General Cycling Discussion - What bikes do they ride in China?

Hello, all. I'm kinda new to this forum...

Anyways, I stumbled apon an a really long thread with the subject heading "What is wrong with Wal Mart bikes?" and in this thread, Inoplanetyanin stated that some people around the world didn't even have enough money to buy cheap bikes from WalMart that most people regard as crap.

So then I wondered, what kind of bikes do they ride in China? There's over a billion people there, most of them who ride. And the country's almost third world, too. So how do they get their bikes?

Do Huffy or Roadmaster make cheap bikes there?

Do they hand down their bikes from generation to generation?

Do they build their own bikes?

Do LBS's there make bikes themselves?

Do they have people that make bikes as a trade?

Do they spend most of their life's savings on nice, imported bikes like Trek?

Anyone know or have any ideas? Are there any big-name Chinese bicycle manufacturers in China?

Please note that I'm not talking about the big cities like Shanghai or Hong Kong.

Thanks a lot.

I don't know, but googling "bicycles in china" led to a number of interesting hits. Fascinating topic.

RichC

The Chinese still make those old 1 and 3-speed English-style roadsters (the ones with stirrup brakes), as well as all those department-store bikes we get here.
There was a story in the New York Times a few months back about the state of cycling in China. It seems that those old, heavy roadsters are losing popularity, while the cheap bikes are gaining. At the same time, the cities are becoming less cycling-friendly, and where most people cherished bikes in days gone by, most young adults move up to a motor scooter fairly qickly, leaving the bicycle as strictly a short-distance conveyance. There was mention of a train station where hundreds of people ride their bikes, park them, then abandone them. The stationmaster lamented that these newer bikes just weren't made to last.

My knowledge of the bike market in China came from watching the movie Bicycle Bejing (spelling). I did NOT see one Roadmaster, Huffy's, Magna or Pacific in the entire movie. The bikes appeared to be single speed cruisers that were step through. Some of the bikes had lights but almost all had fenders. Many of the bikes had a rack or a basket in the front. It looked to me that many of these bikes were passed on from generation to generation.

Very rarely would you find anyone riding a good bycycle with gears. A good bycycle by their standards would be an Pacific with fenders. I imagine a bike of this quality would cost a small fortune or about a months pay.

Overall. The Chinese bikes are just as good as any Huffy or Pacific you'll find in Toys R US. Seriously. The quality of toy store bikes is not much better and you're basically getting a beach cruiser even though it's sold with 27 speeds.

From a commuter stand point, you're worse off buying a Huffy since it doesn't come with fenders, rear rack or Dynamo lighting like the Chinese junkers have.

so there are no road cyclists or MTBers in china? what a shame! someone should go there and help them... I think Hong Kong would be a good starting point ;)

deliriou5 your comment is extremely patronising. Of course the chinese have road-bikes and MTBs, its just the general population ride roadsters.

Where's MIKE, who travels to China on a regular basis, when you need his input?

I think we're referring to the general population, not as much the exceptions who go out and get the higher end, more expensive road and mountain bikes.

I haven't been to China (yet)- not to the mainland, but I have been to Hong Kong (after British gave it back). I've also been to Vietnam, where it seems like it's all bikes and motorcycles, rickshaws and motor scooters.

I can't recall seeing a lot of high end bikes- I did see the occasional cyclist in full riding gear on some spiffy looking bikes, but generally, the bikes I saw were those roadsters that Dave was talking about. I think some of the youngsters and teens had some higher quality no-name mountain bikes they were doing some curb hopping and stuff with, but again, not a lot of Lemonds or Schwinn, or Treks or bikes of this kind of caliber.

When I get to China, I'll post and let people know. ;)

When I was working in Afghanistan, we had three Chinese bikes as part of our transportation fleet. Unfortunately, we expats were not allowed to ride them, but I did take one for a spin in Pakistan. These babies are heavy and a little difficult to ride. However, I did have this idea to buy one (about $35.00 USD) and ride in down the Karakoram highway, now that would have been a bike trip! I did take the trip up the Karakoram highway, but on a bus and I kept looking down at the Indus River thinking, now that would be a great white water kayak trip! And I am certain I would be dead if I attempted either trip.

>>>>I did have this idea to buy one (about $35.00 USD) and ride in down the Karakoram highway, now that would have been a bike trip!<<<<<

Is there somthing dangerous about traveling by bicycle on the Karakoram highway? Is the surface too rough or the drivers too careless?

If you had the right bike (not a Chinese one) and if you like to dodge traffic, it can be done and it is an amazing, mind-bending place! I believe there is even a guidebook out on this hwy, and it is/was cycled as part of a back exit from China. I was in the region (Afgahnistan/Pakistan) for 9 months and I was very ill at that point and not prepared for any cycling trip. I would love to hear from anyone who has cycled this region, as it is truly amazing. It is too bad that this region is no longer a safe place for western folk.

Originally posted by Portent
deliriou5 your comment is extremely patronising. Of course the chinese have road-bikes and MTBs, its just the general population ride roadsters.

you know, I didn't mean to be... it's really ignorance...

I have NEVER seen China-born Chinese on MTBs or road bikes....

And I myself am a Korean American and I know for a fact that cycling is pretty uncommon even among asian AMERICANS.

If you could direct me to a site on recreational/racing cycling in China, that would be greatly appreciated.

When I was in Kenya and Tanzania last year I saw a lot of those old black single speed Roadster type bikes (like what we used to have in Ireland when I was growing up). I found out that most of them are made in China. They cost about $30 which as you can imagine is a big sum of money for the average Kenyan. A teacher's salary is around $50-$70 per month. They must be pretty durable bikes because the roads are mostly bumpy dirt roads and a lot of the bikes look like they've been around for a while. Also there I saw a lot of bike mechanics shacks all over the place. In fact I ended up going to one of these guys myself. I rented out a mountain bike (an old cheap piece of junk) and when I was out on my ride the pedal fell off so one of these local bike mechanics fixed it up for me for something like 5 cents.

I don't know about Chinese races, but I do know what I observed when I was in these countries. The vast majority of cyclists were on clunky, heavy bikes, but I did see some cyclists in lycra and spandex, racing along the countryside roads, especially in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had some great hills on one of the island, and I saw quite a few cyclists racing up and down the hills.

How the heck did I miss this interesting thread?

I go to China frequently and I bicycle nearly every time I go there.

In China, there are still a lot of the old 28" wheelbase single speed machines that are copies of the original Raleighs that went to China around the 1920's. Rod brakes, reliable, simple. These are the bikes that we saw for so many years when we saw video clips of Chinese droves pedaling in a long dragon line of commuters.

However, things are changing fast. The old single speed is rapidly becoming passe' and has an old image associated with it. The farmers still like them because they can be easily and affordably repaired just about anywhere.

Mountain bikes are becoming popular. When businessmen ride them in their western suits, they are jokingly referred to as "pandas" because their white shirt sleeves stick out beyond the dark suit-coats and the white streak of shirt shows from under the back of their jackets.

Road bikes are not at all common. Of course, road bikes are not that common in the USA anymore, for that matter. In China, however, road bikes are even more uncommon than in the USA. First of all, when most of the rest of the world was going through 10-speed fever in the 1970's China was just wrapping up a decade of oppressive Cultural Revolution. No time for fashion of fancy in those days. So, you don't find any old road bikes around.

Second, life is hard on bikes (and people) in China. I doubt that a lightweight machine could hold up very long in rugged China.

I have mentioned before, but I will say it again. China was clearly the world's most fantastic country for bicycle riding. Until recently, bicycles outnumbered motor vehicles on the road. Bicycles were KING and they took the right of way over automobiles. As automobile use became more common, the roads were divided by physical barriers to separate motor vehicles from bicycles.

Unfortunately, those days are VERY RAPIDLY evaporating. Today, the bicyclist on the roads of most major cities is subject to the grinding dangers faced by riders in most other busy metro areas. The only difference is that there are still more bicyclist in China than in other countries, so there is a slight comfort in knowing one is not alone on two wheels.

Mike

Hey, thanks for the reply, Mike. I was (and still am) interested in the "bike culture" in China and other similar countries, especially in unindustrialized areas. It is here that the true practical use of rugged, durable bicycles come out. My parents are from China also, so that might have a lot to do with it.

I have seen pictures in China where wide, dirt streets are just filled with bicycles. By filled, I mean the whole street is almost entirely fully occupied by bicycles, with not a single car visible in the area. I don't know when these pictures were taken exactly, but it looked like the mid-90's, judging from the quality of the photos and the dress and outfitting of the people and bicycles.

I will definitely go to China in the near future, so I'll keep my eyes open. Hey, if I can find a bike for under $50 there, I'll buy it and ride it around! It'll be great not to worry about heavy traffic. I've been to Hong Kong many times and to Xiamen, and the traffic situation is about the same as in the major cities here in the United States, except with fewer cyclists and more cars.

I will definitely go to China in the near future, so I'll keep my eyes open. Hey, if I can find a bike for under $50 there, I'll buy it and ride it around! It'll be great not to worry about heavy traffic. I've been to Hong Kong many times and to Xiamen, and the traffic situation is about the same as in the major cities here in the United States, except with fewer cyclists and more cars.

You know what's so sad folks. I know a guy here in Manhattan who is importing those heavy single speed "Roadsters" from India brand new and is selling them on the streets of New York City for $200.00!!!! Guess what? This guy is taking lots of orders and making some serious cash!! There is a NEED for a cheap inexpensive 3 speed roadster that can be purchased for less than $100.00 dollars but it is nowhere to be found. You heard that correctly. There is a demand for some company to make an inexpensive Roadster but the ones being sold by Breezer or Trek cost $500 - $1,000 dollars! There is no way you can leave that kind of bike on the streets which is why people buy Magnas that are horrible to ride on the street.

Soon after seeing a picture in National Geographic, of a Chinese man transporting a live hog by bike, I started going to the St. Paul farmers market, to buy 20 lb squash and pecks of apples. I'm sure that my expensive bike, which swayed from the weight on the back rack wasn't much better at moving cargo than the Chinese machine that nudged me towards bike dependence.

The Flying Pigeon can be had for $250-300.

http://www.momovelo.com/feige.html

My Chinese folder . Make:- Wu Yang

I've been to China and most of the bikes I saw were the basic transportation commuter bike type. No decals or names or so, there are "bike vendors" on the corner of sidewalks that will sell or fix bikes on the spot. I did see some big bike stores in rural China that had "GIANT" on them and in Hong Kong, you can typically find more newer modern bikes, I've seen an Intense M1 frame there in 2001 and a guy with a Gary Fischer jersey on a road bike there. But generally, Hong Kong is more modernized anyway, but in the rural China, Huangshan, Xian, Guangzhoa, most of the bikes I saw were basic commuters, thick gauged steel with welded racks or those popular trikes to carry stuff.

Lantau island is popular (if not only) place to do some mountain biking or camping in Hong Kong, unless you go further in on the mainland.

Jay

You know what's so sad folks. I know a guy here in Manhattan who is importing those heavy single speed "Roadsters" from India brand new and is selling them on the streets of New York City for $200.00!!!! Guess what? This guy is taking lots of orders and making some serious cash!! There is a NEED for a cheap inexpensive 3 speed roadster that can be purchased for less than $100.00 dollars but it is nowhere to be found. You heard that correctly. There is a demand for some company to make an inexpensive Roadster but the ones being sold by Breezer or Trek cost $500 - $1,000 dollars! There is no way you can leave that kind of bike on the streets which is why people buy Magnas that are horrible to ride on the street.

$200 is a reasonable price for a good quality roadster. Not all Chinese roadsters are created equal, but some of them are exquisite. I bought one in Beijing that is well made, and beautifully painted in baked enamel hunter green with golden detailing. It is very regal in appearance and a joy to ride. This bike is was considered the Cadillac of the Chinese bicycles and is of better quality than the X-Mart imports we see in the states. I rode it for several multi-day tours including a round-trip ride from Beijing to the Great Wall at Badaling. I might have paid about $65.00 for it retail in China.

I did investigate the possibility of importing and selling these gorgeous machines. I could buy them for about $35.00 each wholesale. On top of that, you have transportation, insurance, import duties, and other expenses. When it is all said and done, a price of $200.00 would be a very reasonable and fair price.

I have never seen the Indian made bicycles that are mentioned by Dahon. I would be interested to know about the level of quality.

I did investigate the possibility of importing and selling these gorgeous machines.

More junk from China. Thats the last thing we need.

More junk from China. Thats the last thing we need.

Yeah I absolutely agree. Let's ditch everything from china along with every country in south america, asia, europe, africa, and those "other" 2 large countries on the north american plate.

>>>>I did have this idea to buy one (about $35.00 USD) and ride in down the Karakoram highway, now that would have been a bike trip!<<<<<

Is there somthing dangerous about traveling by bicycle on the Karakoram highway? Is the surface too rough or the drivers too careless?No it's the not-so-friendly people with guns.






See how easy it is to hit [Reply] ?

Yeah I absolutely agree. Let's ditch everything from china along with every country in south america, asia, europe, africa, and those "other" 2 large countries on the north american plate.

I think that we should ditch all that stuff from everywhere outside of Minnesota. Except Belgian chocolate and beer, french cheese, and Legos! I reseve the right to add to this list.

local famous bike brands:
forever, flying piegeon, phoenix
world famous brands made in china: giant, merida, dahon

I didn't know Dahan's bikes were made in China.

Koffee

My Chinese folder . Make:- Wu YangIt looks like you have an adjustable wheelbase there. How does it ride?

I think that we should ditch all that stuff from everywhere outside of Minnesota. Except Belgian chocolate and beer, french cheese, and Legos! I reseve the right to add to this list.Does that mean we will all be forced to eat lutefisk? :eek:

No it's the not-so-friendly people with guns.






See how easy it is to hit [Reply] ?

See how redundant the reply button is since the reply box is at the bottom of the page and doesn't require another slowass page load?

More junk from China. Thats the last thing we need.


Hi- I'm the China Junk collector, please empty everything from China in your residence into my truck.

Sorry about the echos.

Steve

I had a friend from Beijing that came here to study.
She had a Giant bike and a couple of her friends were rocking Giants and Treks. But then again their families were pretty wealthy (more money than I'll probably ever see).

More junk from China. Thats the last thing we need.


Like it or not, China is becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse. They make many tiers of stuff. If you want the cheapest stuff, you'll end up with junk. If you want to pay a decent price, you'll get much better quality. Also don't forget that many of those people in charge over there are educated here in some of our top universities... They're not only doing the manufacturing...they're doing more and more of the engineering work behind what they manufacture.

Hi- I'm the China Junk collector, please empty everything from China in your residence into my truck.

Sorry about the echos.

Steve


If he would to do that, he might have nothing left in his residence... :)

If he would to do that, he might have nothing left in his residence... :)

Bingo...bingo...bingo....bing...bin...b...................... :)

And of course China has some pretty good universities of their own. And the hothousing of kids whose parents want them into the best universities is very intense, so the best universities have many many highly educated students to choose from.

I have however heard one Chineese educated academic now working in Australia say that Chineese university students are to rigid in their thinking to question their educators.

a

I saw some interesting "before and after" photos from China. It showed some streets during the morning rush hour ten years ago, versus today. Ten years ago, the street was filled with thousands of bikes. Columns of bikes fifty riders wide heading to work. The stream of bikes extended as far as you could see.

Today, far fewer bikes on that same street. Communist party officials have had their "hand in the till". Fleets of Mercedes and BMW's in front of their palaces. And, their corrupt business "associates" (to own a factory in China, it helps if your Dad or brother is a party member) also have fleets of imported cars.

The folks in the BMW's were annoyed by being slowed down by folks on bikes. Solution: restrict the right of a million citizens across the city to ride bikes in order to "speed up" traffic for party officials and their cronies.

So, bikes were banned from many major streets during rush hour, or restricted to lanes that could only handle a small fraction of the bike traffic. Former bikers now walk to a bus station or train station, and then walk from that station to their job. Some bike riders have "outfoxed" the communists by locking two bikes in different parts of the city, using one bike by "back street" to the train station, and then the second bike, by "back street" from the station to their job.

Communism has made China into a "Kingdom" where the "royalty" have cars and working people ride bikes. But, working people must leave their bikes at home if riding interfers with "royal" perogatives.

If he would to do that, he might have nothing left in his residence...

I would not be out very much. I avoid buying from China and other third world countries if at all possible. When I wanted to buy a grease gun I checked all of the local auto parts and hardware stores and then spent a several hours searching the Internet to find one that was made in the USA. All of the jeans I have bought new were made in the USA. The only footwear that I own that isn't made in the USA is a pair of Baffin pac boots that are made in Canada and a pair of Solomon ski boots made in Europe. Both of my bikes were made in the USA and so was my car. I have a several thousand dollars worth of tools at work and less the $30 of it is made in China. I often walk out of a store without buying what I went in there for because it wasn't made in the USA and I thought I might be able to find it somewhere else.

so there are no road cyclists or MTBers in china? what a shame! someone should go there and help them... I think Hong Kong would be a good starting point ;)

Wouldn't work, the crowds are so great and the traffic flows based on a rather organic fluid flow... anything trying to exceed that flow is likely to encounter massive resistance.

This page has a very accurate description:

http://www.zzapp.org/rileygea/tortoise/ch_bikes.htm

One of the more interesting things I saw in Hangzhou was the building of a new high tech district... the buidings were very close together and surrounded by green belts. There are no parking lots. There are places to park cars, but they are grass areas with stones, and would hold perhaps 20 cars for a 16 story building. Bikes were everywhere. Behind a building one would typically see a long line of bikes side by side.

I would not be out very much. I avoid buying from China and other third world countries if at all possible. When I wanted to buy a grease gun I checked all of the local auto parts and hardware stores and then spent a several hours searching the Internet to find one that was made in the USA. All of the jeans I have bought new were made in the USA. The only footwear that I own that isn't made in the USA is a pair of Baffin pac boots that are made in Canada and a pair of Solomon ski boots made in Europe. Both of my bikes were made in the USA and so was my car. I have a several thousand dollars worth of tools at work and less the $30 of it is made in China. I often walk out of a store without buying what I went in there for because it wasn't made in the USA and I thought I might be able to find it somewhere else.

This is getting off topic, and if you want to respond to me directly, fine, send me a PM. That said, you mean to tell me that you've found a US built car with NO "made in China" parts? Really? Asian parts have been used on US production lines for decades, and GM is big investor in Chinese industry (as well as the other two of the big three). These American producers don't expect to survive without participating in the global economy. You say your bikes are made in the US- The gruppo is US made? How about the saddle?

A snippet: "New investments in China seem to be an almost daily message in the Automotive News headlines. GM recently announced its plans to invest three billion U.S. dollars over the next three years and this follows closely on the heels of similar announcements from Ford, DaimlerChrysler and VW. "
Whole article: http://www.pwcglobal.com/extweb/indissue.nsf/docid/75B6327B758F9BCE85256EC200517108

Your "if at all possible" statement is kind of an easy out. You work hard, and invest lots of time and money chasing North American products, and up your percentage of US manufactured purchases to what-35%? Your residence will still echo when I haul the Asian product away. And even if you can afford to turn your back on stuff produced in Asia, do you believe the rest of Americans can afford to do so?

The point I was making was making is that whether you like it or not, a very large percentage of things purchased in the US have contributions (parts, materials, technology) that have been developed outside of the US' physical constraints. It's a global economy- good for you for taxing yourself by buying stuff made by less competative US firms. My understanding of our economic system was that the best competitor (quality product made for the most competative cost) was the one who would eventually prevail. Naiive, I know, but what a principle!

And by the way- If you're supporting US made stuff because China, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, The Phillipines, Thailand (where a quick look reveals my keyboard was made) etc. don't "hold the same high standards for workers" or environment that we do, tell me how isolating them from our market is going to help them rise to our standards?

Sorry for the rant.

Steve

It's not neccesary for us to ride a bike or even drive in HongKong, We have a nice transit system that people would consider you a show-off if you own a car. And btw, I've seen a lot of people riding 7-speed mountain bikes in china when I went there for a trip 7 years ago, not everyone in China get paid 0.5 cent USD an hour over there, most people from china are actually wealthier than us hongkong people these days.

I just saw a PBS show on this. They drive SUVs!!! Jeep cherokees and grand cherokees were the first mass produced consumer vehicals in China and this lady they were documenting went to a dealer to look at a Jetta and I saw a frigin yellow H2 sitting there.