Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[Tracks1]

Originally Posted by Alexlebrit

Yet another inspiring ride, one day I'll be out there on my bike in the wide open spaces instead of navigating the West Cross Route on a wet Friday afternoon. Until then I can but read your reports.

Of course the question that springs to mind is what next? The BAM in winter maybe? Your SnowBike awaits.



Now that would be a challenge I'd drop everything for, put my name down now.

The next frontier

[Putts]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Yes, I am always struck by a sense of freedom when I get to Russia.

No parking fines, no speeding fines, nothing stolen, no-one telling us we cant ride here or there ...

But here, 2 gates in over 3 months offroad.

Sheesh! And I thought I had it good here in Montana.



You show a heck of a lot of forks in the road (I suppose it's because it's more interesting than a straight dirt road), I'm wondering how often you were you came across them on the ride in this area?

[HighRiver]

Great work lads! Keep keepin on.

[RalphyDo]

Originally Posted by Alexlebrit

Yet another inspiring ride, one day I'll be out there on my bike in the wide open spaces instead of navigating the West Cross Route on a wet Friday afternoon. Until then I can but read your reports.

Of course the question that springs to mind is what next? The BAM in winter maybe? Your SnowBike awaits.



Now that would be a challenge I'd drop everything for, put my name down now.

I have been thinking about a winter Trans-Russian bike trip. You could never carry enough warm clothes with you

[Laconic]

That must have been creepy when the track petered out in the grass. It made me feel weird sitting here at my desk.

Good storytelling.

[2WheelieADV]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Yes, I am always struck by a sense of freedom when I get to Russia. And whenever I get back to Europe I am suddenly overwhelmed by the rules ... I puck up speeding fines, parking fines and get yelled at for riding in places I am not supposed to ride, and then you get your bike stolen. In Russia I typically find the exact opposite of all the above.

Neither Terry or I picked up any fines at all on this trip this year in over 3 months. No parking fines, no speeding fines, nothing stolen, no-one telling us we cant ride here or there ...

We even only came across 2 livestock gates in the entire trip Both were in the Ukraine. In the UK you can barely ride half a mile offroad without having to get off, ride thru a livestock gate, close it behind you etc. But here, 2 gates in over 3 months offroad.

If you think Europe has restrictions, try the USA. Cops are just everywhere. European 130km/h limit is a breath... park on sidewalks or on any spot available...
VVe rode from Spain to Hungry and it felt like in biker''s paradise. No highway patrol, passing is permitted almost everywhere (especially in France), lain splinting... etc. Yeah, open lands of Russia have lot's of freedom, but everything is in comparison :)

[Blackbert]

Originally Posted by 2WheelieADV

If you think Europe has restrictions, try the USA. Cops are just everywhere. European 130km/h limit is a breath... park on sidewalks or on any spot available...
VVe rode from Spain to Hungry and it felt like in biker''s paradise. No highway patrol, passing is permitted almost everywhere (especially in France), lain splinting... etc. Yeah, open lands of Russia have lot's of freedom, but everything is in comparison :)

Hm, next time try Belgium, Holland, Scandinavia and the UK. In the same order: crowded, crowded and flat, very strict on speed limits, and everybody is on the wrong side of the road.
Not to mention restrictions on off-pavement riding here.

[Richard Eastham]

Alexlebrit and RalphyDo check out the Ice Run at http://www.theadventurists.com/the-adventures/ice-run

Walter - another excellent report - thank you. I was in roughly the same area as you at the same time (although only briefly). I rode 8000 miles alone from Winchester, UK to Vladivostok in 16 days on a motorbike I bought from Ebay for £900. I wanted to prove that you don't need expensive kit to have an adventure.

BTW I had soft panniers which were okay, apart from getting off the bike every evening and putting back on in the morning. I'll invest in a pair of yours - lockable with a removable waterproof bag is definately the way to go.

I met up with Zhenya and Dimitry in Krasnoyarsk. You will remember them from your BAM trip. I sent on their regards to Tony P when I got back.

Thanks once again for a great RR.

[potski]

Originally Posted by Richard Eastham

I rode 8000 miles alone from Winchester, UK to Vladivostok in 16 days on a motorbike I bought from Ebay for £900. I wanted to prove that you don't need expensive kit to have an adventure.
.

Fantastic..how about a RR from you; sound like quite an ADVenture in itself... Got to ask, what £900 quid bike was it that you were riding and did you have much trouble...

Keep it coming Walter...

Cheers
Potski

[Colebatch]

After a morning going over the bikes, cleaning air filters etc, Terry decided to get a haircut





The highlight of the day was during afternoon beers in the hotel's cafe ... a stunning tall slim girl walked in, wearing high heels tiny white top and a white mini skirt. She checked us out briefly and chatted to the girl behind the bar. Terry and I looked at each other, almost choking on our beers. What the hell was a girl like that doing in a quiet town on the Russian steppe?

You do see some amazing girls in the cities. But very rarely out in the middle of no-where.

It made our day.

[achesley]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

The highlight of the day was during afternoon beers in the hotel's cafe ... a stunning tall slim girl walked in, wearing high heels tiny white top and a white mini skirt. She checked us out briefly and chatted to the girl behind the bar. Terry and I looked at each other, almost choking on our beers. What the hell was a girl like that doing in a quiet town on the Russian steppe?

You do see some amazing girls in the cities. But very rarely out in the middle of no-where.

It made our day.

And ., of course , like Terri, your camera lens fogged up.

[copout]

Awesome report of an awesome ride. Thank you Sir!

[mbravo]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Montana is the future. Its 5 times better than any Zumo

What kind of holder/cradle/hookup for the Montana did you use?

[Putts]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Montana is the future. Its 5 times better than any Zumo

Montanans aprove of this message.

[davidbrundage]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

The highlight of the day was during afternoon beers in the hotel's cafe ... a stunning tall slim girl walked in, wearing high heels tiny white top and a white mini skirt. She checked us out briefly and chatted to the girl behind the bar. Terry and I looked at each other, almost choking on our beers. What the hell was a girl like that doing in a quiet town on the Russian steppe?

You do see some amazing girls in the cities. But very rarely out in the middle of no-where.

It made our day.

pics or it didn't happen!