Taiwan’s “elderly riders” are touring the world, completing Asia and Europe in three years.
Cycling around the island is currently one of the most popular outdoor adventures among young people in Taiwan. However, Chen Shouzhong, a well-known Taiwanese outdoor explorer, has challenged the traditional notion that “only the young ride bikes.” Since 2011, he has led dozens of seniors aged 60 to 70 on a global cycling adventure, traveling in segmented and timed segments. The journey is expected to take four years to complete. Now, Chen Shouzhong and his “elderly riders” have completed three-quarters of their dream to circle the globe. They are now actively preparing for next year’s 7,500-kilometer journey across the North American continent.
According to Chen Shouzhong’s plan, once this global cycling journey is complete, he will bring this model to mainland China and lead riders there on similar adventures.
They Have Ridden Through Asia and Europe in Three Years
Chen Shouzhong is among the first group of Taiwanese adventurers to complete a global cycling trip. A few years ago, he took his then 6-year-old daughter on a 2,100-kilometer “Silk Road Family Cycling Adventure.” His daughter became the youngest person in the world to cycle the Silk Road.
Over the past three years, Chen Shouzhong has once again put his expertise to use by leading a group of “elderly riders” over 60 years old as they pedaled across tens of thousands of kilometers through Asia and Europe. If next year’s trip across North America goes smoothly, this group of “elderly riders” will become the first team in the world to complete a global cycling tour.
Chen Shouzhong said the idea for the “elderly riders” journey was “purely accidental.” “Modern people have limited time, and it’s quite difficult to spend one or two years cycling around the world.” So in 2011, he proposed a new cycling plan: “Travel the world in segmented, timed segments,” taking four years to circle the globe. Each year, 30 riders are recruited to complete 45 days of riding during the summer break, divided into three segments. This approach keeps costs relatively low and encourages participation.
In addition, Chen Shouzhong believes this type of “light adventure” is “a bit challenging but not too difficult,” which makes it quite appealing. As expected, the response to the segmented global cycling plan was enthusiastic (Chen Shouzhong’s entry requirements were very low—participants only needed 100 kilometers of cycling experience, including some on slopes, and to be in good health). However, unexpectedly, most of the applicants turned out to be seniors over 60. In the first three years, three-quarters of the participants were over 60, and on this year’s European trip, three participants were over 70.
It is reported that besides seniors, there were also office workers among the participants, but over the three years, the ones who stuck with it were mostly seniors. Seeing these elderly riders endure sun and rain to complete the journey entirely on two wheels moved Chen Shouzhong deeply, and he publicly expressed his admiration many times: “These are the ‘elderly riders’ of Taiwan’s cycling community.”
Not Promoting Asceticism, but Embracing Happy Travel to See the World
“Taking so many elderly people on such long rides—aren’t you taking on a lot of risk?” When asked by a reporter from the Liberty Times, Chen Shouzhong laughed over the phone, explaining that compared to younger people, the elderly actually have a better understanding of their own physical condition and strong self-management skills. Not only do they carry essential medications, but they also know how to stay in touch with doctors and adjust their riding plans according to their own needs.
Chen Shouzhong said their cycling adventures do not promote “asceticism” but rather a “joyful travel” approach, placing more emphasis on experiencing local culture and customs. “Because you can get up close and personally engage with the local way of life, every leg of the cycling journey is full of fun,” Chen Shouzhong revealed. Each ride typically consists of about 30 people, and due to limited spots, registration often sells out instantly.
Additionally, Chen Shouzhong arranges strong logistical support during the trips. Before setting off each day, riders hand over their luggage to support vehicles, and if any rider falls ill or feels unwell, they can rest on the vehicle without affecting the group’s progress.
Timed and Segmented Cycling Adventures to Be Introduced to Mainland China
While the “elderly riders” of Taiwan are still touring the world, multiple organizations on the mainland have actively reached out to Chen Shouzhong, hoping he will bring the “timed and segmented cycling” model to China. Cautious as ever, Chen Shouzhong revealed, “This is a niche market after all. We’ll consider introducing it to the mainland only after the Taiwan group finishes its round-the-world journey.” In fact, Chen Shouzhong has always had a special affection for the mainland and hopes the cycling model he is promoting will also be embraced there. Three years ago, he led Taiwanese riders on a journey from Beijing to Xinjiang.
According to Chen Shouzhong’s operational model for the Taiwan group, each of the 45-day annual journeys costs each participant between NT$350,000 and NT$400,000. However, each year’s route requires a full year of advance planning and coordination for issues like local transportation and accommodation. “Although we’re only cycling for 45 days each year, this is no ordinary trip, and there’s no precedent to follow, so we must be extremely cautious with untested routes.”
Regarding the invitations from mainland organizations, Chen Shouzhong plans to wait until after next year’s North American trip before specifically designing suitable routes for mainland Chinese cyclists. However, he will strictly control the group size, as larger teams bring greater management challenges.