Cyclists Lai Chang-hsin and Chen Chu-cheng waved their national flag as they embarked on a three-month trip across 7,000km of American soil. Their patriotism resonated across the Internet, making them heroes among many Taiwanese students in the US.
NBC news made a special trip to interview and broadcast these two Taiwan natives, who have stirred up such a commotion that even local policeman have scrambled to get a photo with them.
On March 16 they began their journey, each carrying 50kg of baggage, from the coast of San Francisco all the way to New York. Even though they spent four months beforehand planning their course of action, once they got on their bikes problems never stopped occurring. This included buying supplies, weather conditions and finding bicycle routes. Even asking for directions took up a lot of their time.
“State and interstate roadways are very confusing,” says Lai Chang-hsin. “Even if you have a road map in hand, you still get lost.” After crossing onto the Texas interstate highway by mistake, police officers eventually pulled them over after 50km. Though very perturbed, once the police officers found out they were from Taiwan and had ridden to Texas from San Francisco, they immediately gave them a thumbs up for their courage and perseverance and escorted them off the highway.
Lai Chang-hsin says, “Once the sun set I began to worry about finding a place to camp out for the night.” His daughter back in Taiwan, in charge of supplying information and logistics, would send the address for lodging sites and places to buy supplies by text message. She also updated the two travelers’ progress across the US on Facebook, stirring awareness and heated discussion among students. Wendy, an Austin University student, and her boyfriend met the two travelers and enthusiastically offered bed and breakfast. Others have lent a helping hand as well, such as student Lin Shu-han.
Lai Chang-hsin says, “Whether it is a student studying abroad or a Taiwanese immigrant, the site of their national flag waving on our bikes fills them with overwhelming passion. In the US you can see the American flag all over the place, even hanging in graveyards. That’s why it’s so moving to see the Taiwanese flag for once.”
Lai Chang-hsin considers this road trip his most memorable experience. Chen Chu-cheng says he into the produce business, which earned him more than NT$10,000 per day. In order to fund this trip he had to sacrifice earnings of more than NT$1 million. On his own two feet he eventually got to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, something he had only been able to see on television. That, and befriending numerous Americans along the way, he considers his fondest memory.
On Lai Chang-hsin’s return to Taiwan, his fellow Pingtung cycling mates presented him with a plaque marked “Taiwan Iron Man” to commemorate his willpower in accomplishing such an amazing feat, and the experience of travelling abroad with his friends.(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY WILL VUYLSTEKE)
單車達人賴長信與陳朱城帶著國旗以三個月時間橫越美國七千多公里，兩人展現的台灣精神在網路上引起共鳴，沿途獲得不少留學生英雄式的迎接。
美國NBC廣播公司專程採訪兩人，他們在美國颳起一股旋風，美國警察也搶著和他們合照。
賴長信、陳朱城三月十六日出發，各自帶著五十公斤行李，從西岸的舊金山騎到東岸的紐約，雖事前花四個月做功課，但一踏上美國後，幾乎天天都有突發狀況，包括採買、天候及單車路線，光是問路就花掉很多時間。
賴長信說：「美國州與州之間的公路網很複雜，雖然有地圖在手，還是經常迷路。」兩人曾誤闖德州高速公路，騎了五十公里後被警察攔下，當時心裡七上八下，當警察得知兩人來自台灣，而且是從舊金山騎到德州，立刻豎起大拇指稱讚兩人的毅力和勇氣，並專程護送下高速公路。
賴長信說：「每到傍晚就擔心找不到露營的地方。」他女兒在台灣家裡擔任資訊後勤補給，傳送可採購及紮營地點的簡訊，並將兩人橫越美國的計畫及行程po上facebook，引起美國留學生注意與熱烈討論。奧斯汀大學的Wendy與男友找到他和陳朱城，熱情招待食宿，留學生林書漢也幫了許多忙。
賴長信說：「不論是留學生或台灣移民，只要看到單車上的國旗都十分熱情，因為在美國，到處都可看到美國國旗飄揚，連墓園也插著許多國旗，所以在美國的台灣人一看到台灣的國旗，都非常感動。」
賴長信說這趟美國行是他最難忘的經驗。陳朱城則回憶說，他在台灣從事蔬果批發，每天營業額超過一萬元，為了這趟美國行損失一百多萬元，靠著雙腳他終於拜訪了過去只能在電視上看到的舊金山金門大橋，並認識許多美國的朋友，這是他永生難忘的回憶。
賴長信回到台灣後，屏東車友們合贈一塊「臺灣鐵漢」的賀匾，推崇賴長信勇於挑戰不可能的毅力，賴長信也樂於與車友分享出國經驗。
（自由時報）
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