Biking Hong Kong Style

Hello Everyone,
Once upon a time just a few decades ago, the major mode of transportation for the average Chinese citizen was the bicycle.  I think we have all seen the pictures, probably from National Geographic, of seemingly millions of Chinese riding on those commie, black standard issue bicycles to work on a collective farm or to attend the latest Communist rally.  Just kidding, I think.  Hong Kong, for a good chunk of its history, was a British colony until 1996 when it was turned over to China and became officially known as Hong Kong S.A.R (Special Administrative Region).  Which means as long as Hong Kong is generating money for the "communist" government they'll be given special status.  So the communist government encourages capitalism and has declared that wealth is glorious.  Wait I thought communism was all about government control and sharing the wealth? Ok, I am digressing a bit here.  Needless to say Hong Kong has a lot of wealth, and needless to say there are a zillion cars here with the steering wheels on the wrong side and they drive on the left side of the road not the right…way.  While Kowloon and Hong Kong are too congested with buildings, people and cars for biking to be feasible there are surprisingly good bike trails in the relatively new "subdivisions" if you can call a subdivision of 600.000 people a subdivision, of Sha Tin and Tai Po.  Biking on these trails is interesting to say the least.  The people and bikes you see reflect Hong Kong society.  There are super high end bikes with super high end looking athletes down to old, must have come over from the mainland with their bikes built when Mao was in charge, wearing instead of helmets, straw hats, probably borrowed from someone working in a rice paddy, bikers to everything in between.   Most Chinese don't bike very well and many don't seem to understand the concept of staying in the LEFT lane, like the car traffic, which is clearly marked by the way, in Chinese and English for those not proficient in Cantonese, such as me.  Many wobble back and forth as they try to maintain balance, rolling all over the place and into areas that they should not like the left lane that I am obediently riding in.  Coming up behind or in front of wobblers is never a happy time as you try to anticipate which way they are going to wobble to.  Nevertheless, at least they are out there participating in one of the greatest physical activities ever invented.  There are also some narly mountain bike trails, but I have to admit, they are so difficult, like a double black diamond run on a ski hill, they sap the joy out of biking.  Hong Kong won a gold medal at the Asia games in mountain biking recently.  Easy to understand considering the trails around here.  So enjoy the pictures of my bike trip and I will check in next week.  Oh by the way I was biking in my shirts and a thin soccer jersey.  What is the date again?  December 4.  It is however supposed to get colder soon.  Down to plus 17.  Oh no, please fed ex extra large long underwear and a parka. And hurry! Sorry, the weather is so good no one talks about the weather.  How do you know the weather is always good in an area?  No one talks about it.  It is really a non issue.  And then there is Canada…  Great place, great people always talking about the weather.  There, did I save myself from you feeling pangs of animosity towards me?
Ok enough of that.  God bless you all.

Adios,

Dirk