It was this humble "ox cart" that accompanied the "Lone Ranger" on his 81-day journey across Russia.
"A million yuan wouldn't even buy half a house in Hangzhou. But with a million, you could own the whole world." The 59-year-old Hangzhou cycling enthusiast known as the "Lone Ranger" shared these words, offering a window into his unique philosophy: "I'm not rich, so I choose 'budget travel.'"
Seventeen years ago, biking from Hangzhou to West Tianmu marked the "Lone Ranger's" first cycling trip. Since then, this crazy bike lover—whose idol is the Chinese adventurer Yu Chunshun—has cycled through nearly all of China. His latest adventure was an 81-day solo trek across Russia; his next plan is to bike and watch soccer in Brazil next year.
81 Days, ¥27,000 Spent
Gave His Bike to a Russian Auntie at the End of the Trip
"I started from Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia and ended in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The total distance was 8,520 kilometers—my second-longest ride ever. My longest was 10 years ago, when I biked from China's southernmost point to its northernmost, crossed the Greater Khingan Mountains, traversed Inner Mongolia, and finished in Yinchuan, Ningxia—a full 10,000 kilometers over 95 days." Wearing a blue checkered shirt and casual pants, the 59-year-old "Lone Ranger" looks just like any other man his age.
"I once visited Russia before but didn't get to see enough, which gave me the idea to go by bike." The "Lone Ranger's" Russian journey lasted from June to September—81 days in total. "It was my toughest trip yet. For the first 500 kilometers after departure, it was mostly uphill, and I had to cycle about 100 kilometers every day."
During the 81 days of solo cycling, he stayed with local Russian families for 13 nights—among them the homes of veterans, farmers, and repairmen; he spent 11 nights completely wild camping, using makeshift train stations, caves under highways, and forests as his "beds"; he had three bike crashes and even ditched his tent and carpet to reduce weight...
The only thing that accompanied the "Lone Ranger" on this long journey was a ¥2,000 mountain bike. "Haha, I've never been one for 'gear obsession.' Fellow cyclists joke that this is an ox cart, but I think it’s perfectly adequate." The "Lone Ranger" introduced his other gear: "My luggage bag was the most basic kind of large mail sack, given to me by a friend—very practical."
The entire cost of the 81-day Russian trip was ¥27,000, far less than the reporter had expected. "This was pure 'budget travel.' By the time I reached Sochi, the endpoint, I even gave my bike to a Russian auntie who sold cola—just to lighten my load and save on airfare costs."
Cycling Is a Personal Journey
Constantly Being on the Road Is a Happy Learning Experience
"People my age mostly spent time in the countryside when they were young. Back then, I was sent to work on a river dam project. At night, we’d chat wildly about our dreams—and mine was to travel across China." The "Lone Ranger" said that wanting to see more places has always been a dream deep in his heart.
"Travel is something you should do as early as possible. I remember in 1986, I spent 200 yuan to go from Hangzhou to Shanghai, then to Chengdu and Chongqing, then Nanjing and Suzhou—a total of 22 days."
The "Lone Ranger" recalled his travels from over 20 years ago: "In 1999, I rode into Tibet on a 28-inch Forever bicycle. I bought the bike in Xining for 300 yuan and sold it in Lhasa for 200 yuan. My travels have always been this simple—I think making it too complicated turns it into a burden."
He dislikes being online and doesn’t like sharing his cycling experiences in various biking forums—almost all his rides are done solo. The "Lone Ranger's" lone-wolf style sets him apart from other cyclists.
"Everyone has their own preferred way to travel. For me, biking is a continuous learning experience. Seeing the world this way is a joyful pursuit of knowledge, and I really enjoy it. I don’t want to carry extra purposes or burdens while cycling."
This year he crossed Russia; next year, the "Lone Ranger" said he wants to go to Brazil—the host of the World Cup.
Many people might think traveling to so many places—even on a budget—is too expensive. "I don’t see it that way. A million yuan can’t even buy half a house in Hangzhou. But with that money, I think I could embrace the whole world. To me, the latter is a much better deal."