BEIJING, Aug. 9 (BUS) – Lindsay Mu was unable to go to her gym after Beijing closed indoor sports facilities in May due to the coronavirus outbreak. So I started cycling — and quickly fell in love with the sport, according to the Associated Press.
“I realized that the racing bike was very different from a normal bike,” she said. “It’s so fast and exciting, I just couldn’t stop anymore.”
Bicycles have always been a means of transportation in China, and they outnumber cars on city streets. Now cycling is increasingly seen as a sport by the urban middle class who has benefited from China’s growth into the world’s second largest economy. What started as a niche sport about a decade ago has turned into a small boom.
The cycling events organized by Beijing Cycling Club in Chiyi have registered about 10,000 participants over the past year, about 50% of whom are regulars. Nationwide, at least 20 million people participate in the sport, according to the China Bicycle Association.
The pandemic played a role, as authorities moved quickly to close non-essential businesses – including gyms – during the outbreak under a strict COVID-free approach. Cycling, which could be done individually or in groups, was largely free of restrictions limiting gatherings, especially indoors.
Tours organized by cycling clubs or individual cyclists in Beijing take enthusiasts to remote mountainous regions or to city landmarks including Tiananmen Square.
For cyclist Yang Lan, the sport also provides a refuge from the hassles of daily life in the age of coronavirus. “With the pandemic … this seems to be the only way for us to escape the horrible city life and pace,” she said.
On a recent summer morning, Yang and 14 other riders cycled along the Baihe River Valley in the northern Beijing countryside despite the heat and humidity.
In full cycling gear, they pedal the racing bikes hard on both roads and slopes, sweating through a journey of more than 70 kilometers (45 miles) while enjoying breathtaking views.
Pedaling forward with her own efforts gives Yang the incomparable pleasure not to get from riding a motorbike or driving a car.
“It gives you a stronger sense of immersion in the natural environment around you, so I find it more interesting,” said Yang, who started cycling in February, at the end of the winter, when she was looking for something new.
Feng Baozong, vice president of the China Cycling Association, said the boom in cycling reflects the growing popularity of outdoor activities.
“Especially after the epidemic, people have a desire to get out of rooms and buildings to exercise outdoors,” Feng said.
Naturally, this trend boosted the demand for bikes.
The US specialty bike brand says its Beijing store sales rose 20% to 30% from March to June, compared to the same period a year earlier. He Dong, who is in charge of the specialty franchise dealer in Beijing, said it would be a huge doubled increase if not a shortage of bicycle products.
Zhou Fuyuan, founder of Magic Cycling, an online bicycle information platform in China, said the size of China’s bicycle market reached 80 billion to 100 billion yuan ($12 billion to $15 billion) in 2021. Sales are expected to reach $16.5 billion by 2026, according to online data published by Research and Markets, a market analysis company.
Increasing demand and global supply chain problems mean that those who want to buy bikes, especially beginner or intermediate riders, have to wait weeks or months for a new cycle. For every specialized model sold in Beijing, he said, at least 10 customers wait for their bikes to arrive.
Some choose to pay more for any bikes that are available. Joanna Lee doubled her budget and spent 60,000 yuan ($8,900) on her first race bike. She said the money is better spent than on a fancy bag.
“What you invest in is your body and very good exercise habits,” she said. “I think it’s more valuable than the clothes you wear or the handbags you use.”
People will have more options for sports and recreation when the pandemic is over, but Feng says he expects cycling to remain popular because it is driven by China’s growing affluence, the growth of the sports industry and increased concern about their health due to COVID-19.
“The pursuit of health is not going away, so I think there is a good potential for[cycling]sustainability,” Feng said.
The popularity of the sport is also a sign of the public’s growing awareness of environmental protection and pursuit of a low-carbon lifestyle.
“This way of life is likely to be healthier and more beneficial to society.” Yang said. “I think people now have a good sense of protecting the environment and hope to do good for society.”
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