Bicycle

07 Oct 2011
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle, Break Time, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Route, Western China, Wind With 2 Comments Permalink

I’m Sorry, I May Have Lied…to myself.

Sticky Post By On October 7, 2011 With 2 Comments

Upon the turnback in Tibet and reaching my mileage goal (Which is a funny story. I thought I had told everyone it was 15,000 miles, so there was no celebration but more feelings of defeat) I was pretty set on resting the bike and getting a backpack for Xinjiang and the K’stans…because, well, winter is upon us.

If you don’t know anything about Xinjiang, it has 2 seasons…summer and winter. It’s famous for it’s wind and sand storms, i.e. blowing a train car of the tracks and I heard a story of a British cyclist being killed in a wind storm taking the Southern Route of the Silk Road (NW Qinghai) in no mans land.

Well, I have 2 weeks until I set off. In the meantime I’m getting a TB and Hep test…as I’m still physically not up to par. They recommend people that hangout with homeless people get tested. I WAS living on dirt floors with nomads. Also, TB kills a lot of people in Asia and Africa. I had a lot of Tibetans coughing near me, on me, snotty nosed kids sneezing and their mucous getting on me, or mixing my tsampa with their bare hands. (They also don’t use toilet paper)

Also, I’m having new wheels built, my repaired Brooks saddle is on it’s way from England, and…I bought replacement handlebars. The Soma Sparrow 560mm.

The idea of hitchhiking around Xinjiang is exciting because it’s different and the idea of walking around without worries of my bike getting stolen OR broken…is great. BUT, the idea of being in an automobile passing by nomads and locals…tears my heart apart. Also, I don’t have my get-away ride anymore and it’s a little more difficult to go meandering through open’ness or getting up mountains. The photos people love, and I love, are taken from when I was solo and invited in with people. Being in a car, bus…that’s not going to happen…or maybe it will?

I’ll be monitoring the weather conditions every day and there is a storm coming in, maybe I just stay put. Whether on bike or foot. My Work Visa doesn’t expire until Jan 28th, so in all reality…I could spend winter in Xinjiang, head into Kyrgyzstan (Jan 27th) and be in Kazakhstan in early March (that’s close enough to Spring to not freeze, right?).

I’m hoping someone out there, in cyber world, can offer some advice or wisdom…or an answer will come to me from the heavens.

In the meantime, I hope you take a look at the photographs for sale…I really really need some winter gear. Or you could mail me your old stuff.

Godspeed.

22 Jan 2011
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle, Evan Villarrubia, Portrait of an LBX, Qinghai, Tech Stuff, Touring Gear With No Comments Permalink

Bike Doctor

Sticky Post By On January 22, 2011 With No Comments

The ride was taken in today for some maintenance and cleaning. She’s getting a new derailleur for sure. Jason had an epiphany that maybe a MTB component would hold up better for me. It’s not like I’m lying her down on the right side, but still, an awful lot of vibrations, dirt, dust, and just all around muck.

My replacement tires finally arrived. TRUST ME, NEVER NEVER NEVER, SKIMP on a pair of good tires. After I met the “Potrait of the LBX” guys and claimed no flats in 5000km I kicked myself in the a$$ REALLY HARD! Our first day in Qinghai, I got 3 flats in 10 minutes – in the rain…in the city. NO MORE. I swear to …

30 Jul 2010
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle With No Comments Permalink

Sometimes you just have to throw in the towel…

Sticky Post By On July 30, 2010 With No Comments

Mountains to XiLinHaote

Okay, so I’m trying to speed through the mountains with 4 non functioning cog wheels. I figure, “oh, we will just cut straight West and travel on these very small country roads (they are the thin red lines on a China Road Atlas).”

Well…sh*t! We encountered a mountain that took us 2 hours to push our bikes up. We found out from the workers on the mountain, installing sand bags that the road is for tour buses only. That’s why we weren’t allowed to ride down the other side – yeah, talk about a bummer!!!! We got loaded into a tour bus and driven down the other side of the mountain.

I’m still not sure where we were, or how we got there…but somewhere smack dab in the mountains between XiLinHaoTe and LinXin.

Needless to say, that’s the 3rd and final time (maybe 😉 )through that mountain range.

We’ve hit the Inner Mongolian Plateau (which is my second time). Jason has asked, “how much more of this up and down?!?!” We had a head wind to boot one day and now he understands what I was facing in Hulun Buir. He tells me what hurts and what he hates…and I COMPLETELY 110% understand…I’ve been there…over and over again.

I’m praying for overcast skies and a tailwind tomorrow to get us to the Mongolian border in 2 days. I wanted to be in Mongolia 2 weeks ago…and when I didn’t forsee that a month ago- I said August 1…well, I’m behind.

It’s nice to have a partner right now…it keeps my sanity at points, especially when every thing seems to be breaking.

I’ve added a Nikon Coolpix 6000 to my equipment, that has really captured some great moments that I miss when I can’t pull out the big guy.   I also sold a 50mm prime for a 300mm prime.

Expect my next post from Ulanbatar in 8 days.

29 Jul 2010
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle, Planning, Route, Tech Stuff With No Comments Permalink

Back On the Road

Sticky Post By On July 29, 2010 With No Comments

This time I have company, my “teammate” Jason Yen. He is riding his handbuilt frame he made at UBI in Oregon. It’s a real beaut’.

I had my front fork replaced in Chifeng and my chain.

We left Chifeng on Saturday in blazing heat. Before leaving, my derailer begin to have problems. We had about 10 people from Chifeng riding with us, which Jason and I don’t really like…but that’s okay. They meant well.

Jason and I continued on after lunch together and met up with Qi Ge at our next town. We are headed to some “Mongolian Festival”…I don’t know…

The next morning, “Mr. Know it All” rode along with us. He ended up calling his cronies to pick him up in an SUV. Besides being a Know it All (as we had met him at that bike shop in Chifeng) he is also a fake and a braggert. On top of this, he orders me around. He got in Jason’s way when Jason tried to buy us a snack. He orders me to eat and eat until I’m about to die. We take a rest at the police dorms (where he use to work) and then doesn’t want to ride because it’s 34C outside…so now he is a baby too. I don’t like this man AT ALL.

His cronies make fun of him because a woman can ride harder and better than him. He will have to live with that shame.

I say I’m leaving…either way. We head out. Jason and I arrive at the next city without them and we find a bingguan…too late…Mr Know it All orders us to stay at his house…with no shower…and no AC…I have to sleep on the floor in my underwear to try and stay cool. No fan…you would think that a man that carries around a Leica digital camera and drives a Toyota RAV4 could splurge for a fan or even AC.

The next day he takes us to a joke of a repair shop and I finally put my foot down and I say I’ve had enough. Jason and I try to make adjustments and I AM NOT going to the festival…I’m fed up. We load up after Lotus arrives, and it’s a heartfelt goodbye.

We hit mountains for 3 days, now the Inner Mongolian Plateau.

It took us 2 hours to walk our bikes up a mountain – it was no joke. I’ve ridden 500 km, moutains, and the plateau with 3-4 useless cog wheels. There is nowhere for repairs.

My pants won’t fit because my thighs are now crazy big.

Broke:
-iPod
-fake GShock watch (my sweat flooded it after 2 days)

We camped the night before last…went 3 days of riding without showers – I was rank.

Today is a rest day in Xilinhot.

We should be at the Mongolian border in 3 days max.

30 Apr 2010
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle, Soma Fab, Soma Saga, Tech Stuff, Touring Gear With 8 Comments Permalink

Bike

Sticky Post By On April 30, 2010 With 8 Comments

Soma Saga 54″ Frame/Fork
Octalink 170 Crankset
Deore XT 11-34 Cassette
Dura Ace Bar End Shifters
Kool Stop Brakepads
Origin 8 Canti Brakes
Front and Rear Surly Racks
Ortlieb Front and Rear Waterproof Plus Panniers
Double Kickstand
Diore XT Front and Rear Hubs
BB Shimano ES25 Crankset
Shimano SLX Front Derailleur
Shimano HG73 Chain
Alex 36 hole Rims
Maxxis Detonator 1.5 Tires
Continental Tubes
Oval M200 Stem
Deda Grip
Nitto Randonneur Bars
Jagwire Cable
Neco Headset

18 Apr 2010
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle, Planning, Soma Fab, Soma Saga With 1 Comment Permalink

First ride.

Sticky Post By On April 18, 2010 With 1 Comment

Just a little peek. Still need to add fenders and switch out the tires to Panaracers.

I want to thank Chain’s Sprockets here in Shanghai for doing such an awesome job on the build. It’s the smoothest ride I’ve had in a long time. Chain’s also helped support the cause by giving me a wonderful discount and did not include a fee for the top of the line labor. Best shop in Shanghai, perhaps China – hands down.

I’ll give a run down of components later.

09 Mar 2010
Sticky Post By Posted in Bicycle, Planning, Soma Fab, Soma Saga, Tech Stuff, Touring Gear With 2 Comments Permalink

Saga arrived in Shanghai

Sticky Post By On March 9, 2010 With 2 Comments

So it seems that the Saga has gained some popularity, not to mention that some of my friends have become very interested in this bike because of their generosity. I was expecting to get the frame shipped to me while I was in the States, but they were behind orders for 54 frames. I’m still in the States, preparing to return and just got notice of the arrival of my frame to my home in Shanghai.

I would love to hear from you!

Studio Address: Front Street Artist Studios

 

 

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