Old Ox and His Bike
Recently, a user named “Old Ox Rides a Bicycle” on Xici Hutong has garnered widespread acclaim among amateur cycling enthusiasts in Nanjing and has even been dubbed a “tough guy.” It turns out that this “Old Ox” is actually 64 years old. Back when professional cycling wasn’t yet popular in Nanjing, he had already started engaging in the sport. From 2007 to the present, his annual mileage has totaled tens of thousands of kilometers. Next year, he plans to participate in the highest-level civilian cycling event — the “Ma Zi Qi” (Bicycle Marathon Ride), which involves covering 420 kilometers within 24 hours. He says he is “very confident” about it.
Childhood Fascination with Bicycles
Old Ox’s real name is Liu Enlin. Because the character for “ox” is a homophone for “Liu,” and his zodiac sign is also the ox, he earned the nickname “Old Ox.” Despite being 64, he looks incredibly cool in his helmet, sunglasses, and professional cycling gear.
“I started cycling in 2007,” Old Ox told reporters at the Nanjing “Bike Peripheral Cycling Club,” recalling his cycling journey. “Actually, I developed a fascination with bicycles even before I finished elementary school. Back then, I had a neighbor who was part of the provincial cycling team. He rode a German bicycle that weighed just 9 kilograms — I’d never seen such a light bike before. I got to ride it once, and it was amazingly smooth. I was so envious. After retiring from my job in 2007, my son noticed how much I loved bicycles and assembled a professional ‘touring bike’ for me at a bike shop. At that time, there were very few elderly people in Nanjing practicing professional cycling. With that bike, I began training every day.”
Tens of Thousands of Kilometers Every Year
“I used to smoke heavily, spending over 400 yuan a month on cigarettes. But after I started cycling, I quit. I used the money I saved on cigarettes to buy gear. Over the past six years, I’ve added a road bike and a folding bike, and now I have four bikes at home,” said Old Ox.
In the beginning, he would ride alone around the city, covering 20 to 30 kilometers a day to build up his stamina. As he gradually improved, he expanded his riding range — to Laoshan, Gaochun, Huangji, Wuxi, Liyang, Zhenjiang... His tire tracks can be found all over these places. “The main goal of my cycling is to cultivate a hobby in my later years. For me, where I go isn’t important. What matters is continuous training, persistence, and staying on the road,” said Old Ox. These days, he rides over 10,000 kilometers a year. His dedication has earned him many fans online, and users on Xici Hutong have given him the title of “tough guy.”
Bringing His Fellow Educated Youth Classmates Along for the Ride
“Cycling brings a healthy body and joyful mood.” With this belief, Old Ox has also invited his former educated youth classmates — who supported border development in Xinjiang over forty years ago (with an average age of around 65) — to join his cycling group. According to Old Ox, their current team consists of over ten members. Their activities are still mainly focused around Nanjing, but they plan to gradually expand in the future.
Joining the “Ma Zi Qi” Next Year
During the interview, Old Ox told reporters that he plans to take part in the “Ma Zi Qi” next year, an annual bicycle marathon ride. The reporter learned that the “Ma Zi Qi” requires participants to complete 420 kilometers within 24 hours, traveling from Shanghai to Huangshan in Anhui, passing through Suzhou in Jiangsu and Hangzhou in Zhejiang — the intensity of which is easy to imagine. Regarding this, Old Ox said he is still maintaining daily training rides of 20 to 30 kilometers, and with years of cycling experience, he is “full of confidence” about next year’s event.