Cycling in China

[ChinaRides]

Hello everyone,

I hope that my message finds you well. My name is Mohsin and I am an expatriate from the UK, working in China for the last 12 years. Over the last 5-6 years I have been cycling a lot around here and I wanted to share the culture of cycling in the country as there is not much information about it online. So, last weekend I started a channel to talk about and share this. Working full time and doing something like this costs a lot of energy, time and resources, so I have been hesitant until now. Nevertheless, I made the first Vlog on Sunday. Please let me know what you think, any constructive feedback would be appreciated. Wishing you all a good day.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMJVRK82e5o


Mohsin (China Rides)

 

[jamesrider]

Great initiative! It's always awesome to hear about cycling experiences from expats living in different countries. China's cycling culture is fascinating, and I'm sure many enthusiasts would love to learn more about your perspective.

 

[ChinaRides]

Hi James. I thought the same thing. There is not much information about cycling around here and it is such a lovely experience every time I go riding with friends around here, so I'm really happy to hear that there are people who enjoy the content. Thank you for your kind words.

I uploaded this video today:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glj9D5iXniY&t=184s

 

[jamesrider]

I actually can't view the video. It looks like an interesting channel about cycling in China though!

 

[ChinaRides]

I actually can't view the video. It looks like an interesting channel about cycling in China though!

Hmm, I wonder why that is. I'll add it as a new thread, maybe that would work. I'd love to get some feedback on how I could improve the content.

 

[AmRacer]

Hmm, I wonder why that is. I'll add it as a new thread, maybe that would work. I'd love to get some feedback on how I could improve the content.

I can view the video.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

No need at all for that other thread: deleted.

I will watch this thread for signs of obviously human activity.

 

[ChinaRides]

Much appreciated. Thank you

 

[jamesrider]

Hi James. I thought the same thing. There is not much information about cycling around here and it is such a lovely experience every time I go riding with friends around here, so I'm really happy to hear that there are people who enjoy the content. Thank you for your kind words.

I uploaded this video today:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glj9D5iXniY&t=184s

Awesome shot! The river looks so peaceful.

 

[ChinaRides]

Awesome shot! The river looks so peaceful.

Thank you for the support buddy. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[ChinaRides]

Hi everyone, I hope my message finds you well. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, I am vlogging cycling culture here in China, talking about cycling related topics, history, food and other unique, maybe unknown things. I am adding a link to my third vlog, I hope you enjoy it. If there are any questions you have, please let me know and I will try my best to address them.

Mohsin (China rides)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVGtMWy98Ho

 

[ChinaRides]

Good day/evening to everyone

I hope you had a lovely week. Here I am with another weekly update from China. If you have any questions or suggestions about the content, please feel free to let me know. I want to improve in my videography/storytelling, so any advise is welcome. Have an awesome week.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60ToBkLv_T4


Mohsin (China Rides)

 

[ChinaRides]

Good morning all,

This week we climbed Miaofeng mountain in Beijing which is a HC level climb (over 15km in length with an average gradient of over 5%). It constantly rises with parts that are over 25%. The climb also featured in the 2014 Tour of Beijing. What made it worse was it was -5 degrees and we had headwinds the whole day.
At the top of the mountain there is temple dedicated to the Taoist goddess Bixia Yuanjun. The drive to Beijing, the climb and the temple at the end made for an almost spiritual experience. This video took around 25 hours to edit because I wanted to do justice to the experience. I hope that carries over.

Best wishes.
Mohsin (China Rides)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD4dgMVGEdk

 

[ChinaRides]

Good evening all.

I met with the manager of XDS in Tianjin and had a chat about the new X-Lab bike, which team Astana Qazaqstan will be riding next season. Below is the video. If there is a topic you'd be interesting in knowing more about in relation to cycling in China, please let me know.

Regards,
Mohsin

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOUTvFcDHk

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Good morning all,

This week we climbed Miaofeng mountain in Beijing which is a HC level climb (over 15km in length with an average gradient of over 5%). It constantly rises with parts that are over 25%. The climb also featured in the 2014 Tour of Beijing. What made it worse was it was -5 degrees and we had headwinds the whole day.
At the top of the mountain there is temple dedicated to the Taoist goddess Bixia Yuanjun. The drive to Beijing, the climb and the temple at the end made for an almost spiritual experience. This video took around 25 hours to edit because I wanted to do justice to the experience. I hope that carries over.

Best wishes.
Mohsin (China Rides)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD4dgMVGEdk

Have you ever climbed the Wulingshan ascent north of Jizhou? Cronoescalada says the north side of it (via Dakang Pass) is about 26km at 6% which looks like a brutal, legit HC, whereas I'd say Miaofengshan is probably a solid cat.1 by Alpine/Pyrenean standards, comparable in stats to something like Col d'Aspin from what I recall from the Tour of Beijing back when it ran. I know it's in Hefei rather than in Beijing province, but given you've also covered the Tianjin area I guess it's not that far out of the way that it would be impossible to reach?

 

[Black Betsy]

I guess you could bring me faster the Light Bicycle rims I've ordered than their miserable monkey business EMS China

 

[ChinaRides]

Have you ever climbed the Wulingshan ascent north of Jizhou? Cronoescalada says the north side of it (via Dakang Pass) is about 26km at 6% which looks like a brutal, legit HC, whereas I'd say Miaofengshan is probably a solid cat.1 by Alpine/Pyrenean standards, comparable in stats to something like Col d'Aspin from what I recall from the Tour of Beijing back when it ran. I know it's in Hefei rather than in Beijing province, but given you've also covered the Tianjin area I guess it's not that far out of the way that it would be impossible to reach?

Hi there. Unfortunately, I have not climbed Wulingshan. There are a lot of places I am yet to visit but thank you for letting me know. We are planning to go to Hangzhou next, any mountains around there that you are aware of?

 

[ChinaRides]

I guess you could bring me faster the Light Bicycle rims I've ordered than their miserable monkey business EMS China

Light Bicycle wheels are really good. I have had them on my Giant TCR for around three years now. I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with the delivery. I hope they arrive soon

 

[ChinaRides]

Hi all,
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and are having a wonderful start to your new year. Over the last week, I travelled to Hainan island with my wife and we recorded videos over four days. I finally finished editing the video which took more than 50 hours. I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to ask any questions. Have a lovely day.

Mohsin (China Rides)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APv4yo5aRyc&t=6s

 

[Cookster15]

Thanks for the video. I just returned from three weeks in China, mainly near Shanghai (also Suzhou, Hangzhou and Jinhua).

However, cycling paradise is not quite how I would describe what I saw in their big cities. More like nightmare? Air pollution was quite poor and there seems no rules about wearing helmets or having visible lights when riding at night? I was amazed there weren't more serious accidents (that I saw). Stopping at red lights is optional as is riding on the right hand side of the road. Also saw young children being ridden around sitting on the handlebars.

But certainly looks very nice at Hainan island where you chose to ride and film for your excellent video.

Edit: On our last day our tour group were taken on a road near the Jin Hua mountains -clear air up there. We were told the top of that climb is "a little over 1,000metres". The bus went half way up to Shuanglong Caves. Quite a bit of traffic though.

 

[ChinaRides]

Hi there, thanks for your feedback. I live in Tianjin, but have cycled in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou/Wuxi, the Shandong region and Hainan Island. In my experience, all the places have big bike lanes and I've never seen any children being ridden around on handlebars or people jumping red lights as you have described. However, air pollution is high at different times in different cities. From my limited knowledge, there seems to be a time and a set amount of air quality that cities must adhere to but I am not sure how that works. In terms of lights and helmets for bicycles, you are right, there doesn't seem to be a strict rule about them. Turning right at red rights is allowed for cars, bikes and e-scooters.
Cheers for your feedback and I hope you have a lovely day.

Mohsin (China Rides)

 

[ChinaRides]

Hi all,

If anyone is interested in the Chinese X-Lab bike which Astana Qazaqstan are riding this season, I rode it on Saturday and put this video together. If you have any questions or suggestions then please let me know.

Have a lovely day.

Mohsin (China Rides)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzjlxP3cyzE