"We hope to complete a cycling tour around Taiwan Island just like the Taiwanese Eternal Riders team, and invite them to the mainland for an exchange." Zhao Yubin, an 87-year-old "Eternal Rider" from the mainland, spoke to reporters recently about his "Taiwan cycling dream" with great anticipation.
Zhao Yubin, born in 1927 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, is China's first-generation motorcycle athlete. In 2006, at the age of 79, he rode a motorcycle to challenge the limits, crossing the source of the Yellow River at an altitude of 4,680 meters.
At the recently held "Qinghai International Plateau Motorcycle Carnival," reporters saw him dressed in stylish motorcycle gear, looking "extremely dashing" with a straight back. Though his temples were graying, his eyes were bright and full of life. This was his fifth time attending the motorcycle carnival on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
"Being old or not isn't about age, but mindset," said Zhao Yubin. Although he is advanced in years, he still has the same dreams and courage as young people. When he watched the documentary about the Taiwanese Eternal Riders team, he felt "very excited and fired up." He resolved to form a "Eternal Riders" motorcycle team on the mainland, "to promote cross-strait friendship through a civilian exchange platform."
News of forming a senior motorcycle team to cycle around Taiwan Island spread quickly, and many elderly people signed up, eager to participate, with an average age of over 65. So far, nearly 20 elderly riders have registered.
Yu Kuantao, a 69-year-old amateur rider from Shenyang, serves as the team liaison. With 40 years of motorcycle riding experience and a total of 400,000 kilometers ridden, he says he’s not old but rather a "senior youth." "I’ve always wanted to compete with senior riders from Taiwan and show them that old folks on the mainland don’t give in easily!"
Zhu Rongbing, 62, lives in Xi'an and has loved motorcycles since he was young. "I've been riding for over 20 years, gone through 8 bikes, and still have 5 at home. Just looking at them brings back those happy days," Zhu said excitedly, like a child, when talking about motorcycles. "Both the mainland and Taiwan, our precious island, are home to the Chinese people. We’re all one family. I want to see Taiwan’s local customs, exchange thoughts with the senior riders there, and then bring back happiness and inspiration to share with people around me."
However, the process of forming the mainland "Eternal Riders" team hasn’t been smooth sailing. Zhao Yubin has encountered some unexpected "hurdles." Beyond passion and enthusiasm, many practical issues have been thrown their way.
"Safety is the biggest concern. Elderly people are prone to health issues. Although everyone participating is doing so voluntarily, we still need family consent. I’m not setting off alone—I have to consider the safety of the whole team," said Zhao Yubin.
Additionally, Zhao Yubin is worried about whether elderly riders without a driver’s license can legally ride on the road. According to regulations, people over 70 in mainland China cannot apply for a driver’s license. "This is a tricky issue—we can only try our best to figure out if we can obtain some kind of 'special permit.'"
Zhao Yubin told reporters that in order to fulfill the "Taiwan cycling dream" for himself and his fellow riders as soon as possible, they have spent over three years in preparation. Most of that time was spent coordinating the team, selecting members, explaining safety rules, and arranging licenses.
"Although the journey to realize our dream will be long, my fellow riders and I believe that the day will come sooner or later. I truly hope that we 'Eternal Riders' and the Taiwanese 'Eternal Riders' can meet in our lifetime," Zhao Yubin said, envisioning his dream for his later years.