Recently, the area around the Ming Tombs Reservoir in Changping District, Beijing, was bustling with excitement as 1,000 cycling enthusiasts from across the country competed passionately in an individually organized event — the 23rd Yang Guilin Family Cycling Race. Running a cycling race on his own for over 20 years, seeing participation grow from a hundred to over a thousand, and expanding influence from Beijing to all over the nation. Who is this “head of the family”? What gives him the courage to keep the family cycling race going for more than two decades? Recently, reporters visited Changping District and stepped into the home of 76-year-old Yang Guilin, affectionately dubbed the “Cycling Maniac” by fellow riders.
■ Cycling Turned a “Pill-Popper” into a Strong Young Man
Despite being 76 years old, Yang Guilin, who has been cycling for years, looks remarkably youthful, with a sun-tanned face and visibly toned arms. Not only is the elderly man in good health, but he also has a young mindset. His self-introduction — “I’m just 76 years old this year” — exudes a cheerful, youthful spirit that refuses to grow old. During the two-hour conversation with Yang Guilin, the reporter was constantly inspired by the elderly man’s positive and optimistic attitude.
Yang Guilin told reporters that he once suffered from illness and was a typical “pill-popper,” extremely weak — so much so that he would be knocked over if someone bumped into him on a bus. A doctor advised him to exercise more instead of relying solely on medication. That piece of advice was an eye-opener and ignited his youthful vigor. He started with walking and running, gradually transitioning to cycling. “My first bicycle was a Changbai Mountain brand 28-inch men’s bike, which cost me over 150 yuan — I felt terrible spending that much,” he said. Nowadays, Yang Guilin rides a professional TREK brand bicycle worth tens of thousands of yuan.
■ In 1984, He Ran a Race with Just 500 Yuan
Rice Bowls and Sportswear as Prizes
When asked about the motivation behind personally funding the Yang Guilin Family Cycling Race, the elderly man credited the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. At those Games, China — a major cycling nation — did not qualify to compete in cycling events. Yang Guilin, already deeply connected to cycling, began thinking about organizing a cycling race to get more people involved and interested in the sport.
“Although I was just an ordinary official from Chengguan Township in Changping County at the time, I truly wanted to promote cycling. If our level improved and advanced, there would come a day when the cycling flag would rise at the Olympics and we’d win gold medals.” Yang Guilin’s idea was simple and clear.
After getting approval from his wife and family, Yang Guilin took out 500 yuan — his back-paid annual salary from his workplace — and began preparing for his first “Yang Guilin Family Cycling Race.” He personally printed the competition invitations with a mimeograph machine, then rode his bicycle to distribute flyers across villages and towns, stopping to explain his vision to anyone he met.
On October 28, 1984, at the Changping County Stadium, the first family cycling invitational race funded by Yang Guilin kicked off. The race innovatively included categories such as couples, sisters, and brothers. A total of 117 participants joined, with the oldest being 61 years old and the youngest just 12.
The elderly man pulled out a treasured photo album and gently touched the black-and-white photos from the first race. The images captured the six winners of that inaugural event. The reporter noticed their prizes were distinctly characteristic of the era. Small rice bowls, sportswear, vases — all sought-after items of the time — served as awards. “We went shopping for these ourselves as a family. Back then, every participant also received a small T-shirt,” the elderly man said proudly.
■ To Raise Funds
The Family Cycling Team Rode 1,000 Kilometers to Changzhou
The first race was a huge success. When speaking to the media at the time, Yang Guilin promised to keep the Yang Guilin Family Cycling Race going. “A promise is a promise. But where would the money for future races come from? That really worried me.”
In 1986, by a stroke of luck, Yang Guilin received an invitation from the Jingshi Bicycle Factory in Changzhou, Jiangsu, asking him to form a family cycling team to ride Jingshi-brand bicycles back to Changzhou. Hoping to discuss potential collaboration on the family cycling race with the manufacturer, nearly 50-year-old Yang Guilin led a family cycling team composed of his wife Li Shuqin, 17-year-old daughter Yang Yanli, and 13-year-old son Yang Zhenyu. On July 13, 1986, they set off from Tiananmen Square bound for Changzhou, Jiangsu.
July is the height of scorching summer heat — even resting under the shade of a tree requires fanning yourself. Yet, the family cycled at least 100 kilometers a day, sometimes up to 180. The clothes and shorts of Yang Guilin’s family of four were drenched in sweat every day. They traversed flatlands, climbed mountains, pushed their bikes through storms, and carried them through muddy fields after heavy rain. After fourteen days of arduous travel, the Yang Guilin Family Cycling Team passed through Tongxian in Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Qufu, Huai’an, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, and other places. Crossing the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, they traversed five provinces and 127 cities and counties. On the afternoon of July 26, they finally arrived at the Jingshi Bicycle General Factory in Changzhou, Jiangsu.
The Jingshi Bicycle Factory was deeply moved by the Yang family’s dedication to promoting cycling. They decided to support the Yangs in continuing their cycling race. They allowed the family to establish a Jingshi bicycle repair station in Changping, which also sold Jingshi bicycles. The profits could be directly used to fund the annual cycling race. From then on, Yang Guilin devoted himself to managing the repair station, ensuring the race could continue.
■ Second Daughter Takes Over
The Family Cycling Race Becomes a Brand
Now, the elderly man’s repair station has evolved into a full-fledged bicycle shop and a gathering hub for cycling enthusiasts. Every October, before the race, friends from all over come to Yang Guilin’s shop to chat and ride with him. His second daughter, Yang Yanli, who later moved to Chengdu, also brought the race to Sichuan, founding the Old Bikers Club, giving many cycling enthusiasts a long-term home. Starting in 2004, the “Yang Guilin Family Cycling Race” opened a branch in Sichuan, not only retaining all the original events but also incorporating many new elements. The Yang family’s cycling race began receiving government support and sponsorships from businesses, gradually developing into a recognized brand.
Nowadays, in addition to organizing materials from over 20 years of cycling races, Yang Guilin also rides his bicycle around the scenic areas of Changping with his wife. Dressed in professional sportswear, wearing gloves and a helmet... Yang Guilin enjoys the happiness that cycling brings, and he has spent his life sharing that joy with those around him.
youmezz's Weibo