A-Team環台車隊啟程

　　　　由台灣A-Team的21家自行車企業經營者所組成的自行車環島車隊，共32人，於5月4日上午9點，在準總統馬英九授旗後，由總統府前廣場，展開為期11天，全程共920公里的自行車環島之旅。

　　A-Team是由台灣自行車龍頭巨大跟美利達兩家公司，號召共21家不願外移而想根留台灣的自行車業者，所串聯起來的協力結盟，在成立的6年以來，積極把台灣自行車轉型為全球高附加價值及創新價值產品的供應重鎮。

　　雖然這些企業經營者平時公務繁忙，但在巨大董事長劉金標去年以73歲高齡完成單車環島壯舉的激勵下，今年由會長羅祥安發起環島活動，騎著自家製造的優秀產品，進行長途騎乘的驗證。

　　此次包括會長羅祥安、副會長 (美利達工業總經理)曾崧柱等32位成員參與環台，5月4日一早，他們在總統府前迎接剛以13天完成環島行的女性自行車隊rolling rose(滾動的玫瑰)，並隨即在準總統馬英九授旗後，出發往南逆時針騎行，預計以更短的11天內完成環島。

　　環島首日行程為台北到新竹，共77公里，由於成員們在事前都經過密集的訓練，並已做好了行前的各項準備工作，所以首日行程相當順利；雖然副會長曾崧柱在龜山一帶，因為和隊友靠太近而發生擦撞，但都沒有大礙，稍事休息後立即又騎上車繼續環島。

　　首日行程的平均時速為20km，最快時速達50km，雖然今天只是熱身騎乘，里程數並不長，但從明天5月5日開始，將連續兩天都是長達一百多公里的行程；活動總召林岳襄表示，今天大家都保持一定的速度，行程都能按預定的時程完成，體能上都沒有問題，相信明天也能順利完成新竹到彰化共126公里的行程。



The Start of the A-Team Round-Taiwan Cycling Tour

On Sunday, May 4, at 9 a.m., Taiwan’s president-elect Ma Ying-Jiou signaled the start of the A-Team tour at the Office of the President. Thirty-two cyclists, all owners and managers of 21 major Taiwan bicycle companies, began an 11-day tour, planning to ride some 950 kilometers around the island of Taiwan.

Taiwan’s top two bicycle manufacturers, Giant and Merida, invited 21 top parts and components suppliers to join a new association – the A-Team - six years ago. Their mission was to transform Taiwan’s domestic bicycle industry into a major worldwide bike supplier with innovative products and high added value, a mission which has proven to be very successful.

Although many company owners were very busy doing business at the time, they were still inspired by Giant President King Liu’s round-the-island cycling trip last May at the age of 73. A-Team Chairman Tony Lo launched the current round-the-island cycling tour with members to testify to the high quality of their own products by using them during this long ride.

On the morning of May 4 at the Office of the President, the 32 A-Team member cyclists, including Chairman Tony Lo and Vice Chairman Michael Tseng (Merida General Manager), greeted “Rolling Rose,” a team of women riders who were cycling around Taiwan in 13 days. Right after the signal given by Ma Ying-Jiou, the A-Team riders started southward on their 11-day round-the-island cycling trip.

The first day of the tour was a 77-kilometer ride to Hsinchu. The members had received intensive training courses and were well-prepared in advance, so it was relatively smooth going on the first day. There was a minor crash at Turtle Mountain between Vice Chairman Michael Tseng and other riders due to riding too closely, but there weren’t any serious injuries. After a short break following his crash, Tseng continued on his way.

The first day’s average speed was 20 kph, and the highest speed was up to 50 kph. The first day was a warm up ride, so the mileage was not too high. However, the cyclists had planned to ride more than a hundred kilometers each day for the following two days. Tour group leader Simon Lin said he believed that the 126 km stretch from Hsinschu to Changhua would be possible on the second day, as everyone rode well on the first day.