Preparation
Bike
Mountain bikes are good partners for you to cycle in Tibet. In recent years, more and more foreign travelers to Tibet choose to adventure cycling from Lhasa to Kathmandu with the loosening of the policy on foreign tourists to Tibet. We also have designed other cycling routes to meet cyclists' different tastes. With the development of Tibet's tourism, nowadays it is easy to buy or rent a mountain bike in Lhasa. After finishing the cycling trip in Tibet, you can sell the bike to locals at a considerable price. Of course, you can also carry your own bike to Tibet if you do not have confidence in the mountain bikes sold or rented in Lhasa. No matter how you obtain the bike, make sure it is strong and reliable enough mechanically, and you are able to maintain the bike in any case. So you need to take necessary tools and spare parts, like inner tubes, outer tubes, brake wires, transmission wires, transmission, chains, freewheels, spoke and service tools. If there are several members in your group, it is advisable to use the same kind of bikes so that you can share the parts.
Necessities
No matter you have a support car or not, a good water-proof tent, a warm sleeping bag, a first-aid kit and adequate food and water are what should be packed at least. It is very hard to buy these things when you are travelling remote areas of Tibet. You might be able to obtain tsamba, buttered tea, yak meat, Tibetan tea and other simple Tibetan food in some Tibetan villages on the way. There might be small shops selling instant noodles or fried noodles at some parking lots. However, you cannot find a shop in most villages of Tibet. If you are really lack of food, you can buy some vegetable, noodles or meat from local Tibetans who are willing to sell them.
No matter you have a support car or not, a good water-proof tent, a warm sleeping bag, a first-aid kit and adequate food and water are what should be packed at least. It is very hard to buy these things when you are travelling remote areas of Tibet. You might be able to obtain tsamba, buttered tea, yak meat, Tibetan tea and other simple Tibetan food in some Tibetan villages on the way. There might be small shops selling instant noodles or fried noodles at some parking lots. However, you cannot find a shop in most villages of Tibet. If you are really lack of food, you can buy some vegetable, noodles or meat from local Tibetans who are willing to sell them.
A map is must for you to cycling in Tibet if you do not hire a tour guide. But basically foreigners are required to tibet travel with the companion of a local tour guide. Anyhow, taking a map will be helpful. The tour guide can help you make a good communication with local Tibetans, especially when you need to ask the way, such where you can find a shop on the way, how long does it take to next village or camp site. Even if you have a map, these questions will come into your mind frequently when cycling in Tibet.
Sometimes, you have to arrive at your scheduled daily destination according to your food supply. But if you are already very tired and impossible to cover another 30km to your camp site, you need to adjust your schedule and find extra supply. At this time, asking help from local people is a must.
Weather and clothes
As we know, the temperature in Tibet varies greatly between day and night. Even in summer, the temperature might drop from 20°C at daytime to -10°C at night. In July and August, it may rain continually for several days. You even can confront with snowy day. Therefore, warm clothes and shoes are necessary for travelling in Tibet. In addition, it is best to take along a water-proof coat and a pair of water-proof shoes.
As we know, the temperature in Tibet varies greatly between day and night. Even in summer, the temperature might drop from 20°C at daytime to -10°C at night. In July and August, it may rain continually for several days. You even can confront with snowy day. Therefore, warm clothes and shoes are necessary for travelling in Tibet. In addition, it is best to take along a water-proof coat and a pair of water-proof shoes.
Besides, the wind in Tibet is usually quite strong at mountain areas of Tibet, so wind-proof clothes will make you more comfortable during cycling in Tibet.
In a word, don't forget warm clothes at least though cycling pants and short-sleeved T-shirts are enough during cycling in summer unless you are willing to become a frozen man at mid-night when sleeping. Spare sport pants, long-sleeved sport shirts, wind-proof coat and gloves are also highly recommended so that you can cope with most situations on your journey if you weather is good. But the weather in Tibet is usually unpredictable. It might be sunny and hot on one side of a mountain, but it rains heavily on the other side of the mountain. Thus, do prepare to deal with all kinds of weather.
In a word, don't forget warm clothes at least though cycling pants and short-sleeved T-shirts are enough during cycling in summer unless you are willing to become a frozen man at mid-night when sleeping. Spare sport pants, long-sleeved sport shirts, wind-proof coat and gloves are also highly recommended so that you can cope with most situations on your journey if you weather is good. But the weather in Tibet is usually unpredictable. It might be sunny and hot on one side of a mountain, but it rains heavily on the other side of the mountain. Thus, do prepare to deal with all kinds of weather.
Physical training
No matter you plan to travel in Tibet by car or bike, good physical condition is important. Of course, cycling in Tibet requires higher physical condition. Before starting your tour to Tibet, make a two or three months' plan to enhance your cardiovascular system. Climbing mountain is a good way to strengthen it. The higher altitude, the better effect. Besides, do exercises to boost your whole body capacity twice or three times a week. Good health will help you acclimate the altitude of Tibet quickly and cope with high physical consumption during biking in Tibet.
No matter you plan to travel in Tibet by car or bike, good physical condition is important. Of course, cycling in Tibet requires higher physical condition. Before starting your tour to Tibet, make a two or three months' plan to enhance your cardiovascular system. Climbing mountain is a good way to strengthen it. The higher altitude, the better effect. Besides, do exercises to boost your whole body capacity twice or three times a week. Good health will help you acclimate the altitude of Tibet quickly and cope with high physical consumption during biking in Tibet.
The standard requirements to do cycling include maintaining standard weight, keeping healthy, having enough rest and proper diet, proper multivitamin and mineral supplement and drinking enough water.
Do remember that do not start cycling before fully acclimating the altitude of Tibet. Normally, two or three days in Lhasa are enough for acclimation, but some cyclists might need one week to adjust to the suddenly-changed altitude. Just keep relaxing and avoid strenuous exercise after your arrival at Lhasa, which is helpful in quick acclimation.
You can do some short cycling in and around Lhasa city after two days' acclimation. It is interesting to cycle to visit the tourist sites in Lhasa. For instance, you can bike from lhasa tibet to Ganden Monastery 50km from Lhasa, or to Sera Monastery to watch its Buddhist Scripture Debating, or to Drepung Monastery located at the suburb of Lhasa.
没有评论:
发表评论