Directed by
Jason Reid
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Team Man Zou!

So we’ve officially finished the first leg of our journey….reaching the coast of China after bicycling nearly 400 miles from Beijing. 8 days in, despite many trials and tribulations, we’re all still alive and team Man Zou is stronger than ever. Over the last couple of days we’ve experienced a wide range of challenges that have tested us on new levels, but I am proud to say that up to now, we’ve passed with flying colors….but here’s a little breakdown of all of our breakdowns.

In China, when your bicycle breaks down, it's only a matter before the locals come to rescue!

In China, when your bicycle breaks down, it's only a matter of time before the locals come to rescue!

In times of frustration, experience matters!

In times of frustration, experience matters

One of the problems we’ve run into is broken spokes. This has caused us numerous delays and lots of fun! Within a few minutes of each breakdown, the locals will swarm around us, curious as to what we are doing in their small towns with our strange bicycles. Most of the time they stand around and gawk at us, but they always offer much needed moral support in our time of need. Occasionally, they even help out as they are very resourceful people. Sean has been particularly receptive to getting help from the locals. He enjoys the crowds watching him as he tries to repair his bicycle.

Back on the road, ready for more!

Back on the road, ready for more riding!

Since we’ve started working better as a team, we have been able to fix our bicycles much faster…which allows for more time to ride up mountains!

Apocalypto: China!

Apocalypto: China! Another Breakdown

But with every breakdown, it seems like Team Man Zou gets a little closer, even in the most dire of situations. Sure, we might taunt each other a little along the way, but it’s all in good fun!

Today we arrived in Qinhuangdao after an extremely challenging and dirty day of riding….But overall spirits were high, despite how crappy our lungs felt from all the pollution here.

After a long day of riding, nothing caps it off like White Lighting!

After a long day of riding, nothing caps it off like a taste of the White Lighting!

We are looking forward to seeing the Great Wall tomorrow and having a few days off from cycling as we have to send out bicycles to Yantai in advance of our ferry ride.

More to come soon, but now it’s time for bed.

Team Man Zou arrives in Qing Huang Dao...Is there an Ocean here?

Team Man Zou arrives in Qinhuangdao...Is there an Ocean here?

This entry was posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm and is filed under on the road. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

158 Responses to “Team Man Zou!”

  1. SleepyHead Says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 am

    White Lighting . . . .do you seriously think we were born yesterday? Also, do you adventurers always roll in uniforms?

  2. Camp Jones Says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    WOW. Sounds like you need the shock absorbers, that may take the heat off the spokes. or perhaps the composite 1 piece plastic wheel.

    I hope all you Duuuuuuudes are doing well. Keep on having fun and stay safe. Take your time.. slow and steady wins the race!

Man Zou is a common phrase in Mandarin. It is more of a philosophy than anything. Man Zou literally translates to "Walk Slow."

"Slow and steady wins the race," they say. This is at the heart of the meaning of Man Zou. Walk slowly and you won't fall. Act carefully and you won't go wrong. A slow walker is faster than someone who walks fast but always has to stop and rest. Persistence is important in learning or doing anything.

To explain a little more in depth, read this quote from The Challenge of Trekking in China by Kyle Acierno:

"I recently underwent the most thorny, intricate, and demanding trek of my life. China is no walk in the park. The county is extremely diverse, and with diversity comes complexity. There is no smooth road laid for backpackers and attempting to do anything or get anywhere can be incredibly arduous...I really needed a break and I didn't know where I would be next. I sat down to a plate of rice noodles and peanuts. A hardy meal for a hardy man. A giant of a woman served me, but with her giant body came a giant heart. With a quick phrase that I have become accustomed to, she filled me with self-assurance that I needed for the rest of my trip. ?Man Zou!? she shouted with a big smile on her face. This literally translates to ?Walk Slow?. To me this means more then just ?be careful.? To me this means take the time to see the wonders of life. The power it gave me changed the rest of my trip. From then on everything went smoothly...I learned a lot from this Trek. I learned the beauty that exists just off the beaten track. I learned that anything amazing takes time. I learned just how much you could learn from people without even using language...By taking the time to notice all the small things in life you can really appreciate who, where, and what you are. Patience, persistence, and practice makes perfect."