HimalayasX2011, Western China Expedition supporting IDEAS foundation & ETE Education Through Expeditions
by Brian Perich on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 4:50pm
About the preparation for MTB expeditions into the Himalayas:60 days away, 38 cycling days, 3200km (1988 miles), terrain desert/Himalayan, 3820km standing-only train journey, 3 provinces, 100km a day (average), Western China, Borohoro ranges of Tian Shan, Taklamakan Desert, Cudi Himalayas, 3 mountain ranges 4000m+, Offroad through central Sichuan Province, Lugu Hu Lake, Shangri-La, Deqin, Yunnan...
"I had protein, loads of bobybuilding type, couldn't carry it when the BOB IBEX trailer failed to launch with the Kona Explosif frame build, two disasters averted with the 2008 Blackcat I rode 10000km in Korea (purchased complete bike for $400 on Gmarket online auction). The replacement components originated from a last minute purchase of a used 2008 Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Deluxe AM mountain bike complete with Bontrager Race Disc wheelsets.
The expedition bike build started at my friend/bike shop owner AN DAE GI bike mart in Gangneung just 12 hours before I took the ferry to China. We finished the build at 1am, I returned home repacking again and finally started driving to Incheon, Korea at 3am. Finally, narrowly missing driving off the mountain roads, despite a slipping transmission in my 2000 Kia Carens (LPG!) I successfully arrived at the Incheon Port by 630am, and launching on the ferry at 10am without a wink of sleep....tight! (: Feeling a mixture of being blessed and unbelievably lucky, I followed through entirely throughout the expedition and completed successfully independently of title sponsorship, elaborate plans, or challenges that I could not overcome.
HimalayasX2011 Expedition detail:
HimalayasX2011 MTB expedition, Stage 1-2, 3200km (1800 miles) total into the expedition
- Prelude to the MTB expedition: 30 hour ferry between Tianjin, China / Incheon, South Korea ($150)
- Brake adjustments and rack repair/assembly in Beijing, China ($20)
- 36 hour stand-room only train between Beijing and Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Hospitalization in Urumqi, Xinjang Uyghur for blood clotting. ($50)
- Front rack repair/assembly with re-bar steel purchased from street recyclers (.25 cents)
Stage 1 starting from Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, northwestern China across the Borohoro ranges of the Tian Shan Mountains, to Korla and return to Luntai. Solo cycle across the Taklamakan Desert (552km north-south, 5 days) completed, Minfeng to the Aksai Chin Mountain range to Kashgar (1700km).
Stage 2 starting from Chengdu, Sichuan to Deqin, Yunnan (1500km). Discovered rear rim cracked internally 360 degrees with 1200km remaining in expedition. Replaced worn disc brake pads after 2380km.
Terrain: Altitudes from 2000 meters to 4460 meters, terrain varied from high altitude desert, grassland, and mountain ranges surrounding the Himalayas of China.
Rest / Recovery / Transit: ferry to china (30 hours, 1 day 6 hours), beijing 3 days (build front racks), train to urumqi (standing-room only, 36 hours (1 day 12 hours), urumqi 3 days (hospital outpatient for blood clotting ankles and feet), korla 2 days, kangding 3 days, deqin 2 days, overland return 3 days, beijing last days 3 days. total deducted= 21.5 days
Summary: Within 57 days, successfully MTB toured fully-loaded with 60kg Blackcat MTB and 40kg equipment, 85-70kg (body weight -15kg), 3200km / 1800 miles (38 days*) through three provinces of Western China, two provinces within the Himalayas. It was by far the most incredible cycling experience to date. This was the first bicycle expedition/extended tour in my life.* Next up are the completion stages.
Summary: Within 57 days, successfully MTB toured fully-loaded with 60kg Blackcat MTB and 40kg equipment, 85-70kg (body weight -15kg), 3200km / 1800 miles (38 days*) through three provinces of Western China, two provinces within the Himalayas. It was by far the most incredible cycling experience to date. This was the first bicycle expedition/extended tour in my life.* Next up are the completion stages.
Stage 3-4: China, Nepal, India (Summer 2012)
Peace - Brian Perich - Adventurer
I support:
In partnership with:
ETE, Education Through Expeditions, of Plymouth, U.K.
Next expedition project, One - Arctic to Argentina - A2A
Voting all counted in the final decision. Thanks everyone for participating. Follow updates: http://korean-world.blogspot.com (+) http://arctic2argentina.com and visit the foundations I support: ETE,UK http://www.etelive.org (+) IDEAS, Canada http://nogutsknowglory.com
A good morning in my dream ride, HimalayasX 2011
Liu Shao Long has a canopy over his equipment (panniers) and his winter coat used around Lhasa, Tibet
A dream I had a few years ago...kept thinking about it, and worked harder doing it. Worth every minute.
Live to Ride, Jolong, Sichuan, China
Always cycling BIG in the dreams, and burning fat not oil! ^^...
4340 meters = 14 238 feet
Sino-Tibetans taking a look at the Blackcat and maps
Sichuan backroads, Highway S215 @370km marker to Mianning
Crossing from Urumqi, Xinjiang over the Tian Shen (above) to Korla and back to the Tian Shen and desert highway to Luntai, all only the approach to the Taklamakan Desert, I appreciated the shadows and free water I needed on this highway from passing cars/trucks, they stop 99% of the time, they care about a soul cyclist on the open roads of northwest China - Thank You.
Picked up a melon, ate by hand, cut with Bicycle tools
Beauty in the land, the signs, the sun, the desert, the open roads
Monument to the Battle with Ghenghis Khan, Korla, Xinjiang, China
Beautiful Uighur people all across Xinjiang, China (Uighur Autonomous Region)
40+ days on the road, the early days in Xinjiang, China
That's my map in the Orlieb handlebar bag (large, black) and the line I drew previous to starting this expedition crossing the Taklamakan Desert, I did it. 9 days from Korla to Luntai, Desert Highway 5 days, another day to Mim Fung, Xinjiang, I continued south of the Taklamakan in similar surroundings all the way to the northwestern Himalayas and back to Yecheng and Kashgar. The expedition was rerouted due to political tension/instability in China, I continued from Chengdu, Sichuan to current location in Yunnan @ Lugu Hu Lake, via Xinjin, Luding, Kangding, Shin Do Cheng, JoLong, Mianning, Yan Yuan and here. 857km in some of the roughest roads, widest mountains (60km climbing days) to 2800m and many of the places between are nameless, continuous and amazing to ride.
Shadows are your best friend, Tian Shen mountain desert, Xinjiang
http://nogutsknowglory.com or http://www.etelive.org Check these links out, leave a comment...^^
When no shade is found, I later started using the reflective survival blanket (wondered why I had it with me, I thought it was a ground sheet for the tent), came in very handy for taking afternoon naps on the road and shelter from sun
Uighur farmers pulling watermelons from the irrigated tracks along the Tian Shen desert
These guys have some great watermelon, about .50 a piece or less
I invite everyone who has email (QQ.com) in China to sign-in. I will send everyone an invitation in a few months with a link to the http://crazyguyonabike.com/himalayasX (mine is the ending, remove for open all journeys) journal that tracks 1000's of tours, expeditions and free-spirited adventure seekers. Check it out and learn more today (:
Equipment sorted in the desert, camping on the Tian Shen desert crossing
Dry shaving in the Tian Shen desert, I like to keep it smooth!!!!
Lovely campsite, free parking in the desert@t the office HimalayasX2011
Signs, signs, everywhere are signs (and open roads) Arabic and Chinese Pin Ying
Uighur friends on the road, Xinjiang
He wrote a message in Arabic, translation???
Sweetness - thanks to my new Uighur friends between Tian Shen and Luntai, Xinjiang
Restaurant, highway bushcamp truckstop, Bike campers place as well, got stones thrown at me by one of the Uighurs (didn't like my jersey collar with USA flag), we almost came to blows, but he would be hitting the dirt
Feeling good before the approach to the Taklamakan Desert
Uighur transportation, many horse-drawn carriages, donkey carts, and cleaner air than in Sichuan where the motor is everywhere and rarely did I see a bike, horse, carriage, donkey - iTHINK (@Vyacheslav Stoyanov)
Freeway traffic in southern Sichuan, China
Bossman making his moves on the bike for IDEAS foundation, Canada http://weneedideas.com
Muddy rivers flowing with life
Comment, I like!
Open doorways, a store inside
This granola is good, but have lost it all in altitude sickness
Highway traffic in southern Sichuan, China
Brian gone wild on the bike in China, HimalayasX2011
Spinning sessions daily, 100km
Everyone needs a little hammer on one of these, makes you SMILE...^^
Education Through Expeditions, http://www.etelive.org
HimalayasX2011 Logo, frontroller classic pannier by Ortlieb
http://arctic2argentina.com future expedition planning (:
Awesome! Thanks for keeping us posted, sharing your stories, sharing your pictures. Dream it, do it!
ReplyDeleteDave-Michigan
THAT IS COOL!!
ReplyDeleteMY TEACHER IS coolguy!!
i'm rick !!
have a nice day