Beijing cyclist rides at his own pace

For Zhang Zhi, a 47-year-old freelancer in Beijing's Chaoyang district, cycling is not about chasing speed, beating personal records, or weaving through packs of riders in matching jerseys. It is about something quieter and harder to find in a city of more than 20 million people: balance.

"In my school days, almost every household had a bicycle," Zhang said. "There's an emotional connection."

That childhood attachment has evolved into a deliberate lifestyle. While many of his peers have traded two wheels for four, Zhang has done the opposite.

He calls his philosophy the "balanced triangle of people, bike, and life". It is a motto he lives out in carefully planned rides across Beijing's sprawling urban landscape and beyond.

Unlike the weekend warriors who measure success by average speed or elevation gain, Zhang prefers themed excursions exploring old Beijing's corner food stores and forgotten alleyway histories. On other days, he pedals toward the suburbs to absorb the shifting scenery.

"At my age, I don't chase speed or power," he said. "I pay more attention to the balance between living, riding, and my state of mind."

His approach to cycling changed around 2020, when he started recording his rides and sharing them on social media. His commute evolved into a form of storytelling.

It was a practical shift. After being hit by a car going the wrong way, Zhang now carries camera gear on every ride.

"I treat it like a dashcam. It's for safety, and also for social media content production," he said.

He films everything himself, narrates live without dubbing, and does all of his own editing. "If I rode with a team, people couldn't learn from it. I want to show what one person can do," he added.

Since May, Zhang has been able to do more. He has taken advantage of the city's new policy of allowing bikes on select subway lines to expand his reach and show new stories to his audience.

As he steps onto new paths, bicycle in tow, Zhang envisions a bright future among the unexpected.

"Fear comes from not knowing how well you can handle things," Zhang said.

Though he mostly rides alone, his family has long since stopped worrying about him. "Over time, they saw I could manage."

He hopes others will see that too. "Not everyone needs a fancy bike," he said. "Just start riding. Anytime."