Northern Silk Road - G314, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, western China (south of Tian Shan!)
My first expedition by bicycle, 3240km standing-only train, 1028km of extreme bus journey, 505km of hitch-hiking, 3200km cycling in western China - solo & with other adventurers down the road
After the painful arrival on the train (36 hours, no toilet, no seats, standing-room only) Mark helps with a mobile phone purchase (100 RMB/Chinese Reminbi/Yuan) and mobile card for the first 30 days (100RMB)
Mobile phone markets are common in China. Find a deal for less than new. I purchased a 2003 Siemens mobile and a China mobile 100RMB recharge card (including mobile telephone number). Deal.
iPhones are available in the Chinese market, cheaper than export markets, Made in China.
Mark and I met on the Beijing-Urumqi Express train ($49 USD, 316 RMB/Yuan)
Not only are the noodles good in China, there are all sorts of ways to serve it up in Urumqi, Xinjiang
The bare essentials - Ortlieb Ultimate (Large, Black) waterproof, handlebar bag, bottles, snack, water, toothbrush/paste, rear mirror, diary/pen*,bike repair tools (Topeak Alien II), glasses, Xpedition stickers
Lowepro SLR camera bag (circa 1994), Canon IXUS 90is, Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V, Samsung Yepp 4GB mp3 player, Siemens phone/mini charger, Bodyglove sunglasses, spare batteries
Food supply for the expedition, oatmeal, raisins, dried apricots, water...Taklamakan Desert 552km was crossed with this and 6 loaves of Nan Bread. Just Do It.
Starting out on a new ride, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Western China
Cycling the G314 leads to Kashgar, northwest to Kazhakstan, north to Mongolia, west to India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, South to Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar)
Proposed route across the Spine of TIBET, Himalayas of Xizang Autonomous Region of western China
Proposed route across the Tian Shan Mountains, Taklamakan Desert, Uyghur Autonomous Region
Leaving Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea from LPG car (Gangneung-Incheon, 3 hours) to Ferry (Incheon-Tianjin, 36 hours) to Bike/Bus Tianjin/Train (2 hours) to Bike to Train to Bike
China is a very big place (especially when coming from South Korea!)
Mark wishes me all the best (but I think he had serious doubts about my safety on the road, he didn't know me well enough...same is true of many cyclists in Korea, they don't know me!!!!)
Finally ready for lift-off from Urumqi, China
Something important I prepared before leaving the Korean-World, a Logo banner supporting IDEAS foundation and Education Through Expeditions - Love you guys and important missions!
Custom touring mountain bike (I wouldn't have it any other way...2008 Blackcat stock-aluminum frame OEM Giant, Bontrager Race Disc Wheelsets, Shimano Deore LX Hollow crank, Fox RL 32 front shocks
Pavement and poplars in Urumqi metropolitan area
Strapped for an expedition, cycle weighs 23kg, equipment 27kg, full-loaded touring
My GOPRO helmet camera HD, 32GB Class 10 memory loaded
My graphic design job, 1 semester of graphic design in California (circa 2001)
Hitting the pavement for the next 3200km of expedition bicycle touring (10% of the A2A2012-2014)
Signs are explained in Arabic, Chinese Pinying, and English (+ Numerical) at the start
Older Uyghur settlements in Urumqi are being paved over, history is right next to the road!
G30 Southbound, Highway travel by bicycle is NOT enforced as illegal in Xinjiang (luckily!)
I ride hard, I always wear my mask (dust allergies, asthma, keeps hydration levels higher)
Crankwerks sessions, 100km a day, 3200km + leap days+/days off-, I returned to Beijing 57 days later.
Note: non-ergo grips. I rode the entire expedition hard on the hands. Next stage, Ergo grips already installed!
G312/G30 split, the modern Silk Road in China never looked smoother. Straight ahead!
Signs change to Arabic, Chinese Pinying and Numerical
Irrigation such as this is essential and breathes life into Uyghur Autonomous Region (the way they always did it...something of yesterday and of today). Waters run south from the Tian Shan Mountains.
Open roads beckon the endurance cyclist in western China. I found the expressways an essential route across some of the barren parts of Xinjiang (New Province in Chinese language). Note: this is Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. A unique culture living alongside the Han Chinese.
Feeling thirsty? With a MSR micro-filtration system...it's a source of a cyclist's best friend on the road, H2O.
Long haul truckin' on a custom MTB-touring bike, it's an awesome feeling today! Turpan 157km, others?
HimalayasX2011 is a unique cycle experience to take on my greatest challenge to date, the unknown western ranges of China
Sheep travel in small herds in Xinjiang, Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
Getting water when I was running low. This is a full-service, 1-stop brothel alone the desert highway.
Friendly people making a living. I escaped with boiled water (Rhur Shuaa/Kai Shuaa)
Back on the G30,G312 and glad to see that China is thinking ahead: Wind Turbine Power.
Stoked (excited) to meet people at truck stops after traveling for hours in the desolate western G312
Truckers out west in China have big hearts, nice to meet so many of you all!
How is this for an amazing shot, high school students who work at the Petrochem station, Thanks guys!
The high school students work at the Petrochem station and live in the dormitory, I take a room for free and share some GOPRO video with them. Language and cultures connect.
Peace guys, you made my adventure great!
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