About the HimalayasX 2011 mountain bike project:
The expedition project so far has been really interesting involvement from the start. First of all, I had never previously traveled fully-loaded on a bicycle to reach remote geographical locations. Transportation to the start of the expedition in western China actually involved several modes of transportation including a 30-hour ferry boat between Incheon, South Korea and Tianjin, China; a 36-hour standing-room-only train ride between the capital city of Beijing, China and Urumqi, East Turkestan, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region across 3005km.
I mountain biked 3200km 1988 miles over 45 days in three geographical regions (Deserts, Plains, and Himalayas).
HimalayasX2011 from Brian Perich on Vimeo.
I mountain biked 3200km 1988 miles over 45 days in three geographical regions (Deserts, Plains, and Himalayas).
HimalayasX2011, Western China Expedition supporting IDEAS & ETE from Brian Perich on Vimeo.
In 38 days, I mountain biked 3200km (1988 miles) across East Turkestan Xinjiang Uyghur A.R.; Taklamakan Desert crossing 552km between Luntai and Minfeng; cycled both the Karakoram Highway KKH and southern Silk Road between Urumqi, the Tian Shan Mountains, Korla and Kashgar.
The second stage of the expedition took me across Sichuan entering western Kham region and across the Himalayas through Yunnan Province.
At the start, I weighed in at 95kg (210 lbs) and after 50 days of roaming with the 60kg mountain bike fully-loaded with equipment, food, water, first aid, water filtration, camping equipment and minimal clothing required, I pedaled into Deqin, Yunnan weighing only 70kg (154 lbs/pounds). At a loss of (-25kg / 50 lbs pounds)* demonstrating physical changes that I underwent through long-distance, endurance mountain biking on a multi-month expedition. Prior to the expedition, I completed 10 weeks of cross-fit training, with no other gym/health club memberships since 1990-1992. In 2003-2005, I weighed 125kg and had high blood pressure. In 2011, I completed this expedition weighing 70kg 154 pounds and healthy. I also completed a 26 hour / 478km 297 mile randonneur bike ride across the Korean peninsula in the fall of 2011.
I experienced high altitude mountain biking (4460 meters / 14632 feet) and repeated weeks above 3000 meters (10,000 feet) which acclimatizes an athlete to cope with with AMS, although I experienced symptoms of high altitude sickness, I minimalized the problems with hydration, frequent breaks, and consistent days above normal sea level elevations.
Previous motorcycle adventure tours completed between 1994-1998:
My previous adventure touring projects were completed on motorcycles (500-600cc engine, Suzuki GS500, Kawasaki EX500, and Kawasaki ZX600R) on North American highways. Motorcycle touring on the smooth pavement of the United States and Canada is inspirational and doesn't require a specialized motorcycle. It should be noted that motorcycle touring requires a similar set of technical skills in maintaining a motorcycle while on tour, as well as, the same hazards often found in expedition bicycle touring. There were many risks negotiated while traveling 24,000km in 60 days but the rewards outweighed the risks 1000-1. I will share more about motorcycle touring in other pages of my adventure book upcoming when the HimalayasX2011-2012 project is completed. I'd like to share all my adventures here, it will take some organizing the chronology of events stretching from 1993-2012, much was spent on adventure somewhere.
Bike Touring Equipment, Getting Setup to start touring on Mountain Bikes (MTB):
Technical specifications for mountain bike touring
- Frame for 2011 Blackcat (2008) aluminum mountain bike frame. Made in China.
- Frame for 2012 Lynskey M240S titanium mountain bike frame. Made in the United States.
- Wheels for 2011 (AM) Bontrager Race Disc 26" wheels (2008)
- Wheels for 2012 (AM) Mavic Crossland 26" wheels (2008)
- Crankset for 2011 Shimano Deore LX crankset (175mm), Shimano HG 9-speed chain.
- Crankset for 2012 Shimano Deore SLX crankset (175mm), Shimano HG/Dura-Ace 9-speed chain.
- Brakes for 2011 were Avid Juicy Five hydraulic (185mm front/160mm rear brake rotors)
- Brakes for 2012 are Avid BB7 mechanical (203mm front/160mm rear brake rotors)
- Shifters for 2011 SRAM X7 rapid-fire shifters (compatible w/ Shimano Deore LX front derailleurs)
- Shifters for 2012 Shimano Deore LX (Dual control, mechanical cable Brake/9-speed rapid fire)
- Derailleur for 2011 Shimano Deore LX front; SRAM X9 long-cage (9-speed) rear derailleur
- Derailleur for 2012 Shimano Deore XT front; Shimano Deore SLX (9-speed) rear derailleur
- Suspension Fox 32 Float RL Front suspension air-oil forks (2008)
Pannier systems, Carrier racks, Tires specifications
- Rear Carrier for 2011 Topeak Supertourist DX Disc rear carrier rack, compatible with Disc brake
- Rear Carrier for 2012 Aluminum/steel supports and connecting rods custom repaired in Mongolia
- Front Carrier Aluminum front carrier racks (2), U-bolt design + PVC zip ties attachment
- Panniers Ortlieb Front Roller Classic (2), Back Roller Classic Panniers (2)
- Panniers Ortlieb Ultimate handlebar bag (large) with map case accessory (1)
- Tires Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour (2), Load capacity 145kg. Weight 1100g each.
- Northface Tadpole 23 tent, 2-3 man tent, 3-season design
- Sleeping bag REI Expedition -20 degree Down-filled expedition or lightweight synthetic
- Sleeping mat Thermarest Pro-lite regular length
- 5 (750 ml) Water bottles carrying (3.75 liters)
- 1 Camelback Podium bottles 700ml (1.4 liters)
- 4 250ml bottles given from passerby's (1 liter)
- 2 1500ml Water bottles where available and refilled in Mongolia (2012)
- Snow Peak Titanium Ultra-compact cooking pots
- MSR Miniworks EX Microfilter pump
- MSR Whisperlite backpacker, 2 MSR fuel bottles.
That's the camping list. I also listed the component and accessory list for putting a touring mountain bike together.
Bicycle mechanics
I needed a reliable mechanic to use the bicycle shop tools, cut cable lengths for the derailleur system, and complete the entire build project. We started disassembling a 2008 Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Deluxe and used the Blackcat hardtail (no rear suspension) frame I have been using for the past 2.5 years, the frame size is 18" large for the Blackcat and all the components were carried over from the 19" Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Deluxe.
Bicycle component upgrades/replacements 2011-2012
After completing the first two stages of the HimalayasX2011, the Blackcat frame underwent some changes and the Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Deluxe was reassembled with upgraded Shimano Deore LX crankset, HG chain and rear cassette and a Manitou Minute 2.0 front suspension fork with 140mm of travel and SOLD.
Mountain biking expedition projects
This mountain biking expedition is a project (new frontiers for me as an adventurer), as are the videos and photography I have used in visually capturing about 2% of the actual journey. What I plan on doing is finishing the CGOAB journal I started in 2011 and writing a book about bicycle touring adventure combined with earlier episodes in Jeeps, motorcycles, hitch-hiking where I found the means possible to travel different parts of this amazing world. Western China offered some of the best cycling terrain in the world.
Promo trailer of the mountain biking project (2011)
Here is a 6.5 minute video teaser of the expedition project. Once completed, I will have cycled over 6000km across various sections of the Himalayas from western China to India and the terminus of the Himalayas. The Himalayas X 2012 is estimated at 5840km for a maximum of 60 days running the expedition by mountain bike. It will be more challenging than in 2011, the pages have yet to written.
Promo trailer of the mountain biking project (2011)
Here is a 6.5 minute video teaser of the expedition project. Once completed, I will have cycled over 6000km across various sections of the Himalayas from western China to India and the terminus of the Himalayas. The Himalayas X 2012 is estimated at 5840km for a maximum of 60 days running the expedition by mountain bike. It will be more challenging than in 2011, the pages have yet to written.
This video is a 6 minute, 33 second trailer part of the HimalayasX2011-2012 expedition project on a mountain bike. Last summer, I completed 3200km (1800 miles) exploring western China, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and crossing Himalayan sections of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.
这部影片是一个6分钟，33山地自行车项目HimalayasX2011-2012年远征的第二拖车部分。去年夏天，我完成了3200公里（1800英里），探索中国西部的新疆维吾尔自治区，穿越喜马拉雅四川和云南等省的部分。我是支持的想法，肠道疾病的教育意识论社会，加拿大 nogutsknowglory.com 在通过探险，ETE的，教育的合作伙伴关系 etehome.org 我冒险的网页，
Sponsors local bicycle store in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea
HimalayasX2011 mountain bike expedition in Aksai Chin Mountains, northern Xinjiang Uyghur, China
AN DAE GI, my local sponsor in South Korea with the freshly completed Blackcat MTB touring bike
More action along the mountains of Aksai Chin
3200km (1800 miles) of cycling western China
Every great journey starts with the pieces, it's up to you to recreate living dreams. (:
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