Contents: Tours (8)
Reports by Richard Löwenherz
All descriptions are in English, unless otherwise noted.
Tours
| On frozen bays along the Swedish archipelago
tour started February 2013, submitted 16 April 2013 language: de
Cycling on the ice is a great thing. You drive away from man-made paths, you have countless opportunities to go in a direction, and you get really close to unspoiled landscapes. A bit of skill is required to assess the self-chosen roadway as safe. We learned from previous tours in Germany, when lakes and rivers freze for a short time and animate to small bike tours. After that we were attracted for a distant goal with different landscapes: the Swedish archipelago with its countless islands and bays - enough space for an extensive trip over several days. The ice in February was thick enough and open areas were mostly already recognizable from afar. As it turns out, the biggest problem was the snow, which had grown in few days so high that we had to continue on the streets. |
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| On horse tracks through the Tian Shan and a finale in the Pamirs
tour started September 2012, submitted 16 April 2013 language: de
Central Asia attracted with its gigantic mountains and secluded paths that I wanted to experience as much as possible. With my "Yak", which I bought six years ago at a bazaar in Mongolia, I spent six weeks in the Tian Shan in the Pamirs of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Rather unplanned I chosed a few times connecting paths that turned out to be animal and equestrian trails. But finally these sections were the most impressive of the entire trip... A continuation of the journey through the Pamirs was not possible because previous fights in Khorog resulted in the temporary closure of the Gorno-Badakhshan region. Merely a detour towards Kalaikhum I was able to try. |
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| North Russia in Winter with Temperatures down to -50 degree
tour started February 2010, submitted 27 July 2010 language: de
On my second winter travel through Northern Russia I explored the region of Komi and Nenets west of the Polar Ural. This part of Russia is like the most areas of Northern Siberia not reachable by bike in summer, because only fragments of roads exists. So I followed the winter roads along the rivers Izhma and Pechora from Uchta up to Nar'jan-Mar north of the Arctic circle and from there though the tundra partially back to the railway line. The main challenge was the extrem coldness in first days, accumulated snow on little roads and a lot of crazy meetings with the locals... |
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| Crimea and Northern Caucasus by Bike
tour started August 2009, submitted 18 January 2010 language: de
In summer 2009 I travelled with a friend along the northern coast of Black Sea from peninsula Crimea into the mountains of Greater Caucasus. On Russian side we crossed the major mountain range close to the border of Georgia and arrived finally Elbrus, the highest mountain of Europe. Muddy tracks and steep relief marked the second part of this 1600 km bike trip. You will find a collection of photographs (``Bilder''), the mapped route (``Karte'') and informations about the route, day-km, weather and travel costs (``Streckenprotokoll''). |
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| East Siberia Odyssey to the Pole of Cold Oymyakon
tour started July 2007, submitted 18 January 2010 language: de
This three months trip by train, ship, minibus and bike was a really low budget adventure through whole Russia. Many decisions how and where I travelled depends on marginal money and time but also on locals help. By bike I passed in two month the Eastern part of Siberia (district Irkutsk, Buryatia and Yakutia): at first along the Baikal-Amur-Magistral from Ust-Kut to Bodaybo, than by ships on Vitim river to Lensk and from here again by bike (and minibus) to Yakutsk and finally Oymyakon, the northern ``Pole of Cold'', where -71,2°C were recorded in 1926. On last section of this 2800 km bike trip I experienced the onset of Siberian winter... You will find a lot of photogaphs (``Bilder''), the mapped route (``Karte'') and informations about the route, day-km and travel costs (``Streckenprotokoll''). |
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| With a locally bought Bike through Mongolia and Altay
tour started August 2006, submitted 18 January 2010 language: de
In summer 2006 my university arranged a geographic field work and excursion in the central part of Mongolia (lake Ugij nuur and Changay mountains) which I extended with a six week bike trip. Because I didn't know how to transport my own bike there, I bought one in Ulaanbaatar on the local ``Black Market''. I passed Mongolia on the northernmost road connection from Ulaanbaatar to Ulaangom, crossed the Altay mountains to Siberia and finished in Bijsk, the first railway station. My 68 Euro bike survived this 2300 km trip but I had daily technical problems and more than one situation where I was dependent on locals help... The tour report is written in German, but a collection of photographs (``Bilder''), the mapped route (``Karte'') and informations about the route, day-km and travel costs (``Streckenprotokoll'') are mostly self-explanatory. |
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| Iceland Bike Tour with Transit of Central Highlands
tour started August 2003, submitted 6 December 2009 language: de
In august and september 2003 I cycled with three friends six weeks through the western and central part of Iceland. The most adventurously section of our route was the transit of central highlands two weeks without shops. On ``Geasavatnaleidh'' close to the northern border of glacier Vatnajökull we reached a height of 1200 m. The weather was predominantly fine: we had many clear nights with great northern lights! The tour report is written in german, but a collection of photogaphs (``Bilder''), the mapped route (``Karte'') and informations about the route, day-km and travel costs (``Streckenprotokoll'') are self-explanatory. |
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| Winter Trip on Iceroads in West Siberia
tour started March 2008, submitted 6 December 2009 language: de
On Russian iceroads, the so-called ``zimniks'', I cycled in march 2008 three weeks along the frozen Ob-river. The trip started in Priobe (Chanty-Mansijskij district) and ended in the mountains of Polar Ural near Salekhard above the arctic circle (Jamalo-Neneckij district). At the beginning I had no knowledge about the exactly road course, because it isn't shown on maps. I also had no special winter clothes, but no really critical situations in coldness (-37°C minimum). This bike trip was an great adventure with breathtaking impressions of Siberian winter and some meetings with the Chanty, the natives of northern Ob-region. The tour report is written in german, but a collection of photogaphs (``Bilder''), the mapped route (``Karte'') and informations about the route, day-km, weather and travel costs (``Streckenprotokoll'') are self-explanatory. |
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