Shanghai'd

Tibet.

Tonight, after months of planning, training, and stressing (over flights to Nepal, over changes in itinerary, over what bikes to bring), we will be on our way to Xizang. If all goes according to plan (Plan C now ... or is it Plan D???) we will hopefully be riding our bikes over 1000 kms of gorgeous Himalayan vistas; Lhasa to Kathmandu, including an approach to Everest base camp.

I hope to post some updates to Twitter but who knows what China Mobile access will be like at 5000 m elevation. Plenty of photos to come soon, but for now, signing off for a while.

Finally, you may be wondering what one brings on such a trip. Wonder no longer:

Bike Equipment
Bike
Bike boxes
Bike pedals
Tires
Spare tires
Spare tubes
Multi tool
Chain lube
Tire levers
Pump
Spokes (5 x 256mm/260mm)
Spare breakpads
Spare chain links
Spare break/shifter cables
Helmet
Camelback
Bike Computer

Clothes
Jacket
Fleece top
Fleece pants
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Cycling gloves
Cycling shorts
Cycling pants
Cycling shoes
Crocs / sandals
Hiking boots
Long sleeve thermal tops
Bike jersey
T-shirt
Shorts
Lightweight travel pants
Socks
Underwear
Bandana

Miscellaneous
Backpacks
Thermarest
Sleeping bag
Sunglasses
Sun screen
Lip balm
Travel towel
Eye drops
Extra contacts
Soap, hand sanitizer
Ziplocs / zipties
First aid kit
Leatherman knife
Headlamp
Camera (SLR and point and shoot)
2 spare camera batteries
9 GB compact flash
Watch/altimeter?/GPS?
Compass
Passport photos
ID and photocopies
Airline tickets
Credit cards, ATM cards, USD
Journal and pencil
Water bottles
Clif bars
Small cable lock / padlock

Incidentally, Google docs rocks for tracking this stuff, along with training plans.