BEIJING (AP) – Lindsey Mo was unable to go to her gym after Beijing closed indoor sports facilities in May due to the coronavirus outbreak. That’s how she started cycling and soon fell in love with this sport.
“I realized that a racing bike is very different from a regular bike,” she said. “It’s very fast and exciting, and I couldn’t stop.”
Bicycles have long been a form of transportation in China and once outnumbered cars on city streets. Now, cycling is increasingly seen as a sport by the urban middle class that has benefited from China’s growth into the world’s second largest economy. What started as a niche sport ten years ago has turned into a mini-boom.
Cycling events organized by the Beijing Qiyi Cycling Club gathered around 10,000 participants last year, of which around 50% are regulars. Nationwide, at least 20 million people participate in the sport, according to the Chinese Cycling Association.
The pandemic has played its part, with authorities moving quickly to close non-essential businesses – including gyms – during the outbreak under a strict zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19. Bicycling, which can be done individually as well as in groups, is largely free of restrictions that limit gatherings, especially indoors.
Rides organized by cycling clubs or individual cyclists in Beijing take enthusiasts to outlying mountain areas or to city landmarks, including Tiananmen Square.
For cyclist Yang Lan, the sport also provides an escape from the everyday problems of life in the era of the coronavirus. “With the pandemic … it seems like the only way to escape the horrible city life and pace,” she said.
On a recent summer morning, Yang and 14 other cyclists cycled along the Baihe River Canyon in rural northern Beijing despite the heat and humidity.
In full cycling gear, they pedaled hard on their racing bikes on both flat roads and slopes, sweating through the more than 70 kilometers (45 miles) ride while taking in the spectacular views.
Pedaling forward with his own efforts gives Yang an incomparable satisfaction that cannot be obtained from riding a motorcycle or driving a car.
“It gives you a stronger sense of integration into the natural environment around you, so it’s more interesting to me,” said Yang, who started cycling in February, in the middle of winter, when she was looking for something new.
The boom in cycling reflects the growing popularity of outdoor activities, said Feng Baozhong, vice president of the China Cycling Association.
“Especially after the pandemic, people have a desire to get out of rooms and buildings to do outdoor sports,” Feng said.
Naturally, the trend increased the demand for bicycles.
American bicycle brand Specialized says sales at its Beijing stores rose 20% to 30% from March to June, compared with the same period a year earlier. That would be double the increase if it weren’t for the lack of cycling products, said He Dong, who is in charge of Specialized’s Beijing franchise dealer.
The size of China’s bicycle market was 80 billion to 100 billion yuan ($12 billion to $15 billion) in 2021, said Zhou Fuyuan, founder of Magic Cycling, an online bicycle information platform in China. Sales are projected to reach $16.5 billion by 2026, according to online data published by Research and Markets, a market analysis firm.
Rising demand and problems in the global supply chain mean that those looking to buy bikes, especially beginner or intermediate cyclists, have to wait weeks or months to receive a new cycle. For every Specialized model sold in Beijing, at least 10 customers are waiting for their bikes to arrive, he said.
Some choose to pay more for all bikes that are in stock. Joanna Lei doubled her budget and spent 60,000 yuan ($8,900) on her first racing bike. She said money is better spent than on a luxury bag.
“What you’re investing in is your own body and a very good exercise habit,” she said. “I think it’s more valuable than the clothes you wear or the bag you use.”
People will have more choices for sports and entertainment when the pandemic ends, but Feng says he expects cycling to remain popular as it is driven by China’s growing wealth, the growth of the sports industry and increased concern for one’s health due to COVID-19.
“The pursuit of health is not going to go away, so I think there is a good perspective for (cycling’s) sustainability,” Feng said.
The popularity of this sport is also a sign of growing public awareness of environmental protection and the pursuit of a low-carbon lifestyle.
“That way of life is probably healthier and more beneficial to society.” Yang said. “I think people now have a good sense of environmental protection and hope to do good for society.”
Associated Press video producer Caroline Chen contributed.
