Meet the Mountain Cyclists Who Took On the Mighty Mobike Miaofengshan Challenge, a 120km Sharebike Ride
There’s little doubt that, for how convenient Beijing’s shared bikes are, they’re also something of a nuisance. It’s nice to have them for a quick trip to the bar, work, or grocery store, however, it’s also no secret that some 90 percent of the capital’s cycles are in less than stellar condition. How many times have we hopped on a Mobike, traveled all but a block or two, only to ditch it, hoping to find one that rides a bit smoother, or has a seat that’s actually capable of adjusting to various heights. Needless to say, they’re something of a necessary evil, a wonderful burden for capital residents.
Few of us would think of riding a shared bike for any extended amount of time, and yet for UK-native LS Lee, that’s precisely what he chose to do. On Saturday, Apr 10, Lee and a couple of friends decided to embark on the Mighty Mobike Miaofengshan Challenge, a 120km ride from Dongzhimen up to Miaofengshan, a part of the Taihang Mountains in Beijing’s Mentougou District, using nothing but shared bikes.
We caught up with Lee to find out what inspired this seemingly foolhardy errand, and how the journey went.
First and foremost, please introduce yourself!
My name is Lee, I’m a BBC (British-born Chinese/HK) and I’ve been in Beijing for five years. My job is going to big companies and telling them how to use “proper” English. Like many here I came to Beijing for work but also to discover China and I guess a little bit more about my heritage. Additionally, I’ve been developing some personal photography projects which you can check out at (shameless self-promotion inbound!) www.lapsunlee.com.
Because work involves traveling to various offices all over Beijing I rapidly became familiar with taxis and the metro – and just as rapidly became worn down from being stuck in perpetual traffic jams and human jams. Sitting for an hour in a musky Didi that’s blasting incomprehensible xiangsheng to travel only 10km was simply no way to live. That’s when I first tried to cycle in Beijing and the rest is now history. I went from an RMB 150 hutong basket bike and now have three bicycles. I can’t imagine living in Beijing and not having the convenience and sheer joy of moving around the city unhindered that being on two-wheels brings.
Tell us a little bit about the Mighty Mobike Miaofengshan Challenge.
Miaofengshan is 40km west of downtown and during the weekend you’ll find hordes of Beijing’s finest lycra-clad lads (and ladies) attempting the 1,000m climb. Simply completing it is proof of your cycling mettle and a must-do if you’re in Beijing. Strong riders do it in under 60 minutes but most will take 90-plus minutes.
The Mighty Miaofengshan Mobike Challenge starts at Dongzhimen where you carefully choose a share bike then ride all the way out to the top of Miaofengshan and back downtown again. It’s a leisurely 120km ride with 1,100m of elevation, comparable to some Alpine climbs.
And how exactly did it come about? Or, perhaps a better question is, why on earth would you decide to embark on such a ludicrous journey? Who joined you?
I saw an old guy riding Miaofengshan on a Mobike who looked like he was having the absolute time of his life, beaming smile all the way up and all the way back down. Most riders – often on fancy featherweight carbon bikes – will have a facial expression somewhere between Edvard Munch’s The Scream and a squashed jianbing dropped outside Nali Patio. It was pure vindication that it’s all about the rider having the mental fortitude and not about the equipment which I found resoundingly refreshing and wanted to give it a go, with the added challenge of actually riding out there and back downtown.
On Saturday Apr 10, the inaugural MMM Challenge was held and successfully completed by two Brits, an American and a massive German dude, supported by a crew of very understanding but less insane friends riding sensible bikes.
So you did this whole thing using only share bikes. What was the bike selection process like? With roughly ten million share bikes – give or take – on any given street corner in Beijing, how did you decide which one was worthy of the trip? At any point in the journey, did you ditch the bike you were on, hoping to find one in slightly better condition?
This is the reason for starting at Dongzhimen bus station, there are scores of share bikes to choose from but these days, there’s only Meituan, Didi, and Alipay bikes which are mostly identical. The key selection factors are the saddle going up high enough, the pedals turning smoothly and the brakes actually working. And a non-broken basket to carry all the fluids being constantly consumed.
Was it easier, harder, or about what you expected?
The flat sections were easier than expected while the climb was harder than expected but overall, actually easier. I’m sure the American and the German will both heartily disagree.
What was the best part? The worst? Anything surprising?
Definitely the non-stop cheers of “Jiayou!” and “Niubi!” from other riders and motorists going up Miaofengshan, they all recognized the ridiculousness in riding a share bike up it, but also why people would want to do it; for a challenge, for a laugh.
I wouldn’t say worst but the 40km ride back downtown was pretty boring when you’re only averaging 18km/h and can’t wait to knock back a Flying Fist IPA...
What about next time, will you do anything differently?
Bring speakers to play music for the ride back!
Speaking of next time, will there be a next time? Do you think this is something you’d like to turn into an annual event?
Yes, yes there will be a next time, MMM Challenge 2022.
READ: 800K Max: Beijing Sticks a Limit on Sharebikes in the City
Images courtesy of LS Lee
