Recently, photos of several shared bicycles went viral on short video platforms. Four college students cycled from Beijing to Tianjin on shared bicycles and took some photos at Tianjin's iconic landmark, the Tianjin Eye, as a souvenir. The words "Beijing Institute of Technology" printed on the bicycles were particularly eye-catching under the dim light.

For a time, "Cityride" has "pedaled" a new wave with even greater passion.

Cityride has always been considered a major driver of sales for mid-to-high-end bicycles. As the world's largest bicycle producer and exporter, China has been committed to the mid-to-high-end bicycle sector, and the trend towards mid-to-high-end market is becoming increasingly apparent.

According to the latest data from the China Bicycle Association, in 2023, China's bicycle production exceeding 1,000 yuan reached 12.15 million units, a year-on-year increase of 15.1%. Bicycles priced over 1,000 yuan accounted for 24.9% of total production, an increase of 4.3 percentage points compared to the previous year.

However, on the other hand, some predicaments remain in the mid-to-high-end market. Key technical supply and insufficient brand power faced by domestic enterprises need to be addressed urgently. High R&D investment, low enterprise profits, and high barriers to entry by foreign companies have hampered China's bicycle industry in its efforts to enter the high-end market. These difficulties may be just the tip of the iceberg of the problem of "large but not strong" in China's manufacturing industry.