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Trip Report: Tibet

Old 06-05-11, 03:48 AM
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Trip Report: Tibet

Hi all,

I just cycled through Tibet and made it to Kathmandu. Actually, I started my ride from my home in South Korea where I teach English. The TAR is still very much closed to solo travelers without permits or guides but I managed to make it all the way through without any serious police trouble. Of course, I had just about every other classic calamity happen to me but I got by. Anyways, I figured that its getting close to the "high season" for travel and cycling this region and I thought I would share my CGOAB journal with route information and the locations all the check points along the way. As far as I know I am one of the first to make it through in some time so this information maybe valuable. Thanks for reading and he is the journal: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/thecyclingvagabond

-Zep
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Old 06-05-11, 08:06 AM
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Awesome trip....did you read the Crane Bros account of their trip across Tibet and the Gobi?

I've been worrying about a 3 week trip to Iceland I'm doing in Summer........reading your blog makes me realize that my trip is easy.
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Old 06-05-11, 06:58 PM
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Thanks nun,

I had a great time despite everything else. Iceland sounds great and just remember that everything works out in the end!

Was that the book with the title about "the center of the Earth?" If it was then I read the first half but didn't make it all the way through. I can't imagine doing my trip with such little gear or with racing frames like them though.

-Zep
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Old 06-06-11, 02:25 AM
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excellent read
is there a route map somewhere too? i probably missed it
have a good one!
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Old 06-06-11, 03:14 AM
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planning a trip from Kashigar to Lahsa next summer. thanks for sharing.
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Old 06-06-11, 04:03 AM
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Enjoying your blog, thanks

Wondering what tyres Shirley has?

z
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Old 06-07-11, 01:56 PM
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Remarkable trip!

Thanks for the link.

I can't believe you did this without the proper paperwork!

Amazing.

You deserve a nice easy credit card tour as a reward.

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Old 06-07-11, 02:47 PM
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I too have been following you on Crazy Guy. Great journal.
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Old 06-07-11, 11:02 PM
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Congratulations for making it through. Your account is very inspiring.
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Old 06-07-11, 11:14 PM
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giggle HONK !!!!! HONK !!!!!! giggle

;-)
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Old 06-08-11, 12:37 AM
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My man, I hereby award you an honorary PhD in Craftiness, Gaul, Luck, and Adaptivitity. Congrats!
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Old 06-08-11, 06:47 AM
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wild!
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Old 06-08-11, 08:07 AM
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Hey all sorry for not writing back sooner. Bikeforums seems to be a bit touch and go on slow Nepali connections. Thank you all for reading and for the words of encouragement. It means a lot to me that my trip has helped to inspire other people with their own endeavors.

To answer a few questions:

Shirley is wearing Marathon XRs in the 26x2.0 variety. These are good tires but overkill for what I have done so far. I have only had one flat after over 6,000k. However, they are slow. Their ruggedness is not overkill, I really need it where Im at, but their tread pattern and probably their width are. I think a set of Duremes would have been better since Tibet is almost entirely paved at this point. Nepal is another story and they are starting to make up for their slowness here.

I have not uploaded a complete route outline yet. Thank you for reminding me. You will see that I have a route outline for the first half of China and the rest is pretty obvious because there are few roads after that. I will get a complete one hammered out in the next few days for you.

Djb: Thank you inparticular for being my biggest fan and know all of my inside jokes. Readers like you are the reason I take so much time out of my trip to write the journal in the first place.
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Old 06-08-11, 12:33 PM
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Great read! I've been a business traveler in rural parts of central China; your trip is the definite trip through real China.

The best portion of the trip seems to begin in Xi’an. Would covering the second half of the Trek provide the best 50 days of the trip?

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Old 06-09-11, 07:54 AM
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The bet portions of my trip through China would largely depend on what your looking for in a tour there. The camping equipment was totally useless pre-Xi'an so if thats what you want then just take the train out west. If I were to do a tour of just eastern China I would probably only take a handlebar hag and two very small rear panniers.

West of Xi'an was far more culturally interesting and varied which is what I like most about touring. The weather was still pretty cold there since I was out of season and, most of the time, I could find a guesthouse for under $3 so I rarely camped until After Lanzhou in Gansu. West of Xining camping gear is almost essential, with long stretches between anything. The scenery was less polluted as well and the terrain more varied. IMO it was better than eastern China.
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Old 06-10-11, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by zeppinger
The bet portions of my trip through China would largely depend on what your looking for in a tour there. The camping equipment was totally useless pre-Xi'an so if thats what you want then just take the train out west. If I were to do a tour of just eastern China I would probably only take a handlebar hag and two very small rear panniers.

West of Xi'an was far more culturally interesting and varied which is what I like most about touring. The weather was still pretty cold there since I was out of season and, most of the time, I could find a guesthouse for under $3 so I rarely camped until After Lanzhou in Gansu. West of Xining camping gear is almost essential, with long stretches between anything. The scenery was less polluted as well and the terrain more varied. IMO it was better than eastern China.
Thank you for the insight. I wish it was possible to cycle in Tibet without the issue of having a guide. I'll have to research a guided group tour and put that on my bucket list.
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