Nei Mongolia

Already 10 days on the road and so far so good. I am now in Inner Mongolia and just arrived in Hohhot, quite a big city.
Until now, I was riding in perfect biking conditions: Excellent roads, nice temperature and, most important, no rain. Hope it stays this way!
Specially the trip between BalinYouqi and Keshiketengqi was beautiful as I took the old G303 road.



Perfect weather with the Inner Mongolian hills at the back

After the hills.....the mountains

 



 

 

 

 

Sometimes you have roads where you see no one or nothing.....or almost nothing.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 1400 Km.: It always needs to be the first time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On today's menu.....

I am already some days on the way and so far so good. The first night I slept in a hotel to recover from the party the day before. The next morning, as I wanted to eat something before leaving, the owner of the hotel prompt paid my lunch.....don't ask me why...

The second day I started late and arrived late. Looking for a cheap hotel, they sent me around the corner where you can rent a room for 40 RMB (approx. 5 Euro). No 5 star of course which I do not need. As long as there is a shower. After paying I realize there was no shower available in the room.....actually no shower at all in the whole building. So what.....
I slept terrible because 3 kids upstairs had the time of their life while watching porn movies.

The next stop was in Xishaogen in a truck hotel. Very friendly owner. As well as the police....The next morning a 4 head delegation (2 translators, 1 cameraman, 1 police) came to the hotel to interview me.
I am now in Balinyouqi again in a hotel. The main reason is to get internet connection and download a map for my GPS. It took me 2 attempts and almost 3 hours download but I got it.  It is not a necessity but now at least I can search for some alternative routes



No rain, no fog but lot's of sand.....

Today was a short ride and it went great. With speeds up to 60km./h. Of course with the help of mother nature. Downhill and with a strong wind.....so strong that there was a haze over the horizon. No rain, no fog.....but sand.



So you can image what was on today's menu: Mongolian Sand

I am on the way

Yesterday there was a small but though farewell party
Today there was a small say goodbye ceremony.
A big THANK YOU for Laifu and Shunyu to organize!

Of course, also today there was the first small but though (route cause = yesterday) ride, including a 15 km. escort by three other bikers
I arrived late in Shuangliao. Tomorrow I will take it easier!

The blog is blocked

What I did not know: like Facebook, blogs are also blocked in China.....
Good there was a very gentle man, wanted to be anonymous, but let me call him Peter VPN.
With his help I can now access and update again the blog.
Thanks Peter!

Re-assembling the bike in a restaurant: The threat of the (screw) thread

What happened if 1 engineer and 1 owner of a restaurant assembling a bicycle: nothing special!
Or at least this is what I thought.....

When assembling the left pedal, the engineer did not tightened enough with the result that the pedal came off and damaged the beginning of the thread.
Even the local bicycle shop did not had the special repair tools.

Luckily there was Remo, also an engineer.
With some oil, patience and his magic hands he put it all again together. Thanks again Remo!

Data: Q & A

 

Preparation time:

1 Month (December) 2013

2 Monts (January-February) 2014

3 days (last minute, just before the start) in China

 

 

Weights:

 

Bicycle:  18,5 kg.

Luggage: 25 kg. (without food and water), 30+ kg. with food and water


Bodyweight start: 83 kg.
Bodyweight when finished: TBW

 

Other data:

 

Total kilometer trip: 12 000 (estimated)

Average kilometer/day: Between 100 &150 km.
Planning per week: 4 days 100km., 2 days 150 km., 1 day rest

Total (planned) time: 6 months

 

 

All material unpacked

 

Everything packed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the stuff packed on the bicycle

How it all started: the months and days before....

A new chapter at my work supposed to start in 2014 but it turned out different. So, I asked and got a break for 9 months.

End December 2013, I should have go back from my China delegation to Belgium by plane. Then the idea came to do it on an alternative way: car, motorbike, train, boat (?), bicycle, …..

I heard already about the Silkroute, a famous old route from merchants going from China to Europe and as I do like biking, the choice was made.

However, I went to Europe by plane for Christmas holidays and the preparations…..

As I was biking the last 3 years with an old, second hand mountain bike bought in the USA a couple years ago, buying a new special bike was definitely on the "To Do" list. So, since January, I am the owner of a Fahradmanufaktur TX400 bike. What makes this bike different is the Rholoff 14 speed gear. No conventional gear, instead, a kind of gearbox integrated in the rear axle. I bought the bike in Brussels at “La Maison du Velo”. Very kind and helpful people there!

I was told that there is a German automotive company named Continental who is specialized in all kinds of car parts, including tires. I was wondering if they also had tires for bicycles. And guess what: they have! After sending an email, I got positive responds. So, the orange logo with the horse will soon spinning around on the Travelcontact tire in various countries….. A special thanks to the Continental Kolbach plant, in particular Mr. Salokat to make this happen!



A box with some gifts from a well known German Automotive company



 

Almost all the rest of my needs was bought in Germany (Koln) by Globetrotter. The paradise for the camper/traveler.

My Kazakh visa was a little pain: After visiting the Kazakh consulate for 4 (four!) times just to discuss what to do and how to get (“the rules are the rules” and “I cannot do anything illegal”). For them, I was the "crazy Belgium biker" but at the end, it turned out just right. Also here I want to thank the Kazakh consul for his support, especially by making finally my visa in a world record time!

In February, I made as much doctor visits in 1 month as I did in the last 10 years. But now, my body is updated again……I have all the vaccines I need.

We are 2,5 months later, all preparations are done and I am now on the plane to China. This Saturday, March 22^nd,  “The Trip” will start. I am ready to go!

I will try to update this blog as much as possible…