on a rental bike with poor seat, crooked handles and flicky gears. Yes, my biker chick fiancee organized a group of bikers having a morning bike ride. We started from our apartment on Nanjing Xi Lu and cycled East to She Shan Le Meridien. It is a popular resort; in the same area, actually the road leading up to Le Meridien, Tiger Wood played there once in the Shanghai Open. By car, from our apartment to the hotel would have taken 45 minutes. With manual power, about 2 hours at a very good pace. All of the riders had nice road bike; me a rental moutain bike. (Am I stressed that enough time?) Good though as some roads were quite broken. I got to experience the village type atmosphere which old Shanghai used to be. Small road, fresh air - yes, fresh and smelly depending where we passed, fields and flower plantations. On the way back, we stopped by the road size and bought a melon to eat; very refreshing.
This trip was the first one on a bike since Grade 10! I did not forget a thing. Obviously, my butts did! Many things I have learned about Shanghai traffic today. (1) Red light does not mean stop; keep going if there is no vehicle rolling toward you. (2) no matter how busy in the bike lane, people will part for you if you show boldness. They will brake for you. (3) Even the bike lane indicates one way, you can "create" a bi-directional lane, no one cares. (4) People "play chicken" often. (5) If u want to ride, do so very very early in the morning. With 20 Million people, you want to have some quiet time and less 'fume' unless, of course, u are suffering from fume withdrawal. (6) If you find the bike lane is too crowded, ride in the car lanes; they will not hit you. (7) A corollary from (6): not true when people turning right specially Taxi. Brakes must work good! (8) Don't get a crazy girlfriend on Bike! LOL! It was fun.
Have to nurse my butts now as I have a session with a Personal Trainer in about an hour. Yes, we never stop :-P
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