British science fiction writer H.G. Wells once said, "When I see an adult riding on a bicycle, I no longer despair about the future of mankind."
Bicycles are a fulcrum. We just need to continue riding and fully enjoy the lifestyle brought by cycling, which can bring changes to the city - this change cannot be achieved by one person alone, but bicycles can amplify these tiny powers and allow people to get closer to their ideal life and environment step by step.
"If you have ever experienced the moment of majesty and freedom on a bicycle; if you have ever broken free from sorrow and let your mind integrate into the rhythm of the two wheels of flying, or have felt the revival of hope when you hang your forehead with sweat and climb to the top of the mountain; if you have ever ridden on a bicycle and swooped down like a bird, thinking in your mind whether the world is still." Perhaps it is the experience described by the author in "Bicycle: Wheel of Freedom". In the context of normalized epidemic prevention and control, urban cycling has become one of the most popular and healthy ways of travel at present with its light equipment, contactless and low pollution, especially in the hearts of some big cities, re-displaying its charm, attracting many well-educated fans who are passionate about shared bicycles or outdoor sports. In addition to meeting the commuting needs of the "last mile", cycling itself is a lifestyle. Vehicle equipment has a threshold, but it can be high or low. It is frugal to people. The weather conditions and road environment are the only two influencing factors. The popular urban cycling under the epidemic carries people's exploration of urban space and self, and is in the endless details of the city - not only linking urban landmarks and tourist attractions, but also connecting Internet celebrity restaurants and cafes, as well as unknown novel corners in the city. It not only meets the fitness needs of young people, but also improves the breadth of people's lives and the dimension of social circles. Especially in the context of the current general environment, we will encounter risks outside the plan at any time, but even if we take a detour on a cycling, we will eventually reach somewhere.
In the selection of "Monocle" livable city , bicycle friendly is an important criterion for judging whether a city is livable, including storing bicycles, allowing customers to bring bicycles to public transportation and stores, designing areas for cyclists, etc. When people come out of the small space of motor vehicles and interact more closely with the environment, people begin to break the ice and communicate, and the community becomes more active and harmonious. They accidentally discover the more real and interesting side of this familiar city. This is the impact of a good urban experience on people.
The café in Zurich, Switzerland was the first to launch Bike-In Coffee outdoor bicycle seats, so commuters can drink coffee without getting off the bus; Paris sets the goal of achieving a "100% cyclable" city by 2026; Berlin intends to create the world's largest car-free area, only retaining walking, cycling and public transportation. Bicycles were once a unique landscape that best represents the state of China's urban areas, but now there are some shortcomings: from the perspective of urban planning and governance, parking spaces are severely crowded with bicycle lanes; although bicycle lanes are planned in the suburbs, the signs are not clear and there is no supply. In addition to bicycle enthusiasts, ordinary citizens and tourists will not regard cycling as an activity to experience the city. From another perspective, the awareness of cyclists (especially electric vehicles) needs to be improved. Violations of traffic rules and traffic lights are too common, making the already busy streets even more chaotic.
, which just opened in Sanlitun, Beijing last month, is a good starting point. As the center of urban cycling life, it is vigorously promoting urban cycling life and improving the urban slow-moving traffic environment. RE Station is not only a bicycle service station—allowing cyclists to stop and recharge at any time, but also provides services such as car rental, repair, storage, route consultation, etc., it is also a guide station for travel and an urban environmental protection station—in the cycling station, everything about bicycles is recyclable and sustainable. The aesthetic experience of a cyclist is mainly composed of smell, hearing, vision and body kinesthetics.As early as 1988, the book "Aesthetic Perception in Environmental Design" published by Cambridge showed through rigorous research that urban planning layout brings people an aesthetic experience in the transportation process and plays a decisive role in which transportation people choose. RE station represents the future form of urban bicycle infrastructure and promotes sustainable urban planning to move forward.
Beijing Sanlitun RE station cycling life station
Let’s Bikepacking
Let’s go! The founder of
RE is Japanese architectural designer Shiro Suga Ne. When the cycling sport rescued him from his overwhelming physical condition, he brought this casual love to the birth of the RE cycling community and RECC. RE-In English, it means "re" and it represents sustainability, renewable and more possibilities. He hopes to help people re-understand the concept of riding and go straight to the door of love. From creating the cycling " third space " to the popular Bikepacking this year, RE Eryi has always been ahead of the curve.
Xiao Mu Meiling: RE Eryi Brand Director
InStyle: What is the bicycle you are riding now? Why choose it? Have you made any modifications to it?
Xiaomu Meiling: I bought a Bridgestone chromium molybdenum steel road vehicle made in Japan in the 1980s. First of all, it looks very good and comes with a headlight that can be generated by cycling. It is very environmentally friendly and convenient to take care of. Its main structure is intact, so I asked the technician to adjust small parts like the brake and it was easy to get on the road. I didn't modify it much, just install some small items such as retro bells, anti-slip and sweat-proof straps according to my personal preferences.
InStyle: What do you value more when buying a bicycle?
Xiao Mu Meiling: First of all, you must be good at riding. Especially when choosing a car, women should choose a tire size that suits their height according to their ability to exercise, and the small wheels are relatively stable. Moreover, bicycles will grow slowly because of your company. You can slowly modify parts according to your preferences to make it your best partner on the road. Another very important thing is that I value long-term design more, and a durable and high-quality car will be more friendly to the earth.
InStyle: Please introduce the new trend of cycling this year Bikepacking.
Xiaomu Meiling: Different from Biketouring, which is a long-distance multi-day trip, Bikepacking points to a lightweight off-road riding method. It originally means using a bicycle as a carrier, without using shelves (or trying not to use shelves), and traveling for more than one day and camping overnight. The concept of "S24O" (Sub-24hour Overnight) is very popular due to this year's outdoor camping boom, and people usually leave after get off work on Friday or at noon on Saturday to head to a secluded campground and then return the next morning to live a simple outdoor life, but it's not easy to finish. Because Bikepacking abandoned the shelf + pack form that once thought was more secure, and would not bring as heavy equipment as if it were heavy travel, and switched to the concept of directly fitting the frame, allowing outdoors to experience the fun of riding on more road surfaces easily.
InStyle: Are there any precautions for the first time Bikepacking?
Xiaomu Meiling: Bikepacking means you will bear your own weight and the weight of your equipment, which requires additional riding precautions, such as limiting your speed, especially when going downhill, and leaving more time for turns. Unlike backpacking, you don’t want to carry a lot of weight. Instead, most of the weight should be placed as low as possible on the bike, which will improve the handling of the bike and the comfort of your riding. The ultimate essence of Bikepacking is to simply carry out travel. First of all, the vehicle should be lighter, and secondly, the luggage and bags should be lighter. You can also check what you really need. If it's your first time Bikepacking, you can carry most of your equipment on your body, first have a short-distance overnight experience near your home, and then check in to attractions further away.
InStyle: What suggestions do you have for novices to buy their first Bikepacking car?
Xiaomu Meiling: You can choose the CICLORE GRAVEL series, which is also the next bicycle I plan to purchase next. It is called the "SUV" in bicycles. Currently there are two models around and field, and I personally prefer the latter titanium alloy road model. It is ideal for outdoor cycling adventures, and can also be cycled in the city, which is especially friendly to girls. The GRAVEL series can be equipped with front shelves, rear shelves, front bags, beam bags, etc. The capacity of the loading space is comparable to a full-size bicycle. You can carry everything you need for camping, including tents, cooking utensils and equipment to deal with weather conditions. Like a considerate old friend, providing companionship in different situations. It can be your first bike, it can be the car that takes you toward veteran players, or even the only car in life.
Observe the city with cycling
When urban cycling no longer appears in people's vision for the purpose of single commuting, groups related to bicycles gradually gather, and cycling culture also emerges. A group of people who love cycling, sticky and consumer-friendly gathered in the buyer store RESEE and became members of the cycling club. This is also the earliest community in China to develop the concept of cycling.
Sun Jia: Co-founder of RESEE, the buyer store RESEE,
Outdoor sports expert
InStyle: Under what circumstances will I go cycling and what changes will cycling bring to your personal life?
Sun Jia: As long as your physical strength allows and you will ride a bike when you are in a good mood. For me, riding not only saves the distance, reduces carbon emissions all the way, but also makes me feel better. A good mood is the basic element that makes a good change in personal life.
InStyle: RESEE was the first to start cycling community activities in China. What changes have happened to cycling in recent years, especially after the outbreak of the epidemic?
Sun Jia: Cycling has given enthusiasts a more like-minded circle, especially after experiencing this completely closed life under the epidemic, people who yearn for outdoors have more ideas to go out and release. Cycling, a more convenient way of exercise, is more popular.
InStyle: Riding is a special way to observe cities. Do you have any interesting perspectives?
Sun Jia: It is suitable for both movement and stillness when riding. When parking, you can see people, scenery and city. The most interesting observation is that I like to find FREITAG bag friends who love to ride with me. I saw my bag friends riding several times and immediately caught up. I took a photo of my handsome back
Looking for FREITAG bag friends who love to ride with me
is Sun Jia's very special perspective on the city observation
InStyle: What do you value more when buying a bicycle? How did you choose?
Sun Jia: Good riding is the only standard. For everyone, the concept of easy riding is different. Some people like flexible faucets, while others like harder seats, which is a more personal feeling. Once you get in the car, hold the handlebar and sit firmly. At that moment, I believe your body will tell you whether you like this car. I am a custom-made brommpton in the UK, and the dark limited edition pure white body version that was first released that year. I like its foldable portability and also comes with a practical car mini pump, which is rare in car models when I first entered China. In a blink of an eye, this car has been with me for nearly 10 years.
InStyle: Do you think Shanghai is a suitable city for cycling?
Sun Jia: Shanghai has unparalleled boulevards, along the riverside, there are so many old buildings with rich heritage. I believe that in the future when urban planning and construction are more complete, more people will definitely want to get on bicycles and wander around in this charming city.
InStyle: What is the secret to planning these cycling routes?
Sun Jia: There is no secret, it depends on the season and mood. If the breeze blows, we will go to the original French Concession to feel the greenness; or when the coffee is fragrant, we will hold a warm cup in our hands.But sometimes we will develop some special routes. For example, on September 24, we and OTALY invited silent barista to participate, and jointly organized a carbon-reducing cycling check-in boutique coffee shop route to spread cycling safety gestures to everyone and create a silent and friendly cycling environment. When it became more and more popular, we rushed 10 kilometers with our friends to watch the sunset and watch the plane take off and land.
InStyle: Share your most memorable cycling experience?
Sun Jia: So far, the most unforgettable thing is to team up with your friends to watch the sunset and the moon, and ride for 6.5 hours to camp on the shore of the wild lake. When we set off, we were cloudy and rainy, and when we arrived, we harvested the rays of light and bright moon. With the guidance of our professional and handsome mentor, we saw Jupiter , Saturn , and several satellites , and each of us had an excitement.
Beautiful sunset harvested after cycling 6.5 kilometers
InStyle: Please recommend a bicycle or necessary cycling equipment for girls to ride in the city .
Sun Jia: Bicycle choice is more personal. It is recommended to go directly to a buyer or cycling store with a good reputation. Remember to try riding! Urban cycling equipment requires breathable and appropriate outfits. Wildthings' light and thin windproof jackets and GRAMiCCi shorts with suitable spans are the best choices. Remember to bring H TOKYO handkerchief. Whether it is a colored hairband to light up the overall combination, or a capable little thing that can absorb sweat in time and maintain elegance, it is a must-have for a beautiful cycling!
City is always closely related to cycling. After the epidemic, people rediscovered cities because of bicycles, and cities are also becoming beautiful because of bicycles. If you also want to get closer to your city, you might as well join the cycling team!
Editing/Zhang Hui Design/Kiko
* Pictures are from respondents and the Internet
