A group of senior U.S. motorcycle enthusiasts set off on a weeklong Taiwan road trip Oct. 16, inspired by the story of elderly Taiwan bikers who made a round-island journey five years ago.
The American team includes five riders over 65, with an average age of 72, plus five younger members. They set off from the central city of Taichung en route to Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, Hualien, Yilan and Taipei City.
The group is led by Peter Starr, a Motorcyclist magazine editor and Discovery Channel producer, who first heard about Taiwan’s senior citizen bikers when he came across a short film on their 13-day journey posted online. The popular documentary film “Go Grandriders” later gave more detail about the trip.
Starr was deeply moved by the story of the 17 seniors averaging more than 81 years old. He therefore decided to visit Taiwan last year, at the invitation of the Tourism Bureau, to interview them for an article that was later published in Motorcyclist.
Amazed by the natural beauty of Taiwan and encouraged by the way the elderly riders defied their advanced years to pursue a dream, Starr decided to form a group of U.S. contingent to follow in their footsteps.
Some members of the original group will join up with the U.S. motorcyclists for part of the tour.
The road trip was organized by the Hongdao Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation, which also sponsored the Grandriders journey.
