Starting with a single bicycle and a solitary training road, Chen Yimeng gradually found his own direction. Racing on the dual tracks of competitive sports and campus service, he empowers a community of fellow cycling enthusiasts through passion, responsibility, and leadership. Let's take a look at his journey.
The Gears of Fate: Turning Passion into Perseverance
In 2020, Chen first came across road cycling. At the time, he probably didn’t realize that this sport would become one of the most defining keywords of his university life. While most people see cycling as just getting from A to B, for Chen it's a personal challenge—the mental fight on a steep climb, the push to go faster in a sprint, and the steady rhythm of a long ride.
What really hooked him wasn’t just the speed, but the mindset behind the sport: self-discipline, perseverance, calmness, and always trying to be better than yesterday. Since then, training, racing, and reflection have become part of his daily routine.
Finding a Global Stage at the International Campus
Chen is a Biomedical Informatics major (Class of 2024). He says the International Campus drew him in not just because of its strong cross-cultural programs, but also because of its open, inclusive, and diverse vibe. By bringing together people from different countries and backgrounds, the campus creates richer possibilities for sports and for everything else.
Studying Biomedical Informatics takes logical thinking, data analysis, and constant learning. Competitive cycling demands discipline, execution, and long-term commitment. These two seemingly different paths form a unified foundation within him. The International Campus has provided him with the space to run on both.
"Ride Fast Alone, Ride Far Together"
Competitive sports are never easy. You hit physical limits in training, deal with high‑pressure races, and constantly juggle schoolwork with practice. Once Chen got to university, heavier coursework made balancing his major with intense training a real challenge.
Chen’s answer was not to give up one for the other, but to maximize efficiency. He broke down his training into systematic plans and meticulously managed his schedule. He builds fitness during the off-season and maintains his baseline during busy academic periods, replacing blind exhaustion with scientific planning.
Meanwhile, his new role as the president of the ZJUIC Riding Club has allowed him to experience the strength of responsibility. Shifting from a solo rider to a team leader, he began to consider: How can more students encounter cycling safely and happily? How can the club actually serve the campus?
Consequently, a series of concrete actions was implemented:
* Started free bicycle maintenance for students to solve daily commuting issues.
* Partnered with Team ZJU at the Zijingang Campus to discover and cultivate cycling talent.
* Organizing regular club events each semester, attracting both local and international faculty and students.
There used to be a lot of bicycles abandoned on campus, rusty and flat-tired. Chen, along with club members and the ECO Club, brought them back to life. Days later, they reappeared on campus roads as shared bicycles, turning waste into a community resource. These efforts have ensured that cycling is no longer just a niche interest but a vibrant part of campus life.
Results on the Track: Every Finish Line is the Best Answer
Hard work pays off. In recent years, Chen’s results have spoken for themselves:
* 6th Place, 2025 Hangzhou Intercollegiate League
* Runner-up, 2025 Jingshan International Cycling Race (Challenge Group)
* 26th Place, 2026 Xiaoshan "Sky Road" LC Cup (Elite Group)
* 8th Place, 2026 Longwu Mountain Cross-Country Race
* 15th Place, 2026 Shanghai Intercollegiate Cycling Race
* 8th Place, 2026 Hangzhou Cycling League
These aren't just rankings. A race is like a final exam with no study guide—wind, hills, pacing, surprises. Every time he stands at the start line, he has to prove himself all over again. And again, he's delivered.
A Training Ground on Campus: Sharing the Charm of Cycling
The basement of Laitong Residential College serves as the heart of the ZJUIC Riding Club. It is not only a space for vehicle maintenance and equipment exchange, but also the first stop for many students to discover cycling. Here, some learn to patch tires, others see a road bicycle for the first time, and many find like-minded partners.
Chen hopes the club transmits more than just "riding fast." He wants it to stand for a healthy lifestyle, team spirit, and the courage to explore new limits. As more students join the ranks and more groups of cyclists appear on campus roads, the message gets bigger.
From starting with a single bicycle to leading a community into the wind; from personal passion to building a campus community—He proves that the value of youth isn't always found in grand gestures; it’s hidden in a patient repair, a thoughtfully organized event, and the grit of a grueling uphill climb.
Those who ride with the wind will eventually reach farther than they ever imagined.
(Article: JIN Chenxim, CHEN Shuyi. ZHOU Jingning; Photography: Office of Student Affairs; Translation and proofreading: Emilia Junye Wang Jara; Editing: CHEN Nuo; Editing in Charge: ZHU Bei, GUO Jiyao, LI Yinan; Reviewer: YANG Yi; Final Review: QU Haidong)