Across Kyrgyzstan by Bicycle

[Perks]

Fantastic!
Great processing too, I would also be interested in your method.

 

[ASA 32]

Photos great, of a great adventure!

 

[dmr]

For some reason I can't seem to change photos on your main page.

The problem may be on my end since I'm stuck with only the netbook until after the holidays. However all other photo sites seem to work ok.

 

[winzenbourg]

Thanks once more for all of the kind comments! To those who have asked, these rolls were developed in Kodak T-MAX Developer and scanned on a Fuji Frontier SP-3000.

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

Thanks once more for all of the kind comments! To those who have asked, these rolls were developed in Kodak T-MAX Developer and scanned on a Fuji Frontier SP-3000.

I know this sounds like blasphemy coming from a mod, but tell me about the bikes! 🙂

 

[winzenbourg]

I know this sounds like blasphemy coming from a mod, but tell me about the bikes! 🙂

Always happy to talk about bikes!

I was riding an Advocate Cycles Watchman, my traveling companions were riding a Seven Cycles Treeline SL, Salsa Pony Rustler, and a Borealis Crestone Pro.

You can see details about our route here: http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/tian-shan-traverse-kyrgyzstan/

And some bike photos from the same page:

 

[CMur12]

I"m not familiar with these bikes, either. Aside from the thick tires, I'm amazed at the gearing: I've never seen such a small chain ring.

- Murray

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

Always happy to talk about bikes!

I was riding an Advocate Cycles Watchman, my traveling companions were riding a Seven Cycles Treeline SL, Salsa Pony Rustler, and a Borealis Crestone Pro.

I"m not familiar with these bikes, either. Aside from the thick tires, I'm amazed at the gearing: I've never seen such a small chain ring.

- Murray

Hey thanks. Just curious, you did not decide on a common tire, did any of you ruin a tire or have to boot one? I assume you carried some extra parts, like spokes, chain parts, tubes? You guys seem to be traveling very light, water-wise. But there was enough civilization to take care of that?

As I mentioned earlier all your bikes are using Sram X1 drive trains, with the smallest possible front sprocket. How did that work out for you? I guess speed was not an issue? 🙂

Did you carry a satellite phone?

The only really scary photos are the walk around the ice meets gravel, 45 degree incline, that would have scared me, as it did in the Swiss alps.

 

[winzenbourg]

If anyone is interested in reading a bit more about my time in Kyrgyzstan, some photos and a short interview were recently posted on the Leica blog, here: http://blog.leica-camera.com/2017/03/31/600-mile-ride-across-kyrgyztan/. Thanks!

 

[Leica All Day]

I really enjoyed your images and the interview on the Leica blog. Such an awesome idea for a trip.

Thanks a lot for sharing

cheers, michael

 

[raid]

Lucas,
I just spent some time looking through all the images you have posted on your website. Superb images, all! They transported me across the globe… Thank you!!

I share such feelings, Lucas.
What a great trip to take like this.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Great! Well deserved adventure and Leica photography to be at the Leica blog. One of the best entries, IMO.

 

[Mojo]

Nice read and fantastic photos. Congrat and thanks.

 

[sdotkling]

Add me to your gobsmacked admirers. The best kind of photo essay--bringing an unseen part of the world into view for the rest of us. Hearty congrats!

 

[easyrider]

Amazing! Congratulations! Hope you're planning a book.

 

[Prest_400]

I'm a bad procastinator, this and the Myanmar thread I have seen a few times but postponed commenting.

Really liking Bunyan Velo BTW. I have postponed a 2 day outing to Girona Costa Brava and one of the options is to take the train to get into the area and bike for riding around between villages.
Seeing this inspires me for a nice day ride out, even if it's not that place.

I don't have the bags to carry more ancillaries or such, for a longer than day ride... And I've carried my Fuji 6x9 on bike rides (without getting into technical trails though). Sometimes I dare to take a couple of cameras in different formats and it's a lot of stopping to take photos.

As I mentioned earlier all your bikes are using Sram X1 drive trains, with the smallest possible front sprocket. How did that work out for you? I guess speed was not an issue? 🙂

+1 for the geekery. 😉 I'd like to try a 1x drivetrain, though from what I've read the 2x are a nice equilibrium and are not constrained to the teeth choice. Mysteriously for being midrange, my bike has a 3x. Useful here as I can go from long flat stretches on the coast to very steep hill gradients, as desired.

As many smaller me branded bikes aren't available here (regional differences) I often don't know the bikes and easily understand why many may not. I carried down from my father to compare by components instead to get an idea.

 

[winzenbourg]

Thanks, once again, for taking the time to read and comment! Looking forward to sharing more work here on RFF in the future.

 

[lynnb]

Thanks for the link to the Leica blog - and congratulations. This has been one of my favourite threads on RFF.

 

[pacco]

Thanks for sharing the pictures and the blog post, I enjoyed the interview!