Mount
Biking
Milarepa
Travels operates its mountain biking tours with one of the best service
providers in its class. Our tour operators are professionals with an excellent
track and have many years of experience biking across Asia.
Riding a bicycle is a
challenging way to see Tibet. It is slow enough to intimately visit the
countryside, yet fast enough to actually cover some distance. Only thirty
years ago there were no roads in Tibet. All travel was by foot or by animal on
trails following the trade routes. Today the region has an adequate dirt road
system designed by the Chinese to accommodate their low-geared six-wheeled
trucks. By coincidence, these are engineered at perfect grade for cyclists:
long gradual climbs with 6 percent to 8 percent grades.
Tibet is the high point in any mountain bikers riding life. This rugged,
remote and beautiful country lies hidden behind Mt. Everest and many more of
the highest peaks in the world of the Great Himal range. To the North is the
largest desert in the world, the Gobi / Takla Makan desert while to the East is
China having kept the secrets of Tibet closed to all western exploration until
the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Tibet requires more planning
than most other cycling destinations in Asia.
You can either form your own group or join one of our fixed departure
tours. We take care of all the planning, logistics, permits, equipment and
even provide you with the bikes i.e. if you don’t have one or want to rent
one instead. Our tour leaders are intimately familiar with the routes and all
the areas that you pass through and take care of all the troubleshooting.
Another concern regarding
bicycling in Tibet is your fitness for a journey of this caliber. This is the
highest mountain biking in the world. Although the road engineers may brag
about conquering nature, the roads cross such radical geography that they can
be closed for days or even months due to snowstorm or landslides. The demands
of big climbs, rough roads, remote surroundings, and extremely high elevations
must all be taken into consideration.
In addition, be prepared for
a reception by as curious a group of people as anywhere in the world. People
in some of the more remote areas have never seen a bicycle, and everyone, even
in cosmopolitan Lhasa, seems to be fascinated by multi-speed , go –anywhere
bicycles.
Preparation
Bicycle Equipments
A mountain bike is best, but
at this time there are no mountain bikes available in Tibet; all equipment
required including the bikes are provided by us. We use fully imported
recognized brand mountain bikes with front suspension. The fleet 
is
made up of a variety of sizes and mostly customized
- Bianchi:
‘Grizzly’ models LX and XT components
- Treks:
with LX and XT components & Rock Shox
- Giant:
with all Shimano ensemble and RST Shocks
- Pro
Flex: Aluminum Frames and Rock Shox and LX parts
Weather and Clothing
Summers mean cool nights and
warm days. It can rain for days at a time in July and August, and frost in
September is common. Strong winds and sand storms are not unusual, nor is snow
on the passes. At higher elevations, freezing temperatures can occur any time
of the year. During September at 17,000 feet (5180m), the nights are usually
in the low teens to single figures. In January nighttime temperatures can drop
tp-33F.(-27C.) And daytime temperatures often hover just below freezing.
Bring
enough clothing to meet the coldest expected temperatures. Because it is not
possible to buy or rent quality gear in Tibet, plan on bringing all your
equipment with you. For spring, summer or autumn cycling, light cycling pants
and a short-sleeve shirt usually will be sufficient. If you add a pair off
warm-up pants, a long –sleeve jersey, a wind shell, and gloves, you can
handle most conditions in good weather. For poor weather, you should also have
a fleece or down warm shoes, and a hat. If you are camping, remember that
sitting still in the cold night air will require extra clothing to stay
comfortable.
|
CLIMATOLOGICAL
DATA : LHASA |
|
Month
|
Average
Temperature
|
Rainfall
|
|
Maximum
|
Minimum
|
| Jan |
7c
/ 45F |
-10c
/ 14F |
2mm
/ 0.1in |
| Feb |
9c
/ 48F |
-7c
/ 19F |
2mm
/ 0.1in |
| Mar |
12c
/ 54F |
-3c
/ 27F |
5mm
/0.2in |
| Apr |
16c
/ 61F |
1c
/ 34F |
10mm
/ 0.4in |
| May |
20c
/ 68F |
5c
/ 41F |
35mm
/ 1.4in |
| Jun |
23c
/ 73F |
9c
/ 48F |
70mm
/ 2.8in |
| Jul |
22c
/ 72F |
10c
/ 50F |
170mm
/ 6.7in |
| Aug |
21c/
70F |
9c
/ 48F |
120mm
/ 4.7in |
| Sep |
20c
/ 68F |
8c
/ 46F |
70mm
/ 2.8in |
| Oct |
16c
/ 61F |
1c
/ 34F |
10mm
/ 0.4in |
| Nov |
12c
/54F |
-5c
/ 23F |
2mm
/ 0.1in |
| Dec |
8c
/ 46F |
-9c
/ 16F |
2mm
/ 0.1in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relative
Oxygen Rates at different Altitudes
|
Altitude |
Oxygen
Rate |
|
In
Meters |
In
Feet |
| 8852
(Mt.Everest) |
29028 |
33% |
| 6000 |
19865 |
47% |
| 5500 |
18045 |
50% |
| 5200 |
17061 |
52% |
| 5000 |
14674 |
53% |
| 4000 |
13123 |
60% |
| 3500 |
11483 |
64% |
| 3000 |
9843 |
68% |
| 2500 |
8202 |
73% |
| 1000 |
3281 |
88% |
|
SEA
LEVEL |
100
% |
|
|
Physical Preparation
It is wise to arrive in Tibet
in good physical condition. Cyclists should train to build up their
cardiovascular system for nowhere will it be put to a test like Tibet. Hill
training that gets the heart rate up and keeps it up foe an hour at a time is
highly recommended. The higher the elevation the better, even though Tibet
will be higher yet. A well – designed strength training program two or three
times a week to build overall power and condition the upper body is an
excellent supplement. While physical fitness does not prevent altitude
sickness, it does help the body deal with all the other physical demands of
rough, remote travel.
Standard cycle touring advice
applies: arrive at a good weight; be healthy and rested. Eat well (always a
challenge in Tibet) and consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement.
Drink plenty of water to remain properly hydrated. Be sure to acclimatize
properly before your cycling tour begins. You might need up to a week or more
to get used to the change in elevation. Once you’re in Tibet, relax. Don’t
push it. Go on some walks around town, then after several days of taking it
easy try a few short rides around Lhasa. Work in some hill’ the rides to the
nearby monasteries of Sera and Drepung are a great way to combine sightseeing
with cycle training.
Classic Mountain Biking Routes
