The Sleeping Giant

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, 

 “China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.” 

Photo Credit @ Nicole

In the last 6 months China has changed the world as Napoleon Bonaparte said many years ago.  

Our entire planet from the South Pole to the North Pole, around the Equator’s diameter , each single human living on Earth have altered their life path.  

Our grand children, great grand children will study this event at school and they will know the cause of this.Hopefully it will prepare them for maybe another Pandemic to come. 

Photo Credit @ Nicole

I have been fortunate enough to travel to China since 2010 constantly at least 3 or 4 times a year in taking part at cycling events or cycling around to discover the unknown of this immense country. 

Certainly during the years I have noticed amazing changes with people, nature, way of living and certainly a fast developing country that attract me more to discover more of their traditions. 

Photo Credit @ Nicole

During my trips I have slept in many different kind of accommodations, alone or shared , with electricity or without , with or without windows, freezing cold or really hot but still amazing experiences. 

 If you are not shy, timid, speaking & meeting people is a must when you travel the world, especially when you share your passion of cycling. The feeling of crossing another cyclist in the empty roads is astonishing, the silhouette of a cyclist far away in front of you is like a mirage that turns real. Indescribable joy, you can only try to experience it.I was lucky to meet amazing people that some of them will describe their experience of living and cycling in China. 

Photo Credit @ Nicole

Being Italian, by default I am a food lover, passionate about my palate with the will to experience more.I think when I eat, I encounter an extreme pleasure. Cycling in China every time you need to adapt to the local cuisines, hygiene and locations of your meals where in most occasions are well out of the Western Countries standards.

Photo Credit @ Nicole

I have asked a fellow cyclist about her thought of China and its beauties. She has been living over in China for a long time and has a good presence,experience within the Chinese Cycling Community.Lets hear from her below.

Photo Credit @ Nicole

Outside the big cities, China is an amazing place for road cycling/touring, which I don´t want to miss. I started road cycling before I moved to China, but in fact started longer distance riding and bike touring there and since then have been on many, mostly self-organized cycling trips in- and outside of China. 

 The country is very diverse in landscape, culture & food, and it´s perfect for little or bigger adventures. I somehow got addicted to these, they are definitely one of the reasons, beside my work, why I still live in China after more than 10 years. For me, there is nothing more refuelling than to cycle through remote landscapes, feeling in touch with the surroundings, getting big smiles (or laughs because ppl think you are completely nuts, to cycle for leisure) and thumbs up from friendly locals. 

Photo Credit @ Nicole

If you speak a bit Chinese it is very easy to get in touch, as people are very curious and want to know everything, from where you come from, to if you are married and how many kids you have (the last two are very common and important questions in China 😉). 

Said that, if you don´t speak Chinese at all, you need to be either very adventurous, stress resistant or better organize someone who speaks a bit of Chinese to come along with you, or go on an organized trip.  If you like to taste new dishes and don´t bother to always know what you are eating (it´s the taste that counts, right?), food is also amazing. Of course, you might get the runs once in a while (better be prepared for that!), especially if you are not used to oily and spicy food. In all those years though, this happened only a few times to me.    

Photo Credit @ Nicole

Thank you Nicole for sharing your experience and thoughts about China.

When the travel begins & reopen again you must visit China to experience the unknown beauty. Feel free to get in touch with us for more infos.

Stay safe & well in thus times.

Ciao from the SaddleDrunk Family.

Photo Credit @ Nicole

My Advice on Winter Training

During the winter period or the lazy months some seasonal cyclist try to avoid cycling.This caused by a lot of factors like the layer up onion effect, which some seasonal cyclist might find it too much to handle.Also the fact of not owning a winter bike could be a peer pressure factor making the ride miserable where everybody else take out the nice bike geared up for winter with mudguards and the rest to not get the bum dirty.What about in the old days when they had to cycle in the middle of the snow is shorts and nothing else. It is funny because a lot of those having winter bike also are the same cyclist that follow the Velominati Rules.Which if i recall after many debates with those cyclist rules number 5 say something like to tough up to be polite.But look at this picture and actually be a real cyclist.

This guy(that you all must know him) had is family jewels up on his throat.Therefore before instead of posing,or being vain just try to ride normally and be like everybody that is saddledrunk. Intoxicated with the freedom of cycling.

Going back to advise you on training during the winter months, it is to carry on cycling of course,and taking in consideration all the festive meals and the relevant drinks(if you do drink) and Christmas Parties that you have to attend.

One of the worst mistake made by some cyclist during off season is to loose drastically weight and follow some stupid diets that will only damage your body causing deficiency of vitamins. This is totally unacceptable because during off season and winter cold months your body need all the fats to keep you going. Therefore I suggest to all of you to eat as much as you can, like the old chinese buffet 0.99$ per person, during the winter months with a big "BUT" which is to make sure that your bike does not get cobweb around it and  flat tyres.

So just keep pedalling 3 times a week or more and maintain your regular distances, slow up your pace because you dont want to get injured due to the cold muscles. Then just enjoy and feel SaddleDrunk.

Some friends that are pro-cyclist or/and pro-athlete in others sports different than cycling are taking holidays around the world just chilling and reading books,listening to music but their passion is still in their minds, in doing some sort of training related to their own discipline.

My training for the winter is to keep carry on cycling, running short or long distances, swimming and going skiing keeping my legs and core always training.

I like to indulge myself in food badly during the winter times,but I struggle to put weight on.Remember my proverb,which is not a chinese one is "Just keep Rolling" meaning don't stop. Your will power, your mind are the strength of your body.

You have to remember that during those periods if you go out you could be the only one out with the animals.The crispy air helps you breath and training harder for the condition during the summer.You might notice some different sceneries even if it is your local route, smell new essences from the wild.You may find Santa getting ready with the raindeers.

Remember also to take part in different winter series or sport events that you might enjoy it to keep the competition mood high. So, when you come to do your first event next season you do not have the common human being feel, known as "pissing my pants".

Merry Christmas from SaddleDrunk.