Retired Couple’s 20,000-Kilometer Bicycle Ride

 

　　Rider Profile

　　Name: Brother Dong

　　Gender: Male

　　Occupation: Retired Doctor

　　Brother Dong is an active figure on outdoor forums and QQ groups in Jiangmen. Yet many don’t know he’s actually a 64-year-old senior. Brother Dong has a passionate love for outdoor sports such as swimming, hiking, and cycling, and enjoys following online forum discussions and group activities. Perhaps due to this youthful and energetic mindset, he looks remarkably young and doesn’t resemble a typical “retired uncle.”

　　Some call him a “veteran rider,” not because of his age, but because he was among the first in Jiangmen to take up outdoor sports. He witnessed the establishment of various outdoor associations such as the Outdoor Sports Exploration Group and the Jiangmen Cycling Association. “The Jiangmen Outdoor Association was initiated by a rider from Zhuhai, and our first camping trip was at Qixingkeng. The Jiangmen Cycling Association applied for over 10 years before finally being officially approved this January…” When recalling these “historic” moments in Jiangmen’s outdoor scene, he can recount them vividly and in great detail.

　　Having been involved in outdoor activities for over a decade, Brother Dong’s greatest passion is cycling. Riding his bike from Jiangmen to the Pearl River Delta and even Hong Kong and Macau has become routine. In recent years, he has taken on many long-distance routes over 500 kilometers—riding from Jiangmen to Beijing, from Guizhou to Jiangmen, and from Jiangmen to Sanya… He says that after every ride, he logs the bicycle odometer readings, and to date, he has covered a total of 19,000 kilometers.

　　Brother Dong is a swimming enthusiast who frequently participates in swimming competitions around the country. His introduction to cycling also came through swimming. Once, while competing in a swimming event in Macau, the president of the local winter swimming association suggested, “Next time, come by bicycle.” Invited, he and some fellow riders undertook their first cycling trip. He clearly remembers it was December 1–3, 2003, and the bike they used back then was just an ordinary “vintage bike.”

　　Over the years, he has ridden to Macau more times than anywhere else—five times in total. He says each route was different, and it’s hard to say which trip was most memorable, but he recalls every experience vividly. The second time was organized under the hospital’s name to participate in a sports event for seniors in Macau. That team was particularly eye-catching. “When we arrived, Macau police even helped clear the way for us, and later some riders helped us connect with the Macau Cycling Association.” The third trip was during Christmas. “We arrived in Macau just in time to celebrate Christmas there…”

　　After experiencing cycling, he was hooked. In 2007, Brother Dong bought his own professional touring bicycle. Since then, whenever he attended events in Foshan, Zhuhai, Hong Kong, Macau, and other places, he rode his bike. The bicycle became his primary mode of transportation. He also tried solo cycling within the province. In recent years, he has made multiple solo round trips between Zhaoqing and Jiangmen—not for any particular reason, just for the joy of the journey. Each time he arrived, he would stay overnight and then head back. “Now, I could even map out five different cycling routes between Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.”

　　In 2008, Brother Dong cycled to Beijing. That year was the Olympic year, and it marked his first long-distance challenge. That year would become the most unforgettable in his cycling career. After returning to Jiangmen, his feat drew much attention. During the Olympic year, “a 60-something uncle from Jiangmen biking to Beijing” became a hot topic in town.

　　Reflecting on the journey, he feels he showed great courage at the time. In April of that year, a rider from Shunde posted online calling for others to join him on a bike ride to Beijing. Intrigued, he wanted to rally people around him, but “no one had the confidence—they were all too afraid to go.” In the end, with no companions joining and against his family’s objections, he resolutely decided to go to Shunde to meet the other riders. “That year, the Olympics were coming up. I was worried that if I went too late, it might cause trouble, so I decided to set off in April.”

　　The two other riders who joined him were from Shunde and Zhuhai, both ex-military and experienced in long-distance cycling. As a result, his pace was slower, and he often struggled to keep up. Looking back, he admits it was “one of the toughest rides he’s ever done.” To try to keep pace, during meal breaks, he would just quickly eat a few biscuits, skip resting, and push ahead to wait for the others to catch up. “It was really tough. I lost ten pounds by the end of the trip,” he said. In truth, he had prepared himself mentally—if he couldn’t keep going, he’d just hop on a train and head back midway.

　　In the end, he succeeded. The entire journey from Jiangmen to Beijing took 28 days. Initially, the three rode together, but some dropped out along the way, and some continued to a second leg after arriving in Beijing. He had planned to join the second leg heading northeast, but was persuaded by fellow riders to withdraw. After returning from Beijing, he wrote about his experience: “For various reasons, I couldn’t join the second leg. To be honest, I did feel a bit regretful. But for me, it was already a great achievement—I’m satisfied.”

　　Brother Dong says his philosophy for cycling is to gain experiences, not just for fun. It wasn’t until his Beijing trip that he truly spent a few days sightseeing at his destination. “When I got there, I called my wife to ask if she wanted to come. I was ready to take the train back if she didn’t.” In the end, his wife joined him, and they rented bikes in Beijing to explore the city together.

　　From complete novice to expert, Brother Dong says it was all learned along the way. While cycling in Beijing, he learned where to stop and where to find accommodations. “There are many details to pay attention to. For finding lodging, you should look in busy areas, start early, and aim to secure a place by 4 or 5 pm. Better to ride a bit less than to ride until dark.”

　　Since the Beijing trip, Brother Dong has taken on several more long-distance rides over 500 kilometers. Unlike before, on every subsequent trip, his wife accompanied him. His wife’s online name is “Lucky Star,” and she is also a biker who, influenced by him, has developed a deep passion for cycling.

　　In 2009, the couple took a train to Guizhou, shipping their bicycles there, and then rode back to Jiangmen. “At that time, there were two other companions. Their first real independent long-distance ride was from Sanya.” With that experience, in the same year, they planned their own route, riding from Jiangmen to Sanya. They’ve ridden together every year since, traveling across much of China. In 2010, they rode from Jiangmen to Nanning; last year, they rode from Fuzhou to Huizhou, then to Qinghai Lake, and entered Tibet. The couple has created one miracle after another on their rides, leaving behind many wonderful memories.

　　Long-distance rides are usually one-way, but now the couple works in perfect harmony. “My wife is very good at planning and calculating routes. Before each trip, she researches the route and calculates based on covering 80 to 100 kilometers per day, stopping to rest overnight upon reaching a destination.” He jokes that his wife has better stamina. “Whenever we reach a stop, she finds a hotel and falls asleep right away, while I’m still washing clothes and getting everything ready for the next day.”

　　Their bond has also deepened through cycling. Last year, while riding around Qinghai Lake, he suffered from mild altitude sickness, rode slowly, and faced many uphill sections on the east side of the lake with no food stops. They ended up staying at Zhongyangchang after just over 50 kilometers on the first day. Later, while sorting photos, he wrote on the back of a picture of the two of them in Lhasa: “If it weren’t for Lucky Star, I might not have made it.” A simple sentence, yet full of emotion.

　　Often, when riders dressed in professional cycling gear hit the road, they attract curious stares. Brother Dong says he’s used to it by now. “Sometimes, cars even slow down and stop to watch you.” He says cyclists must keep a low profile—talk less, and when you do talk, say even less. He recalls being advised by teammates during the Beijing trip: “Never tell locals the truth. If they ask where you’re going, don’t tell them. If they ask where you’re from, say the last stop. If they ask where you’re headed, say the next stop.” He says it’s all to avoid unnecessary trouble.

　　Despite keeping a low profile, Brother Dong has friends all over the world. He has compiled two address books containing contact info for nearly 900 hiking enthusiasts and over 700 winter swimmers and cyclists from across the country. He’s even meticulous enough to number each name. He says it’s a habit he’s kept for years. “Whenever I attend group outdoor events and meet new riders, I make an effort to get to know them, get their phone numbers and QQ, and then organize and number them when I get back.”
　　“I don’t remember all of them, as some I’ve only met once, rarely keep in touch, or I’ve even forgotten their faces.” He says he still often exchanges greetings with most of the people in the books. Yet what’s most precious is that these two books have served as a “lifeline” many times, helping him and his fellow riders. When someone wants to cycle somewhere, he finds them companions from the address book. When a rider encounters an emergency on the road, he quickly thinks of local riders and uses the address book to find help.

　　In a cycling group he created, there are over 180 members. The couple often chat on the group and keep up with the updates of fellow cyclists. He said he’s not very familiar with forum operations and usually spends more time on QQ. Whenever a cyclist encounters problems during their journey and asks him for help, he will post a message in the group calling for everyone’s assistance. It is also because of this sincerity and camaraderie that the cyclists and group members hold him in high regard.