This summer, 30-year-old Tang Yanpeng swapped the rat race for bike racing.

Disillusioned with her management position at a Shanghai car manufacturing company, where she was earning around 15,000 yuan ($2,120) a month, Tang decided to take a career break and now spends more time embarking on cycling adventures. A die-hard bike enthusiast, she once rode 318 kilometers in a single day, pulled an all-nighter to scale a near-2-kilometer ascent, and has competed in at least 10 competitions.

In recent years, interest in cycling has boomed among young people in Shanghai who are temporarily without work, either by design or misfortune. Amid an uncertain future, many say the sport offers a way to rediscover their passion for exploration and provides opportunities for self-improvement.

According to a 2023 industry report by cycling information platform MagicCycling, 69% of China’s cyclists are 18 to 40 years old. Based on a sample size of 5,000 cyclists, the report notes a slight uptick in those aged 18 to 30 compared with two years earlier, while the proportion of riders with less than a year of experience increased from just under 6% in 2021 to almost 12% in 2023.

This has coincided with an apparent change in attitude among Chinese workers toward career breaks. A survey of nearly 1,000 employees across China by the recruitment platform 51Job found that 87% believe that taking a break from a high-pressure work environment can have a positive impact on their future development, including allowing time for self-reflection and learning.

Some 80% of respondents had at least one gap in their résumé, either because they quit or were laid off before finding another position. Of these, 61% said that gap lasted fewer than six months.

Tang began cycling in August 2023 and quit her office job this spring. Since taking up the sport, she’s completed a 340-kilometer, 11-hour round trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou, capital of the eastern Zhejiang province, as well as a 1,000-kilometer, 24-hour relay race in the southern island province of Hainan.

“Usually, when you walk, you can’t go too far, and you miss a lot of the scenery while driving. I feel that cycling strikes the perfect balance,” she says. “I really enjoy pushing my limits. It’s not about being professional or competing; it’s about the joy of continually challenging myself.”

Compared with her job, which made her feel isolated, Tang says cycling has helped her reconnect with the world. In addition to riding three to four times a week, covering 300 kilometers, she participates in various club activities and competitions, joining people from various backgrounds and areas. “Now, as I meet more people, my perspective has broadened,” she says. “What used to seem like a big deal now feels trivial in comparison.”

When it comes to re-entering the job market, Tang says she’d now only consider positions that would leave her with enough time and energy for cycling. “I prefer to strike a balance,” she adds. “Once you reach a certain level, cycling becomes essential — it’s integrated into my daily routine.”

China has more than 10 million cycling enthusiasts, over 160,000 cycling clubs, and 30,000 bike shops, according to the Chinese Cycling Association. Media reports also suggest the number of clubs increased particularly rapidly in 2022 and 2023, as more people took up the hobby.

Jin Li, a 31-year-old liquid crystal display engineer in Shanghai, set up his cycling club in June 2022. “After the pandemic, everyone was eager to meet and connect with each other, so we built a community,” he says, adding that membership grew quickly, with at least 100 people signing up each month. Today the club boasts more than 1,500 members.

Every week, he organizes at least three group activities including morning and night rides. On weekends, the club members often explore areas outside Shanghai.

Jin left his job in June due to limited advancement opportunities. With approximately eight years of savings, he decided to take a career break so he could weigh his options.

For him, cycling has been the best way to rediscover the world after the tumult of the global pandemic. “Seeing the city wake up on early-morning rides has deepened my understanding of it,” he says.

Despite a growing interest in career breaks among workers, young people in China are often still deterred by societal pressure. Content shared on the social media platform Weibo with the hashtag “Chinese who are not allowed to take a gap year in their lives” has received a total of more than 200 million views since October 2023.

Concerns over financial stability play a significant role. The 51Job survey found that 49.3% of respondents would need to have at least 20,000 yuan in the bank before considering a career break, while 30.7% required a cushion of 100,000 yuan.

Jin recalls feeling anxious when he resigned from his first job several years after graduation, but this time he felt more relaxed. “One reason is that cycling helps me feel more positive and calm, allowing me to see that the world extends beyond my own circle,” he says. “Another important reason is I have enough savings to give me the freedom to choose.”

Cycling has taught him the importance of living in the present, Jin says, adding that he’s in no rush to return to full-time work. “When I’m traveling to a new place — reaching the top of a mountain, sitting on the ground, feeling the grass beneath my feet, my hands brushing every leaf, and soaking in every ray of sunlight — these experiences inspire me to pursue this whenever I have the time, regardless of my age.”

In June, 25-year-old Zhang Yi lost her job at a major sports company. With time on her hands, she joined a long-distance cycling club and rode 100 kilometers around Shanghai, a feat she’d once seen as daunting. “I never realized the city was so small,” she says, recalling the experience. “When riding with my friends, 100 kilometers doesn’t seem that far now. It seems like the world has gotten smaller while my strength has grown bigger.”

Having a background in fitness that spans gym workouts, Ironman triathlons, and dragon boat racing, Zhang quickly adapted to the rigors of long bike rides. “Long-distance rides can be exhausting, but I really enjoy the fatigue that comes from exercise. Every week, I can feel the progress as my body changes,” she says.

After being laid off, Zhang actively looked for a new job, but she felt anxious about interviews and worried about missing phone calls while out riding. However, as she focused more on cycling, she realized she could still enjoy a fulfilling and joyful life without work. She eventually stopped sending out her résumé and decided to take a break.

“It’s rare to have such freedom, so I thought I might as well seize the opportunity to pursue things I’ve always wanted to do. Luckily, my mom has been really supportive,” she says, explaining that she currently relies on her severance pay and family support to cover her daily expenses.

In addition to personal growth, cycling has also opened up new career paths for some. Jin is planning to start a sideline business selling cycling products such as socks and energy bars. He has already made branded socks and jerseys for his club in the hope of building a stronger sense of community.

Zhang is applying to Ironman events and cycling competitions with a view to potentially becoming a professional athlete. “I think the overall work environment hasn’t been great lately, and I wasn’t very happy at my previous job,” she says. “Now, I feel like I’m enjoying life, even if it’s just a bit of escapism. I want to savor this feeling a little longer.”

(For privacy reasons, Jin Li and Zhang Yi are pseudonyms)

Editor: Hao Qibao

(Header image: Zhang Yi cycles through the mountains of Anhui province, Oct. 3, 2024. Courtesy of Zhang)