Best Cities for Bike Culture
I was reading a thread here the other day which I can't find for the life of me..... that was comparing Shanghai and BJ as places to ride and it got me thinking about where I live and the total lack of bike culture here.
In Ningbo as in many places I gather, bikes are totally banned within the ever expanding city limits. It is rare to see another motorcyclist unless you are at a dealership (there are only two real ones, and the one I use sucks) or out in the mountains. I really miss seeing other bikes around, meeting other riders and generally having bike awesomeness around me everywhere as I would in other countries.
So, the question I wanted to pose is, are there any bike friendly cities left in China? I have grown tired with Ningbo and am looking for a change next year, so what might be a good option, if we are considering riding/bike culture? Is Chengdu a goer? I liked that place last time I was there and the South West in general. Of course the ultimate destination would be dependant on me finding suitable work.
What do you think? Opinions?
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
The closest thing I ever saw to real "biker culture" was in Beijing. So many different biker types and clubs. I don't know how anyone could possibly debate Shanghai vs Beijing. Shanghai is motorcycle purgatory, Beijing has endless amounts of great riding within 30 minutes of downtown. I will give Shanghai credit over other cities for allowing motorcycles to exist, but the good riding is just too far away. If you can find a job in Yunnan or Sichuan, that would be ideal.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Jinan (Shandong) isn't too bad. There are kms of mountain roads to the south of the town towards Taian/Taishan. There is a definitely growing bike culture, loads of BMWs etc can be seen on the mountains more so than in the city and you can see club rides often. There is also a culture moving away from stolen in HK bikes to riding fully legal, plated insured bikes with helmets and hi-hiz padded jackets. Some riders are a bit crap in the corners, but standards are improving. Doesn't hurt that Jinan has a motorcycle manufacturing industry with Qingqi/Suzuki/Peugeot.
The mountains aren't mega big, or very extensive, but worth a look on the way past. I think for riding you'd be better off living in Zhejiang, Yunan, Sichuan etc. But it's certainly far better than Guangzhou, Shenzhen etc.
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Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Rode most provinces now, and Shandong is not on my list of good places to ride in general.
Rode your area around Ningbo with BikerDoc, yes very nice.
We did meet up with a few local guys from Ningbo who sometimes ride out.
I am now just south of Jingdezhen (Jiangxi province ) with some great mountain roads around more than you can ride in 30 days.
As to other bikers.
Was at a bike meet in a very small town (Wuyuan), attending I would put the number close to 1000 bikes.
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And I was the only western ride.
So the clue is to find some local Chinese clubs, most will welcome you.
Beijing..... Yes, great place to ride.
You need to move to the west of the city around or near Shimenying.
From there you are only 10 mins away from some great roads and I mean great.
located outside the 4th ring road bikes are legal and plating is not an issue.
Also, ring road 5 bikes are allowed to ride,
This whole area is a meeting place for riders from all over BJ to meet and ride.
weekend and holidays 100s ride out to have some fun.
Have you rode out to Jiande yet ( 1000 island lake area ) the ride out to the lakes is great as well i could post a route.
I am only 2 hours south of the lakes I could meet you in Jiande to shown you around the area.
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Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Those are some pretty epic views!!!
For sure there are clubs here and the roads way out of town are good but most of the clubs that I have seen are a total wank. Its just a dick swinging contest to see who paid the most for their bike. They faff around non stop pissing in each others pockets about how cool they are because they have the biggest/newest/most expensive bike. In a 12 hour outing you get about 3 hours of actual moving time at best. No the local clubs are not my scene. It reminds me of the local supercar scene.
I have guys that I ride with and thats all fine.
BUT in town, there is nothing going on. I was wondering if other places had it better off. BJ sounds cool but the winter and the poolution is a turn off.
As or the 1000 lakes.... no I have't been out there yet. It is on the "to do" list
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
The problem WE ALL have is the lack of foreign riders in any given area.
Totaly agree with riding with Chinese guys that why I rarely ride with them and the ones I do CAN ride and have no need to piss in each other's pockets.
ShuBen has mention Yaunan and Schiuan which IMO are the 2 best places to ride in China.
But that said its cold a lot of the time due to the high altitude.
So maybe look at Hainan.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Yeah, most Chinese clubs are total wank. Smoke cigarette, talk about how much bike cost...blah blah blah...eat 3 hour lunch make connections. 2 hours riding all day, 20 minutes on the twisties ride like total wobbly squids. Blast along wide straight highway and take unnecessary risks whenever possible to prove ones self. Not for me.
My pick would be T*iwan *province*, certainly ranks up there for cyclists, maybe not really extensive enough for bikers.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
This is a cool thread.. Obviously, living in Shanghai, I'm thinking strongly of decamping or looking around China for a more motorcycle friendly place. I'm coming down to Kangding in Sichuan...
But on the topic, I was in Chongqing the other week for the motorcycle expo and it just seemed like the city was awash with motorcycles..
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Today for example I had issues with my Niu ebike. I went to the Niu garage on a street full of ebike shops, fixers, parts and the like. I sat for hours while the guys worked on my ebike and I sat around shooting the shit with other riders, club members, mechanics, local girls and just whoever was around in the "scooter culture" of that area. These are the kinds of things that I miss with motorbikes.
How great would it be to go down to the local bike area and have a well informed and competent mechanic work on any issues you have. A suspension guy who actually know how to set up a bike and modify suspension. For us longer guys, a custom upholsterer to make up individualised seats as per our needs. A tuning shop with dyno and expert tuners. a plastics shop that can plastic weld and repair crash damage. Custom paint shops that can do your bike or helmet or whatever with their own unique designs..... the list goes on. AND of course a cafe/bar for everyone to meet at. THAT is the bike culture that I miss and am looking for
NONE of that is available here
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WesternPacific
Today for example I had issues with my Niu ebike. I went to the Niu garage on a street full of ebike shops, fixers, parts and the like. I sat for hours while the guys worked on my ebike and I sat around shooting the shit with other riders, club members, mechanics, local girls and just whoever was around in the "scooter culture" of that area. These are the kinds of things that I miss with motorbikes.
How great would it be to go down to the local bike area and have a well informed and competent mechanic work on any issues you have. A suspension guy who actually know how to set up a bike and modify suspension. For us longer guys, a custom upholsterer to make up individualised seats as per our needs. A tuning shop with dyno and expert tuners. a plastics shop that can plastic weld and repair crash damage. Custom paint shops that can do your bike or helmet or whatever with their own unique designs..... the list goes on. AND of course a cafe/bar for everyone to meet at. THAT is the bike culture that I miss and am looking for
NONE of that is available here
I have dreams like that most nights when I wake up and realise its TIC lol
Keep on dreaming
Wrong country wrong people
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
yeah might be time just to pack it in and be done with the place
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WesternPacific
yeah might be time just to pack it in and be done with the place
That would be a shame when you have not even travelled around China yet.
For me, it all comes down to ones "Expectations" if there are not high then China is a great place.
IMO make the most of what China has to offer.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
prince666
That would be a shame when you have not even travelled around China yet.
.
I have been plenty of places and seen plenty of things over the last 15 years here. Lived in various cities in various provinces. Seen most of the "famous" places in the country. So I think you might be assuming a bit too much
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WesternPacific
I have been plenty of places and seen plenty of things over the last 15 years here. Lived in various cities in various provinces. Seen most of the "famous" places in the country. So I think you might be assuming a bit too much
Sorry, my mistake.
If after 15 years your still looking for the golden goose
Maybe it is time to leave then.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
I hardly think looking for a bike friendly place is the golden goose BUT you are right, I think it is about time to leave
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WesternPacific
I hardly think looking for a bike friendly place is the golden goose BUT you are right, I think it is about time to leave
Wish you luck.
Try Thailand the only reason I stand it here is that 5 months a year I live in Northern Thailand, and 'everything' on your list you wish for is there no problems.
If you live up North then you have some of the best road rides in Asian.
A local guy to you who is a member on here ????
I introduced to Thailand 4 years ago and now he more or less lives there with a nice Honda CB500X.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
prince666
Wish you luck.
Try Thailand the only reason I stand it here is that 5 months a year I live in Northern Thailand, and 'everything' on your list you wish for is there no problems.
If you live up North then you have some of the best road rides in Asian.
A local guy to you who is a member on here ????
I introduced to Thailand 4 years ago and now he more or less lives there with a nice Honda CB500X.
Obviously if he has lived all over China for the last 15 years, he'll have not one clue about Thailand and need to be taught about it by clever old you.
Also the thread was about 'cities with the best bike culture' not what you misread, which was 'where are the best roads'.
You don't read what other people write properly, and you assume everyone else is an idiotic noob. Pretty insulting TBH.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ZMC888
Obviously if he has lived all over China for the last 15 years, he'll have not one clue about Thailand and need to be taught about it by clever old you.
Also the thread was about 'cities with the best bike culture' not what you misread, which was 'where are the best roads'.
You don't read what other people write properly, and you assume everyone else is an idiotic noob. Pretty insulting TBH.
Ha Ha Ha
You don't post much but when you do you just post a load of shit.
As I post more shit than you and keep the fucking site alive so back off.
The old saying is "IF Y0U HAVE NOTHING NICE TO POST THEN DONT POST"
Was not just talking about "roads" if you care to read my post again
Quote:
'everything' on your list you wish
So do your job as a "moderate" and stop inciting trouble
Now what a BAN again Ha Ha Ha
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Quote:
Originally Posted by
prince666
Ha Ha Ha
You don't post much but when you do you just post a load of shit.
As I post more shit than you and keep the fucking site alive so back off.
The old saying is "IF Y0U HAVE NOTHING NICE TO POST THEN DONT POST"
Was not just talking about "roads" if you care to read my post again
So do your job as a "moderate" and stop inciting trouble
Now what a BAN again Ha Ha Ha
Prince's motorcycle chat-board. Listen to Prince's opinion on everything, learn from Prince. Everyone new must learn from Prince, everyone else must defer to Prince or be talked down to by Prince. Prince has been everywhere and ridden every road in China and knows every bike. If you think you've ridden on a good road, but Prince hasn't been on it, it doesn't exist. If you think a city has a fledgling motorcycle culture it isn't real unless Prince has been there and seen it. If you've had problems with a make and brand of bike then they are all lemons according to Prince, even with anecdotal evidence of one. If you know something Prince doesn't then you are wrong. All posters are assumed to be clueless noobs unless personally pre-validated by Prince. There'd be so few posts if not for Prince, that makes him the King of the message boards.
Re: Best Cities for Bike Culture
Shit, I think I worked it out.
YOU ARE JEALOUS.
In the last year, 30 Threads started by me ( With over 50.000 views)
And 1 started by you?
With over 400 posts by me this year alone.
Compared to your measly 20
Which is very contemptible on your part IMO
Would never have considered that was the reason.
Just cut all the shit and add me to your ignore button you should be able to work that one out, will do everyone a favour.
And that goes for any another member who consider my Threads, comments not worthy of your eyes.
Just tried to Block you. (Sorry ZMC888 is a moderator/admin and you are not allowed to ignore him or her.) more Bullshit again
last words on this matter from me
Have a good day Teacher.
