chinamtb 08

Date: Saturday June 28, 2008

Route: This is a clockwise route. Start in Shidu town, just west of
the low bridge over the river. After 0.5km, take the junction to the
north, after 7.5km along the paved road, it is the entrance of our
1st gorge. The local paved the 7km at the entrance and then ahead up
the valley onto gravel. Follow the 14km gravel track over the
ridgeline, climbing from 200 to 850 m before dropping to 600m. At one
point the track suddenly narrows to a seductive small track that goes
straight ahead and peters out: the real route hairpins back on your
left across a river bad. Later on there are some huge switchbacks,
ENJOY!!! At some mountain village follow your nose out through the
village, the road after here is decrepit, and the path reduced to a
single track on top of the old abandoned road.

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The guys over in Hangzhou have been out and about again. This time at Yu Yang Hill, Suzhou. It seems they’ve found what we have always wanted a DH track in their backyard! With any luck we’ll be able to visit Hangzhou sometime and see what the riding is really like.

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The Sun Riders are an ex-pat/Chinese bike club based in Hangzhou. Not much is known about them at the moment, but we’re hoping to get details and updates for when and where they ride soon. In the meantime you can sit back and watch this video of the Sun Riders in action!

Lidingoloppet China, 21st June

Only one week to go until the big Cross Country  Running Festival Lidingolloppet China. The preparations are going well in the “small” city up north, Changchun with ‘only’ 7 million people. The tracks are being marked, the beer-tens are setting up, and the May-pole is under production. The event coincides with the Swedish summer tradition Midsummer, and we will therefore combine the event with the traditional Swedish Midsummer Festivities.

Genghis Khan MTB Adventure &Grassland Marathon, July 4-7th

The great MTB Adventure n the traces of Genghis Khan is also around the corner, less than one month to go! This is the second edition of this Inner Mongolia Adventure, however, this year also with a Marathon for all runners out there! The adventure involves 3 stages of MTB and one stage of running. It will go on for 4 days, but it is up to you to decide how many stages do you think you can manage! Amateurs or Elite … everyone is welcome!

After the race you will experience true Mongolian Culture with wrestling shows ans Mongolian horses, you may  even stay one night in Mongolian Tents.

Vattenrundan China, August 29-31st

Coming up after the Olympics is another of the Swedish classics that will do its second appearance in China. The setting for the road bike race Vattenrundan China is Changbai Mountain, a dormant  volcano famous for its volcanic lakes, thermal springs, and pine forests. As usual in our events; amateurs, elite, bike-fans and tourists are all welcome!

To see more details and to sign up visit www.nordicways.com

Date: Saturday May 31, 2008

Route: This Sat, it is A to B ride, half paved and half dirt.

Start beside Banchengzi Reservoir, riding along the right-side of our
Spoon Ride till Panzipai, turn northeast till Qianhuozhiling, from
here downhill ride on the dirt trail approx 38km all the way till we
hit the main road at Gumenkou.  Turn right back to MOB Bus.

Total distance: approx. 90km
Total climb: est.  800meters
Estimated time back to town: 7 pm
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Date: Saturday May 24, 2008

Route: This Sat will be the farewell ride of Jobst, who will go back to
Germany at the end of May 2008.
All the best to YOU, Jobst!!

We will start again in Shandongzhuang, ride along our 15km paved
uphill till the 1st barrage. From there, offroad downhill till the T-
jonction. This time we will take left wing dirt road, followed by
single trail, plus some bike on shoulders. As soon as we hit the main
road, we will turn left and ride along the river back to MOB bus.

Total distance: approx 50km
Total climb: est. 1000 meters
Estimated time back to town: around 6pm

Sign-up:
beijingmob-owner@googlegroups.com
Book as early as possible.

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Date: Saturday May 17, 2008
Route: Starting at Tailing Tomb, ride east on tarmac for 6km and turn onto a

dirt track. After 4 or 5km we start to climb steeply for 6km and

cross into a hidden valley, at the end of which lies a little

forgotten village. After this we climb on single track with some

carrying bikes into another valley. Most of the descent on single

track can be ridden, there is a few km of sandy tracks leading to a

valley. Mobsters will be doing an extra loup on dirt tracks while

Mushes will have another 6km downhill back to the bus.
Total distance: approx. 70km & 1000m climb for Mobsters; 50km & 600m

climb for Mushes

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After some cloudy and rainy days in Huangshan, the MTB Festival blew away all the clouds and made way for the sun and a blue sky.

Almost 500 people showed up in the start, among others the Chinese bike star Li Fuyu, who was number one on 50K, finishing 46 seconds before last year’s winner Piers Touzel from Australia. However, since Li is a professional biker, he had to hand over his prize money to Piers, who also did an excellent race. Li was specially invited by the organizer and main sponsor TREK, and was very satisfied with both the race and the tracks.

Zheng Lufang was the first lady to finish the 50K race, which she did with glory by beating her main competitor Lv Taotao with almost as much as six minutes.

The arena was crowded of people, a mix of locals and bikers from more than 20 countries that were mingling with friends and other bike fans, having food and visiting our sponsors in their tents.

Date: Saturday May 10, 2008

Route: This is A-B ride along the Bai River.
Good both for road bikes and mountain bikes.

Starting from Jiuxianzhen, 5km uphill to the top where you will enjoy
amazing view of Beihebao Reservoir. Downstream ride all the way paved
to Tanghekou along Bai River.
Total distance: approx. 95km

Extra 30km dirt and paved loup for the Mobsters, start from
Qianjiadian till hitting the main road, turn east to join the other at Tanghekou.

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Initial D is a very popular cartoon here in China. The show is about a group of young car racers taking part in night time drift compititions on Japan’s dangerous mountain passes.

Club 7659 based in He Nan province were so inspired that they decided to start their own bicycle drift team.

The rules are pretty straight forward you just need to perform an aw inspiring right hand drift, either with the aid of brakes or without.

For a short intro on how to bicycle drift and the best way to set up your bike (in Chinese) click continue reading.

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