On March 27, the 2016 Public Welfare Cycling event, supported by Intermage, Dream Travel Cloud System, and Lvyeyou.com, held its launch ceremony at Yueqi Club in Beijing's 798 Art District. This marked the official start of the first season’s theme activity “Ride a Road Together, Sing a Song Together.” The initiator, Star, along with attendees, talked about cycling and public welfare topics. He hopes to promote cycling as a green, eco-friendly, and healthy lifestyle through “Public Welfare Cycling 2016,” and spread the message of “a joyful body and a civilized spirit.””The concept of mental public welfare will be deeply rooted in the hearts of more cyclists and the general public.
From Behind Bars to Public Welfare Ambassador
Music Changes a Life
At the beginning of the launch ceremony, Star, the initiator of Public Welfare Cycling, frankly told the host: “The media in the industry previously reported that I was a delinquent youth. Actually, that term isn’t accurate. A more truthful way to put it is that I was imprisoned. Due to my youthful naivety and a closed-off mindset, I lacked communication and tolerance toward others. A minor verbal dispute eventually escalated into a violent physical fight, which resulted in me injuring someone and being sentenced by the court to three years in prison for reform.”
If following the statistical patterns of life after incarceration, Star’s post-prison trajectory might have followed the 99% common route: serve time — get released — be looked down upon — retaliate against society — return to prison, continuing this vicious cycle.
But Star miraculously broke free from this common pattern after his release, turned over a new leaf, and became a self-sufficient creator. He then went on to become an advocate for public welfare culture within outdoor communities, all supported by two driving forces: music and cycling.
Star said: “It was when I was in prison and picked up a guitar that I instantly fell in love with music. My life began to have a purpose.”Almost all the music I listened to sang about the beautiful aspects of life, which started to shift my mindset.openI became less sensitive to external pressures and discrimination.”
“After getting out, I became an independent musician, achieved some success, and earned a decent income. But gradually, I began to feel depressed again, became restless, and the fast-paced touring performances made me feel out of control: I couldn’t manage my own life, my body became weak, and I wanted to make changes but felt helpless. Just then, I luckily encountered cycling again.”
Cycling Gave Me Strength:
An Aerobic Workout for the Mind, Finding My Own Rhythm
“Multiple cycling trips to Tibet and across the country greatly broadened my horizons. Once on the road, I entered a rhythm uninterrupted by anyone, and it felt really good.”It not only made my body feel comfortable and free but also felt like giving my cluttered and fatigued mind an aerobic workout. My thoughts became clearer and stronger, as if I had found my own rhythm. I gained a superpower to face the future and the road ahead.”That is: don’t overly focus on the external pace — just walk your own path, as long as it feels free and comfortable.”
Promoting Cycling Is Already a Form of Public Welfare:
A Joyful Body and a Civilized Spirit
As for what exactly the 2016 Public Welfare Cycling event is,When answering the host’s question about what public welfare is, Star said: “Public welfare is not just about poverty alleviation and aid, but also about inner growth and enrichment. Giving someone a fish is not as good as teaching them how to fish. Therefore, Public Welfare Cycling is committed to advocating mental public welfare, promoting inner growth, and advocating a lifestyle: one where we compete not in wealth but in health, not in status but in insight.”
Modern society pursues materialism too much, the work pace is too fast, and many people’s minds are restless, anxious, or even depressed. From my experience, cycling can effectively buffer these pressures.”
At the launch ceremony, Star also announced the slogan of Public Welfare Cycling: “A Joyful Body and a Civilized Spirit.” This is adapted from Mao Zedong’s famous statement published in New Youth: “Strengthen the spirit, civilize the physique.” He believes: “A physically weak person cannot survive effectively in a highly competitive society, while brute strength is not accepted in a civilized society. Therefore, through cycling, more people can strengthen their bodies, build willpower, and engage in inner dialogue (during exercise, we have more time to talk to ourselves, which we usually never have), leading to a healthier body and a more civilized, growing mind.”
2016 Event Theme: Ride a Road Together, Sing a Song Together
Due to Star’s unique personal experiences, Public Welfare Cycling has tentatively set the 2016 event theme as: “Ride a Road Together, Sing a Song Together.” Star and his core team will travel across China,using a “Music + Cycling” approach — visiting one city, cycling a route, and holding a music sharing session — to spark social discussion and spread the public welfare philosophy of “A Joyful Body and a Civilized Spirit.”Calling on more cycling enthusiasts to join and conveying to the public that cycling itself is a lifestyle that is healthy, joyful, and green.
Music + Public Welfare: Spreading the Message More Powerfully
When talking about incorporating concerts into public welfare efforts, Xingxing said: “One reason is related to my personal experience—I’m both a cycling enthusiast and an independent musician. On the other hand, music itself is the melody of the best side of life. It needs no language, strikes the heart directly, evokes resonance, and can quickly become widely sung, making the spread of public welfare efforts more powerful.”
Public Welfare Cycling Alliance
Allowing more cyclists to fully express their public welfare ideals
Xingxing answered sincerely: “Thanks to the rise of mobile internet, communication and connection between people have become incredibly convenient. This is the foundation that enables public welfare cycling to thrive. Our goal is”“to achieve self-organized unity among cycling public welfare advocates, to provide them with a platform where they can fully express their public welfare ideals and receive support from cyclists nationwide, and to launch public welfare topics and offline activities.”
Meanwhile, Tingfeng, co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance and group leader of the Changchun alliance, also introduced at the launch event: Currently, over 20 regional alliances across the country—including those in Changchun, Beijing, Hebei, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanxi—have joined. In addition to organizing public welfare cycling events, they will also serve as cycling stations, providing the following services to cyclists nationwide:
1. Welcoming and seeing off 2. (Free) food and accommodation recommendations 3. Local professional guides
All of which are offered free of charge to practice the ideals of public welfare
(Photo above ?/span>Front row, first from the right: Co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance, group leader of the Shenyang alliance, Assassin
Second row, first from the left: Co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance, group leader of the Beijing alliance, Meng Ge
Middle photo ?/span>Second row, first from the left: Co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance, Luoluo
Second row, first from the left: Co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance, Old Luo
Bottom photo ?/span>Second row, first from the left: Co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance, group leader of the Shenzhen alliance, Pizi
Second row, first from the right: Co-founder of the Public Welfare Cycling Alliance, Xiao Xie Xie)
Brand Collaboration: Driving the Public Welfare Dream Together
This year’s 2016 Public Welfare Cycling event not only relied on word-of-mouth but also gained the support of nearly ten thousand core cyclists. Ourbrand support platforms—Intemago outdoor speakers, JD Sports & Cycling, Dream Journey Cloud System, HouTian Cycling Apparel, Hanergy International, and Leqi APP—will join forces with the Public Welfare Cycling initiative to promote this year’s activities,providing planning resources and material support throughout the event.We would also like to extend special thanks to the Xingzhe APP and Tern China for their strong support of the Beijing launch event.
“Come on ,let’s ride” Spreading Joyful Energy Together
Reporters at the venue captured many attendees doing the same gesture. Upon asking, they learned that this gesture is called: “Come on ，let’s ride！” In Chinese, it means: Unhappy? Let’s ride together. We hope to spread and inspire positive energy through this gesture, uniting more people to energize our bodies, elevate our spirits, reject indifference, and banish unhappiness. Together, let’s pass on the spark of happiness!