RobiNZ Personal Blog

Himalayan Cycle 12 — Jaikang Village Camp to Shegar (New Tingri) Hotel

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 14-09-2014 - Sunday Todays pass, Lhakpa La, was a real challenge. Starting at 4100m it rose continuously to 5240m. Unlike the earlier passes it was more like a NZ one going straight up a river valley with some steeper gradients, rather than having switchbacks. There was a bit of traffic on the road. The locals were gathering stones, slate?, and carting them back to the village in motorised carts. I stopped for a bite to eat at what happened to be about halfway up the pass (although couldn’t see the top).... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 11 — Laga Camp to Jaikang Village Camp

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 13-09-2014 - Saturday Although only about 60km to cover we had the Simi La pass to climb today. It was only 4525m max and the road was mostly good. From camp there was about a 10km gradual climb before the real pass began. Also passed the 5,000 kilometrestone (awkward I know but you can’t have a 5,000km milestone!). The climb was gradual with several switchbacks. I saved a few hundred metres by using an old concrete track which cut out one corner. Part way up some road works meant it got... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 10 — Xigaze (Shigaze) to Laga Village Camp

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 12-09-2014 - Friday Rapid Rob’s glued Tibetan mudguard was still holding up and a bit of mud finally gave it a used look. I haven’t had any mechanical problems to date (other than the broken guard I caused!). The majority of the trip so far has been tarmac so the wide tyres & suspension haven’t really been tested (apart from a few potholes!). Running the Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres at 50psi has helped reduce the rolling resistance. They are a bit truck’like on the seal although better than I expected in... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 09 — Rest day in Xigaze (Shigaze)

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 11-09-2014 - Thursday Today we awoke to 6ºc and rain. Glad it was a hotel night as camping would have been miserable. Also glad not to be riding: a leisurely breakfast, Monastery tour and sightseeing were the only things on the agenda. The hotel breakfast was very Chinese, hot food with fried eggs and toast the only western'ish alternative. I had a bit of both cuisines but not being big on cooked breakfast didn’t fill the plate. Really missed the muesli, fruit and yoghurt most the other hotels have had or... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 08 — Gyangze to Xigaze (Shigaze) Hotel

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 10-09-2014 - Wednesday First thought: It's 95km but flat'ish and after a good night's sleep in a hotel bed! See what I think about that later! Later: It was as written up in the notes except instead of 95km it was more like 90km to the edge of town and a trundle into the Hotel. The countryside was flat, with distant mountains, so it was up to the road to provide interest. We passed through quite a few villages, some old, some recent developments. Almost without exception the kids yell out... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 07 — Qiabuyu camp to Gyangze Hotel

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 09-09-2014 - Tuesday It was fine but cold when we started riding so I had my rain shell on as a wind break. After a run along the lake the climb up above the dam was a bit of an effort but made much easier than it once was by a huge cutting through the hill. It must have taken 100m off the hill. The downhill on the other side was awesome. I got to 58 km/h but was a bit careful on the corners as concrete surface, a bit damp... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 06 - Scorpion lakes to Qiabuyu Village Lake camp

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 08-09-2014 - Monday In the morning at we watched a local shepherd study us eating breakfast. We'd camped near his regular morning route to water the sheep & goats. Was amazing to watch him hand stitching a shoe soul (to leather upper) the whole time. Seems all the shepherds do some sort of hand work while watching the flock as have seen them knitting, spinning and sewing. After breakfast, which included the milk Hot Chocolate I have been favouring instead of tea or coffee, we were back on the bike. Quite... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 05 — Gangna Camp to Yamzo Yumco (Scorpion) lakes camp

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 07-09-2014 - Sunday It was nice to be woken up with a hot drink, a morning ritual. The weather was fine so we had an Al fresco Breakfast (photo by Helen). There was an option of cereal/muesli or nice (not gloopy) porridge with naan & egg to follow. i don’t usually have much breakfast at home (even before a ride) but tucked in to fill up the fuel tank. On the agenda today was a massive climb up the Kambala Pass. A gain of ~1200m elevation over 25km made harder by... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 04 — Lhasa to Gangna (Village) Camp

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 06-09-2014 - Saturday After packing our luggage into the bus at the Yak Hotel we rode along the main street for a group photo outside the Potala (must get got that shot, thanks Kirsten!). (L to R) Ollie, Paula, Me (behind), Jan, Craig, Bob, Nic, Helen, Kirsten, Eric, Andy, Ian (behind), B, Robbie, Tim. We then rode out of Lhasa at breakneck pace, matching the traffic, with the bus leading the way. Unfortunately this pace proved to be a mistake as some missed a turn resulting in a bit of confusion... Read more →

Himalayan Cycle 03 — To Lhasa, and breathe…

(A mix of travel notes and comments added later) 02-09-2014 - Tuesday – Arriving in Lhasa The flight was great with only minimal turbulence in a thin cloud layer on ascent and descent. From the lush green hills and swollen muddy rivers of Nepal we climbed to the true alpine plateau of Tibet. The Tibetan rivers were also swollen—apparently with more than the usual rainfall—but vast bare rock & scree mountain ranges determine their course. The approach to Lhasa Gonggar Airport was fascinating for several reasons. It is one of the highest international airports in the world at 3570m (~11,000... Read more →