Archive for Juni, 2008

绿色骑手-伊泉骑的是难度较高的固定齿轮车

Dienstag, Juni 10th, 2008

There is an article about the Radio Beijing and Meng Niu milk company bicycle ride to promote greener form of transportation for the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympics. Read the original article here. I was cycling from Qinghuangdao to Beijing on my fixed gear bike.

奔向北京 奔向奥运
——“蒙牛绿色骑手奔向北京”自行车志愿之旅侧记
2008年6月5日下午,世界环境日,北京人民广播电台新落成的广播大厦门口陆续骑来了5支自行车车队,队员们统一着蓝白相间专业自行车运动装,他们脸色黝黑却精神抖擞。这就是刚刚完成“蒙牛绿色骑手奔向北京”大型自行车志愿之旅的各地骑手们。这5支队伍共60名骑手分别从上海、青岛、沈阳、秦皇岛、天津五个奥运城市出发,行程3600公里,风雨兼程,艰苦卓绝,今天终于“骑”聚北京。所有的工作人员都在这里翘首以盼,当队员们出现在大家的视野中时,大家报以热烈的掌声,他们用这样的方式来表达对这5支队伍完成“传奇之旅”的祝贺和欢迎。
边骑车边传播绿色出行理念
6月5日下午3点,北京广播大厦900平方米演播厅里彩旗飘扬。“蒙牛绿色骑手奔向北京”2008北京人民广播电台自行车志愿之旅大型主题活动会师庆典正式开始。北京文艺广播、北京体育广播、上海五星体育广播、天津交通广播、辽宁交通广播、青岛交通广播、秦皇岛交通广播、北京广播网同步进行音视频直播,林依伦、郭峰、叶蓓、成龙中国——中华龙韵功夫团等带来了精彩的文艺演出。5支自行车车队陆续上台,他们带来了代表各个城市的礼物,也带来了自己一路的传“ 骑”经历。
在庆典活动现场,记者见到一位老人“骑手”——梁福山。梁福山今年72岁,沈阳人。2004年,梁福山骑车由辽宁省沈阳市出发,经过辽宁、河北、山东、河南、安徽、湖北、湖南、广西、广东9个省、自治区的几十个市、县,到达祖国大陆的最南端——雷州半岛红土地、美丽的亚热带海滨城市湛江。总行程达5000 多公里,历时一个多月,日均行程150多公里。梁福山老人说:“50年代骑车是因为穷,现在骑车是为了健康。你看我,从来不生病,血压、血糖各项指标都正常,所以,我呼吁大家能骑车就不要开车,不仅是为北京的蓝天,也是为您自身的健康。”在整个绿色骑手的队伍中,梁福山是年龄最大的一位,最小的也有35 岁。在他们日夜兼程赶往北京的同时,还经常参加宣传绿色奥运精神的活动。有一次,青岛的绿色骑手们参观了淄博污水处理厂,淄博全市已建成城市污水处理厂 10座,日处理规模达58万吨,在全国所有城市中,淄博的城市污水处理成效名列前茅,让作为环保使者的青岛绿色骑手们亲眼见证了环保给这座城市带来的崭新面貌。
奥运会的时候她和父母一起来中国
在绿色骑手中,一位金发碧眼的外国姑娘格外引人注目,她的英文名字叫Ines, 中文名叫伊泉。伊泉住在东大桥,每天骑车到西单金融街上班。平常伊泉骑的是难度较高的固定齿轮车,这种车速度快、轻巧、没有任何刹车等装置,全部靠脚蹬和齿轮来控制骑行,一般用于杂技表演。伊泉是骑固定齿轮车的高手,上班也是骑这种车,她在德国的时候经常参加长途骑行,最远的一次环游德国8天。伊泉来到中国4年时间了,因为工作关系,伊泉到过很多中国的城市,她的父母也来中国很多次了,今年他们也将会在奥运会的时候再次来到这个美丽的奥运城市。
边骑车边参观并帮助希望小学
在骑向北京的过程中,蒙牛绿色骑手们除了圆满完成骑行任务外,还在沿路组织了丰富多彩的公益活动。上海队于5月25号出发,骑行路程是5支队伍中最长的,途经昆山、苏州、常州、南京、徐州、泰安、济南、沧州、天津等地,全程1548公里。他们组织的公益活动是途经济南的时候参观孔庙和当地的希望小学,并联合蒙牛乳业为希望小学送去牛奶。
青岛队于5月28日出发骑向北京,途经胶州、平度、潍坊、青州、淄博、周村、德州、静海等地,全程896公里。途中青岛队组织了两次公益活动:他们参观了奥运蔬菜供应基地——寿光,与当地菜农分享支持奥运工作的喜悦。
沈阳队于5月30号出发骑向北京,途经黑山、锦州、山海关、玉田、三河等地,全程777公里。在骑经锦州时,沈阳队拜访了素有“中国撕纸第一人”之称的民间艺术大师许会春,并邀请许大师专门为本次活动撕出了活动主题“奔向北京”四个大字。而且许会春还随队来到了北京,在会师庆典上现场表演了精彩的撕纸绝活儿。
秦皇岛队于6月2号出发骑向北京,途经抚宁、卢龙、丰润、三河等地,全程300公里。秦皇岛队组织的公益活动是参观秦皇岛连峪环保希望小学。该小学由秦皇岛环保局援建,在日常的教学中导入了许多环保理念,是“环保从娃娃抓起” 的最好实践。
天津队于6月3号出发骑向北京,全程132公里,一路骑行感受天津作为自行车大都市的文化和故事。
通过沿途的公益活动和所见所闻,蒙牛绿色骑手们在感受这趟特别的绿色之旅时,也以自己的实际行动一路宣传绿色环保理念。环保大旗一路迎风招展,许多人都在环保大旗上留下了祝福和鼓励的话语,60名绿色骑手成为3600公里旅程上流动的绿色名片。
途中一位台湾骑手曾摔成重伤
在5月22日由上海出发的自行车骑手团中,有一位特殊的人物,他就是来自台湾的捷安特中国公司的行销总监蓝祖彬。他不仅是这次“蒙牛绿色骑手奔向北京”活动的组织者,还是这次活动的参与者。在途经204国道的时候,因为道路维修,造成路面坎坷不平,蓝祖彬在骑行过程中发生了事故,脸部着地,造成重伤。这时候,来自北京的骑手团长,迅速下达了新的命令,骑手团兵分两路,一路继续前行、一路将蓝祖彬送往当地医院进行治疗。
在蓝祖彬所住的南京大学附属医院,他意外地得到了两个极为巧合的消息。他的姑父就是毕业于当年的南京附属大学,而他母亲的老家就是他的出事地点。现在回想,蓝祖彬语气仍然颇为激动:“这是缘分哪,天意啊!”大约一周以后,照顾完蓝祖彬的骑手们继续踏上征程。蓝祖彬:“当我落下队伍的时候,他们没有抛弃我,所以当他们走的时候,我仍然感觉我与他们在一起。”在所有骑手队伍中,跋山涉水已是家常便饭,遇山爬山、遇水渡河。记者摘抄了他们一份日程表,路程的艰辛一看便知:
7点25分准时出发,1点30分到2点30分吃午饭、休息,晚上9点吃完饭,准备明天的装备,然后休息。
老外当场计算出骑自行车降碳指标
随着时代发展和社会进步,绿色观念深入人心,节能减排、保护环境,在提高空气质量的同时,改善城市的交通状况,倡导绿色出行,已经成为世界性共识。而北京奥运盛会日益临近,也对我国的环保重任提出了更高的要求。正是基于这一出发点,北京人民广播电台和蒙牛乳业携手发起了这次规模空前的自行车骑行活动,希望通过这一行动,让人们了解和亲身体验自行车给日常交通生活带来的便利及对社会环境的改变,号召广大市民骑车出行,进一步缓解中国城市建设当中日益严重的交通问题和环保问题,而让蒙牛绿色骑手们于6月5日世界环境日齐聚北京,更有着非比寻常的意义。
在当天的庆典上,美国环保协会的工作人员计算出在3600公里中因骑自行车而实现的降碳指标,并当场宣布了这一结果,为绿色出行提供了科学依据。
环保是个常说常新的话题,更是需要几代人共同努力的一个大命题,“蒙牛绿色骑手奔向北京”2008自行车志愿之旅大型主题活动圆满结束了,然而它提供给我们的启示和思考还在继续。

午报记者 郭北溟 文/摄

Unicycle Article in Outdoor Magazine

Dienstag, Juni 10th, 2008

Before I finally got my track bikes I rode around Beijing on another type of fixed gear: The unicycle 独轮车. Especially the long distance unicycle with a 36 inch diameter wheel is quite fast.
Outdoor Magazine

In the Outdoor magazine they had a special section about environmentally friendly ways of getting to work and other „green“ things. This was already in January, but I just got to know of it now.

Are You Green?

Julien is working on various green projects as well as finding ways how to protect oneself from pollution. And he has a blog about pollution in China. He is convinced about alternative transportation methods, e.g. roller blades, bike and also using unicycle to get to work. So they published pictures of him on his unicycle and me on my 36″ huge coker style unicycle. 绿色的伊泉骑一个轮子

Ines and Julien on Unicycles

Hutong Cycle Ralley

Sonntag, Juni 8th, 2008

„Hutong“ actually comes from fire alley. It stands for the traditional housing of Beijing. Unfortunately more and more are torn down in order to modernize the city. I love the hutongs. Life seems still laid back and quiet. You can even cycle around wearing your pyjama and smoking

Cycling through Beijing in a Pyjama

Here is a bike repair shop having his laundry hanging in his street side shop

Bike Repair Shop Beijing

Idyllic Life in a Hutong

Electric Power in Hutongs

We were participating in a bicycle ralley (Schnitzeljagd) through the hutongs. Click here to see more pictures of the hutongs we passed. I was riding my pink fixed gear bike. We did see many other cyclists wearing the cap with wind shield to protect the face from the sun so that it stays nice and white

Cyclist with wind shield

Our bike ralley team wearing the nice t-shirts (great to have car companies sponsor bike events… The last one I did was sponsored by Skoda)

UFE Velo Ralley Beijing 2008

Charity Gala Dinner for the Earthquake Victims

Samstag, Juni 7th, 2008

In the past few weeks there have been a lot of charity and fund raising events for supporting the victims of the Sichuan May 12th earthquake. We joined a Gala Dinner in a very beautiful courtyard style Palace Hotel.

West Palace Hotel Outer Courtyard

West Palace Hotel Outer Courtyard

Everybody received a candle and placed it in front of a wall with some pictures of the earthquake.

Candles for Sichuan Earthquake Victims

And there was a kung fu performance by Chinese boys not by a Panda 😉

Kung Fu Performance Beijing

Green Cycling TV Show with Bike Performance 伊泉 室内自行车表演

Donnerstag, Juni 5th, 2008

The cycling event of Radio Beijing (RBC) ended with a recording of a 90 min TV show. Each cycling group came on stage and had somebody do something special, like sing or play an instrument. In between they had various singers and a Kungfu group.

Qinhuangdao Cycling Team

For our group I performed with my trick bike. It was a little bit tricky on the glass floor. 绿色的伊泉自行车特技表演

Ines Headstand on BikeInes Standing on Bicycle

Ines Backwheel Riding

Ines Extreme Backwheel RidingInes Extreme Wheely

Ines Straddle Trick on Fixed Gear

The show will be broadcasted in China on CCTV6 in about 3 to 4 weeks. For more pictures of my bicycle performance click here. After the recording we took some pictures again:

Friends from a Hospital

TV Show Production Team and Radio Beijing

Then we again had a dinner and took more pictures. And again I had to drink more baijiu than expected – but at least much better one than the common Erguotou.

Shenyang Paper Ripping Artist

Cycling 170km on Fixed Gear from Fengrun to Beijing

Dienstag, Juni 3rd, 2008

We knew this is going to be tough day with long cycling (170km) and very high chance of rain. So we started very early to get as far as possible before the rain started. There was quite some air pollution and I was very happy that I was cycling with my anti-pollution mask.

Cycling Despite the Pollution

The road quality of this national road connecting the two Olympic cities – Beijing and Qinghuangdao – was a bit worse than the first day. And that was just about 150km away from Beijiing. Click here to see all the pictures.

Trucks and Pollution

Dirt Road as National Road

We took some pictures to show the “motion”:

Cycling Motion

Cycling through Towns

Fast Cycling

There was always enough time for some posing for pictures during the breaks just on the road.

Ines and the CoachInes and the Director

When we got to the suburbs of Beijing and traffic lights turned red we all tried track stands. One of the Chinese girls on her mountain bike had really good balance despite the fact that (like most of the others) she just started cycling as a hobby less than a year ago.

Track Stands at Traffic Light

Free Handed Track Stand

Our oldest cycling team members were over 60 years old. They were really fit, had nice bikes and were always joking around. One had really cool stylish bike shoes.

Our Old Guys

Cool Bike Shoes

The whole group was really nice. Especailly with our bike coach who was guiding us. We actually did not encounter any rain. We were all very happy to arrive at the hotel in Beijing after 170km.

Qinhuangdao Team Arrived Beijing

The complete event had groups riding from 4 other Olympic cities: Shanghai, Shenyang, Qingdao and Tianjin. Each group consisted of 2 people from Beijing and 10 people from that city. After we arrived Beijing we had dinner all together with baijiu (Schnapps) and beer and many many pictures taken. See here for more pictures.

Dinner

Pictures after a few drinks

There were about 5 other women participating in the event as well as one other foreigner: An American living in Qingdao.

The only two Foreigners in this event

Cycling 142km on Fixed Gear from Qinhuangdao to Fengrun

Montag, Juni 2nd, 2008

Before starting cycling we had to visit a local elementary school. That was “to have a look”. It felt like we were going to the zoo. The kids posed for us and then we attended a class. As time was not enough we did not ride the bikes there – we drove there in brand new cars…

Qinhuangdao Elementary School

It was beautiful weather with blue sky and sunshine. We cycled 142km from Qinhuangdao to Fengrun. At the end of the day almost all of us had a slight sun burn on the left arm and left leg (because we were cycling towards the west all day). Click here to see all the pictures.

Cycling Fun

Looking for a Restaurant

They were a bit astonished to see that I had no gears and had to constantly pedal on my track bike. Most of them have never seen such a fixed gear bike before. It was so much fun to ride my fixie! Four guys had race bikes – seven others mountain bikes.

 Long Distance Riding on Fixed Gear Bike

Along the way Qinghuangdao team leader stopped to repair a motorbike of a farmer.

Repairing a Farmer’s Motorbike

And also – because this green bike event is arranged by the Radio Beijing and Radio Qinghuangdao – we got interviewed during breaks:

 Radio Qinghuangdao Interview

and filmed along the ride.

 Cycing in one line for filming

And sometimes we could listen what was broadcast about us and this bicycling event on the car radio:

 Listening to the Radio

Radio Qinhuangdao Ceremony

Sonntag, Juni 1st, 2008

For this “green” bike event we had a ceremony in Qinhuangdao. It was early morning on the People’s Square. The executives of Radio Beijing as well as Radio Qinhuangdao were present and also people from Moen Milk. The Moen Milk is one of the main sponsors of this “ride bicycle for environment” event (as well as Skoda ironically).

Radio Qinhuangdao and Radio Beijing Executives

There were less bicycle enthusiasts attending than in Beijing, but again I performed with my fixed gear trick bike in front of the stage. The Qinhuangdao cyclists (all Chinese) that were selected to ride bike with me to Beijing posed for pictures with the organizers. All the pictures to be seen here.

The Selected Qinhuangdao Cyclists adn Organizers

In the evening there was a beautiful sunset. It was nice to see that most houses had the solar water heaters on the roofs. And you could see the mountain range in the west – the direction that we will be heading tomorrow by bicycle.

 Sunset over Qinhuangdao