SU ‘Third-Mile’ Cyclists Complete Round-Island Feat amid Strong Quake

Soochow University’s cycling team faced an unexpected challenge during their 10-day round-Taiwan trip: a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Hualien. The 100-member team, which started their counterclockwise journey on March 29^th, was riding near the Pingtung-Taitung border on the sixth day when the earthquake struck. Fortunately, they were far from the epicenter, narrowly evading potential danger.

Tzu-Cheng Chen, a senior in political science, recounted that the team was deep in the mountains in Pingtung during the quake and didn’t feel the tremors. It was only upon reaching Taitung and regaining cellphone signals that they learned of the severity of the disaster. Chen discovered that their planned accommodation in Hualien was just a seven-minute drive from a collapsed building, but quick decisions to reroute the trip prevented any disruptions.

Despite concerns about aftershocks, the team remained committed to completing the trip. Tsai-Ting Li, a sophomore in international trade, noted that no one wanted to quit: "We just can’t give up so easily our dream to ride around Taiwan in a full cycle with so many partners!"

The Hualien earthquake did pose a grave challenge to the group. Dean of Student Affairs San-Chin Lin hosted an emergency video conference with the planning team the night of the quake. The next day, Lin traveled eight hours from Taipei to join the team in Taitung, providing support and reassurance. The route was revised to avoid Hualien City, accommodations and meals were rearranged, and coaches also conducted inspections of the new paths.

The cyclists continued their journey, lodging in Ruisui, Hualien, on April 5^th before taking a train to Jiaoxi, Yilan. Meanwhile, a technician carried the students’ bikes with a truck to Jiaoxi, helping them complete the final leg of their journey. On April 7^th, the team safely returned to Soochow University, welcomed by family and friends in an emotional homecoming.

While no one felt like crying during the earthquake, the grueling climb up the 21-kilometer-long Shouka pass brought many to tears. A senior political science major who was battling an infected toenail nearly gave up due to the pain but pushed through by reminding himself of his goal to become a court judge.

Coaches commented that the trip, marked by strong winds on the west coast, intense heat on the east, an earthquake, and route changes, was one of the most unforgettable round-island journeys they had ever experienced.