Hi, again. I'm moving to China.
05-20-12, 10:20 AM
#26
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks!
This thread from several years ago tells the whole story -- before/after photos, etc. I bought the bike on Craigslist for $100, stripped it, had the frame powder coated, and rebuilt it with a few new components (handlebars, seat post, tires, stem, a couple of other things).
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ssault-Vehicle
This thread from several years ago tells the whole story -- before/after photos, etc. I bought the bike on Craigslist for $100, stripped it, had the frame powder coated, and rebuilt it with a few new components (handlebars, seat post, tires, stem, a couple of other things).
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ssault-Vehicle
Last edited by BengeBoy; 05-20-12 at 10:28 AM.
05-20-12, 10:21 AM
#27
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Hi Benjeboy!
It was great to see this post and look forward to more. What a fascinating adventure you are on! I kept looking at the "No chase, slapstick" sign. I am guessing the word "slapstick" is meant to convey "horseplay", however, I suppose in Chinese, "horseplay" may seem ridiculous on a bike path. Of course, "slapstick" may be the precise word if Beijing is home to a great number of Vaudevillians, yes?
It was great to see this post and look forward to more. What a fascinating adventure you are on! I kept looking at the "No chase, slapstick" sign. I am guessing the word "slapstick" is meant to convey "horseplay", however, I suppose in Chinese, "horseplay" may seem ridiculous on a bike path. Of course, "slapstick" may be the precise word if Beijing is home to a great number of Vaudevillians, yes?
05-20-12, 10:26 AM
#28
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Good to see you settled in nicely! Nice photos. I love the landscaping along the highway.
05-20-12, 10:26 AM
#29
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Miss Kenton - I've been "collecting" signs ever since I got here.
Here's a new favorite:
Here's a new favorite:
05-20-12, 01:06 PM
#31
Senior Member
Hi Again!
Many months since I last logged on or posted, but thought I'd provide a quick update to old acquaintances because today I (finally) took my first bike ride in Beijing. It's been a long time since December -- I've made 5 (!) round trips to Seattle as I juggled between old job and new one, and finally got settled in here full time in April. Thousands of details to take care (immigration, finding a place to live, banking, new phones, moving stuff, etc.)...and after I got my bike here two weeks ago it took me a couple of weeks to spare the energy to put it together.
I decided for starters to bring over my "beater" commuter bike, a late-80's Specialized Stumpjumper that I converted to a tough city commuter. I took about a two-hour ride through the city today, and stopped and posed it at the cafe with the "Love Beijing / Ride Bike" sign that I added earlier in this thread. Proved to be a great choice for now; for poking around narrow old streets (the hutongs) and rugged urban pavement and road construction this is a perfect bike. I still have ambition to bring a "good" bike over (or get one here) but I'll leave that for another day.
Just today's little ride was such a huge mood lifter for me! I've certainly tried to be adventurous in my months here, and have traveled around the city quite a bit when I have spare time, but there is something about traveling by bike that is such a great way to explore a new city -- fast enough to cover some ground, slow enough to see the sites. I'm about 3 miles from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, so most of the tourist spots you've heard of are easy striking distance by bike.
Thanks for the earlier encouragement; when I get some better ride pics I'll post 'em.
BB
Big poster honoring the firefighters. (Those are hose nozzles they're holding, not guns).
Overpass.
Many months since I last logged on or posted, but thought I'd provide a quick update to old acquaintances because today I (finally) took my first bike ride in Beijing. It's been a long time since December -- I've made 5 (!) round trips to Seattle as I juggled between old job and new one, and finally got settled in here full time in April. Thousands of details to take care (immigration, finding a place to live, banking, new phones, moving stuff, etc.)...and after I got my bike here two weeks ago it took me a couple of weeks to spare the energy to put it together.
I decided for starters to bring over my "beater" commuter bike, a late-80's Specialized Stumpjumper that I converted to a tough city commuter. I took about a two-hour ride through the city today, and stopped and posed it at the cafe with the "Love Beijing / Ride Bike" sign that I added earlier in this thread. Proved to be a great choice for now; for poking around narrow old streets (the hutongs) and rugged urban pavement and road construction this is a perfect bike. I still have ambition to bring a "good" bike over (or get one here) but I'll leave that for another day.
Just today's little ride was such a huge mood lifter for me! I've certainly tried to be adventurous in my months here, and have traveled around the city quite a bit when I have spare time, but there is something about traveling by bike that is such a great way to explore a new city -- fast enough to cover some ground, slow enough to see the sites. I'm about 3 miles from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, so most of the tourist spots you've heard of are easy striking distance by bike.
Thanks for the earlier encouragement; when I get some better ride pics I'll post 'em.
BB
Big poster honoring the firefighters. (Those are hose nozzles they're holding, not guns).
Overpass.
05-21-12, 06:19 AM
#33
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That could become our new 50+ threat. "BEWARE OF GRASS" It beats Hey you kids, stay off my lawn all to pieces. Thanks Benge.
Bill
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
05-22-12, 09:47 AM
#34
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Good to hear from you... I'd been wondering what has become of you. Keep those posts from China coming. It's good stuff!
05-23-12, 02:58 PM
#35
Junior Member
CONTROLLED CHAOS
This is how I will describe cycling in Beijing. Just came back from a bus tour of Beijing. Wanted to cycle originally but the outlaw (err I mean the inlaw) wanted to go so we had to take this packaged tour.
Always kept my eye on the cycling scene. What;s good is that there are separated and/or marked bike paths all over the place. Our hotel was about 15 mi north of the city center. To the right of the toll roads, there are service roads parallel where commuting cyclists are.
Having said that, a lot of rules are bent. Cars are parked on the bike lanes. Bikes go in both directions where it should be in one.
Even with such perceived lawlessness per our standards, there seem to be a choreographed ballet of cyclists weaving on the road. You don't see cyclists nor vehicles doing abrupt stops as they come close to each other. They gage, sense and feel each other and at the last minute, one would give way to the other. No raising of the middle finger or yelling. Our tour bus would make U turns from the middle lane as if it was nothing. Never in a hurry, never jerking.
Maybe the best way to ride Beijing is just go with the flow. No abrupt stops where other cyclists can pile on you. There are a lot of electric bikes. It's the working man's motorcycle. Instead of food trucks, you have food electric trikes. Three wheel contraptions that's electric powered cooking pancakes, noodles etc. They are no longer pedal powered. With their weight, the motor gives them the propulsion. I suspect the pedals are just there so they can have bicycle status - no registration, no insurance.
Took a lot of video and photos focusing on cyclists. Will sort it soon and post it.
I wish I could move to china as well. I think it is still the wild wild west. Amazed at the construction boom paling what we have here. Trying to learn Mandarin now.
Keep sending your updates
This is how I will describe cycling in Beijing. Just came back from a bus tour of Beijing. Wanted to cycle originally but the outlaw (err I mean the inlaw) wanted to go so we had to take this packaged tour.
Always kept my eye on the cycling scene. What;s good is that there are separated and/or marked bike paths all over the place. Our hotel was about 15 mi north of the city center. To the right of the toll roads, there are service roads parallel where commuting cyclists are.
Having said that, a lot of rules are bent. Cars are parked on the bike lanes. Bikes go in both directions where it should be in one.
Even with such perceived lawlessness per our standards, there seem to be a choreographed ballet of cyclists weaving on the road. You don't see cyclists nor vehicles doing abrupt stops as they come close to each other. They gage, sense and feel each other and at the last minute, one would give way to the other. No raising of the middle finger or yelling. Our tour bus would make U turns from the middle lane as if it was nothing. Never in a hurry, never jerking.
Maybe the best way to ride Beijing is just go with the flow. No abrupt stops where other cyclists can pile on you. There are a lot of electric bikes. It's the working man's motorcycle. Instead of food trucks, you have food electric trikes. Three wheel contraptions that's electric powered cooking pancakes, noodles etc. They are no longer pedal powered. With their weight, the motor gives them the propulsion. I suspect the pedals are just there so they can have bicycle status - no registration, no insurance.
Took a lot of video and photos focusing on cyclists. Will sort it soon and post it.
I wish I could move to china as well. I think it is still the wild wild west. Amazed at the construction boom paling what we have here. Trying to learn Mandarin now.
Keep sending your updates
05-23-12, 03:35 PM
#36
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How's the air quality? I know things were cleaned up for the Olympics, but that was four years ago.
05-23-12, 06:19 PM
#37
Senior Member
Thread Starter
View from my office on a bad day.
Same view on an average day.
View in my neighborhood park on an OK day.
05-27-12, 05:55 AM
#38
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Rode yesterday and today, total of 6 or 7 hours on bike, lots of wandering around. Didn't cover many miles, but saw a lot of cool stuff. Swung by Tiananmen Square to get these shots:
Entrance to the Forbidden City.
The Great Hall of the People.
Entrance to the Forbidden City.
The Great Hall of the People.
