Do you still remember the blockbuster movie *Avatar* released in 2010? The cycling enthusiast before us, Zhang Yong, was deeply impressed by the Na'vi people. "The perfect physique of the Na'vi is the ultimate goal humans strive for. People with a physique like the Na'vi would make excellent cyclists because they have no fat—only muscle."
Zhang Yong believes that cycling is an excellent form of exercise, and those who cycle regularly have "incredible physiques. My husband is envious of our team captain’s body—he’s practically drooling over it." When chatting with Zhang Yong, what stands out is her humorous language and hearty laughter.
Zhang Yong has a blog where she used to go by the name "Cycling Enthusiast." On the blog, she shared her cycling experiences and analyzed cycling techniques. From their conversations, it's evident that Zhang Yong is tirelessly promoting the sport of cycling. She mentioned that she never imagined she would "go this deep into it."
After being involved in a car accident in 2007, Zhang Yong began using a stationary bike for rehabilitation. "At that time, my femur was fractured. People scared me, saying there are those at my level who end up in wheelchairs for life." But gradually, Zhang Yong started feeling that the stationary bike wasn’t enough.
In 2009, Zhang Yong began her journey with bicycles. "I don’t know why a bicycle shop opened right in front of my house, or why it had such a large glass window filled with so many beautiful bikes. Within two days, I bought one. At that time, I was helping a TV program find guests, and I was the one who invited the well-known domestic cyclist Tang Xuezhong as the first guest. Later, I participated in a cycling race and somehow ended up getting third place. Riding a bike near Tiananmen, I ended up joining a cycling team. During the annual trip to Taiwan, I met an 85-year-old man who kept giving me pointers. His spirit has always inspired me."
She knows all the people and stories she’s encountered or heard about in the cycling world. "The older ones often have longer riding histories and are also the best riders. They take care of us beginners during the ride." Among them, what stands out most in Zhang Yong’s memory is the Taihu Lake cycling race. "At that time, I had just learned how to ride in a group. About a third of the way through, someone more than ten years older than me passed me, and I started following him. He rode with me for half an hour, teaching me how to climb hills, descend, when to shift gears, and so on. This elevated my understanding of cycling to a whole new level, but I never saw him again afterward."
Cycling not only helped Zhang Yong make new friends and achieve a "much better than before" physical condition, but it also changed her attitude toward life. Before the accident, Zhang Yong worked in the IT industry, putting in about 60 hours a week. Now, she helps radio programs find guests and is involved in various charitable activities. "I used to be a very strict person. The moment I frowned, others wouldn’t dare speak. There were rarely any smiles. Now, I’ve completely changed. I definitely wouldn’t talk the way I do now back then." Which version of yourself do you prefer? "Of course, the present is much more fun—I wouldn’t want to go back to the past at all!"
Now, she has achieved her goal of cycling 200 kilometers in a single day. "That day, I left at 6 a.m. and got home at 9 p.m. When I got home, I found I had ridden 197 kilometers, so I just circled around my neighborhood once more. Around the 150-kilometer mark, I couldn’t go on and even had a meal. That became a classic story—my teammates still laugh about it every time."
Zhang Yong advocates for scientific cycling and the development of cycling culture. She bought a book on cycling theory to study on her own, does targeted glute exercises for competitions, and pays attention to metrics like hemoglobin levels, cadence, and lean body mass... "A lot of people see my blog posts about cycling 200 kilometers a day and think, 'I can do that too.' There will definitely be many people who cycle 200 kilometers a day. Although it won’t happen overnight, the widespread adoption of scientific cycling will come eventually."
A couple of days ago, Zhang Yong tallied up her cycling activities for 2011 on her blog, totaling 5,096 kilometers. Zhang Yong said that what she wants to do now is "get a mountain bike and conquer mountains and rivers!"
