surlybikes
Tierra Del Fuego: a Baptism of Fire and a lesson in friendship
Arriving back in Ushuaia from Antartica I return to my accomodation and within an hour I have my replacement part thanks to the continued and unwavering support of Shona and Rich at Keep Pedalling. I should be raring to go, excited to get the bike fixed and packed ready to get on the road. Oddly […]
West Sikkim Cycling
After a 36 hour train journey east from Delhi through Bihar and Jharkand, the bulk of Kanchenjunga rises high above the West Bengal plains. I spend the next 4 days riding some of the steepest hills I’ve encountered through tea plantations and small villages. Unsettled weather following Cyclone Phailin and busy traffic on the national […]
Farewell Spiti Valley, Hello Hippy Trail
Retracing my steps from Chandra Tal I join back on to the dirt road headed in the direction of Rohtang La and the junction of the Leh to Manali highway. I had been warned the road was rough, but its surface is jarring and makes for slow progress as it weaves through a dry river […]
Kaza Singletrack
After a couple of nights in Kaza I’m keen to get moving, Himalaya By Bike mentions some single track in the high pastures which I’m keen to explore after days spent on dirt roads. Asking around no one is really sure, probably because very few people ride bikes. Wandering through Old Kaza I spot that […]
Spiti Valley Cycling
The cycling in Spiti Valley drew me to this westerly corner of the the Indian Himalayas, each account I read overflowing with superlatives. The only ones I can offer are: breathtaking and magical. Each twist and turn offer an ever changing horizon, gone is the harsh light and arid almost moonscape like conditions of Upper […]
Kinnaur Valley Cycling
After pedaling uphill for two days the ceremonial sign for the Kinnaur valley welcomes you to the valley. By now the road clings to the side of the steep valley walls, and carves its way through the sheer rock faces only with just enough room for an Indian truck and no more. The driver’s mate […]
Sutlej Valley Cycling
The descent from Narkanda begins on a broken surface, care needs to be taken between dodging pot holes, cows milling in the road and hairy overtaking manouerves as cars overtake heavily laden lorries lumbering up and down from Narkanda. The road surface improves as I descend down to the valley floor. Temperatures noticably begin to […]
Shimla
Once summer time residence of the Indian government in the time the Raj, Shimla today has a feeling of days gone by. Now an Indian tourist town rather than the clerical and bureaucratic power house under imperial rule. The Ridge and Mall offer glimpses of a bygone era. The Ridge a tree lined Victorian […]
In to the foothills of the Himalayas
Ever one to procrastinate the list of jobs I knew I had to complete before going away suddenly became over whelmingly urgent. Stress levels rose and some last minute glitches meant those closest to me looked on wondering whether I would be ready in time. As Sunday morning came, I woke with a knot in […]
India Bound
Almost two months ago, Cycling the Himlayas was tinged with melancholy. My grand plan changed at the last minute, I was grounded and forced to take stock. The prospect of being jobless and homeless with no fixed timeline for the start of the trip were both bewildering and daunting in equal measure. Time that I […]
Pennine Bridleway Bikepacking
Despite the bureaucracy which has delayed my trip, during the course of the year I’ve amassed a huge amount of new kit, not to mention a Surly Ogre custom built by the lovely guys at Keep Pedalling. Neither the bike or kit has been tested nearly enough and so I came up with a number […]