Five Senior Cyclists and Their Route
On the 8th, at the Wanpingkou Performing Arts Plaza, five senior cyclists with an average age of 55.8 set off on their journey. Their destination is Lhasa, Tibet, covering a one-way distance of 5,288 kilometers, with an estimated minimum of 70 days to reach the Potala Palace.
On the morning of the 8th, facing the rising sun, numerous members of the Rizhao Winter Swimming Association gathered at the Wanpingkou Performing Arts Plaza. This time, they were there to cheer on five local cyclists about to embark on a solo bike ride to Lhasa. "We're all old friends. They're heading off on a long trip soon, so we came to see them off," said one of the swimmers.
It is understood that these five cyclists are all members of the Rizhao Winter Swimming Association—two men and three women. The oldest among them is Qu Shaofen, who is 68 years old this year, while the initiator of this activity is Tao Yuhua, who is also 49. "There's also Liu Xianli, who is 50, Zhu Shian, 56, and Li Zhicun, 56," Qu Shaofen introduced her teammates to the reporter one by one on the 8th.
In preparation for this cycling trip, the five senior cyclists had been planning for a long time. The idea was first proposed by Tao Yuhua, and after receiving positive responses from fellow cyclists during a gathering, they spent some time preparing before finally setting off on their "long march" on the 8th.
It is understood that to ensure the safety and smooth progress of this activity, the five cyclists were also equipped with a support vehicle and had created a detailed route map. On the map, it can be seen that after departing from Wanpingkou in Rizhao, the five cyclists will pass through Linyi (Shandong), Xuzhou (Jiangsu), Fuyang (Anhui), Xinyang (Henan), Jingzhou (Hubei), Changde (Hunan), Guiyang (Guizhou), Kunming (Yunnan), and (Sichuan), traversing 10 provinces and over 20 cities, covering a total distance of 5,288 kilometers. According to the plan, they will take a group photo in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa in about 70 days.
Before departure, the cyclists also carried a bottle of seawater from Rizhao and a cup of soil from Yaowangcheng, intending to bring them to Lhasa. On their return, they plan to bring back a bottle of holy water from Lhasa.
"We plan to cycle about 130 kilometers per day, reducing to around 50 kilometers once we enter the Tibetan area," said Li Zhicun. Additionally, they will stamp their route map with the postmark of the local post office at each place they pass through. "This is how we can prove we've been here."
On the afternoon of the 8th, the reporter contacted Zhu Shian. After a day of cycling, they had already reached Luozhuang District in Linyi. "The first day was against the wind, and it felt a bit tiring. We’ve already stamped our postmarks and will head straight for Xuzhou tomorrow," said Zhu Shian, who was resting in a hotel.
Long Journey Worries Spouse
"Our children are all in the northeast, and my family is quite supportive of my cycling trip," said Qu Shaofen, the oldest in the group. At the scene, the reporter also met Qu Shaofen’s husband, Mr. An, who had come to see her off. Although he supports his wife’s cycling adventure, Mr. An couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
"She just recovered from heart surgery, and now she’s going such a long way, even to high altitude. I’m really worried about her," Mr. An said. As he spoke, Qu Shaofen stood nearby and responded with a smile: "Actually, there’s no need to worry too much. I’ve done long-distance cycling before."
All Team Members Have Cycling Experience
According to Li Zhicun, who is participating in this cycling trip, everyone in their small team is a bicycle enthusiast. Although the longest cycling experience among them is only about three years, some team members have already completed rides around Qinghai Lake and the Shandong Peninsula.
"In 2010, I completed the peninsula ride, and the others completed the Qinghai Lake ride last year," said Li Zhicun.
The "others" mentioned by Li Zhicun include Tao Yuhua, who completed the Qinghai Lake ride last year. At that time, a total of 13 cyclists from Rizhao participated in the Qinghai Lake cycling event.
Promoting Environmental Protection While Cycling
"Our cycling trip is not only to challenge ourselves and enjoy the scenery along the way, but also, importantly, to promote awareness of low-carbon environmental protection," said Li Zhicun. The reporter noticed that the backs of the five cyclists’ shirts were all printed with the words "Tibet Environmental Protection Journey."