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Himalaya by Bike Paperback – 1 Oct. 2008

4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

Arrives: March 2 - 5 Details


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Product details

  • Publisher : Trailblazer; 1st edition (1 Oct. 2008)
  • Language : English
  • Paperback : 338 pages
  • ISBN-10 : 1905864043
  • ISBN-13 : 978-1905864041
  • Dimensions : 13.5 x 2.4 x 21 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

Product description

Review

'Rammed full of in-depth information' --Adventure Travel

'Inspirational guide' --Cycle Magazine

'Indispensable' --London Cyclist Magazine

'Truly impressive' --Cycling Active, July 2013

'Indispensable' --London Cyclist Magazine

Synopsis

This is an inspirational and practical guide for the adventurous traveller who wants to take two wheels to the ultimate touring destination - the Himalaya. Cyclists and motorcyclists are just discovering the enormous potential of this mountainous region in Asia, from desert to snowline over tarmac or dirt-road, whether for a three-week holiday or a six month epic ride. Kilometre by kilometre guides detail the highest roads in the world, such as the Friendship Highway between Tibet and Nepal, Manali to Leh in India and the Karakoram Highway between Pakistan and China. Hand-drawn maps mark up fuel, food and water en route and city guides will find you a bed and bite to eat whether you're in Lhasa, Kathmandu, Srinagar or Kasghar. Author Laura Stone has spent three years researching the Himalaya on a bike; this new guide is guaranteed to illuminate, entertain and above all, inspire. Covers the mountainous regions of Pakistan, China, Tibet, India, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan Route options - levels of difficulty - road conditions - sample itineraries for 3 weeks / 6 weeks / 2 months / 3 months / 6 months Pre-trip planning - when to go - choice of bicycle / motorcycle - kit - clothing - maps - health and safety - visas - cultural information Route guides - practical information including mechanics and bike shops, how and where to buy or hire a bike in Asia Over 80 original GPS route maps and elevation profiles

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
20 global ratings
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4 star
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 December 2012
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2015
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2012
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2009
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4.0 out of 5 stars inspiring guide to the other kind of mountain biking
By C. Scott on 1 November 2009
HbB enabled a first timer like me (with no interest in domestic or European cycle touring) to try something I'd not think possible. I'd wanted to visit the Karakoram and Ladakh for years and the book offered an easy way of doing it, detailing the practicalities of riding across the motorable roads of High Asia: the why, how, where and when.
As we observed again and again, incredibly it was just about all researched by the indefatigable Laura who thinks nothing of scooting 600 metres up a side valley to check out a nice village after diligently recording details and impressions over hundreds of kilometres. Furthermore, unlike regular formulaic guidebooks, she's given the space to express herself with an enthusiastic and chatty style, fills out the route descriptions with interesting anecdotes and has a lyrical way of describing her surroundings.
The hotel and resto details have inevitably got dated in places; on both trips we carried a more recent, stripped-down LP or Rough Guide. But HbB fills out the crucial details for the places in between which don't change much and can be useful for other independent travellers, notably the Bulleteers who commonly visit Ladakh and HP (a subject which is outlined in an appendix).
If I have one reservation, it might be that she makes some long climbs sound a bit easy - in India I had to finish the very highest passes in a lorry, or we jeeped long rough sections to save time as it was late and snow was already falling. I also found some of the incremental distances on switchback stages (such as Tanglang La northside) seemed up to 20% short, possibly due to a memory-saving setting on the GPS tracklog odometre (a mistake I've made myself doing similar stuff). The Himank mileposts seemed pretty accurate. The maps are great but where present, would be even better if they fully depicted additional road details leading off the main route to both the suggested diversions mentioned in the text as well as unlogged but rideable excursions of which there seem to be plenty on the KKH and in Ladakh/Spiti. And although the gradient profiles are a vital feature in a cycling guide like this, it sure would be nice to have an impression of the surrounding relief featured on the maps too.
Marrying the idea of independent cycling touring with the world's highest roads may sound like nuts to all but a committed pedal-bashing hardcore who might scoff at a book like this. Me, I suggest that if you accept you can't ride every mile in the Himalaya due to intestinal dysfunction, lack of air or just plain laziness, lifts are always at hand so making the trip less daunting for recreational cyclists like me, while offering one of the most satisfying and inexpensive ways of exploring this amazing region at your own pace.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2009
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2008
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2009
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2008
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