"We hope to complete a cycling trip around Taiwan Island just like the Taiwanese 'Eternal Riders' team, and we also invite them to come to the mainland for an exchange." Zhao Yubin, an 87-year-old "eternal rider" from the mainland, spoke with great anticipation about his "Taiwan cycling dream" when recently interviewed by reporters.
Born in 1927 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, Zhao Yubin is a member of China’s first generation of motorcycle athletes. In 2006, at the age of 79, he rode a motorcycle to challenge the limits by crossing the headwaters of the Yellow River at an altitude of 4,680 meters.
At the recently held "Qinghai International Plateau Motorcycle Carnival," reporters saw him dressed in stylish motorcycle gear, looking "dashing" with a straight back. Though his temples were graying, his eyes were bright and full of life. This was his fifth time participating in the motorcycle carnival on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
"Being old or not isn’t about age, but about mindset," said Zhao Yubin, adding that although he is advanced in years, he still has the same dreams and courage as young people. When he watched the documentary about the Taiwanese Eternal Riders team, he said he felt "very excited and pumped." He resolved to form a "Eternal Riders" motorcycle team on the mainland, "to promote cross-strait friendship through a civil exchange platform."
News of forming a senior motorcycle team to cycle around Taiwan was met with enthusiasm, with many elderly people signing up to join, most of them aged 65 or older. To date, nearly 20 elderly riders have registered.
Yu Kuantao, a 69-year-old amateur rider from Shenyang, serves as the team’s liaison. With 40 years of riding experience and over 400,000 kilometers on the road, he says he isn’t old but rather a “senior youth.” "I’ve always wanted to compete with Taiwan’s senior riders and show them that us mainland seniors don’t give in to age easily!"
Zhu Rongbing, 62, lives in Xi'an and has loved motorcycles since he was young. "I've been riding for over 20 years and have gone through 8 bikes—there are still 5 at home. Just looking at them brings back those happy days," Zhu said, sounding like a child when talking about motorcycles. "Both the mainland and Taiwan, our precious island, are home to the Chinese people. We’re all family. I want to see Taiwan’s local customs and share thoughts with the senior riders there, then bring back happiness and inspiration to share with people around me."
However, the journey to form the mainland’s "Eternal Riders" team hasn’t been smooth sailing. Zhao Yubin has encountered some unexpected "obstacles." Beyond passion and enthusiasm, many practical issues have been thrown their way.
"Safety is the biggest concern. Elderly people are more prone to health issues. Although everyone participating is doing so voluntarily, we still need family approval. I’m not going alone—I have to consider the safety of the whole team," said Zhao Yubin.
Additionally, Zhao Yubin is worried about whether elderly riders without driver’s licenses can legally ride on the road. According to regulations, people over 70 in mainland China cannot apply for a driver’s license. "This is a tricky issue—we can only try our best to figure out if we can get a ‘special pass.’"
Zhao Yubin told reporters that in order to realize the "Taiwan cycling dream" for himself and his fellow riders as soon as possible, they have spent over three years in preparation, much of which has been used to coordinate the team, select members, explain safety rules, and arrange for licenses.
"Although the journey to realize our dream will be long, my fellow riders and I believe that the day will come sooner or later. I truly hope that our 'Eternal Riders' and Taiwan’s 'Eternal Riders' can meet in our lifetime," Zhao Yubin said, envisioning the dream of his later years.