At number 5 on CNN’s list of 10 best “Cycling routes that’ll take your breath away” (http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/play/10-best-cycling-routes-world-902676) is Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake (日月潭), a scenic route encompassing the perimeter of a peaceful expanse of turquoise water. My family and I visited the site late in the summer when the air was heavy and humid from monsoon season, smothering the tiny island in a layer of sweltering stickiness. Dressed aptly for the weather—but rather ineptly for the sport of the day—I mounted my chrome-colored rental bike on a sunny afternoon, wobbling slightly from lack of practice. Using scenic appreciation as an excuse for my slow speed, I lagged behind my relatives for a good quarter of a mile. However, the more I biked, the more relaxed I became as I cruised along the lakeside paths.
