cyclo Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Wander Cyclist | A Bicycle Adventure in Asia

13 Apr 2012

Sticky Post By WanderCyclist Posted in Irkeshtam Pass, Kashgar, Kyrgyzstan, North East South West by Bike, Photos, Photos of Bike, Photos of Eleanor, riding partner, The Windbraker Carrots With No Comments Permalink

March 25, 2012 – Day 1 of Kashgar to Sary-Tash

Sticky Post By WanderCyclist On April 13, 2012 With No Comments

The newly united, and temporary, Team Windbraker Carrots.
Left to Right, “Captain”, “Supervisor”, and “Auntie” (later to be renamed to “Ice Face”).

It was a short, uneventful day. The roads in good condition and friendly folks along the way. We began the steady incline to the border.

I think one of the greatest things about being a cyclo (a person who uses a bike to tour/travel) is the fellow cyclos you meet. I’ve made so many friends from all over the world. After spending nearly 2 weeks with the Belgium brothers, I’ve come to love Brussels and have learned A LOT about Belgium. Granted, I already knew about the beer…but the price is nothing compared to those swank beer boutiques in NYC.

They would tell me about Belgium and ask me questions about the States. A lot of the info taken from movies and pop culture. It was good to have to opportunity to state Hollywood is a bunch of bullshit. Sharing cultures is amazing when traveling by 2 wheels.

Now I have 2 new little brothers and a home in Brussels! How rad…if I don’t say so myself.

The friends you make touring will last a lifetime. Also, you may even learn another language and culture. “merci gaste!”

12 Apr 2012

Sticky Post By WanderCyclist Posted in Uncategorized With 6 Comments Permalink

Attention: All cyclists crossing FROM China to Kyrgyzstan

Sticky Post By WanderCyclist On April 12, 2012 With 6 Comments

Must Read:

As of January 2012, you must get your Passport Exit Stamp approximately 160 km East of the China border. The city is called “Wuqia” and you must go through the Exit/Entry Station. This is for cyclists crossing FROM China to Kyrgyzstan.

If you arrive at the border without your Exit stamp, there is NO alternative but to return the 160km. The roads have been reported as patchy but I would report that they are some of the worst road conditions I have experienced. This was late winter/early spring with snow, morning ice, mud, iced mud, and roads being flooded out because of the melt. They are currently “working” on a new highway. When I say “working” it means everything has been torn up and some patches completed but I didn’t see ONE PERSON working on it during the week out there.

Wonderful camping opportunities, safe, and sparse population…and hundreds of wild camels.

Please pass this information along to others and repost on as many sites as possible.

The crossing is also closed on the weekends and there is very little to purchase in regards to supplies at the border. I suggest that you stock up on 7 days worth of supplies in Wuqia. This should get you to Sary-Tash Kyrgyzstan if the weather is GOOD. If the weather is bad, the Tajik truck drivers coming from Sary-Tash will give you breads, cookies, cans of tuna, or whatever they have in their truck. You won’t starve…but BE PREPARED.

11 Apr 2012

Sticky Post By WanderCyclist Posted in China, Irkeshtam Pass, Kyrgyzstan, North East South West by Bike, riding partner, The Silk Road, The Windbraker Carrots, video With No Comments Permalink

“Everybody’s Watching.”

Sticky Post By WanderCyclist On April 11, 2012 With No Comments

March 24 2012
Our dinner together, in Kashgar Xinjiang, as the next morning “Team Windbraker Carrots” would be leaving for Kyrgyzstan.

This gives you a view of a traditional tea house in Kashgar and along the Silk Road. When I’m traveling by myself, it can be very uncomfortable walking into a restaurant of 20+ men and there I am…a solo foreign woman walking in. Talk about making the record skip…it sends the damn vinyl off the turntable into the wall.