First Tracks: Siberian Mountain Bike Epic
photo courtesy Wikipedia.
It’s snowing here in Atlanta today but that’s nothing compared to what a team of adventurers will encounter when they attempt to bike around Lake Baikal in Russia later this month. Five riders hope to be the first to circumnavigate the largest freshwater lake in the world using only human power in winter. Oh, and they’ll also become the first to bike around the 1,300 mile shoreline.
This article has a ton of great detail about the expedition and even includes deets about the bikes the team will be riding: 29er single speeds! Christopher Pike, the guy who came up with the whole idea, says they’re going single speed because “the idea is to keep it simple … no gears to freeze up.” They’re also replacing all the bearing grease with stuff rated down to 60-below zero and installing carbide steel studded tires (natch).
The 1,300 mile trip will take 43 days and the team plans to load “no more than about 70 kilograms (154 pounds)” of supplies on each bike (!). They’re also still considering towing a sled or two behind the bikes if necessary. Fortunately it sounds like there are a few settlements on the lake where they should be able to resupply with food and fuel. The team also plans to bring along video equipment to film a documentary about the expedition.
Judging by the photos of Lake Baikal (in summer) it looks like an amazing place. The lake itself holds 20 percent of the world’s freshwater, is nearly a mile deep in places, and is completely surrounded by mountains.
The team has set up a website at cyclebaikal.com where you can learn more about their preparations and keep track of their progress on this map. Is there anywhere humans can’t go on mountain bikes?
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February 12th, 2010 at 11:11 am
My father was a prisoner of war there in WWII as he was a Polish Jew, while my mother lived underground and got him food. They eventually escaped and stole a ride on the Trans Siberian train back to Europe and Italy. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this. Most prisoners did not survive the Russian work camps and Stalin’s wrath.
Love to do this ride, in summer.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Very beautiful place with a very sad history. Looks like it would be a real sweet spot to ride, but as long as it is during the summer as pictured. Ha! Ha!