Qing Ming Jie 清明节: Wuyuan 婺源

Well, it was the tomb sweeping holiday in China and we were invited to go to Wuyuan with the Shanghai Engineering group. We would spend three days out in the mountains walking, enjoying fresh air, and absorbing beautiful scenery. The whole weekend would cost 300 RMB ($43.79)per person, all expenses included.

The trip started out with an early morning five hour bus ride. When I wasn't attending meetings on the phone, I was either sleeping or listening to my mp3 player. We would stop for lunch in Huang Shan City. A week earlier I had been here for the most famous bike race in China. After lunch we would ride a few more hours to our destination.

Our first stop was a small town with some rape flowers. These flowers are used to make canola oil which is used in cooking. Also, it is used to manufacture bio diesel fuel for motor vehicles. This application is not that good considering the N2O bi product of this fuel is worse than CO2. Of course, the pollen coming from these flowers is not good for anyone with asthma or hay fever, but it is so beautiful to see endless fields of yellow.

After visiting this area, we would climb higher up the mountain and see a beautiful lake. The lake was beautiful situated between many mountains and we saw a fishermen on the lake casting his luck.

After a brief stop for pictures, we headed to the place we would spend the night. It was a little village at the footsteps of some mountains surrounded by beautiful yellow sea of rapeseed.

We had dinner and then the adventure wasn't meant to last. I received an emergency phone call and had to return to the office to work the following day.

The Beauty of Huangshan

Our last day in was spent on a 50 km ride to the Huangshan cable car station. It would be a 900 meter climb on bike and worth every second to see the beauty of the countryside. It is incredible to ride around China on bike and appreciate what nature has to offer.

This post is a special just for pictures of the beautiful area we were able to see on bike during our three day stay. The area is known for it's beauty and many young aspiring artist come to draw some of the beautiful scenery.

Huangshan MTB Festival Race Day

Well, it was a beautiful day to race. Just like the day before, it stayed warm and I could still wear a short sleeve jersey. I would wear the Astana Stars and Stripes jersey worn last year by Levi Leipheimer. I love to wear this jersey because it is the US National Champion Jersey. I feel that even in China, I can represent the US when I race. It gives me extra motivation to do my best.

In the 20 km open men's category, there were over 200 participants. We would all line up at the start and ride for maybe 2km before we got into the single track. I was lined up close to the back of the group, so I was unlucky on the first climbs. I can climb, but people ahead of me could not climb and it forces the group to have to walk or run with there bikes to pass the people who can not climb. This problem makes it harder to pass people and get to the front of the race. I was able to pass many people and start to move up to the front.

It was an exciting feeling riding, climbing, and passing people, but it did not compare to the adrenalin rush on the downhill sections. Since it was single track, there was only one thing to do, just do it. I successfully road the downhills sections, even the twisty technical section. This section went straight down and at the end had a sharp right turn followed by a sharp left turn and then downhill again. This section was the section the day before I could not ride. Race day on the single track, I would not think, I would just react. After that section, I could feel myself trembling. It was an amazing feeling. Then, I maneuvered through the rock garden with no problem. I was feeling very good. Race day means race face. I like the look of concentration on my face as I fly through the course.

For Suzhou, the team was overall very successful. We took first place in the Men's 40 km race, 4th place in the Women's 40 km race, and 3rd place in the Women's 20 km race. All in all a special day for everyone. If you are in China during March, this event is a must do for anyone who likes mountain biking.

Huangshan MTB Festival 2009 Recon

Well, it has been quite a while since I have posted my adventures. I have been told that I will return to my home country by the end of June. The economic crisis has now effected my life. There are always two ways to look at things and I am finally coming around to see the glass as half full and not half empty.

I was really not sure if I wanted to go to Huangshan and participate in the event, but I decided to take a chance and get on the bus and go to the biggest mountain biking event in China. It was a decision I was really glad I made. I enjoyed the whole weekend of riding and I will never forget the event. The only regret I have is doing the 20 km race. I should have done the 40 km race. Next time!

Friday we would meet in the morning and load up the bus with a group of about fifteen people eager to participate in the event and all of our bikes. We would take a four to five our trip to Hongcun where the race would start. Friday was considered a reconnaissance day to get to know the race track. The race was to be Saturday morning on broad casted on China national television CCTV 5.

We arrived and had lunch then checked into what is known as a family hotel. This hotel is a small hotel with maybe 15 rooms owned by a local family and very inexpensive. I do not actually know the price because the whole weekend including hotel, registration, and one meal was 700 RMB ($102.19 US). Depending on how many beds were in the room, was the number of people who would stay in the room. My room had two beds, so I would share it with Jiri, the only other foreigner with our group. He is from Poland and has been biking since before mountain biking was considered a sport!

I loved the local hospitality provided by the family at the hotel. It would have to say it was a little different than other hotels, but it made the weekend all the more enjoyable. It felt like a real adventure with new experiences. Below are a few pictures of the hotel.

The one thing that I think westerners would not be able to get use to in this hotel is the bathroom. It is quite different than the bathroom seen in many western hotels. The shower is part of the sink and the bathroom is the typical public bathroom you find in China. Showering was a much different experience with this type of device. Also, the whole bathroom gets wet when one showers. For large westerners it would be a real challenge to have to squat and do their business in the bathroom. Maybe this type of bathroom would cause many to loose weight just so they can go use the toilet, haha.

Well, after check-in, we would go ride the course. It was a very interesting course. There was some nice climbing, very nice single track, dangerous rocky uphills, fast and furious downhills, rock gardens, and twisting technical downhills. This day I would feel a little weary of the competition to follow. I come from a completely pancake flat town with no climbs and no descents. I have learned all my little downhilling ability here in Suzhou. I can climb all day and would prefer a hilltop finish over technical descents. Below you can see some of the sections of the course.