Today’s stats:
61 km distance (has to be worth so much more given wind)
Peak altitude 4550m
Camp 4087m
Max speed 54.3 on descent
Slow speed on ascent 4.5
Cal burnt 2700
Put your hands in the air
Mishap, misadventure and malady
The day started with Perry having red eye and Dale losing his Yak bells. Dorje and Perry went to drugstore and back to market to buy another set of bells (I so want to spell that differently). The rest of us hit the road. Within the first 10 clicks Dave had two flat tires! Later during the ride metal wire took out my bike computer.
A day in the life in Shigatse
Went for walkabout this morning into the local market. All kinds of things for sale from local household items to clothes to Buddhist prayer wheels. Bought a big Yak bell, some old coins, and other sundries.
Long Ride
Awoke to clear blue sky, 3 degrees. Had brekkie and took off around 9am. Warmed up quickly to low 20’s.
95km ride. Start altitude about 4043m. Max 49.6. Cal 2913.
Lost 77m and gained 42m. Tibetan flat.
On the road to Gyangze
What a night. Hail and high winds, flapping, buffeting and clawing at the tents, it felt like we were at risk to blow away. Dawn brought -1 degree, frost and a cloudless azure blue sky. Completely still. Ate breakfast outside in the sun.
OMG we had a high altitude Tibetan flash mob at breakfast!
Altitude 4300m
The last team to do the trip, only 3/17 made the pass on yesterday’s epic ride but we all made it!!
5 degrees at start of day, peaked at about 12.
Started a bit later this morning. Coffee at 730. While organizing, breaking down camp and getting ready I decided not to ride today – my URTI has settled a bit in my chest. Perry and Farid kept me company. We rode with Dorje in the jeep listening to tunes. Stopping every few km to shout encouragement to the riders.
An epic day!
1300m elevation climbed – 23km.
23 switchbacks.
Peak altitude 4800m (effectively at the top of Mt. Blanc).
At the top there were hugs and tears. Farid brought out the prayer flag and we all signed our prayers on it and then hung it with the thousands of other prayer flags.
Finally on the road for real!
Started at 10c and peaked about 17c, partly cloudy.
For those of you with an itinerary THROW it out! This is Ox’s show now. WOOHOO.
We did 85km today, average speed 21km. Ride was Tibetan flat – so we lost about 119m of elevation and then gained it back and added a bit more cause why not? We are at nearly 3600m. Mike was awesome – he pulled the last 40km so that Dale, Dave and I could draft; heaven given the incredible head wind that came up after lunch. We followed the river downstream and then upstream. Th mountains were glorious in the distance. Calories burned: 2611.
Lhasa – Day 3
Partly Cloudy, 18 degrees.
Snow on the surrounding mountains.
We bought a Bodum French Press in Kathmandu, and some Himalayan Java – so i woke the boys to a nice cup of java.
Post breakfast we went for a great ride – about 15k, past the Palace – just to limber up, and make sure that all the parts of the bike were as needed, adjusted, seat (family jewels) etc. Farid, master of the selfie, took a brilliant photo – you will notice Dave isn’t in it….that is because he ran the red light much to the dismay of the traffic cop!
Lhasa – Day 2
Partly cloudy, started at about 12 degrees but was 20 or so by the time the sun hit us full on.
Today we went to the Potala Palace, former location of the Tibetan government, and former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. It is 13 stories from the 130m Red Hill, and has more than 1000 rooms; more than 1000 steps to get to the top. The building started in the 7th century and was dramatically expanded in the 17th century.
It is an incredibly important Buddhist site. The local Tibetan people start walking around the Palace at about 430am and walk around the palace three times (about 30 min per lap) before breakfast. Many Tibetans come to worship and provide offering of butter (important for reincarnation) and money.