The photo shows Nanjing’s senior “cyclists,” whose professionalism is no less impressive than that of young people.
China News Service, Nanjing, October 9 (Tian Wen) Dressed in professional cycling attire, wearing helmets and gloves, and riding sleek, sporty bicycles. On October 9, this group of middle-aged and elderly “cyclists” from Nanjing who appeared at the experience day event of the 2013 Asian Cycling Exhibition caught everyone’s attention. One of them, a 60-year-old man named Jian Jingpu, had just completed a solo bike trip around Taiwan, spending less than 2,000 yuan in 15 days.
On October 9, the 2013 Asian Cycling Exhibition Experience Day was held at the Zhongshan Mausoleum Sports Park in Nanjing. The most eye-catching sight wasn’t the nearly 100 top-tier bicycles, but a group of middle-aged and elderly “cyclists” from Nanjing participating in the event. Among them was a 65-year-old self-proclaimed “lone ranger,” Jian Jingpu, who recently rode his bike solo to Quanzhou. He then folded his bicycle and placed it in his suitcase before traveling by boat to Taiwan. After arriving, he cycled around the island alone for 15 days. Aside from round-trip transportation costs, including meals and accommodation, he spent less than 2,000 yuan.
Speaking about how he saved money on travel, Jian Jingpu said, “I don’t stay in hotels; I sleep in my own tent. Actually, it’s not just about being frugal—it’s about getting close to nature, which is a kind of enjoyment. The beautiful scenery of Taiwan left a deep impression on me, and I felt very happy during this trip.”
It is understood that Jian Jingpu has almost traveled across China by bike alone, from Mohe to Hainan, from Tibet to Taiwan, all covered by the wheels of his bike. He said that being able to exercise moderately while maintaining good health and seeing different landscapes is very enjoyable, and he doesn’t find it tiring at all.
Jian Jingpu’s fellow “veteran knights” also participated in the experience day event. They were all dressed in professional cycling gear, wearing helmets and gloves, paired with sleek, sporty bicycles—their level of professionalism was no less impressive than that of young people. The oldest among them, Zhao Yong, is nearly 70 years old. When he was young, he insisted on biking to and from work, and after retirement, he began cycling around for travel. Zhao Yong said that biking has now become part of his life, and he has even become “slimmer” than before, now weighing only 60 kilograms.
It is worth mentioning that this team of veteran “knights” also includes female riders. Zheng Honghua, a 61-year-old woman, is one of them and is no less capable than the male participants. According to her, she cycled to Tibet in 2012. This cycling journey is challenging even for young people, let alone a woman in her sixties. Reflecting on the experience, Zheng Honghua said, “On one stretch of the road to Tibet, there was a cliff on one side and a mountain on the other, with rocks occasionally falling from the mountain—it was very dangerous. It was also raining at the time, and my legs were so cold they hurt, but we gritted our teeth and made it through.”