Yesterday, at the 3rd Cycling Carnival held in Sanshigang, Luyang District, a reporter got "bumped into" by a "tall, rich, and handsome" figure. Who was it? And why so high-end and stylish? Everyone, quickly follow the camera to find out.
[Handsome] Cycles 70 km daily for commuting
To capture everyone’s attention, let’s start with the "handsome" part: streamlined sports cap, tight cycling suit, sporty sunglasses, camouflage scarf, fingerless gloves—this whole outfit, paired with locking pedals on his bike shoes, looks ultra-cool on anyone, male or female.
Compared to the cool gear, his cool life story is even more admirable. Zheng Shengcui, 43, took up cycling in April this year. For nearly 12 years before that, she battled cancer in a fight for her life. "I was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma in 2001, and in 2012 I had part of my liver removed." She lifted her shirt to reveal a scar over a meter long on her torso, enough to show the pain she once endured. "I want to see my son go further, and for health and happiness, I chose to join the cycling team."
Every day, she cycles the nearly 70 km round trip from her home on Science Island to her workplace at the Baohe District Management Committee. Each one-way trip takes about an hour and a half; on weekends, she also rides over a hundred kilometers in the suburbs with her teammates. "I crave health more than anyone else, and I also hope to spread positive energy." With only half a year of cycling experience, Zheng Shengcui now has very healthy physical indicators and a great figure. "I’ve lost over 20 pounds."
[Wealthy] A bike worth ten thousand yuan is quite mainstream
Don’t underestimate a simple bicycle used for cycling—the details are extremely refined. "The frame is carbon fiber, both lightweight and sturdy; the crankset is the main transmission system, ensuring forward power and safety." Lu Xing, president of the Luyang District Deaf Association and a participant in the Hefei Longya Cycling Team, has a flashy-colored "steed" that he assembled himself. "This one cost over eight thousand yuan, with the frame and crankset each costing over three thousand."
That’s not even considered expensive. Zheng Shengcui’s bike is worth over ten thousand, "and if the tires wear out and need replacing, that’s a few hundred more." Eight thousand or ten thousand are "standard prices," "many people even spend thirty or forty thousand on theirs." And if you add in the helmet and cycling suit, you really need some financial muscle to get into this.
[High-aspiring] Dreams of cycling around Qinghai Lake and tackling the Sichuan-Tibet Highway
"It’s purely amateur, just for exchanging experiences with others and enriching life." Whether they’re deaf, former cancer patients, or elderly participants in their sixties and seventies, cycling is just one part of their joyful lives, and yesterday’s carnival was another wonderful chapter.
They all have experience cycling in other regions. "We organized a team trip to Yangzhou and cycled non-stop for over 20 hours." Compared to Lu Xing and members of the Longya Cycling Team, Zheng Shengcui has gone even further: "Cycled 800 li through southern Anhui and Jiangxi; just during the National Day holiday, I rode around northern Anhui, covering a full 600 km."
They also have higher aspirations. Zheng Shengcui hopes her health will continue to improve: "My son often encourages me, saying 'Mom, keep it up,' and I’ve seen the cycling journeys of many others, so I want to cycle the Sichuan-Tibet Highway." The Longya Cycling Team has already planned to cycle around Qinghai Lake next year. "The route is about 350 km, and we aim to complete it in 4–5 days."