Chengdu sees cycling craze as enthusiasts embrace competitive sports

The Tour de France is in full swing, with massive teams speeding along at over 45 km/h, a dazzling sight. In Chengdu’s cycling scene, where “mountain-road” hybrids and fixed-gear bikes dominate, road bikes are winning over more and more cycling enthusiasts with their unique charm.

Last Saturday, to celebrate the start of the Tour de France, a reporter joined a group of Chengdu road cyclists on a round-trip ride from Chengdu to Dujiangyan. The group of over 20 cycling enthusiasts gathered at the Supo Overpass, and what surprised the reporter was that their gear was uniformly “high-end, stylish, and top-notch.” Brands like Cannondale, Cervelo, Specialized, BMC, Trek, and Orbea were all represented, including even models used by Tour de France teams. Matching their high-end bikes were their outfits—helmets, cycling jerseys, and clip-in shoes that were both professional and well-coordinated.

Despite the rain starting shortly after leaving the city and mud and gravel being splashed everywhere, dirtying their clothes, nothing dampened the cyclists’ enthusiasm. Starting from the IT Avenue, there was a gentle uphill climb, but speeds still reached around 38 km/h. Everyone pedaled with all their might, taking turns leading the pack to block the wind. On the return trip, speeds soared to as high as 42 km/h. The pack sped past, drawing gasps of amazement from pedestrians and casual riders alike.

Jia Dong, who recently graduated with a master’s degree in sports management from the UK, returned to China and joined the ride with his Cervelo road bike. He was excited to see the growing community of road cyclists in Chengdu. He believes it’s a misconception for many riders to use mountain bikes for road cycling. “There’s a big difference between road bikes and mountain bikes. Road bikes are simply the best choice for riding on paved roads,” he told the reporter. “In the UK, almost everyone rides road bikes on the road. There are also many mountain bike enthusiasts, but they usually drive their cars to off-road areas and only ride their mountain bikes in mountainous, dirt, or rough terrain sections.”

Different from “mountain-road” leisure

Within the Sichuan road cycling community, which includes 160 road cycling enthusiasts, general mountain bike groups often discuss riding routes and food, whereas the enthusiasts here are more focused on professional topics like the Tour de France, cycling gear, and training methods.

They refer to those who ride mountain bikes on the road as “mountain-road” riders, a slightly joking term meaning riding a mountain bike on paved streets. “Mountain bikes are equipped with suspension systems, including frame structures, wide knobby tires, and powerful brakes—all designed for off-road terrain. Riding a mountain bike on the road fails to utilize its features, which is a waste,” Jia Dong explained. “Even if you modify a mountain bike with slick tires and reduce its weight to the minimum, due to factors like riding posture, it still can’t compete with a road bike in terms of speed.”

For road cyclists, cycling is a competitive sport, not just a leisure activity. Take Huo Haibin, known as the “King of Climbs” among domestic road cyclists, who now runs a bike shop in Chengdu. He shared that he cycles almost every day, covering over 2,000 km monthly. His team, HAYA Cycling Team, recently won both national individual and team championships at a multi-day race in Xinjiang.

Additionally, Chengdu has other road cycling teams like Hezhen Racing Team and Old Riders Racing Team. The Lehas Bicycle Club has also recently formed its own road cycling team. Aside from weekly training sessions, they frequently participate in cycling competitions across the province and even nationally.

Traditionally, compared to mountain bikes with suspension, road bikes may seem less sturdy. Many cyclists believe that mountain bikes are easier to handle, better suited for rough roads, and offer relatively better braking performance—these are the main reasons why mountain bikes remain more popular today.

Wu Tao, owner of Chengdu’s Lightning Bicycle Shop, revealed that road bikes account for only about 20% of their sales, while mountain bikes make up the majority. Chen Zhixiong, manager of the Lehas Bicycle Club, also noted that their road bike sales ratio is similar. “We’re already selling a lot—in second- and third-tier cities, road bike sales are less than 5%.” Analyzing the reasons, Chen Zhixiong believes, “Although recreational cycling has a solid foundation among the public, cycling as a sport is still in its early stages in China. Today’s Chengdu road cyclists are mostly experienced riders with a good understanding of the sport.”

Pricing is another factor limiting the growth of road cycling in Chengdu. Road bikes have a significantly higher starting price compared to mountain bikes. While you can get a mountain bike for just over 1,000 yuan, a basic road bike starts at at least 2,000 yuan, and to truly engage in road cycling, you’d need a carbon fiber bike costing over 10,000 yuan.

Chen Zhixiong also pointed out that lack of promotion by companies plays a role. “Apart from Giant and Merida, domestic brands hardly have any notable road bike models. In terms of sales, road bikes are more complex, and even the riding posture requires precise calculations, which demands higher technical skills from bike shops.”

Although road bikes are not yet mainstream in Chengdu, many businesses are optimistic about their future development. “Road bikes are definitely the future,” said Jia Dong, who has now joined the cycling industry, with unwavering confidence.