| CYCLE 2000 Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal |
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| INTRODUCTION
This is a report on a bicycle trip from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. There are links to information on Tibet and Nepal, plus some places and items mentioned in the report. Some trip statictics are also included. The menu bar links to a group journal and pictures. Please email, if you have any suggestions or note errors or omissions. TRIP OVERVIEW This is a report on a bicycle trip from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. It was an organized, exploratory trip run by Creative Travel Adventures Ltd., of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The trip took place between September 12th, 2000 and October 8th, 2000. Although, this was a supported trip, it was challenging and sometimes difficult. The challenge and difficulty were due to the effect of altitude, rough roads and long hills over high passes. Lhasa is located at 3650 meters and Kathmandu is located at 1300 meters. In between there were six passes to be ridden that exceeded 4500 meters, before riding what is reputed to be the worlds longest downhill at approximately 4600 meters. The total trip distance was approximately 1100 kilometers, of which 750 kilometers were cycled. Approximately, 150 kilometers were paved and the balance ranged from reasonable gravel to very rough gravel. The cycling route was along the Friendship Highway running from Lhasa to Kathmandu, with a side trip to Everest base camp. No one in the group suffered from serious altitude sickness. However, everyone suffered from the effect of altitude. and had an occasional minor head ache. The effect of altitude was shortness of breath doing almost any activity, such as getting dressed and occasional head aches. However, cycling did not seem to cause any problems, other than deep breathing while maintaining a moderate pace. For a report on the effects of altitude, see altitude and health. Only two people suffered any sickness and this was only a day of feeling rotten, which made cycling more difficult.
The weather on the trip was very good. The only rain occurred one night, while we were sleeping. When the sun was down, the evenings and early mornings could be cool, requiring warm clothing including gloves. Several mornings we awoke to frost on the tents. However, when the sun came up, the days were pleasantly warm to hot. It was sunny and warm enough to cycle most of the time in shorts and t-shirt. On one day there were head winds strong enough to make cycling extra difficult. Most of the Tibetan country side consisted of wide and not so wide valleys connected by mountain passes. The area traveled appeared to be sparsely populated, although Tibetan villages were passed though or visible at various points. A river normally ran through the bottom of the valleys. There was limited farming in the valleys, as the countryside for the most part was dry, dusty and lacking vegetation. Many people ware dusk masks to combat the effects of dust from passing vechiles. TRIP DETAIL The trip started with the group meeting in Kathmandu, then spending the following day touring city sights. Individual flights were met and people taken to Moonlite Hotel On the third day, the group flew to Lhasa for four days of sight seeing and acclimatization. On day 7 the cycling started. It was a relatively easy 80 kilometer ride over mostly paved level roads to the first nights campsite. This was accomplished at an average speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Day 8 started with a tough 22 kilometer climb over rough gravel roads from 3700 meters to the top of Kambl La pass at 4800 meters. The climb was accomplished at an average speed of 8 kilometers an hour. The descent also over rough roads was also slow due to the need to constantly watch the road and to be constantly breaking. Cycling did not provide much opportunity to view the spectular scenery. To view the scenery, which was a truly spectular required one to stop cycling. The days cycling ended at a campsite on the shore of Lake Yamdroc Tso, which provided and interesting view of a nearby village, the lake and surrounding hills. At various times the campsite was shared with a large herd of sheep. Day 8 set the tone for many of the cycling days. Some hard climbs, spectular scenery ending at a picturesque campsite, good food and companionship. Early afternoon on day 11 we cycled into Gyanatse. Here we enjoyed the comforts of a hotel, walking the streets and visiting the monastery. Day 12 the bikes were trucked and we rode in the land cruiser to Shigatse. Two nights were spent in a comfortable hotel, with a rest day for sightseeing and checking email. At the hotel were a group of 15 Swiss cyclists, cycling approximately the same route. Also, cycling a day or two ahead or behind were French, Dutch and an English/American groups. The next rest day occurred on day 20 at Rongbuk monastery, which is within 7 kilometers of Everest base camp. The campsite at 16500 feet which was located just outside the monastery, offered an inspiring view of Mount Everest. The rest day allowed for cycling to base camp. The 7 kilometers took an hour due to rough road conditions. We were extremely fortunate as the day was cloudless, affording a perfect view of the snow covered Mount Everest and the Rongbuk glacier. On day 21 we drove down from Rongbuk back to the Friendship Highway and the nights campsite. Some of the other groups got a ride in and cycled out, we cycled in and rode out. Day 22 we rode over the double passes of Tong La South and Tong La North. Tong La North was the final pass and the start of the worlds longest downhill at 4600 meters. The downhill was relatively slow at first, even though it was relatively steep due to the rough road. Then the road turned into a gradual downhill in a valley, with the odd slight uphill. However, the valley had strong head winds making for a difficult ride. The final 30 kilometers to camp were covered in the truck, as daylight was running out and and cycling speed was down to 10 kilometers an hour. Day 23 continued with downhill cycling and crossing in to Nepal. The scenery had changed from a treeless landscape to a narrow valley with lush vegetation. It seems that the east side of the Himalayan mountains are relatively dry, with the west side getting a lot more moisture. Day 24 was the last day of cycling, still continuing downhill. It turned quite warm. After a number of kilometers there was a pleasant change in the road. It turned to pavement. At Dolalghat the cycling part of the trip ended. From there we drove to Khuilikhel and the Hill View Resort, a very pleasant end to the cycling. SOME TRIP STATISTICS The following table shows, cycling statistics taken from my bicycle computer. On some days, I was the slowest person in the group, on other days I was not the slowest.
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Altitude
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