Night rider: meet those who cycle around Beijing after-hours

Cycling in the still of night is an inspired idea for those who have postponed the plan to jump on a bike out of fear of Beijing traffic. The Fast Wheel Night Riding League suggests you ride through town in dim light, at a pace that will ensure bike enthusiasts get a new view of Beijing, while also being upbeat and good exercise.

About 20 bike enthusiasts meet every Thursday at around 8 pm at Chang'an Avenue to ride a 25-kilometer circuit. The ride takes around two hours, with dinner and drinks waiting at the finish line. "Our riding league is about having a good time with friends and nurturing riding as a fun lifestyle option," said Yang Mora, co-founder of the league, differentiating his two-wheel squad from other groups in Beijing. "We favor routes around the old streets of Beijing to get a taste of the old city life. Riding at night is a totally different experience compared to riding in daylight. Everything looks different and you may see sights you would never see otherwise. On the other hand we avoid traffic congestion and air pollution," noted the leader of the group.

Yang and his bike buddies formally launched the Fast Wheel Night Riding League on Chinese microblog Sina Weibo last July. He didn't expect membership to grow so quickly from a small community to about 100 members. These include foreigners and 50 percent are female, mostly in their late 20s and 30s. Yang has his own custom-made bicycle, but guarantees you don't need one to join. "This league is about fun. We all share a passion for cycling," Yang said, guaranteeing that first timers are always welcome.

"Social pressure is very strong in China, especially for people who are trying to make it in big cities like Beijing. In their haste to make money, people forget to enjoy life," said 31-year-old shop assistant Xu Jing, a participant in the night rides. "I feel like I'm enjoying life more since I've joined these rides," added the Jiangsu native.

Xu and Yang share the belief that the enthusiasm generated by night cycling will have a positive impact on the next generation of Beijingers. "Unfortunately Beijing is no longer a bike-friendly city, so we hope to promote cycling not just as transportation, but also as a lifestyle choice," said Yang.

These night riders evoke thoughts of Taiwan movie Kora, which portrays a 24-year-old university graduate cycling from Lijiang, Yunnan Province, to Lhasa, Tibet, out of love of cycling's freedom. "Beijing-Tianjin was one of the best rides. It took us about nine hours to complete 138 kilometers. It is great being able to live life on the road," Yang described, talking of long distance trips of yonder.

With the return of warmer weather, the group will resume its night rides. Then the next big adventure is a long-distance ride around Taiwan in October. "This time we want to rent bikes in Taiwan. Qinghai Lake or France might be next," said Yang.

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