ESPN bureau producer Arty Berko checks in:
Every time I have been here, I've thought it would be fun to go biking. For this trip, I arranged for some new mountain bikes for my staff. The bikes are OK but on the small side.
I've been here since Friday, but I'm still dealing with jet lag. So, when I woke up today at 5:30 a.m. (again), I called my colleague, bureau producer Greg Amante, and we decided to go for a ride.
Rule No. 1: While biking in Beijing, there are no rules. Greg and I immediately bet which would cause the first accident -- a car or another bike. In Washington, D.C. (where I call home), cars usually stop if they see you, or at least try not to hit you. Here, no such deal. Cars don't care if you are in their way; they will plow you down. So, you can't sightsee while biking, else you risk ending up on someone's windshield.
The first three days here were very clear, but today is quite murky. Still, I think the haze is not really pollution this time; I had no issues while biking for about an hour. My biggest worry was getting lost, but luckily, I have a good sense of direction. Tomorrow we will try to get to Tiananmen Square.
By the way the Mets have lost ever since I got here. Maybe I should go home. I'm here to build the Mets' fan base in Beijing!