Monday Day #8, 40 miles
Today’s ride was the most knackering ride I have ever done, by the top I was nearly crying it was so difficult but I made it! Unlike the first big climb this was not through a series of hairpins up a big mountain, rather it followed a river through a gorge, rising at 5-6%, over 14 miles a total of 1,100m. The top of Gytaso La is at 5160m and we were promised a view of Everest, however when we got there were told it was in 10ks time, typical misinformation.
Ride down was unbelievably windy and cold over 25 miles of mainly descent. We stopped fairly soon and I put all the cycling clothes I had with me on and was still a bit cold. The wind was so strong that one of the guys turned round and said it was easier riding up hill than down.
Stirling decided that it would be better if we sheltered behind one of the jeeps and cycled in their slipstream, however, after half a mile it was clear that only he, Danie
l and David had the strength and skill to do this so the rest of us fell back. I ended up cycling with Mark and Alvin, not much fun but the three of us got a little peleton together and managed to get to camp before everyone else.
Soon, the boys arrived behind the jeep. I pointed out (impishly) that officially they had not now really cycled Lhasa to Kathmandu as they had been mechanically assisted. Daniel, who has no sense of humour was distinctly unimpressed as, to a lesser extent were the other two. The good natured discussion continued over tea, with me bringing in the tour de France rules.
One thing that is really good is the quality of the road. All the guide books refer to rough roads but we have been cycling on fresh new tarmac with very little traffic, in fact could have used my Cervelo most of the way so far. The answer is that the Chinese took the Olympic flame to the top of Everest earlier this year and to do that and look good in the eyes of the world they tarmaced the entire road. We’ll find out tomorrow if they tarmaced up to Everest base camp, I suspect they did.
Ride down was unbelievably windy and cold over 25 miles of mainly descent. We stopped fairly soon and I put all the cycling clothes I had with me on and was still a bit cold. The wind was so strong that one of the guys turned round and said it was easier riding up hill than down.
Stirling decided that it would be better if we sheltered behind one of the jeeps and cycled in their slipstream, however, after half a mile it was clear that only he, Danie
l and David had the strength and skill to do this so the rest of us fell back. I ended up cycling with Mark and Alvin, not much fun but the three of us got a little peleton together and managed to get to camp before everyone else.Soon, the boys arrived behind the jeep. I pointed out (impishly) that officially they had not now really cycled Lhasa to Kathmandu as they had been mechanically assisted. Daniel, who has no sense of humour was distinctly unimpressed as, to a lesser extent were the other two. The good natured discussion continued over tea, with me bringing in the tour de France rules.
One thing that is really good is the quality of the road. All the guide books refer to rough roads but we have been cycling on fresh new tarmac with very little traffic, in fact could have used my Cervelo most of the way so far. The answer is that the Chinese took the Olympic flame to the top of Everest earlier this year and to do that and look good in the eyes of the world they tarmaced the entire road. We’ll find out tomorrow if they tarmaced up to Everest base camp, I suspect they did.
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