Jun 12, 2014 - To Zhangmu 8 k from Nepal border

June 12 day 14 riding to Zhangmu 8 k from Nepal border. 96k, 5hr 50min. Longest descent in the world – top of Thang La Pass 5050m to Zhangmu 2400m. Against nasty headwinds on section after Thang La to lunch. Nickie almost ready to go in truck. Awesome descent through rain forest type scenery. Orchids. June 13 Friday. Day 15 riding. Cross border into Nepal to Dhulikhel. 96k, 7hr.30 ridetime. day. 8 easy ks downhill to Tibet-Nepal border. Must have been a hundred and more trucks parked nose to tail whole way down. Drivers waiting for...

Jun 10, 2014 - 10th and 11th Riding to Tingri and onto Lalung pass

June 10 day 12 riding. 50ks to Tingri then 12ks to camp. Nickie chose to walk with Jan today rather than shake herself to bits over the very rough roads to Tingri. They set off rugged up against the cool wind with hats,scarfs and gloves and probably made 6ks when the truck reached them after having packed up tents and camp. Nickie enjoyed the experience of being able to look around at the scenery and talk with Jan, what an interesting lady. Walking way more relaxing than being on the bike and having to constantly watch the road and pick a...

Jun 9, 2014 - 16 k return ride to Everest base camp

June 9 Day 11 riding. 16 k return ride to Everest base camp 5200m then 16 to camp. A fairly mild night, surprised to see ice on the tents. Clear blue sky. A few wisps of cloud over Everest. Pete up 6am for photos. Packed up camp after 9am breakfast. Most of us rode to EBC. Marg and Jan left @8am to walk it. Marg walked beyond the prayer flags on the hill, there was no barrier arm across the road, and no legible sign advising a $200 US fine, nor anyone to tell her not to go on. Our guide Tennor got a ph call to pick her up asap!!....

Jun 8, 2014 - Everest and Rongbuk monastery

June 8 Day 10 riding to Rongbuk monastery. 5100m 42ks over terrible track, 4hr 30. Actual time 5 1/2 hrs with stops. No-one was looking forward to this ride over rough track. All the talk didn’t fill Nickie and Pete with confidence, the top riders worried about bike failure. But it was a pretty good day, hard but not too long. Climb of 300m over 9ks, then 15ks up and downs, then 15 ks up. About 25C mid afternoon. Nickie was powering up a short, very steep hill and suddenly was yanked to a stop…what the ??....her cotton shirt had dangled off...

Jun 7, 2014 - Ride to camp on road to Rongbok Monastery

June 7 day 9 ride to camp on road to Rongbok Monastery. 92ks, 6hr:30 ride time 6 ks out of Shegar had to present passports at police checkpoint. Clear still morning , about 10c. Rolling ups and downs, but mostly down. We rode in a wide valley. Hills all about, stony barren looking and all the colours of a spice market, clove, cinnamon, turmeric, pepper. Cell phone stations about every 15ks. Some cropping around the braided streams. About 50 horses far off in a large paddock. We haven’t seen horses used in the fields, only Yak and oxen....

Jun 6, 2014 - to Shegar

June 6 Day 8 to Shegar. 76 ks, over Lakpa La pass 5220m (17060ft), the highest we will climb. 5:50 ride time. A challenging day over the highest pass. 23k to climb 1200m !!!! Gradient fairly steep, and the chilling wind was brutal. Nickie did a slow speed fall onto her back from her bike on a steep part , chain jammed as she tried to change to 1:1 gear, no damage done. Had to have lots of stops to drink and get the heart rate down. Oxygen is at about 63% compared to sea level. About 2 ks from the top, Nickie experienced blurred vision,...

Jun 5, 2014 - 5/6/2014 camp just before Lakla la pass

5 June Day 7 ride (Day 12 on itinerary) to camp just before Lakla la pass. 95ks. Ride time 4hr:40 8ks of gentle climbing through very scenic farmland to the beginning of the climb over Yulong La pass 4520m. Road works here so had to wait about 30 mins to be let through. Concrete road being broken up, though it looked in good condition, probably it will be tar-sealed. Sections of dirt. Not steep but very dusty. Lots of road patches, due to frost /snow damage. Almost at the top, a road worker snuck up behind Nickie and pushed her for about...

Jun 3, 2014 - To Shigatse and Camp 6

3 June Day 5 to Shigatse 94k ride time 3hr 40 Now completed 361 ks. Downhill and tail wind all the way. Rode as a group to cut the wind and averaged 28 kph. Great fun. After lunch we spread out and there was opportunity to take in the scenery and stop for photos. We have dropped in altitude and the valleys are grassed and cropped. Lots of blue lupins. Shigatse is Tibet’s 2nd biggest city. Only Jan had the energy to go on the monastery tour when we arrived, rest of us pretty tired and have got to the point we don’t really need to see...

Jun 2, 2014 - Day 4 to Gyantse

2 June Day 4 to Gyantse 51ks ride time 3hr 30 Woke to a very cool morning but no wind! Icy sludge on the tents, quickly warmed up as sun appeared over the hills. Delicious rice porridge with chunky bits of coconut, cashews and apricots. Peanut butter toast, boiled eggs. We are eating so well. 9:15 started 200m descent over 15ks, wearing lots of layers, eyes watering. Signage on hill…is ia a peace symbol or nuclear sign? A moderate 15k up and down ride to Simi La pass 4330 m. Water pipeline @ side of road. Barren hills, no vegetation or sign...

Jun 1, 2014 - Day 3

Sun 1 June Day 3 48ks. 3hr 45 ride time. Once again enjoyed “bed tea” at 7am. Pack up then breakfast @ 8. Very gradual climb from lake for about 15 ks. Passed through small town, little girls dressed in national costume. See photo, the Catering Department of Peace, whatever that could be ?? . Rode between 2 pillars to begin climb over Karo La pass. Next 5ks a little steeper. Shepherd spinning wool. Snow- capped mountains, signs of avalanche. Wind mod strong against us for the steep 5ks to the top of pass 5015m Prayer flags . Here Marie and...

May 31, 2014 - Day 2 Khamba La pass

Sat 31 May Day 2 75ks. Over 20k hill Ride time 5hr 30, Rode over Khamba La pass. Steady climb from 3600m to 4794m over 20k. Sun blazing. Temperature 13degc first thing but soon warmed up to 30s. The climb was steady gearing at 1-2 or 1-3 with no flat ground. Multiple switchbacks. Views awesome , stopped every few kms for photos and to get our breath back, Nickie is feeling strong and powers ahead. The altitude hasn’t affected us like some of the others, as we get higher the views just get better and better. Coca Cola vendor on the hill, and...

May 30, 2014 - Lhasa to Camp 1

Friday 30 May Lhasa to camp Day 1 85ks 4hrs 10 ride time. Departed hotel 9:15. Light drizzle. 4 lane streets, some with cycle paths for about 8kms to the industrial centre. Group stopped outside the Potala Palace and we were moved on by the police. High police presence, 3 check points for vehicles, but we rode through. Armoured trucks with teargas cannons, armed guards in the city streets. Mixed bunch of riders, about 6 guys and 1 lady , Julia who are super athletes, iron eventers and marathoners, 2 young Danes, then our group of 5, Maria...