Cancer Couldn't Stop a Miao Teenager's Cycling Journey
At 12, he fell in love with cycling; at 16, he went pro; at 18, he was diagnosed with cancer; at 20, he started a new life... For a young man of just 23, such an experience has been nothing short of dramatic.
This young man is Luo Dingfan. Facing a severe illness and the struggle between life and death, he chose to face it with strength. The outdoor sports short film "Ride On," which he co-created with friends and focuses on mountain biking, was selected for the global finals of the Milan International FICTS Fest.
A Teen from the Miao Village Falls in Love with Cycling
Luo Dingfan is from Rongshui Miao Autonomous County. Starting in 2002 when he began middle school, he became fascinated with a sport that most of his peers didn’t care much for.
At the time, there was a bicycle shop near his school that sold sports bikes such as mountain bikes, BMX bikes, and downhill bikes. To attract customers, the owner and staff often performed stunts in front of the store.
The 12-year-old Luo Dingfan was deeply captivated. In his spare time, he often lingered in front of the shop, watching the performances with great admiration.
Seeing how interested Luo Dingfan was, the shop owner readily let him give it a try. Later, the owner became Luo’s first mentor in cycling.
Once he fell in love with cycling, Luo Dingfan started begging his parents to buy him a bike. Unable to resist his persistence, they got him a Phoenix-brand bicycle worth 280 yuan. However, Luo completely modified the bike—shortening the frame, removing the seat, and transforming the ordinary bicycle into something resembling a BMX.
This was the first bicycle Luo Dingfan ever owned. From then on, every day on his way to and from school, he deliberately chose bumpy paths with obstacles, hopping and maneuvering his way through, embarking on a journey of passion for the sport of cycling.