Gone are the days that audax rides in serious distances were only held in classic cycling area's, where the roads were full of amenities and you were assured of acceptable weather. Nowadays there are audax rides in nearly every corner of the world, audax rides which offer very different challenges. This year I opted for two 1200k rides, one in northern Russia, the other in Uzbekistan. The 1200k in Russia proved rather uneventful, I managed to finish very close to the timelimit, riding through an area I had been several times and with a well honed organisation which pampers the riders. I knew that Uzbekistan would be another challenge.
Last year the Uzbek randonneurs rode this event when most of them didn't get a French visa for PBP. None finished.
The route follows ancient caravan roads once part of the great Silk Route. The I knew that the area sometimes would be very inhospitable, mainly through steppe and desert. And when the organisers advise you to use at least 28 or 32mm tyres you know that the road quality will be interesting. My original plans were to ride the TransRussia, a 3000k raid from north to south in Russia. But due to problems at the Dutch passport offices I had to change my plans and opt for two 1200k events. For all three events I'd choose the same bike from my stable, a 1987 Koga Miyata Grantourer equipped with 28 mm tyres at front and 32mm at the rear, a classic swooping front fork and a silky ride. I swapped the ergopowers for bar end levers. On the long and straight roads of Karelia and Uzbekistan I wouldn't need quick shifting, durability is more important here.
I arrived in Uzbekistan with more than one week before the start, as first of the foreign riders. Organisers Rafhat and Daniil gave me a wonderful welcome, making me to feel immediately at ease. I decided to do some sightseeing in the main cities which we would pass, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, the week before the ride. During an audax ride you usually don't have time for that. And it was a good way for my body to get use to the climate and local bugs. I was relieved that most people I met spoke excellent Russian, far better as I do. English was a lot less spoken. So I'd have to rely on my basic knowledge of Russian for the ride. And on the experience of over 25 visits to various states of the former Soviet-Union.
The day before the start I arrived at the start location in the late morning. Most riders were allready present for the briefing. A good selection of local riders, Russians and Ukrainians coming from near abroad and 7 westerners, most of them without any local experience. The briefing and distribution of routesheet and ridenumers went fast and informal. After that there was enough time to discuss the ride. The bikes of Robert and Paul raised a few eyebrows. They planned to start on fixed bikes with agressive geometry and rather skinny tyres. Most Russians opted for standard racing bikes while the Uzbeks mainly fielded mountainbikes. The german squad mostly relied on cyclocross bikes, a far more sensible approach.
The Uzbeks moved to another place after the briefing, just like most of the westerners who retreated to a B&B in the center of Samarkand. I stayed with the Russians and sole Ukrainian at the starting grounds. The whole afternoon I spent buying supplies for the ride. I knew that I would hardly find anything usable on the road.
In the morning we had a good breakfast at the starting grounds while the Uzbek riders arrived. We all lined up before the start but had to wait 20 minutes before those staying in the city centre arrived. Finally Shamil can hold his startspeech and we're off into the unknown.
Report on the Karelian 1200: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... highlight=
Bike presentation: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... highlight=
Last year the Uzbek randonneurs rode this event when most of them didn't get a French visa for PBP. None finished.
The route follows ancient caravan roads once part of the great Silk Route. The I knew that the area sometimes would be very inhospitable, mainly through steppe and desert. And when the organisers advise you to use at least 28 or 32mm tyres you know that the road quality will be interesting. My original plans were to ride the TransRussia, a 3000k raid from north to south in Russia. But due to problems at the Dutch passport offices I had to change my plans and opt for two 1200k events. For all three events I'd choose the same bike from my stable, a 1987 Koga Miyata Grantourer equipped with 28 mm tyres at front and 32mm at the rear, a classic swooping front fork and a silky ride. I swapped the ergopowers for bar end levers. On the long and straight roads of Karelia and Uzbekistan I wouldn't need quick shifting, durability is more important here.
I arrived in Uzbekistan with more than one week before the start, as first of the foreign riders. Organisers Rafhat and Daniil gave me a wonderful welcome, making me to feel immediately at ease. I decided to do some sightseeing in the main cities which we would pass, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, the week before the ride. During an audax ride you usually don't have time for that. And it was a good way for my body to get use to the climate and local bugs. I was relieved that most people I met spoke excellent Russian, far better as I do. English was a lot less spoken. So I'd have to rely on my basic knowledge of Russian for the ride. And on the experience of over 25 visits to various states of the former Soviet-Union.
The day before the start I arrived at the start location in the late morning. Most riders were allready present for the briefing. A good selection of local riders, Russians and Ukrainians coming from near abroad and 7 westerners, most of them without any local experience. The briefing and distribution of routesheet and ridenumers went fast and informal. After that there was enough time to discuss the ride. The bikes of Robert and Paul raised a few eyebrows. They planned to start on fixed bikes with agressive geometry and rather skinny tyres. Most Russians opted for standard racing bikes while the Uzbeks mainly fielded mountainbikes. The german squad mostly relied on cyclocross bikes, a far more sensible approach.
The Uzbeks moved to another place after the briefing, just like most of the westerners who retreated to a B&B in the center of Samarkand. I stayed with the Russians and sole Ukrainian at the starting grounds. The whole afternoon I spent buying supplies for the ride. I knew that I would hardly find anything usable on the road.
In the morning we had a good breakfast at the starting grounds while the Uzbek riders arrived. We all lined up before the start but had to wait 20 minutes before those staying in the city centre arrived. Finally Shamil can hold his startspeech and we're off into the unknown.
Report on the Karelian 1200: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... highlight=
Bike presentation: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... highlight=