Bicycles have long been used for transportation in China. But recently, cycling - the activity or sport of riding a bicycle for exercise - has become popular among the country's urban middle class. The popularity is, in part, a result of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
自行车在中国早已被用于交通工具。但最近，自行车——确切说是骑自行车锻炼的活动或运动——在城市中产阶级中变得流行起来。这种流行在一定程度上是由于疫情造成的。
 
The Chinese Cycling Association says at least 20 million people in the country participate in cycling. Qiyi, a Beijing cycling club, organized biking events that had about 10,000 participants over the past year.
中国自行车协会表示，全国至少有2000万人参加自行车运动。北京自行车俱乐部七一在过去一年组织了约10,000人参加的自行车活动。
 
The pandemic has played a part in cycling's growing popularity as officials moved quickly to close some businesses, including gymnasiums - or places for exercise.
随着政府迅速采取行动关闭一些企业，包括体育馆或锻炼场所，疫情在自行车越来越受欢迎的过程中发挥了作用。
 
Cycling, which can be done individually as well as in groups, has largely been free from restrictions.
自行车可以单独进行，也可以分组进行，基本上没有限制。
 
Lindsay Mo could not exercise indoors after Beijing officials closed gymnasiums in May because of a coronavirus outbreak. So she started cycling - and soon fell in love with the sport. "I realized a racing bicycle was quite different than a regular bike," she said, adding, "It's very fast and exciting..."
由于疫情爆发，政府于5月关闭了体育馆后，林赛·莫 (Lindsay Mo) 无法在室内锻炼。于是她开始骑自行车——并很快就爱上了这项运动。“我意识到赛车与普通自行车完全不同，”她说，并补充道，“它速度很快，非常刺激……”
 
For cyclist Yang Lan, the sport also provides an escape from the daily difficulties of life. "With the pandemic ... it seems to be the only way for us to run away from the terrible city life ..." she said.
对于自行车手杨澜来说，这项运动也提供了一种摆脱日常生活困难的机会。“由于疫情影响......骑自行车似乎是我们逃离可怕的城市生活的唯一途径......”她说。
 
Cycling's growth in China is a result of the growing popularity of outdoor activities in general, said Feng Baozhong, vice president of the Chinese Cycling Association.
中国自行车协会副会长冯宝忠表示，自行车在中国的发展是户外活动日益普及的结果。
 
"Especially after the pandemic, people have a desire to walk out of rooms and buildings to do sports outdoors," Feng added.
冯补充说：“特别是在大流行之后，人们渴望走出房间，去进行户外运动。”
 
Naturally, the growth in cycling has increased the demand for bicycles.
自然地，自行车运动的增长增加了对自行车的需求。
 
American bicycle brand Specialized says its Beijing stores' sales rose 20 to 30 percent from March to June, compared to the same period a year earlier. The increase would have been twice as large if not for a shortage of bike products, said He Dong, who is in charge of the Beijing dealer of Specialized.
美国自行车品牌 Specialized 表示，3月到6月，其北京门店的销售额比去年同期增长了20%到30%。负责Specialized北京经销商的何东说，如果不是因为自行车产品短缺，增幅将是原来的两倍。
 
Zhou Fuyuan is the founder of Magic Cycling, an online bicycle information provider in China. Zhou said China's bicycle market was a $12 to $15 billion industry in 2021. Research and Markets, a research group, estimates sales could reach $16.5 billion by 2026.
周福源是中国在线自行车信息提供商Magic Cycling的创始人。周说，到 2021 年，中国的自行车市场是一个价值12到150 亿美元的产业。研究机构 Research and Markets 估计，到2026年，销售额可能达到165亿美元。
 
Increasing demand and worldwide supply chain problems mean that people wanting to buy bicycles must wait weeks or months to get one. For every Specialized bicycle sold in Beijing at least 10 customers are waiting for their bicycles to arrive, He said.
不断增长的需求和全球供应链问题，意味着购车者必须等待数周或数月才能买到。他说，每辆在北京销售的Specialized自行车，至少有10名顾客在等。
 
Some people choose to pay more for whatever bicycle is available. Joanna Lei spent $8,900 on her first racing bicycle. She said the money was better spent than on a luxury bag.
有些人选择为任何可用的自行车支付更多费用。Joanna Lei 在她的第一辆赛车上花费了 8,900 美元。她说，这些钱比花在奢侈品包上更划算。
"What you are investing in is your own body and a very good workout habit," she said. Lei added, "I think it's more valuable than clothes that you wear or handbags that you use."
“你投资的是你自己的身体和一个非常好的锻炼习惯，”她说，“我认为它比衣服或手提包更有价值。”
 
People will have more choices for sports and entertainment when the pandemic is over. But Feng says he expects cycling to remain popular because it is driven by China's growing wealth and people's increased health concerns.
疫情结束后，人们将有更多的运动和娱乐选择。但冯说，他预计自行车运动将继续流行，因为它是由中国不断增长的财富和人们对健康问题的日益关注所推动的。
 
The sport's popularity is also a sign of the public's growing awareness of environmental protection.
这项运动的火爆也是公众环保意识增强的标志。
 
"Such a lifestyle is probably healthier and is more beneficial to society," Yang said. She added, "I think people now have a good sense of environmental protection and hope to do good for society."
“这样的生活方式可能更健康，对社会更有利，”杨说，“现在人们的环保意识很强，希望做有益于社会的事。”
 
I'm Ashley Thompson.
阿什利·汤普森报道。