She is 71, he is 79. A year ago at a cycling competition, Chen Xiulu and Pan Shaoguang, both passionate about biking, met for the first time. Chen Xiulu was intrigued: “This old man has such a cool cycling posture and is so cheerful.” Pan Shaoguang was also secretly pleased: “This lady is not only kind but shares my love for cycling.” And so, two widowed seniors found each other through cycling and decided to commemorate their love on two wheels. Not long ago, they spent 14 days cycling around Taiwan, receiving help along the way and touching many with their love story.

　　Love at First Pedal: Widowed Seniors Bond Over Cycling
　　Perhaps due to their active lifestyles, the two seniors look much younger than their actual ages. Chen Xiulu has loved sports since she was young, running up to 10,000 meters daily—rain or shine. Pan Shaoguang has been cycling for seven or eight years and is also very athletic. Though nearly 80, as his wife Chen Xiulu puts it, he is “as lively as a monkey!” Yet these cheerful seniors share a similar misfortune—being widowed in their later years. No matter how active one is, life can still feel lonely without a companion.
　　Both seniors are members of the “Ride the World” group. Over a year ago, they joined a team trip to Yanqing for a cycling competition. Pan Shaoguang arrived first, Chen Xiulu a bit later. Both were pushing their bikes and wearing cycling gear when their eyes met—and they felt an inexplicable affinity. Perhaps because of their shared passion for cycling, they quickly discovered they had a lot in common. They learned that they were both living alone, and gradually grew closer. In subsequent rides, they would call each other: “Are you going?” Whenever she went, he would be there; whenever he participated, she never missed it. When she couldn’t keep up, he would stop and wait for her. Their hearts grew closer, and they decided to start a life together—with their children’s full support.
　　Chen Xiulu often says that she and Pan Shaoguang were meant to be, and that cycling was the red thread that tied their fates together.

　　Fulfilling a Dream: 14-Day Cycling Tour Around Taiwan
　　Since then, the two have regularly joined group cycling trips to pursue their passion, stay fit, and nurture their relationship. Together, they cycled around the Bohai Bay area, visiting Shanhaiguan, Liaoning, and more. They biked 150 kilometers a day without feeling tired—because they had each other.
　　The couple had long dreamed of cycling in Taiwan. On May 13 this year, they set off from Tianjin, took a train to Fuzhou, then cycled to Pingtan Ferry Terminal and took the “Sea Star” ferry to Taichung. Onboard, the crew learned about their story and treated them with great kindness. “You’re the oldest couple from mainland China we’ve seen cycling to Taiwan—your combined age is 150!” When they mentioned they hadn’t arranged accommodation in Taichung yet, fellow passengers kindly helped them find a place to stay.
　　Upon arriving in Taichung, they began cycling counterclockwise around the island, completing the journey in 14 days. Along the way, they endured heatstroke, sunburn and peeling skin, and exhaustion—but they pushed through. They have just returned to Tianjin.

　　To the Ends of the Earth: Cycling for Life
　　The couple said they received tremendous help and moved by countless acts of kindness in Taiwan. The most dangerous moment came when they encountered a landslide up ahead—luckily, the owner of their guesthouse kindly warned them to take a detour. Otherwise, returning midway with no place to stay could have ended badly. The most touching moment? When they asked a local street cleaner for directions, the worker, upon learning they were cyclists from mainland China, was full of admiration. He urged them to take care of themselves and said he would join them in cycling after retirement.
　　Back in Tianjin, the pair had their bikes repaired and rested for a while. They say as long as their health allows, they will keep cycling—both to honor their love and fulfill their promise to “cycle to the ends of the earth together.” Their next destination is Russia. Who knows what adventures await? Stay tuned.