Does anyone have any recent information about bicycling in
China? Specifically:
1. What kind of bicycles are available for rentals?
2. What kind of bicycles do the Chinese ride (I know there
are tons, but are they all the same old junkers?)
3. Are there any bike shops offering exotic/foreign bikes
(aluminum/titanium/carbon fiber)?
4. Do locals ride just for commuting, or also for pleasure?
Thanks in advance. (email is preferred, but please also post
here for the benefit of others)
[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Tue 25 May, 6:55]
Use the form at the end of this page to add your own post.
Topics
| Thorn Tree
| Home
I live in southern China. No foreigners that I'm aware of in
Fujian province are allowed to drive any motor vehicle, so
many of us own and ride bicycles. I bought mine here
locally, for approx. $120.00 US. It is a very nice hybrid
mountain-type bike, a Giant "designed in USA"! 18 speeds,
very dependable. I have absolutely no complaints at all with
this bike, in fact I plan to take it back to the US with me
after I finish my assignment here. I ride my bike everyday
back and forth to work and all around for entertainment.
I seriously doubt the locals ride for entertainment but I
can't say for sure. I can say that in this climate bicycling
is a sweat-inducing excercise though- I just returned from
lunch and I'm totally soaked!
Hope this info helps...
You can get a China driving license for cars/motorcycles
etc. I know some people who have them, but as far as I know
its only for residents which work in China. Definitely not
for tourists.
Hi, I've been living and cycling in China for 9 years now.
I now live in Xi'an, where I work in Jiaotong University.
Here are some answers to your questions:
1. Rentals: 10-12 speed Chinese mountain bikes, and old-
style 20kg Shanghai bikes.
2. Chinese ride the traditional Shanghai bikes, but many
people in the cities have mountain bikes --- which they
don't take care of, and they make a sad, unkempt noise.
3. Cannondale got rid of its last batch of V700s at the end
of last year, because they're too expensive. What
foreigners working in China (my friends and I), and young
Chinese people who love cycling (e.g. my Chinese friends)
buy are alloy bikes. To give you an idea: 20" alloy frame,
97' Manitou front shock, STX 21-speed set, Shimano clip
pedals, standard wheels and accessories: 500 USD. Most of
my friends buy a bike for 280 USD these days: Alivio, or LX
or STX parts, but without the front shock (not really
necessary, except if you are travelling in Sichuan,
Xinjiang and Tibet (which I have done). You can buy similar
ready-made bikes in the major city, at Giant shops; or, if
you are in Xi'an, my Chinese mate can always make an extra
one.
4. 95% commute; at weekends students often go out to the
countryside or the mountains. Some youngsters (17 yrs) have
nice-looking bikes, but they tend to go for trial biking
(or whatever you call that), you know, little tricks; they
like going downhill really fast, but have 0 stamina to go
uphill. Our bunch (about 10-15 people altogether), half of
them Chinese, go out into the mountains south of Xi'an, and
we have a great time killing ourselves going uphill. Last
week we went from 410m to 2750m and back in one day! I love
it!!!
If you need any more information right before you leave for
China, just let me know, I can give you some. But right now
I am really very busy with our training centre right now.
Cheerio.
Siegfried.
If you hadn't considered it already, I do want to add that
one reason that there are so many of "the same old junkers"
out there is that the type of bike Siegfried describes costs
darn near half a year's salary (or more) for a lot of people
in China, at least for a lot of the people I know and work
with. Although the situation is changing fast and many
people are growing richer, it's still great to see the
obvious pride many people have when showing off a new
bicycle, the same kind of pride we equate with buying a new
car in the States.
When we were living in Shanghai we used to take apart our mountain bikes, put them in the car, and drive to Sheshan (about 45 mins) where we park the car and go for rural bike rides. The parking attendant and all the guys hanging out with him asked us, "You have a car, why do you need a bike?" They were extremely puzzled when we tried to explain that we biked bec. it was healthy and fun.
On the other hand, every once in while on the drive out we would pass groups of younger Chinese guys (never a woman) on their racing bikes obviously out for a long training ride.
Still, I'd say about 95% or more Chinese ride their bike as a form of transport, not bec. they enjoy it.