Two elderly cyclists explore 12 European countries.
【Two seniors on bikes tour Europe】 Still hesitating over which tour group to book for your European trip? Well, these seniors over 60 have already cycled through Europe. Wang Yanxiao, 66, and Gao Yuting, 69, from Zhengzhou, spent 88 days cycling across 12 countries in Europe, with a total cost of less than 30,000 yuan. What are you waiting for? Get going now!
From June 11 to September 6 this year, retired engineer Wang Yanxiao, 66, and his companion cycled into Europe on foldable bikes. The duo traveled through 12 countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, taking 88 days and spending less than 30,000 yuan.
“Hot Water Showers” website connects with foreign cyclists
Wang Yanxiao is a retired senior engineer from the Zhengzhou Railway Bureau Research Institute. After retirement, he took up cycling, and fellow riders often call him “Old Wang.”
“When I was young, riding 10 kilometers felt tiring, but now 150 kilometers is normal.” As his cycling skills improved, so did Old Wang’s ambitions. “My cycling friends prefer the northwest or the south, but none of that excites me.” Old Wang served in the military in the northwest for over a decade and often traveled across China for work, but he had never experienced foreign cultures.
Old Wang loves the internet and discovered a website called “warmshowers.” “The term translates to ‘hot water showers,’ or you could call it the ‘Hot Water Showers’ website,” he said. Anyone willing to host touring cyclists from around the world for free can register on this site. Members can find locals willing to host them in whichever country they’re cycling through, and vice versa—they can also host visiting cyclists at home.
After registering, in 2011 and 2012, Old Wang hosted cyclists from the U.S., South Korea, and other countries at his home while also planning his own European cycling trip.
Invited and granted a Belgian visa
In March this year, Belgian netizen Luc sent Old Wang an invitation letter.
Luc is a board member of the Belgian Cycling Association. He invited Wang Yanxiao to meet fellow cyclists at his home in Belgium from June to September this year.
After a three-and-a-half-month wait, Old Wang and his companion—69-year-old Gao Yuting—finally obtained their Belgian visas. Old Wang said Belgium is a Schengen Agreement country, so getting a Belgian visa is like having all Schengen countries open their doors to him. Before departure, Old Wang researched extensively, designed a detailed route, bought a foldable sports bike, and prepared gear such as a tent, mattress, and electric stove. His European cycling dream was finally underway.
Holding the five-star red flag under the Eiffel Tower
Upon arriving in Belgium, Old Wang first met with Luc. “Luc’s whole family came out to welcome us—the hostess was holding their daughter, who was a few years old, and also cradling a one-year-old child. It really moved me.”
After staying in Belgium for a few days, Old Wang and his companions cycled across the border into France. “The border was just like a regular country road, with only two signs—one for Belgium and one for France.”
As they cycled, they took photos along the way—at the Seine River, next to the Louvre, under the Eiffel Tower… Many of the photos featured them holding the five-star red flag and banners of the “Zhengzhou Senior Cycling Association.” In the photos, many locals took pictures with Old Wang and his team. “They thought it was amazing to see Chinese people cycling through Europe,” Old Wang said with a smile.
“Low-budget” 88-day European tour
Cycling obviously isn’t as comfortable as joining a tour group—you have to plan your own routes and arrange accommodation. When lucky, you can stay with hosts or in hotels, but when not, tents are the only option.
During their 88 days in Europe, Old Wang and his companion visited 12 countries, ranging from larger nations like Poland, Italy, and Spain to smaller ones with unique charm like Austria, Liechtenstein, and Vatican City. Old Wang said the total cost of this European cycling trip was less than 30,000 yuan.
Cycling holds a higher “status” than driving in Europe
Old Wang also noticed that in Europe, bicycles enjoy a much higher status than cars. “While cycling, we often rode on dedicated bike lanes,” Old Wang said. These lanes are divided into one-way tracks and are off-limits to cars and electric scooters. Once, he even saw a bike lane set up right in the middle of a motor vehicle lane because there was no space on either side.
When departing from Beijing, Old Wang and his team were denied taking their bikes on the subway, but in Europe, trains, long-distance buses, subways, and high-speed rail all allow bicycles on board—and some even have dedicated bike compartments for pushing bikes.
“Cycling is good for fitness and helps address environmental issues. We Chinese should also promote it,” Old Wang said. The European Cyclists’ Federation is currently seeking host cities worldwide for the 2016 World Cycling Touring Conference, and he hopes cities in Henan will actively apply to promote a green, eco-friendly lifestyle.
【Travel Tips】
Visa: Invitations from cyclists can extend your stay by half a month
For cycling abroad, the first step is obtaining a visa. Old Wang faced some hurdles—he was denied twice before. This time, thanks to the invitation from his Belgian contact, the embassy granted him a visa for three and a half months, half a month longer than usual.
Tip: Applying to a Schengen Agreement country is a good strategy—the key is having a legitimate reason for visiting your destination.
Cost: Flying is cheaper than taking the train
Wang said many people might assume that flying is the most expensive option. But that’s not the case—in Europe, taking a flight is often cheaper than taking a train.
For example, he took a train from Strasbourg, France to Paris and paid over 70 euros, yet he flew from Germany to Italy for just 30 euros. He took seven flights in Europe, with the highest price being no more than 70 euros and the lowest just 20.5 euros—about 160-plus RMB.
Reminder: Try to use your card abroad whenever possible—even supermarkets accept cards—so you can avoid a lot of hassle with currency exchange and getting change. Wang exchanged 1,000 euros in cash and didn’t even spend it all.
Accommodation and meals: Mixed-gender dormitories in hostels
Hostels in Europe, regardless of price, are all very clean. Wang often stayed in youth hostels and also once stayed in a hostel with ten people to a room—male and female travelers sharing the same space, with partitions between beds, and everyone was perfectly comfortable with it.
Reminder: Milk and cooking oil are very cheap in Europe, so don’t skimp on food and deprive your body of sufficient energy to save money.
Unexpected event: Helicopter evacuation for an injured traveler
Shortly after arriving in France, both the front and rear tires of Wang’s bike went flat, and the rack on the back also broke. A Chinese woman living locally helped them find a place to get the bike repaired. Wang’s experience is that no matter where you go, when you need help, someone will always come through. And don’t panic if you have an accident or injury—Wang’s travel companion, Gao, once fell off his bike, and the local authorities actually sent a helicopter to evacuate the injured.
Reminder: Be sure to buy overseas travel accident insurance before you leave—spend a little, solve a lot. (Reported by Liu Changzheng, Oriental Today; photos by Shen Xiang)