Bike TripFirst, I was already planning on going to a university overseas, but then I thought, how will I get there?
So I thought, why not go by bike?
So my new adjusted plan: High school ends, June 2007, and alex sticks around for a bit in the summer, tying everything up. Then, he takes off with one or two other people in a plane to Paris. From there, he unpacks his bike, and sets off on a two-year, 17-country trip to Bangkok, Thailand, including a stint over the himalayas.
I´ve been doing tons of work to figure this all out, because I´ve simply become entranced by the idea of just hitting the road in a bike for two years.
But it´s going to be expensive, which means hardcore fundraising...much more fundraising than I pulled for AFS. Gotta buy a new bike, and these babies run about $800, plus a tent, new sleeping bag (I managed to lose mine...at a hotel of all places), the panniers, smaller cookstove than the one I have, visas, all the bike repair gear.
But man, am I excited. Despite the fact that it might not even happen, and it´s more than a year a way...damn.
Does this interest you at all? You being anyone at all...from graduating seniors, to some kid my age from Lichtenstein. I need some fellow cyclers here.
The country list:
Passing from, Paris
Germany
Austria
Hugary
Romania
Moldova
Ukraine
Kazakhastan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Pakistan
China (himalayas here)
India
Bangladesh
Myanman
Thailand
The "stan" area is a bit shaky, as they have strange visa requirements. So, I may take a detour through turkey and afghanastan.
Any interest?
Alex
Devious Comments
I'd totally do it, depending on when i get back from China.
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If I don't shed blood, who will? If I don't go to hell, who will?
i'd totally join you...the funds may be challenging but damn just thinking about everything one would see that would be so incredibly amazing
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~*made of stardust*~
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Don`t be fooled by rhetoric.
"That`s true enough, said Candide, "but we must go and work in the garden."
-Voltaire
*macrophoto=flower-club*scientartists
Funding is a big deal, yes. I don't have the cash to spring on this, so fundraising is the thing. As I'm wasting away in class (I slept through half my school day today), I've been working all this out.
What I'm projecting right now about $1600 of personal gear and expenses.
Basically, the most important things are your passport with visas, a sleeping bag, and a good road bike. Those in themselves run about a $1000 tab, ....well hell, let me just write everything here.
Okay, so I changed the route a bit after considering the fact that going through all the 'stans' will be a big hassle ($150 visas for each, and only a few days ride to get to another one, bleh). Now I'm thinking
Paris, France
Germany
Austria
Hungary
Romania
Ukraine
Russia
Azerbaijan
Iran
Pakistan
China
Indea
Myanmar
Thailand.
Visas are required for 7 countries, which is expensive.
I've been talking with cycle tourers and have a comprehensive gear list. The most expensive things are the bike and camping gear.
So, with so much to buy, how do we get cash? Normally, I would suggest bank robbery, but that's a bit trickier in the states than here. So fundraising it is. People love to give money, at least people with money do. It makes them feel good without them actually doing anything. I figure we can get rid of the big expenses by allowing specific equipment sponsoring. This way, a business doesn't just write a check, but chooses where that money goes. So if we send a report from the trail with photos, and Tom, the owner of Tom's gristmill sees that tent he paid for on the back of my bike, he'll feel more of a personal attachment to the trip.
Gear to be specifically sponsored:
Road/touring bike ($700-1500). These are bikes made for long trips. Any other type and we'll be miserable, which is not fun, by definition.
Tent ($220-500)
I haven't factored in size yet, because I don't know how many people are coming, and how many tents we want. But they have to be good if we're to hit the himalayas.
Panniers ($240-600)
these are the bags that go over the bike, and depending on the company range in prices. A lot.
Sleeping bag ($150)
The himalayas are cold. your sleeping bag needs to keep this in mind
GPS ($120)
Normally, I'd use maps the whole way, but it's a good thing to have along.
Cookstove ($80-100)
liquid fuel. Gotta eat y'know
maintenance kit ($50)
it's got all you need to keep your bike on the road.
Sponsor a visa
they can choose a visa etc.
Anyway, this is going to require some hardcore fundraising, in every way we possibly can.
Kira, I'm sure we can wait for you if you're really down with going, and we can handle your gear on this end, while communicating online from time to time.
So, if you guys are going to be seriously committed to this, then we can get started as soon as I get home. As for funds, we just raise them until we have enough. could be spring 2008, or if we pull it off, august 2007. Who knows.
--
Don`t be fooled by rhetoric.
"That`s true enough, said Candide, "but we must go and work in the garden."
-Voltaire
*macrophoto=flower-club*scientartists
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