Archive for August, 2010

Zhejiang TV Idol Show

Donnerstag, August 26th, 2010

Have a look at this Zhejiang TV Idol Show complete TV video. I was part of this show on Chinese TV. Watch for my trick bike performance at a little bit before the middle of the video. And the winner of the show will be decided at the end of the video. Of course it is all in Chinese.

Biketo Article about Ines Brunn

Mittwoch, August 25th, 2010

There is a nice article on the „Biketo“website. Read the original article in Chinese here. The video and pictures can only be seen in the original article. But here is the Chinese text for those who understand Chinese.

聪明的城市低碳先行者,伊泉专访(视频)

2010年08月25日来源:Biketo.com|自行车网作者:张柱量【BIKETO特约撰稿人】点击:3416 次
欢迎转载我们的原创作品,请注明出自:[Biketo.com|自行车网]进入论坛我要投稿

  STC,一个在北京成立的环保组织,英文全称叫:“smarter than car”,从字面意思是比车聪明,伊泉说他们给这个由老外建立的组织起了一个很京味儿的名字:“比车牛”。听起来确实让骑车的人底气大增的一个名字。

  而这个建立在北京的环保组织的创始人之一就是我们今天的主角:Ines(伊 泉)。外人可能不知,现在伊泉可是北京城乃至中国死飞界的一姐。刚刚在北京结束的死飞大赛按照她的话说,是令她最快乐的事情。我想不只是主办人的她,全国 的死飞党肯定都沉浸在这份喜悦中吧。虽然比赛规模不大,但毕竟这是中国死飞界难得一聚的盛会。而身为北京死飞运动的领军人物,伊泉当然首当其冲。

  来到伊泉位于雍和宫旁五道营胡同的自行车店,一个二层楼式的小屋子,几十平米的地方稍显拥挤。但位于胡同中的店铺显得异常的宁静,虽然相隔十几米就是北二环,但一点喧嚣的车声都听不到,宛如世外桃源一般。

  刚见到伊泉时,她正在帮两个年轻人在改装车把,将普通的蝴蝶把截成定制长度的 把,然后缠上把带或者装上把套。而她的身旁有一个德国青年正自己改装一辆老飞鸽自行车,将车的多余零部件拆下来装上现代的漂亮的车圈和车把,但车架还是用 原来的老飞鸽车架。于是一辆集合了古老元素和现代气息的自行车就在这几平米大小的工作间中渐渐成形了。看着她们认真工作的情景,真的不愿意上去打断,虽然 与伊泉有约,但还是在一旁默默的看着她们工作。

  联想起我们第一次见面还是5月在朝阳公园出发去深圳的路上,她们骑着死飞自行 车加入了送行的队伍,由于骑的很慢,所以大家有机会一边走一边聊天,才得知这个说着一口流利中国话的老外是一个地地道道的德国人,也是第一次见识到了死飞 是一个什么东东。当时的感觉就是强悍,因为后来吃过饭后由于要追赶队伍,所以她们骑着死飞一溜烟就跑了,我在后面追了好久才又赶上。当时的感觉是一辆单速 车居然能跑这么快,真是太厉害了。后来才了解到死飞车的特性,它本身就是竞速自行车,简单到极致的构造和轻盈的车身,不跑的快才怪呢。

  这时伊泉走了过来,我的思路也回到了这里,看着她结束工作后一脸的微笑,我也跟着快乐了起来,好像这种工作的好心情也融入了我的情绪。

  我们开始聊天,就像两个朋友,她使用中文没有问题,开始我还有意放慢语速,但后来我们完全像两个中国人那样交流了。

  伊泉是去年11月在这里开的店,到今年还不到一年,但这个地方已经变成了北京 死飞的一个聚集地,而刚刚闭幕的这届北京死飞大赛就已经有一百多人参加。她预计5年后北京玩死飞的人群至少在1000人左右。虽然如此,我还是不解一个德 国受过高等教育,有电信公司工作的老外为什么会舍弃这样的工作而开一家自行车商店,她喝了口水,向我叙述了她的故事。

  德国,在经历了工业革命大发展的年代后环保成为了这个国家铭刻在世世代代脑海 中的祖训。因为曾经的污染记忆,给了那一代德国人乃至整个欧洲人深刻的教训。于是重工业的外迁,以及各项环保措施和法令的执行,开始使得莱茵河水渐渐恢复 了清澈。但环保的意识却更加深刻。伊泉就是生活在这样一个环保意识非常成熟的国家。在她的记忆中,父母带着他们一家人在野外支起帐篷,采上蘑菇,然后亲手 烹煮一锅香喷喷的蘑菇汤是她儿时最美好的记忆。热爱大自然的她,在长大后喜欢上了北京,喜欢上了这座东方文明的殿堂。但令她失望的是,现在的北京和她01 年来时见到的北京已经完全不一样了。她见到的胡同中穿行着骑着自行车的人们,逐渐被越来越廉价的骑车所俘虏。原来人们的好心情也逐渐被堵车搞的越来越坏, 快乐的北京人们变得越来越没有耐心,变得越来越不北京。

于是她希望能做些什么来慢慢改变人们的这种生活状态,但说起来容易。一个人如何去改变一个社会的生活习惯呢?而且还是市场规律所驱使下,中国人在富裕的道路上所必须经过的阵痛呢?我想大多数思想的先驱都会摇摇头叹口气,然后说一句:哎,这些是历史规律,我们是很难改变的。

  可是伊泉却不这么想,她天生就是一个乐观的人,她最终选择了自行车。这个在中 国人生命中扮演过异常重要意义的一件曾经的生活必需品。她说,在以前的生活中,自行车,缝纫机和电视机是中国人生活中的三大件,而现在自行车的地位被汽车 所代替,我们只有从年轻人入手。将更先进的自行车引进中国。

  我们知道,中国是一个跳跃式发展的国家,很多的历史是不能照搬欧洲乃至亚洲发 达国家的发展史的,它不仅仅是压缩了发展的时间,更重要的是一个迭代的发展特征正在这个国家的发展中体现出来。比如就在这个国家的70后还沉浸在是买一辆 两厢实用的大众汽车还是买一辆降价后的宝马车的时候,80后以及90后已经开始用自己的眼光去DIY一辆完全属于自己的FIXDE GEAR了。他们骑着光彩夺目的现代自行车,在北京的街头越来越多的出现。他们不再和仅仅差了一轮的兄长们有同样的追求,至少是在消费品方面,他们已经开 始与美国甚至日本的年轻人接轨。而同时,美国等发达国家的流行元素也通过淘宝甚至是易趣变得更容易被中国人接受。

  而伊泉恰恰是看到了这一点,中国未来的力量。他们对自行车运动的喜爱,必然会 倡导出环保的理念。试想,如果80后90后们都骑着自己喜爱的自行车,而不是开着轰隆隆的跑车出行,那么北京的空气将越来越好,因为,未来是属于年轻人 的。如果越来越多的人骑上自行车,那么我们的北京有一天也将变成亚洲的哥本哈根。

她讲到了墨尔本,这个澳洲的美丽都市,而STC的另一位外籍成员就是来自那里。澳 洲是一个地广人稀的国家,每个人都拥有一辆汽车,他们不敢想象骑车从一个城市穿越沙漠来到另一个城市而没有汽车的生活。于是,城市变变得越来越拥堵。因为 人们基本都是在城市中生活的,连去500米外的超市买菜都要开车。但聪明的澳洲人看到了汽车拥堵的害处,于是在原本没有自行车道的汽车道路上硬是划出来一 条自行车道。由于政府的大力倡导,自行车开始在澳洲流行起来,骑自行车的人们也越来越多。人们的心情也好了起来,不再为路上堵车而心情烦躁,甚至社会的犯 罪率都因为自行车的推广而有所下降。

  伊泉的梦想是,北京能够天天有蓝天,当然这也是我们每个热爱北京热爱环境人的梦想。愿北京,天天有蓝天!

TV Documentary – Expo’s Meaning, Shanghai’s Mission

Donnerstag, August 19th, 2010

A British friend of mine James Bayliss-Smith started working at the revamped CCTV news (formerly CCTV 9) as a producer/director/cameraman/editor since April. His first project was to help produce a ‚landmark‘ documentary series about the Shanghai world Expo which was on television last week and is being repeated again, starting tonight.

The series is called ‚Expo’s meaning, Shanghai’s mission‘ and is a five part ‚authored‘ documentary series written and presented by Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn. Dr. Kuhn is an internationally respected China expert who has written books about the Chinese leadership. The series was the first international co-production that CCTV news has ever undertaken and we think it has proved to be a great success, perhaps a model for future productions. James did a bit of everything during the production and also worked on a couple of other projects. He is currently editing a film he shot and directed about the Chinese wine industry.

The times and dates are as follows. All times are for China (GMT + 8
hours). Below the dates and times I have provided a link to each
episode so you can watch them at your leisure.

Episode 1 – Better City, Better Life

Thursday 19th August 18:30 PM
http://english.cntv.cn/program/rediscoveringchina/20100810/104896.shtml

Episode 2 – The World Comes to Shanghai
Friday 20th August 2:30 AM 13:30 PM 18:30 PM
http://english.cntv.cn/program/rediscoveringchina/20100811/104674.shtml

Episode 3 – Shanghai’s Epic Story
Saturday 21st August 2:30 AM 13:30 PM 18:30 PM
http://english.cntv.cn/program/rediscoveringchina/20100812/104952.shtml

Episode 4 – China goes to the world
Thursday 26th August 2:30 AM 13:30 PM 18:30 PM
http://english.cntv.cn/program/rediscoveringchina/20100813/104643.shtml

Episode 5 – Shanghai, World City
Friday 27th August 2:30 AM 13:30 PM 18:30 PM
http://english.cntv.cn/program/rediscoveringchina/20100814/102667.shtml

CCTV have also produced a special website for the series. Have a look:
http://english.cntv.cn/english/special/explore_expo_with_kuhn/homepage/index.shtml

In June James had the great privilege of visiting the Tibetan county of Yushu, less than two months after they experienced a devastating earthquake. He was the Cameraman and they were making a film about the aftermath of the earthquake. The film ended up being about how the Tibetans are using their spirituality and Buddhist faith to overcome the grief of the disaster. It can be seen here:
http://english.cntv.cn/program/rediscoveringchina/20100814/101754.shtml

Article „Brake beat“ on Global Times

Dienstag, August 17th, 2010

After our second year of hosting the „Fixed Gear Revolution“ event there was a nice article in the Global Times newspaper. Here is the link to the original article.

Brake beat

Fixed gear fanatic Ines Brunn showing a few tricks. Photo: Guo Yingguang

Fixed gear fanatic Ines Brunn showing a few tricks. Photo: Guo Yingguang

The countdown began from 10, by the time they’d hit two, 100 people were already sprinting full speed across the car park heading for the sea of bikes. They tore out into the street splitting off left and right, stopping traffic and causing gasps from bystanders. Nothing over the last weekend stood in the way of the Fixed Gear Revolution 2, as riders from around Beijing and the rest of China took to the streets to create the ultimate bike lovers‘ paradise.

There was a lot of lounging around waiting for events to happen, but with youngsters popping tins of energy drinks every few minutes and the odd trick performance in between races, the atmosphere was more like a music festival than a bike race. Only the sweaty looks on the faces of hard ridden fanatics betrayed the fact that they’d been putting their skills to the test.

A test

Starting off at the Olympic forest park on Friday night, about 50 of Beijing’s finest arrived for a scratch [speed race] around the forest park. With gawkers in cars wobbling along the fifth ring road every time they passed, and the first corner disappearing into an abyss of darkness, it was clear from the warm-up lap that this was going to be a test for the normally chilled city riders. Not everyone there was a purist for „fixies“, with members of the local Beijing peloton taking along their other ride, along with bike enthusiasts of all types and nationalities.

The grueling 45 minutes began to show on the faces of some of the unprepared, and the casualties sprawled on the roadside afterwards. Those who had been running a pool on who would win were not disappointed to see some of Beijing’s hardcore street cyclists take the lead with super fit hero Czech Misha Pekarek coming first after three laps of the 8-kilometer route.

„It was a fun race,“ said Pekarek. „It was pretty stiff competition. But some people got together at last in Beijing and we need to have many more things like that.“

They enjoyed the punishment so much that when the Guangzhou and Shenzhen riders turned up a bit late after the journey another race was in order just after midnight.

Alleycat

Despite the early morning finish, about 100 riders, plus spectators turned up for the Beijing Alleycat 2010, an unauthorized race around eight checkpoints set up around the city. About 900 energy drinks later the cyclists made a dash for their bikes and took off to tackle the polluted chaotic capital. Close to the top of the list of worries for the organizers was the number of young brakeless riders. But there were only two relatively minor injuries caused by a bike collision, prompted by a particularly aggressive Mercedes driver, and a couple of stoppages by the unusually awake Sanlitun police watching out for Guoan fans.

At each checkpoint competitors were asked to take part in an activity in order to get a stamp which would prove their presence on site. As if the 40 or so km route wasn’t challenging enough, sweaty hipsters were then challenged to balance a peacock feather on their noses, flip a skateboard or on one occasion play a miniature round of beer pong. Each of the riders agreed that the Beijing’s traffic was „pretty hairy,“ and thanks to the city’s pleasant breeze, most looked like sand (or possibly construction dust) monsters by the end of the day.

An alleycat race is dependent on each racer’s knowledge of the city, its back alleys and possible routes in order to hit the checkpoints and get back to the finish first. Although riders were just taking part for fun native Beijingers might have been a bit miffed that first place went to American Anthony Paglino. Paglino has previously cycled between Yunnan and Sichuan crosscountry, probably a lot safer than navigating Beijing’s brain damaged drivers.

Taking first place for the few competing women was Ellen Genetello from Belgium, who had also won the speed race for the girls the night before. „I never use the fixed gear, even now, except for long journeys,“ she said. „There was competition for every level, everybody had someone to compete with, I’m happy that there were also a few girls.“

Knackered

The evening was rounded off with a crowd of locals temporarily mildly offended that their normal dancing and play space was taken over outside the Workers‘ Gymnasium, before they realized they had a free show from the trick riders from Guangzhou and Shenzhen who dominated the competition. The after-party at the MGM garden bar worked out the last of the competitiveness on the bike simulators, and drinking.

The post weekend trauma had proven too much for some, and it was a reluctant few who persevered through to bike polo the day after for a few friendly games. After three days combing the city, it wasn’t surprising that most people were knackered, and everyone was reflecting on Beijing’s second major bicycle event.

„I can’t say too much because I don’t do tricks, they’re pretty fashionable but I’m a real biker. I come just for fun,“ said Ricky Wong, a Hong Konger who’s been cycling Beijing for the last couple of years. He was at the competition last year and had seen a couple of changes. „It should be better! Hopefully they can find more sponsors and more promoters. The trick competition is better during the daytime, and the skid competition was really fun last year,“ he added, finding it a shame that they hadn’t included it again.

The competition has set a precedent, with more and more event popping up around China since last year, and they seem set for a repeat performance in future. Though the traffic on Beijing’s roads maybe getting worse, it’s not going to stop the revolution.

Natooke Fixed Gear Bike Article on sina.com

Dienstag, August 17th, 2010

Reporter and a photographer from CityWeekend had come and interviewed me and taken beautiful pictures around the forbidden city. There was an article in the printed City Weekend magazine. I also found this article on sina.com:

City Weekend goes full throttle all this week
2010-08-17 08:49:46 GMT2010-08-17 16:49:46 (Beijing Time) City Weekend

Ines Brunn wheeling around the Forbidden City

After the adrenaline-fuelled excitement of Fixed Gear Revolution 2 last weekend, City Weekend feels the need…the need for speed.

Accordingly, throughout this week we’ll be introducing you to those in Beijing who were born to roll. From full-throttle speed demons to pimped-out cruisers, we’ll be featuring daily posts on the various ways that expats hit the road.

Today, we’re catching up with a growing group of two-wheeled daredevils who don’t know the meaning of the word ‚brake’…

Fixed Gear Revolution

„On a fixed-gear, the pedals are constantly moving. It’s like the bike is talking to you,“ says Ines Brunn, fixed-gear cyclist, acrobat and co-owner of Beijing’s only fixed-gear bike store, Natooke.

Bicycles have long been the vehicle most associated with Beijing, but fixed-gear is a new arrival. With a single gear attached directly to the rear wheel, the pedals on a „fixie“ spin constantly as the bike moves forward. Advanced riders can even pedal their fixie backwards or maintain a still, standing „track stand“ pose when waiting at a red light. Beijing riders are learning that these lightweight bikes—long used for acrobats and in training for serious cyclists—are perfect for getting around the city.

Beijing’s fixed-gear community numbered about 60 when Brunn and her partners launched Natooke and the first Fixed Gear Revolution Festival in summer of 2009. Since then, fixed-gear bikes in Beijing have skyrocketed, with more than 300 riders, fixie polo matches and weekly community rides.

Join in the madness with a fixed-gear bike at Natooke.

DETAILS:

Vehicle: Custom fixed-gear bike from Natooke

Cost: ¥2,800 and up

Perfect For: Hutong hipsters and serious cyclists

Get Rolling: Pick up a fixie at Natooke, 19-1 Wudaoying Hutong, 五道营胡同甲19-1号, Tel: 8402-6925

Montag, August 9th, 2010
2010 BEIJING FIXED GEAR REVOLUTION II

  • August 13th
    22:00 – 23:00 North 5th ring road, at North-East corner of the Olympic Forest SCRATCH RACE Speed Race around Olympic Forest (3 laps)
  • August 14th
    15:00 – 18:00 Worker’s Stadium East Gate ALLEYCAT Race
    20:00 – 22:00 Worker’s Stadium South-West Gate, open space TRICK Contest, BUNNY HOP Contest, TRACK STAND Contest
    22:00 – 24:00 MGM bar (Worker’s Stadium South-West Gate) JISU PK (Goldsprints) & PARTY
  • August 15th
    14:00 – 17:00 Worker’s Gymnasium East Gate BIKE POLO (polo on bikes)

Detailed Schedule:

Date: Friday August 13th
Time: 22:00-23:00
Event: SCRATCH RACE Speed Race around Olympic Forest (3 laps)
Requirement: Fixed gear bikes only, need to have small lights, helmets are recommended
Meeting Point: Inside North 5th Ring road, at North-East corner of the Olympic Forest
Race course: 3 full laps around the Olympic Forest, finish is at the North-East corner (same as starting point)
Race distance: 19 km
Prizes for place 1-6 (men) and place 1-3 (women), prizes from Adidas, Flying Banana, Natooke Cost: This event is free

Date: Saturday August 14th
Meet-up 14:30 for sign-in and notice
Time: 14:50 (at 15:00 the manifests (maps with the race stations and empty space for stamping) will be handed out to the cyclists)
Meeting Point: Worker’s Stadium East Gate
Opening ceremony, addressing the race rules

Time: 15:00-18:00
Event: ALLEYCAT Race
Requirement: Fixed gear bikes only, helmets are recommended, cyclists should need to sign up before the event. You can email ines@natooke.com or call Maggie 010-64075030 (Mess Shop) or sign in on August 14th before 14:30
Meeting Point: Worker’s Stadium East Gate
Race Start: At 15:00 the manifests (maps with the race stations and empty space for stamping) will be handed out to the cyclists that then need to run to their bikes
Race location: 8 undisclosed stamp points in Dongcheng, Xuanwu and Chaoyang District, the manifest (map with addresses in Chinese and English) will be handed out at race begin (15:00)
Activities: Cyclists can chose their own route, need to go to all 8 stamp points and achieve small games at each location to get the stamp on their manifest. At some locations there might be a queue, so cyclists need to chose their route wisely
End: Back at Worker’s Stadium East Gate with all stamps on manifest
Prizes for place 1-8, huge prizes from Adidas (huge voucher), Motorola, Flying Banana. Plus a surprise for last place
Cost: This event is free

Date: Saturday August 14th
Time 20:00 – 22:00
Event: TRICK Contest, BUNNY HOP Contest, TRACK STAND Contest
Requirements: Fixed gear bike
Location: Worker’s Stadium South-West gate, open space
Event details: Three different competitions. First trick contest: The person doing the most amazing tricks on the bike wins, then a bunny-hop (jumping over a pole) contest and last a track standing contest: who can stay the longest on his/her bike without touching the ground, after 3 minutes first 1 then after 6 minutes 2 hands must be removed, after 9 minutes 1 leg must be removed
Prizes for place 1-3 for each contest
Cost: This event is free

Date: Saturday August 14th
Time: 22:00 – 24:00
Event: JISU PK (Goldsprints) & PARTY
Requirements: None. Anybody can join and have a good time
Event Details: 2 people sitting on stationary bikes pedaling as fast as possible for only 30 sec – it is fun activity. People can come up and race again to improve their time
Location: MGM Garden bar (near Worker’s Stadium South-West gate)
Prizes for places 1-4 (men) and places 1-4 (women), prizes from Adidas, SAG, Natooke
Cost: This event is free

Date: Sunday August 15th
Time 14:00 – 17:00
Event: BIKE POLO (playing polo on bikes)
Requirements: Any kind of bike can be used. People should group in teams of 3
Location: East Gate of Worker’s Gymnasium (not Stadium)
Prizes for teams on place 1-3, prizes from Adidas, Flying Banana
Cost: This event is free

2010 BEIJING FIXED GEAR REVOLUTION II

 
Fixed Gear活动日程安排 8月13日至8月15日 FIXED GEAR REVOLUTION II

  • 8月13日
    22:00 – 23:00 北五环路内的奥林公园东北角 速度比赛 Scratch Race奥林公园(3圈)
  • 8月14日
    15:00 – 18:00 工人 体育场东门 ALLEYCAT 比赛
    20:00 – 22:00 工人 体育场西南门空地 TRICK CONTEST – BUNNY HOPTRACK STAND (技术比赛)
    22:00 – 24:00 MGM花园(工体西南门)极速PK (Goldsprints) & Party
  • 8月15日
    14:00 – 17:00 工人体育馆东门 BIKE POLO (自行车马球)

活动日期:8月13日
活动时间: 22:00-23:00
活动内容:速度比赛 Scratch Race奥林公园(3圈)
活动要求:每个车必须准备车灯
活动地点:北五环路内的奥林公园东北角
比赛路程:19 Km
奖品:男子1-6名, 女子1-3名 (Adidas, Flying Banana, Natooke)

活动日期:8月14日
通知14:30到起点 活动时间:14:50(给外地选手地图)—–15:00
开幕内容:开幕仪式
活动要求:开幕演说
活动时间:15:00—–18:00
结束:重点准备警戒线拉带,作为Finish Line
活动内容:ALLEYCAT
活动要求:2小时内完成规定地点盖章,抵达终点。
地点:东城区,朝阳区内共8站
奖品:1-8名 再加最后车手 (Adidas代金券10000元, Motorola, Flying Banana)

活动日期:8月14日
活动时间: 20:00 – 22:00
活动内容:TRICK CONTEST-BUNNY HOP-TRACK STAND (技术比赛)
最后是伊泉的表演
地点:工人体育场西南门空地
奖品:3比赛每 1-3名

活动日期:8月14日
活动时间: 22:00 – 24:00
活动内容:极速PK (Goldsprints) & PARTY
地点:MGM花园(工体西南门)
奖品:男子1-4名, 女子1-4名 (Adidas, SAG, Natooke…)

活动日期:8月15日
活动时间: 14:00 – 17:00
活动内容:BIKE POLO (自行车马球)
地点:工人体育馆东门
奖品:1-3名 (Adidas, Flying Banana)