Cycling to China

[Josephiine]

Please forgive my ignorance. This is the first time I have really been on the site and I am kind of blinded by science.

In May 2008, I am about to embark on my first big solo cycling trip. I will be cycling to China or thereabouts (via Turkey) and I have loads of questions. I intend to spend a week beforehand cycling in the UK by means of a pilot study. I have not really cycled that much beyond daytrips and commuting but I am happy to take my time. The purpose is to travel rather than cycle (if that makes sense). I spent a year travelling in Africa but I found it frustrating spending so much time on buses and was so jealous of cyclists I met on the way.

Firstly, what bike? I have been advised by several people that a Dawes Galaxy is the way to go. I have also been advised that a new bike will be better than a second hand, as being pretty clueless it may cost me a lot in repairs. Any thoughts? I am 5'5".

How do people avoid getting their bike or kit stolen when they stop at shops etc? Obviously, there are bike locks etc but how do you stop people getting in your panniers - surely people don't drag them into every shop?

Has anyone done something similar for a small charity? If so, how did you go about advertising your trip and getting sponsorship beyond your immediate circle. Any ideas? I would like to split the money between worthy causes on the way and something local (Manchester area).

If anyone has experience of cycling in Asia, particularly women and particularly in Iran, Pakistan etc, I would love to hear your stories and see your websites?

Any other advice?

Thanks so much
Jo

[diapason]

Hi Jo,

Wow! what an undertaking.

I can't advise you from experience, but can I suggest that you read Anne Mustoe's book 'A Bike Ride'. She writes about giving up teaching in her 50's and cycling round the world.

As far as bikes go, a steel frame can easilyh be repaired anywhere in the world. A Galaxy is certainly good, as is a Thorn (with Rohloff hub gears), or anything from a reputable frame builder such as Mercian, Bob Jackson, George Longstaff - to name but three.

Good luck, and much respect!

Nigel

[lisap]

There is a good site called www.crazyguyonabike.com which has plenty of travelogues written by people from all over the world who want to share their experiences. Have a look at the Asia section and see what it turns up. In addition Tour D'Afrique/Silkroute have just completed Istanbul to Bejing so have a look at their website.

[mick skinner]

hi there,

again what an undertaking, i salute you.

last summer i took 2 weeks to ride from bilbao to the les deux alpes. i used panniers but wish i'd had a trailer instead. this summer i'm planning to spend 2-3 months (uni holidays) touring around spain and the south of france and here's what i think for the problem of leaving your bike outside shops; use a trailer (i've got my eye on a "bob" trailer) so that you can put all your stuff in one big bag, then you can use one of those lockable wire net things that camping shops sell to secure the bag, then when you lock the bike; put the bike lock through the wire net as well as the frame and the wheels. i hope that sound sensible. i'm also planning to use a titanium bike bcause it's a lot more sturdy and for long distance riding it's a lot more comfortable, still undecided to go with a mountain bike with road tyres or a proper touring frame.

i hope all that is some use to you, good luck with it and it'll be nice to here how it went when you come back

[Mythical]

Wow - that sounds like the ride of a lifetime! I salute you, and I can't help wishing I was going too!
I have nothing useful to say (as usual). I'm hoping to do my first solo cycling trip this year, too, and hope to go to the far east on a charity ride sometime in the future, so I'll be interested to see what's said here, too!

Good luck with the Fundraising, and the trip. Can I put Christies forward as a recommendation for your 'local' charity?

[horizon]

Hi josephiine: your post makes me feel quite uncomfortable. It's quite possible, admittedly, to interpret it in many obviously positive ways but it would be nice to hear a bit more why you're doing it. Anybody is free to write whatever they like here but all posts are taken seriously (except the humorous ones!).

[stephenjubb]

Good luck on China, however there are a few immortal lessons every cycle tourist must learn before they start out on tour, namely practice, learn lessons, apply lessons, practice and repeat again, a never ending process.

Once you go through this you will then have your own experience and ideas. I did this and my experiences are below. No doubt people will disagree, that is good, the point is for you to go through the process yourself, otherwise you will learn some lessons the hard way. I did, try cycling pulling 100 pounds, really tiring, 50 miles in 6 days!

Background.
---------------

I started cycle touring for the first time last year in May (Scotland), Southern England (July), Iceland (August), Portugal (Christmas) and I still have to learn more.

What the above did was allow me to test my kit in May, learn lessons, buy and refine my kit for Julys trip, learn lessons, buy and refine my kit for August, repeating the process again for December and I am now doing it again.

In essence I am gradually learning from my experiences.

Your Questions
------------------

You say

"I intend to spend a week beforehand cycling in the UK by means of a pilot study"

This is a bad idea, you will not have time to learn any lessons before you go to China or find out if you have the correct bike. I totally replaced most of my kit after the August trip (sleeping bag, bike, trailer, tools etc) as they were not upto the job.

Believe me there are lessons to be learned. One is when you first start out you take too much kit which means a lot of weight. The second is you may not have the right kit, it needs to be light, reliable, strong, durable (yet not prohibitively expensive). An example instead of taking six tools that do one job each take a multi tool that does them all.

My suggestions are do three/four weekends trips in March/April this will allow time for you to adjust your kit and learn lessons.

Your next question

"How do people avoid getting their bike or kit stolen when they stop at shops etc"

I use a bike friday new world tourist (www.bikefriday.com) that folds up, not only on the plane in a suitcase, but folds into a bag, so when I get to my campsite, it folds up in the bag and goes in the tent. Granted I have to take a slightly larger tent but when is a bike more likely to get stolen on display or locked up, visible to all thieves, or hidden away. I go on the idea if they can't see it, they can't steal it. On forums ctc there is evidence that not too many tents are stolen from. Alternatively you can lock it up, near your tent, but a bulky lock will be needed that adds to your weight. Neither answer is right you have to go with what you are comfortable with.

With regards shopping, I buy during the day at petrol stations where I can keep an eye on the bike, then on a night when the bike is in the tent hidden in a bag, I go to supermarkets and ensure I have two days supply of food. I then repeat wherever possible. Sometimes I have to cycle to the supermarket (after setting up camp, so I don't have to take trailer with me), therefore the bike is locked up securely outside with usual security precautions taken (remove all removable bits, ensure lock goes through wheels etc), or in bigger ones I have the option of putting bike in bag, taking it in with me and putting in a trolley, but this is perhaps obsessive, it depends where you are.

Regardless learn and enjoy your trip to China, I also if you are a female solo tourer you read up on travelling alone from a safety viewpoint.

if you want to email for clarification my address is sjubb@sjubb.karoo.co.uk

cheers

Steve Jubb

[cricklewood_graeme]

I expect that you want to travel alone for the obvious rewards that come to lone travellers, but in my one big adventure (L.A to Vancouver) when I cycled with a companion, the ability to watch after each other meant the whole issue of security was simplified. Now I wouldn't do it any other way unless travelling in familiar territory.

[Kentish Man]

I think that for a trip starting in May, you should start your riding preparation at the start of February, if not now. You need to find a really good bike shop where they are prepared to give you the time to measure you and fit a bike so that you get a decent machine for your needs. You'll then have 2 to 3 months for gently getting use to the bike and building up your fitness and stamina. You need to ensure that your points of contact are comfortable, i.e bum, feet and hands. You may also find that you need to sort out handlebar height and reach to save an aching back and shoulders.

For background preparation, I echo the recommendation for Anne Mustoe's 'A Bike Ride' where she crosses Europe to Greece and Turkey, then flies to Pakistan. Her second book 'Lone Traveller - One woman, two wheels and the world' also covers China, Pakistan and Turkey. Anne Mustoe shows what can be achieved with no mechanical knowledge but a well prepared bike to start with. She also normally stayed in hotels or guest house rather than camp.

I would also highly commend Josie Dew's books - 'The Wind In My Wheels' recounts the start of her exploits, initially with companions, but later solo. There is one section on touring in India, which is worth reading so that third world conditions don't come as a total shock. Her book 'The Sun in My Eyes' also covers a foray into China from Hong Kong: she doesn't appear to have enjoyed this part particullarly! By contrast to Anne Mustoe, Josie Dew camps nearly all the time.

Both writers include comprehensive appendicies that detail their bikes, plus the medication, clothing and equipment that they took. You should, of course, take into account changed political situations since these books were written.

Good luck.

[Kentish Man]

I think that for a trip starting in May, you should start your riding preparation at the start of February, if not now. You need to find a really good bike shop where they are prepared to give you the time to measure you and fit a bike so that you get a decent machine for your needs. You'll then have 2 to 3 months for gently getting use to the bike and building up your fitness and stamina. You need to ensure that your points of contact are comfortable, i.e bum, feet and hands. You may also find that you need to sort out handlebar height and reach to save an aching back and shoulders.

For background preparation, I echo the recommendation for Anne Mustoe's 'A Bike Ride' where she crosses Europe to Greece and Turkey, then flies to Pakistan. Her second book 'Lone Traveller - One woman, two wheels and the world' also covers China, Pakistan and Turkey. Anne Mustoe shows what can be achieved with no mechanical knowledge but a well prepared bike to start with. She also normally stayed in hotels or guest house rather than camp.

I would also highly commend Josie Dew's books - 'The Wind In My Wheels' recounts the start of her exploits, initially with companions, but later solo. There is one section on touring in India, which is worth reading so that third world conditions don't come as a total shock. Her book 'The Sun in My Eyes' also covers a foray into China from Hong Kong: she doesn't appear to have enjoyed this part particullarly! By contrast to Anne Mustoe, Josie Dew camps nearly all the time.

Both writers include comprehensive appendicies that detail their bikes, plus the medication, clothing and equipment that they took. You should, of course, take into account changed political situations since these books were written.

Good luck.

[Diane Bulley]

Its all very well everyone giving advice, but this lady is not a tourist with years of experience under her belt. Or in her legs.

I think she should be sensible, and divide the journey into several sections. Fly home after each one, then rejoin the route next year, and ride the next section. Nobody will mind. People walk long distance footpaths in sections. If anything goes wrong this is a good insurance, she only has to get transport to the next airport.

The late John Hathaway, who cycled around the world, always took his bike into any shop/restaurant because of thieves. If they wouldnt let him do this, he went elsewhere.

Why not do the Lands End - John O'Groats solo as a training run ?

[horizon]

josephiine: we're impressed with your spirit of adventure (and you obviously have travel experience) but concerned about your preparedness. It can be done - it would just be nice to know a bit more about how you measure up to it. Will you grace us with a second post?

[Les Reay]

I was inspired years ago by a book from Bettina Selby (Riding the Mountains Down). From what I remember, she bought her first bike in her 50s and cycled 5000 miles alone across Asia.

With regard to security, I generally have a gut feeling for any risks when shopping and I nip in and out quickly, but I never eat in a building unless I can see the bike through the window.

Anyway, good luck, and as others have written, start your preparations asap. Get professional advice about the right type of bike.

[pliptrot]

stay away from Islamic countries. You mention Pakistan, which should be avoided by everyone for the time being, and Iran. Women (particularly alone) are considered fair game in such countries. Those who have undertaken similar journies were relieved to get to India, which is to say out of the Islamic world.

Sad but true.

[Diane Bulley]

Years ago someone else said, if camping, stay out of Mediterranean belt countries - Spain, Italy, Greece etc. Its just not safe.