I’ve been biking in Beijing since May, and let me tell you, it completely changes the city. No more getting stuck in traffic, no more getting molested on the subway. Beijing actually becomes accessible. Before writing about biking in Beijing, I first want to introduce the bike:
That's how I roll
Yes, that badass basket is an after-market mod.
The last thing a shorty sees before hitting the pavement, aka "butterfly stamp"
Yong jiu - Forever -Â Prize to the person who can figure out, with credible evidence, which year this bike was manufactured.
Commuter bike chain cover - no more pant-leg stuffed socks
Old school front brake mechanism - and sweet logo
For the engineers and bike nerds - rear brake mechanism
Shanghai bicycle factory - "The all-steel bicycle"
Startler of many an oblivious pedestrian
Ponder this:Â Will you ever be lucky enough to ride the coveted back seat?
Approximately what cyclists and cars would see when I pass them, if they weren't wiping the dust from their eyes, except that the kickstand would be up, the lock would be off, and I would be riding the bike. In other words, nothing like what others see when I pass them.
September 3, 2010 at 14:52
Pretty sweet Chaser. Def the way to roll in BJ. This one is also in the sweet spot of functional but not flashy so it doesn’t get stolen within a week by one of those sketchy guys in front of the second hand bike shops
August 24, 2010 at 03:05
What do you think of that massive traffic jam? Is it really due to poor urban planning?
August 29, 2010 at 23:48
I’m not too familiar with that area, but I think that’s more an issue of bad regional planning.
September 3, 2010 at 15:29
Allen, take a look at this article – http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/08/24/129404540/chinese-mega-traffic-jam-linked-to-illegal-coal-trade
Very interesting take on the situation. I disagree with the WSJ’s Shai Oster on the commute time in Beijing though. I would argue (and I think I’ve seen this statistic before) that the average commute time in Beijing has actually increased significantly since 1990, when everyone commuted by bicycle.
August 6, 2010 at 21:31
a few days ago, i got to ride my first ever electric scooter! you should get one! it’s a lot of fun. i wish they sold them in the US. they start at around 2000 rmb. if they sold for 300 usd in SF, i’d definitely get one or maybe a few!
regarding bikes in china…
i think most are of steel construction, single geared, and have chain guards. you won’t see many road/mountain bikes since those are really for recreational use and they tend to be more expensive and easy targets for theft. no one uses bike lights–in fact, i don’t think anyone even has reflectors.
August 8, 2010 at 12:55
Yes, the electric bikes look like fun, but if you’re after a low carbon, low industrial pollutant lifestyle, they’re still not as good as good old man-powered bikes. On the other hand, they’re a hell of a lot more efficient than cars, so I shouldn’t rag on them too much.
I personally enjoy the exercise I get from cycling too – I don’t think I’ll get an electric bike until I’m too old to pedal.
Agreed on all your points about biking in China. Also, no helmets.
August 6, 2010 at 03:17
what a sweet riiiide
August 5, 2010 at 12:41
is that a seat cover? sweet backdrop in the first picture.
i’m interested to learn more about biking in china (and how it compares to riding in the US):
how does this bike compare with others on the road? (quality, steel/aluminum, road/mountain, etc)
are bikes cheap?
is it easy/cheap to repair bikes?
are bike chain covers common there?
do people use bike lights?
……….etc…….
August 8, 2010 at 12:52
Yes, the seat cover is also an after-market addition, though it was already there when I bought it. The seat cover is stuffed with some odd rags and other junk that I haven’t had the courage to fully explore.
Thanks for the questions, I’ll try to answer them in future posts. For now, though, I’ll answer your question about the price of the bike. I bought mine at a second-hand shop (ostensibly certified by the government to be free of stolen goods) for 240 RMB, which is about $35. I also test-rode a few others, as cheap as 120 RMB, but they were really crappy.
Right outside the shop, on the sidewalk, are a bunch of shady guys aggressively peddling stolen bikes. Those range from less than 100 RMB to hundreds of RMB. Similarly to the U.S., new bike prices vary widely, from about 350 RMB (~$50) to thousands of RMB.
August 5, 2010 at 12:15
Nice wheels, Chaser!!