Off the track, the two-day event featured a lively carnival, part of the Sanlitun Lifestyle Festival. Attendees were treated to performances by Beijing-based bands COSMOS and SummerVapour, as well as traditional shadow puppet shows.

Cai Binghui, who finished first in the women's preliminary round and 13th in the final, is a new mother. With her baby less than a month old, she made the trip from Shanghai to Beijing just to compete.

"I felt a bit tired after having the baby, but the atmosphere here was incredible — so lively," she said. "The women in my group were full of energy and sunshine. I made so many new friends. It was such a happy experience."

Working in the cycling industry, Cai regularly spends her weekends biking in the mountains, commutes by bike and even rides to meet friends for meals.

She made sure to take full advantage of the event's carnival-like atmosphere.

"The interactive activities were so much fun," she added. "I tried them all."

[email protected]