The Wobbling Sprocket

There have been a few tours where I felt like we were dancing rather than biking across the country (Laos especially).

Our tours have plenty of challenging biking, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t do other things.  Actually, it’s the other things that are the whole point of doing a bike tour  in another country! 

Sikkim (India) is on deck in October and it’s time to start getting into the swing of some of those other things.  You don’t actually have to be going to Sikkim to appreciate this. Here’s how:

1.  Go pour yourself a glass of wine (or something stronger)

2)  Relax

3) Turn up your speakers

4) and get IN THE MOOD.

5) If this doesn’t make you smile, there is always Backroads (yea Fede!), Trek Travel and Butterfield and Robinson.

Thanks Keith N for sending this!

The following is an excerpt from Adrian Downie’s blog.  The kid in our profile pic is located between Yuksom and Tashiding Monastary…I remember that area well since that is where I had to re-buy my lost gps back from some other kids who had found it (they thought is was a cell phone)!  When we go back, we are going to do our best to try and find this kid and get him a NEW bike!

***

On the way down I encountered a couple wearing lycra and carrying bike helmets. They were Bob & Chantal, on a daytrip from Yuksom (my next destination). It’s still pretty amazing to encounter cyclists here and once I’d persuaded them I was cycling as well (as I’d left my bike at the guesthouse) we discussed our routes – they were going the opposite way round without the benefit of my cycle guidebook, so some of the climbs were more of a surprise to them – I’m not sure if this would have been a good or bad thing – it might be nice not to wake up with the feeling of dread I’ve had on some of the tougher days.

The next day I reluctantly moved on. This was another pleasant ride – the last two have both been much shorter distances, as where possible I’m splitting journeys when there’s anywhere nice to stay enroute. These are much more enjoyable as I feel I can take my time and stop whenever I like, without worrying about what time I’ll arrive. There was, as usual plenty of climbing, but mixed in with long downhills. On the way I encountered these kids with their homemade bicycle, which made me feel quite guilty – I tried to think if I had any spare bike part I could give them, but couldn’t think of anything. I suspect the recent mountain bike race may have been through these villages as the kids are all very excited to see bicycles.

On the way I bumped into Chantal waiting by the roadside. Bob had lost his GPS somewhere on the way and had been forced to retrace his steps to try and find it. Eventually he reappeared having had to buy it back from some kids who’d found it, which cost him 300 rupees. The kids must have been very pleased with this. I then passed a waterfall which seemed to be inhabited by some slightly terrifying Lord of the Flies style children who shrieked manically at me. I decided to move on before they could climb down to the road as they were a bit frightening.

***

This is even better.  Adrian just sent me this pic which shows the spot on the road where he ran into the Sikkimese Bikesters.  I know about where this is:

You really don't want to go over the edge here. Look at all the stuff Adrian had on his bike!

Ronni has the final spot for Sikkim.  She’s been to Corsica and Slovenia previously.  She’s another strong rider.    She’s moved to Colorado since then.  There should be plenty of training opportunities there.  Perhaps she can hook up with the pro’s who train out there as part of her prep.

Ronni - Corsica

You can’t see Ronni well in this, but I always liked this photo from Porto:

Ronni on Beach Porto, Corsica - 2004

Here are a couple from Slovenia.  We made a foray into Italy that year:

Ronni at Italian Border - Outside Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

And one more:

Ronni in Slovenia - 2008 - Hey, gotta like the Far and Away hat. Hang on to that! There are no more of them.