Pedal Power in the People's Republic A sofa perched sideways on the back of a bike? We stared the first time we saw it, but we quickly learned that spectacular feats of cycle transport are everyday occurrences in China, where pedal power is frequently the only means available for moving furniture, firewood or farm animals. The bikes are clearly built to take it: one of our guides informed us that the standard two-wheeler (a sturdy one-speed in basic black) is designed to handle half-ton loads. People needing to carry more get special tires! The Chinese have other pedal-powered options to meet special transport needs. For the really big moving jobs, there is the tricycle truck with either front or rear-mounted bed, and for urban commuting there is the extensible two-wheeler which can be adjusted to fit a person of any size or collapsed into a neat Litle bundle for carrying into office or factory. What you don't see in China are lightweight ten-speed models with skinny tires. After all, just think of trying to carry your sofa on the back of one of those! -JF February/March 1981 RAIN Page 11 John in front of Rainhouse with his collapsible Chinese bike.
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