The Wobbling Sprocket

Mike did the Lao Tour back in Feb 2008.  He is coming back now for the combo platter, Tour d'Indochine…..both Vietnam and Laos.   Seeing both countries on one trip is a good idea.  They are very different places. 

Tour d'Indochine starts in Hanoi.  We head North to the border with China and then West.   We cross the border into Laos just outside Dien Bien Phu.  

Mike celebrated a birthday when we were in Vangvieng (a real party town) last time Laos and the group decided to decorate his bike for the occasion:

I am not sure what that blue thing is. Isn't Spider Man red? Help!.

Oh, yeah, I am showing my age.  Isn't that thing a Power Ranger??

Graeme is in for Indochine – February 10, 2011.

He’s done Indochine a few times and the Laos part even more.

In fact, Graeme will likely be able to answer questions better than I can. Post your inquiries and let him have at it.

However, you may have to wait a bit for a response. Right now, Graeme is tooling around Portugal in a rented Audi with his lovely wife Izzy. I’m not sure that is good prep for biking tours, but at least it involves “wheels”. For those of you that don’t know, Graeme is a car buff. His Marque of choice….Jensens. He has a few Jenson Interceptors in various states of reassembly…or maybe disassembly…I’m not sure which at his home outside Melbourne.

Anyway, there are just a few days left to take advantage of our Columbus Day Deal ($400 off) and join Graeme and Erika on Indochine or use it on another 2011 tour.

Graeme in Laos (Indochine last year)

Here is Graeme climbing out of Grazalema about a week and a half ago on the Spain tour. Yes, that little furry animal on Graeme's handle bars is a stuffed kangaroo. It's very popular...especially on the Indochine Tour where the kids are ALWAYS checking it out.

Paolo and Fede came on the last Tour d’Indochine.   They were a blessing.    Good sports, great attitudes and game for whatever came their direction.  On Indochine, it can be a lot.

On top of that, they were from Italy.  We love it when Far and Away Cycling not only means cycling in places Far and Away, but also being with people who live Far and Away.   In our view, it doesn’t get any better.

Anyway, on Indochine it soon became apparent  Mr. Paolo could probably give Lance a run for his money.  Paolo is a fitness instructor and could ride like the wind.   He spoke less English than Fede, but he kept mentioning “Mongolian Challenge,  “Mongolian Challenge”.  We soon learned that he was using Indochine to further his training for the big test, The Mongolian Bike Challenge.

Well the Mongolian Challenge is on right now!   And Mr. Paolo is in the thick of the action.  And I mean really thick.   It seems today’s stage was canceled due to a sandstorm.

Mr Paolo is Number 35.  There is a tour tracker so people can follow along.  I haven’t seen pics of Paolo yet, but I’m looking and I am sure I will find some before this thing is over.

The Mongolian Challenge looks ridiculously hard.  120- 140 k per day with 200o or more meters of climbing in a race environment with time eliminations while camping.   Mr Paolo is probably missing the wonderful amenities of Kiu Kacham, Laos about now!!

At this moment, Mr. Paolo is in 23rd place out of 94 entrants and about 80 minutes behind the leader.

Here are some pics of Paolo (and Fede).

I am 100% sure that Paolo would love to hear from people.  Write a comment,  a Bravissimo!, a “go Paolo”, anything.  He is all the way on the other side of the world, but you can bet damn sure that I will make sure that he hears it.

Some pics from The Mongolian Challenge Website:

The start of the MBC. Mr. Paolo is here somewhere!

Wow, this looks pretty barren!

From Indochine:

Fede and Paolo at Tram Ton Pass

R to L: Paolo, Fede and Gwyn

Compared to MBC, Indochine probably is "child's play" for Paolo!

WHOO- HOOO, go Mr. Paolo!  You Rock!