1200 km Cycling trip from Golmud to Lhasa

This group of Chinese Cyclists travelling from Kunming to Lhasa during my May 2006 trip from Zhongdian to Everest Base Camp was the source of inspiration for this trip
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8 crazy Singaporeans opted to spend 15 days cycling from Golmud to Lhasa instead of taking the new train.   Why?  I guess there are many reasons, as all are experienced trekkers, one having summited Kilimanjaro, another, Siguniang in China, several having gone to Everest Base Camps in Nepal as well as Tibet.  All in, the trip will take 21 days, the extra days getting from Singapore to Xining, with 2 days round Lake Qinghai (Kokonur), the largest salt water lake in China.   Start date is May 12, end date Jun 2 2007.

This is a profile of the altitude travelled
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In preparation, we have been cycling 66km every weekend, with some of us also conditioning during weekdays.  We have reviewed other videos of cyclists who have done a similar route at this high altitude:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ09bwt1XZ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSjMlq5MOyQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m5olW3C6b4

Trip Itinerary Page 1 of 2
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNURkiHg18I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnfkDmghiSE

Other similar blogs were at:

http://www.x-journal.com/journal/qinghairailway/?xjMsgID=14782

Map of the Trip
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http://www.2wheels.org.uk/blog/

Book Reference we used:

Tibet Overland by Kym McConnell 2002 Edition A Trailblazer Publication

http://www.tibetoverland.com/

Trip Itinerary Page 2 of 2
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Because many of us are weekend warriors, and because our ultimate aim was FUN, we have two backup SUV Toyota Landcruisers following along so that if we feel tired, we would just throw the bicycles in, and travel conventional. Now, that's what we call a holiday. Perhaps, if we come out ok, we may go EXTREME in future.

Here's the itinerary:

QingHai-Tibet (QingZang) route, Highway 109, is one of the 5 main roads into Tibet. QingZang route stretches some 1160 km, with an avg altitude of 4500m, making it the longest and highest paved road in the world. Cycling will be through major mountain passes of the Kunlun Mountain, Tanghla Mountain (which divides the Qinghai-Tibet border), Nyenchen Tanghla Mountain, the salt-rich Qaidam Basin (one of the largest inland basin in China), the vast steppes of KeKeXiLi nature reserve, and the prairie of Wutang Grassland. Other highlights include the source of the Yangtze river, sunset at ChuMaEr river and Namtso Lake. The Qinghai-Tibet route is relatively safe and technically easier, compared to the other routes. As such, it is ideal for novice cyclists. To make the trip more manageable, the trip is both part-cycle & part-vehicle. Accomodation is both a combination of hotels, guesthousees & outdoor camping. Tents will be provided for outdoor camping. A safety-cum-logistics vehicle follows us throughout the journey.