Personal Firsts

The longest uphill I have ever ridden - 3,200m in 131km from Kodari to the Tong La which is unfortunately a bit shorter than the rest of the group due to the unfortunate running over by a bus incident! -

The longest downhill I have ever ridden - 2,400m in 62km from the Sichi La to Phalung which was spread out over two days as it was just too exhilarating! -

The earliest start to a days cycling at 4.15a.m., yes a.m.! to sneak through the town of Markham and the notorious check-post between Tibet and China -

The longest day spent cycling starting with the one night running at Markham and finishing at 10.30p.m. with the second adrenaline filled check-post dodge at Yanjing - up for a total of 21 hours before falling asleep exhausted, quite literally in a ditch at the side of the main road! -

The Shortest distance - covered in a cycling day 8km between Kodari and Zhangmu, due to landslides, the hiring of porters, border informalities and police dictation of where we could stay -

Most persistent tailwind (nothing to do with our diet!) almost all the way along the Friendship Highway from Kathmandu to Lhasa, apart from the notable exception of Yamdrok Tso -

Strongest headwind - circumnavigating the holy lake of Yamdrok Tso beating cycling along the Quantock ridge on the day of the hurricane in 1990 which flattened half the country! -

Most punctures in a day - 4 within a three hour period (1 hour of which was lunchtime!) cycling on the pre-tarmaced stage of 'axe head' road -

Slowest average speed for a day spent cycling predominantly downhill of 7km per hour on the second day of axe head mayhem -

Closest to losing a wheel - ascending the Bamada pass as an incredibly strong gust of wind whipped round a corner whilst replacing an inner tube. It sent my wheel in motion forcing me to leap after it as it passed Nick, catching it only a metre before it plunged 300m down directly into the river below. -

Worst conditions I have ever cycled in from leaving Nylam in an absolute white out blizzard, in a gale and skidding uncontrollably about the rock strewn road.