30/05/2008
29/05/2008
Our route through China, Pakistan, India and to our first destination, Nepal
Interactive map of the area we have to travel through, from Wulumuqi in China down the Karakorum highway into Pakistan - look no road! It's fine though unless it's been washed away. Once in Pakistan we have to go to get visas, then cross into India where we get new visas for Nepal. The first leg of our journey will be over.
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
26/05/2008
Cycle Touring - The best touring bicycles?
Our Koga Miyata bikes arrived from Holland via the UK in 2005 with super special handlebars to allow us to move our hands around, plus front and rear panniers. They're just the most gorgeous bikes ever, completely designed for long distance touring. We intend to cycle from HK back to the UK some time in the future and we need to get a bit of experience first (only a bit)
We have cycled around Lamma quite a bit and know a bit about basic maintenance, we have spare spokes and other tools but it's proving very difficult to get anything useful in HK as no-one cycles anywhere. Simon's is last year's model and appreciably cheaper.
Since this original post we've cycled the Pamir Highway and feel we know what we're doing. The bikes have been fantastic...in fact after 1500km on appalling dirt roads the only thing that wore out was the side wall of one of my rear tires. This happened as we entered Osh in Kyrgyzstan - the only place for about 500km with a bike shop.
Since this original post we've cycled the Pamir Highway and feel we know what we're doing. The bikes have been fantastic...in fact after 1500km on appalling dirt roads the only thing that wore out was the side wall of one of my rear tires. This happened as we entered Osh in Kyrgyzstan - the only place for about 500km with a bike shop.
25/05/2008
Cycle Touring - Best tent for touring cyclists
The tent we're using is made by a Swedish company called Hilleberg. It is absolutely fantastic and we've used it for lots of cycling and trekking. It has a huge space (GT models) where you can cook if it's wet, or cold.
We think it's an astonishing tent considering the weight. Everything is pared down to the minimum without compromising strength.
We think it's an astonishing tent considering the weight. Everything is pared down to the minimum without compromising strength.
Simon's Bike
| Model | WorldTraveller - SIMON |
| Segment | Trekking |
| Season | 2005 |
| Frame dimensions | 50-54-57-60cm |
| Frame | Completely hand-built TIG-welded 26" frame. Tubes manufactured in triple-hardened and triple-butted 7005 aluminium. Top- and down tube oval and super oversized for extra stability. Equipped with integrated headset and a replaceable rear derailleur hanger. |
| Front fork | K-01 650C Wide Bone chromium-molybdenum/aluminium |
| Colour combination | Dark Titanium brush 77806 |
| Handlebars | Pro Rise bar rise 15mm width 600mm ø25,4 |
| Handlebar stem | ITM Trekking CNC new adjustable (Quill) ø22,2 Black |
| Handlebar grips | Pro Cross Country Black-transparent |
| Bar ends | Pro Short Oversized |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore XT BR-M760 |
| Shift/Brake lever (r) | Shimano Deore XT ST-M760 |
| Shift/Brake lever (l) | Shimano Deore XT ST-M760 |
| Brake-/Shifter cable | Black |
| B.P.C. | Yes |
| Head set | Cane Creek A-head thread ZS-22 industrial-bearing 1" Black |
| Chain | Shimano CN-HG73 108 links |
| Front Hub | Shimano Deore XT HB-M760 Silver 36H 100mm |
| Rear Hub | Shimano Deore XT FH-M760 Silver 36H 135mm |
| Tyres | Continental TravelContact 47-559 with reflection |
| Tube | Continental 32/47-559 |
| Rims | Mavic EX 721 CD 559-21 36H 323 314 36 |
| Rim tape | H.P. 650C 16mm |
| Spokes | Sapim Leader Black |
| Saddle | Brooks Conquest Black incl. Brooks |
| Seat pillar | Pro XLT ø31,4x300mm Black |
| Seatclamp | Koga aluminium Black |
| Crank set | Shimano Deore XT FC-M760 44x32x22T W/CG |
| Pedals | Shimano PD-M324 |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore LX CS-M580 9-speed 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32T |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT RD-M760-SGS |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT FD-M760 T-Swing Dual-Pull ø34,9 66-69 |
| Derailleur guard | Koga stainless steel |
| Pump | Topeak Roadmorph Small |
| Bottle | Elite Lysso Alloy Titan 2x |
| Bottle holder | Elite Taki Gel 2x |
| | Koga Widek Compact-II Titan |
| Mudguards | SKS P-50 26" Titan |
| Headlight | Smart Triple Beam BL116WW |
| Rear light | AXA Omega II 50mm, backside Black |
| Rear carrier | Tubus LOGO |
| Lowrider | Tubus incl. kickstand |
| Carrier strap | Triobinder Black/Titan |
| Kickstand | Pletscher Optima 1/260mm Titan |
| Frame lock | AXA SL-7 Titan, with folding key |
| Saddle bag | Koga with KLICKfix |
| Weight of bike | 15,7 kg |
Isabelle's Bike
| Model | WorldTraveller (WT) - ISABELLE |
| Segment | Trekking |
| Season | 2006 |
| Weight | 15,7kg |
| Frame sizes | 50-54-57-60cm |
| Frame | Completely hand-built TIG-welded 26" frame. Tubes manufactured in triple-hardened and triple-butted 7005 Aluminum. Top- and down tube oval and super oversized for extra stability. Equipped with integrated headset, built-in attachment point for all accessories, integrated kickstand connection in rearend, and a replaceable rear derailleur hanger. |
| Front fork | Wide Bone, Chromo-Alloy 1-1/8", with thread! |
| Color | Brush polish |
| Handlebar | Ritchey Comp Mountain Straight ø31,8 Black width 580mm |
| Stem | ITM Trekking 4-Bolts adjustable (Quill) ø25,4 Black |
| Grips | Selle San Marco Leather |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore XT |
| Shiftlever (r) | Shimano Deore XT |
| Shiftlever (l) | Shimano Deore XT |
| Brakelever (r) | Shimano Deore XT |
| Brakelever (l) | Shimano Deore XT |
| Brake cable | Black |
| Shifter cable | Black |
| B.P.C. | Yes |
| Head set | Tange Seiki A-head thread ZS-22 industrial bearing 1-1/8" Black |
| Chain | Shimano CN-HG73 |
| Front Hub | Shimano Deore XT |
| Rear Hub | Shimano Deore XT |
| Tyres | Continental TravelContact 47-559 with reflection |
| Tube | Continental |
| Rims | Mavic EX 721 Black 559-21 36g |
| Rim tape | H.P. 650C 16mm |
| Spokes | Sapim Leader 2x36 |
| Saddle | Brooks Flyer Black incl. Brooks maintenance set |
| Seat pillar | Ritchey Comp Mountain V2 Black ø31,4x400mm |
| Seatclamp | Koga aluminum |
| Crank set | Shimano Deore XT 44-32-22T |
| Pedals | Shimano PD-M324 |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore XT 11-32T 9 speed |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT |
| Derailleur guard | Koga RVS CNC pat |
| Pump | Topeak Roadmorph Small |
| Bottle | Elite Lysso Alloy Titan 2x |
| Bottle holder | Elite Taki Gel 2x |
| | Koga Widek Soft Touch Silver |
| Mudguards | SKS P-50 26" Duo Tone, Black outside/Silver inside |
| Headlight | Smart Triple Beam |
| Rear light | B&M DToplight XS senso |
| Rear carrier | Tubus LOGO |
| Lowrider | Tubus |
| Carrier strap | Triobinder Black/Silver |
| Kickstand | Pletscher Comp Black / JD Tranz X CD-103 Black (Lowrider) |
| Ring lock | AXA Defender RL Silver/Black, with folding key |
| Saddle bag | Koga Medium with KLICKfix |
24/05/2008
Overall Route
We did want to cycle more directly through Yunnan and Tibet to Nepal, but thanks to the new restrictions we can't do that at all. Our alternative is to go all the way across Mongolia, and then down through Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India to get to Nepal. Embassies and consulates are in HK for most of these countries.
We will wait in India for the weather to warm up and then continue our journey in Spring 2009.
Who are we?
We're a married couple from the UK and Canada who have been living in HK and working as teachers at an international school for the last four years. Until we came to HK we spent a lot of time travelling but we've based ourselves in HK and seen most of Asia in our shorter holidays. Isa has always wanted to cycle a long route somewhere in the world so that's what we're doing. She's the ideas person, I just do what she says. We would probably have stayed in HK but for the pollution which gives me 3 months of migraines every October-December which miraculously stop when we leave HK and start again as we land at the aiport.
We met while trekking in Nepal in 2001 and spent 3 months there. Before we came to HK we also did a Trans Africa trip via West Africa over an 8 month period, walked the GR11 in Spain from the Med to the Atlantic, the GR54 (the hardest trek ever - 25000m ascent in 3 weeks)in France.
Since we came to HK, we've trekked in Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Zanskar and Ladakh, Cambodia and even had a month walking the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Isa teaches and tutors French and I teach Physics, General Science and Theory of Knowledge. When we've finished this journey we're going to have babies and live happily ever after (maybe)
Simon Taylor and Isabelle Bedard
We met while trekking in Nepal in 2001 and spent 3 months there. Before we came to HK we also did a Trans Africa trip via West Africa over an 8 month period, walked the GR11 in Spain from the Med to the Atlantic, the GR54 (the hardest trek ever - 25000m ascent in 3 weeks)in France.
Since we came to HK, we've trekked in Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Zanskar and Ladakh, Cambodia and even had a month walking the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
Isa teaches and tutors French and I teach Physics, General Science and Theory of Knowledge. When we've finished this journey we're going to have babies and live happily ever after (maybe)
Simon Taylor and Isabelle Bedard
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