops:

• Shitan Old Street: Traditional pastries and grass jelly are worth stopping for
• Dahu Strawberry Season (winter–spring): Dahu’s strawberry farms offer the most natural sugar refuel
• Zhuolan Market: A fruit-producing area where seasonal fruit is affordably priced
• Sanyi Old Street: You’ll typically arrive in the afternoon, and Sanyi’s Hakka cuisine is excellent for replenishing energy

Energy Management for Rolling Rides:

• Routes with many short climbs deplete carbohydrates more than long climbs, so refueling frequency needs to be higher than on typical climbs
• Every descent is a good opportunity to refuel—take out food once your speed drops
• Electrolyte replacement is more important than on high mountains, because rolling terrain means strong sun exposure and heavy sweating

Key Section: The Rolling Core from Shitan to Dahu

This stretch is the toughest 20 kilometers of the entire 100K. After entering Shitan, the road reveals its true rolling character: every few kilometers brings an 8–10% short steep climb, followed immediately by another ascent after the descent, with no buffer.

My Coping Strategies:

• Shift to a lower gear and maintain cadence: On short climbs, don’t try to grind a big gear; use a smaller gear to sustain 80–90rpm
• Don’t completely coast on descents: Keep pedaling lightly to maintain blood flow and prevent muscles from stiffening during the stillness of descending
• Mental segmentation: Break the 20 kilometers into four 5-kilometer mini-goals; completing each one counts as a victory

During Dahu’s strawberry season, roadside strawberry stalls appear. I stopped at one, bought a box of freshly picked strawberries, and sat by the roadside to eat them. That sweet-and-sour taste was especially refreshing in my exhausted body, and it gave the stop a beautiful reason to linger.

The Surprise of Sanyi

Sanyi was originally just a turning point on the return route, but it unexpectedly became the spiritual refueling station of the ride. The atmosphere of Sanyi’s Woodcarving Old Street is quiet and refined. I parked my bike in front of a woodcarving workshop, went in to look around for a while, and chatted with the master craftsman about Taiwanese woodcarving—completely forgetting the soreness in my legs.

Sometimes riding requires more than just food refuels; you also need to switch your brain out of “riding mode” and give your eyes something different to see.

Practical Advice

• Racing events on Miaoli’s rolling terrain are relatively scarce; the 100K is better suited as a personal challenge than a race goal
• Ask local residents about current road conditions before departing, as some farm roads undergo seasonal construction
• Autumn (October–November) is recommended: temperatures are cooler, and the scenery in the lead-up to Dahu’s strawberry season is beautiful
• Don’t set out too early in the morning on rolling routes; morning mountain fog can reduce visibility
• The return section from Sanyi to Miaoli includes several descents—watch for potholes and crosswinds

Conclusion

The Miaoli Shitan 100K completely changed my definition of “difficulty.” Elevation doesn’t equal difficulty, and undulation doesn’t mean easy. That continuous attrition of rolling hills is a completely different kind of training—not challenging a single peak, but enduring sustained erosion.

Someone who can finish a rolling 100K may not easily summit a high mountain; but someone who can maintain a steady rhythm through rolling terrain won’t easily crack on any terrain. That’s what Miaoli taught me.

Related Reading

• The Sacred Mountain’s Steep Slopes in a Hakka Mountain Town: Riding into Shitan, Encountering Xianshan
• The Complete Guide to Xianshan’s Shitan Side Climb: Miaoli’s 5.89km, 475m Climb, 8.1% Average Grade Battle
• Miaoli Touwu to Shitan Yimin Temple Route: A Mountain Riding Guide to Hakka Yimin Culture
• Miaoli Zhunan to Houlong Coastal Route: A Flat Riding Guide to Miaoli’s West Coast