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CHENGDU, March 12-- On a dirt track in Chengdu, a rider on a dark green 800cc motorbike speeds through the sand and dust, launching from small hills and racing forward. There is often a moment of surprise when the helmet comes off and bystanders realize they have been watching a woman. Miao Zi, 30, is one of the few women in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, to ride heavy-duty motorcycles.X The 1.6-meter-tall cyclist has loved motorcycles since she was a child, but only started to pursue her passion in 2017. "At first, I wanted to ride a motorcycle for commuting because it is really cool," said Miao. Miao's first motorcycle was a 70cc bike that she learned to ride in no time at all. "My friends and family did not support me because they thought it was not safe for a woman to ride a motorcycle," said Miao. Miao did not give up. She practised for a long time to earn her license to ride a motorcycle on the streets. Since then, she has bought increasingly powerful motorcycles and traveled throughout Sichuan province on the back of them. "Riding a motorcycle is not just for commuting, but a way to relieve my stress," said Miao. Miao is always going somewhere on two wheels. Last November, she rode 400-kilometers round trip to visit a mountain. She said the destination is not the most important part of a motorcycling trip. For her, it is all about the feeling she gets on the road. | 
