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Bicycles have long been used for transportation in China.
在中国，自行车长期以来一直被用作交通工具。
But recently, cycling - the activity or sport of riding a bicycle for exercise - has become popular among the country’s urban middle class.
但最近，骑自行车——骑自行车锻炼身体的运动——在中国的城市中产阶级中变得流行起来。
The popularity is, in part, a result of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
自行车运动之所以受欢迎在一定程度上是由于新冠疫情实施的限制措施。
The Chinese Cycling Association says at least 20 million people in the country participate in cycling.
中国自行车运动协会表示，中国至少有2000万人参与自行车运动。
Qiyi, a Beijing cycling club, organized biking events that had about 10,000 participants over the past year.
北京自行车运动俱乐部奇艺在过去一年里组织了大约1万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.
新冠疫情对自行车运动越来越受欢迎起到了一定作用，因为官员们由于疫情迅速采取行动关闭了一些企业，包括健身房——即锻炼场所。
Cycling, which can be done individually as well as in groups, has largely been free from restrictions.
骑自行车既可以个人骑，也可以结伴骑，基本上不受限制。
Lindsay Mo could not exercise indoors after Beijing officials closed gymnasiums in May because of a coronavirus outbreak.
今年5月，由于新冠疫情爆发，北京官员关闭了健身房，此后琳赛·莫无法在室内锻炼。
So she started cycling — and soon fell in love with the sport.
于是她开始骑自行车——很快她就爱上了这项运动。
“I realized a racing bicycle was quite different than a regular bike,” she said, adding, “It’s very fast and exciting...”
“我意识到赛车和普通自行车有很大的不同，”她说，并补充道，“它非常快，也很刺激……”
For cyclist Yang Lan, the sport also provides an escape from the daily difficulties of life.
对于骑车爱好者杨兰来说，这项运动还能让她从日常生活的困难中解脱出来。
“With the pandemic ... it seems to be the only way for us to run away from the terrible city life ...” she said.
她说：“随着疫情……这似乎是我们逃离可怕的城市生活的唯一途径……”
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.
中国自行车运动协会副主席冯宝忠表示，自行车运动在中国的发展是户外活动日益流行的结果。
“Especially after the pandemic, people have a desire to walk out of rooms and buildings to do sports outdoors,” Feng added.
冯宝忠还说：“特别是在疫情结束后，人们渴望走出楼房，到户外运动”。
Naturally, the growth in cycling has increased the demand for bicycles.
自行车运动的发展也自然而然地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.
美国自行车品牌“闪电”表示，今年3月至6月，其北京分店的销售额同比增长了20%至30%。
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.
“闪电”北京分店的负责人何东表示，如果不是因为自行车产品短缺，销售额涨幅可能会是现在的两倍。
Zhou Fuyuan is the founder of Magic Cycling, an online bicycle information provider in China.
周福源是中国在线自行车信息提供商美骑公司的创始人。
Zhou said China’s bicycle market was a $12 to $15 billion industry in 2021.
周福源说，2021年，中国自行车市场是一个价值120亿至150亿美元的行业。
Research and Markets, a research group, estimates sales could reach $16.5 billion by 2026.
研究机构Research and Markets估计，到2026年，销售额可能会达到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.
不断增长的需求和全球供应链问题意味着想要购买自行车的人必须要等数周或数月才能买到一辆自行车。
For every Specialized bicycle sold in Beijing at least 10 customers are waiting for their bicycles to arrive, He said.
他说，在北京每卖出一辆“闪电”自行车，就有至少10名顾客在等待他们的自行车到货。
Some people choose to pay more for whatever bicycle is available.
有些人选择花更多的钱买任何可以买到的自行车。
Joanna Lei spent $8,900 on her first racing bicycle.
乔安娜·雷花了8900美元买了她的第一辆赛车。
She said the money was better spent than on a luxury bag.
她说，把这笔钱花在自行车上比花在奢侈品包上要好。
“What you are investing in is your own body and a very good workout habit,” she said.
她说：“你所投资的是你自己的身体和一个非常好的锻炼习惯”。
Lei added, “I think it’s more valuable than clothes that you wear or handbags that you use.”
雷还说：“我认为它比你穿的衣服或你用的手提包更有价值。”
People will have more choices for sports and entertainment when the pandemic is over.
疫情结束后，人们在体育和娱乐方面将会有更多的选择。
But Feng says he expects cycling to remain popular because it is driven by China’s growing wealth and people’s increased health concerns.
但冯宝忠表示，他预计自行车运动将会继续流行，因为中国日益增长的财富和人们日益增加的健康担忧推动了自行车运动的发展。
The sport’s popularity is also a sign of the public’s growing awareness of environmental protection.
这项运动的流行也标志着公众环保意识的增强。
“Such a lifestyle is probably healthier and is more beneficial to society,” Yang said.
杨兰说：“这样的生活方式可能更健康，对社会也更有益”。
She added, “I think people now have a good sense of environmental protection and hope to do good for society.”
她还说：“我认为人们现在有很好的环保意识，希望做点对社会有益的事。”
I’m Ashley Thompson.
阿什利·汤普森为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
