The UWC Soaring Dragons cycling team started from very modest beginnings. 

During a random conversation, Alex Wang and I discovered that we shared a passion for cycling. from the suburbs of Shanghai, to the bamboo forests of Anji, to the waters of Qinghai Lake, and the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Cycling was a wonderful way to see the world and ourselves.  As Kurt Hahn, founder of UWC said, “There exists within everyone a grand passion, an outlandish thirst for adventure, a desire to live boldly and vividly through the journey of life.” It was this passion that drove us to start a cycling club at UWC in January 2018 and we name our club "UWC Soaring Dragons".  

Taking full advantage of our school’s natural surroundings, we encouraged others to practice with us.  By March, we assembled a six-person team for a 200km race around Chongming Island.  Our team soon grew to ten people for a race around Kuncheng Lake right outside the campus in May.  It was not just the beautiful scenery, but also the willpower to take on difficult challenges and the pride of reaching our goals that truly brought us together.

For our third official activity, we organized a four-person team to participate in a race around the perimeter of Lake Tai, totaling 300km in two days. On the rainy afternoon of May 25th, Alex  Wang, Simon Deng, Dirk Qing and I arrived at Lake Dianshan in a shiny black UWC van. The driver was our PE teacher Wilson Wan, who was kind enough to escort us and provide us with lots of support. Our little squad had been doing regular trainings around Kuncheng Lake for weeks.  We practiced riding various distances at different speeds. The next morning, the rain finally stopped, as if to wish us good luck.

Team before the start of the race Oliver(auther), Alex, Simon,  Dirk (from left to right)     

“3…2…1…Go!” As the signal went off, a rainbow assortment of uniforms and bikes zipped past the starting line.  There was a gentle breeze and slight overcast, which were perfect for cycling.  We were all in a high spirit. You could hear the rhythmic turning of the wheels and cheerful chatting.  The first 100km was smooth sailing. I reached the lunch stop in just under 4 hours. 

The real challenge, however, began soon afterwards.  I was peddling hard against strong gusts of wind along the shoreline.  It was difficult even to catch my breath.  I stopped and waited for my friends to catch up, so that we could set forth again together.

After the 140km mark, we experimented with interchanging positions to break the wind. Alex was most comfortable doing this as he had a bike with an aerodynamic frame.  When he got tired, I switched position and took the lead to reduce air resistance. It was as if the four of us were one body, moving and breathing together.  A support van followed us steadily.  Inside were our parents, who were ready to supply us with energy bars, water, cold towel, first aid, muscle cramp lotion and anything else that was needed.  Such cooperation enabled us to finish the first 200km and arrive at our hotel around 8pm.  We were all dead tired, but very relieved to take a hot shower and rest.  

During the race     

To be honest, the next morning I almost wanted to quit, as my body was overwhelmed from the stresses that had built up. My eyes could hardly open, and my legs were aching.  My teammates took turns to support me and gave words of encouragement. For breakfast, we found a noodle shop by the roadside.  The owner was a lovely lady in a red apron.  She not only moved furniture outdoors for us, but also gave us extra portions of beef and eggs.  The delicious meal gave us renewed energy and got us off to a good start.  

A delicious breakfast renewed our energy for a good start on the second day 

We changed positions more frequently to conserve what remained of our stamina.  We also found it helpful to set small goals, 20km, 10km, 5km… At every resting stop, the organizers greeted us with loud cheers.  They even bought a watermelon from nearby fields and handed us freshly-cut pieces.  We devoured the watermelon like hungry wolves.  At this point, every ounce of energy boost was welcome.

The organizer bought watermelon for us  

For the last 50km, we experienced heavy rain, burning sun, multiple muscle cramps, and Simon’s sudden fall on a curbside.  Each time our parents rushed to our side to provide aid. Simon’s mom poured water down my neck to keep me cool.  We exchanged jokes, stories, music, and anything else that could keep our minds away from feeling exhausted.  It was truly the spirit of brotherhood that kept us going.  When one was tired, another would come up to help.  What mattered was that we took care of each other, and no one was left behind.

At around 5pm on May 27th, we were within the final kilometer of the race.  I clenched my teeth and accelerated. The wind was whipping behind my ears.  My legs were peddling super fast like pistons.  When the finishing line was in sight, I saw the last group of the organizers. They had waited all afternoon, and kept the giant display board up just for us.  When I arrived, I just threw my bike to the ground and collapsed. Yeah the race was finally over!

We were each awarded a gold medal with the 300km insignia on it.  We held them in our mouths with a wild smile.  This was our proudest moment!  Proud for the tenacity of our spirits.  Proud for the support we gave each other.  Proud for the teamwork that we accomplished.  Without such cooperation none of us would have been able to finish this challenging race.  This race also taught me the importance of perseverance.  I came so close to quitting on the second day. Thinking about the trust of my friends, the effort we put into organizing the trip, the time we spent in preparation, and the support we got from our school and parents, I decided I could not just give up.  We each gave our best in body and spirit, and the result was absolutely thrilling.

Finally we won the medals  

I am truly grateful for such an amazing group of friends who are so passionate about cycling. This sport cultivates skills in speed and endurance, exposes riders to diverse geographies and cultures, and builds a strong bond of friendship. While we come from different backgrounds, we are united by the joy of cycling. Some of us will be leaving UWC Changshu China to study in different campuses of UWC , which will make such memories even more precious. We wish our friends all the best and hope they will carry their passions wherever they go.

Next school year, we hope to convert our cycling club into a Zhi Xing. Our activity will have three parts: the race group for experienced riders with abundant stamina and a very strong passion for cycling, the starters group for anyone who is willing to explore and challenge themselves, and the techniques group for students who are keen to sharpen their skills. Our goal is to build a greener future by driving less and cycling more. This activity will promote physical fitness, cultural diversity, spiritual resilience, and robust teamwork. Again, as Kurt Kahn puts it so well, “There is more in you than you think.” May the UWC Soaring Dragons cycling team soar high above the sky, unleashing our potentials and dreams.