Nice one Alex! 10 years ago I tried to get to lhasa by road from chengdu and was sent packing back to Chonching at some place on the plateau called Litang after 3 days on busses.

will it be as cold as in antartica? wow Simmo what are u up to?
 

I have an Allroad rukka outfit, recomended by Rukka, who along Turatech( great and essential stuff for the bike whren out there) and Shoei sponsored part of my trip.

I wear a pair of Gaerne Fastback boots provided by Malcolm Rathmell sports; there are off-road boots and I wonder how are they going to perform in extreme cold. I've been on the bike a couple of times in the Almaty, Kaz winter (when the snow cleared) but it wasn't long to tell how cold my feet will get on long runs.

I need to get a new pair of gloves for propper cold weather and probably heated socks. If anyone has any recomendations, please let me know!

Also, I carry merino wool top-to-toe underwear! But my favourite gadget is my Exo 2 heated vest. You can get them with a thermostat, mine, i just pull the battery plug when I get too hot! It really is the solution for long rides in winter and cold nights!

Also I carry a North Face 23 tent, not for extreme weather, but I dont like to camp if it is very cold after long rides, and a minus20 plus sleeping bag.

other than the boots/socks and gloves, I think I'm well prepared.
Again, comments and recomentdations will be received with gratitude!

I forgot
 

..and , yes, of course, I dont want to miss the 215 via Golmud (thanks again Alex)
Crossin int China from Kaz; Urumqi, maybe Kashgar, then east again t Xian (terracota warriors, I have to see that..) then probably south.

Her's where it will be nice to have some advice and debate. I met several people from or living in the PRC and all told me that the coast is the least worthwhile place to visit. Too industrial, poluted... Everyone talks wonders aboyt Beijing but sem to think that the ride all the way there is not so ineresting. (I wish Angela will drop us a line; last time I see her was on her waty there and last time i heard from her was near Beijin).

From there, down the cost... no idea, no one has comented.

But throught the central provinces zigzaging south seems to be the real rural China doted with historic cities. Then west again towards Lasha and Nepal.

I do have a guide (not with me now) . I will buy a new one (bcause is soked in oil) and if I can a chinese phrase book. I remember Angela saying that progress was very difficult because of the language. I gave her a map with names both in roman characteres and in chines and she commented that it was essential to have one.
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