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The Route from Trafalgar Square to Tiananmen Square, Beijing
Stage 1 - London to Istanbul, Turkey
Cycling solo from Trafalgar Square to Istanbul should take me some 6 weeks. I will be cycling on the Euro Velo Routes through Europe. The routes can take me as far as Bucharest in Romania. An alternative route is through Sebia via Belgrade. From Bulgaria, I will have to find a suitable route to take me to the Turkish border and to Istanbul .
Stage 2 - Istanbul to Turkmenistan via Tehran
This stage of my solo route will take around 2 months. My journey, cycling through some arduous terrain, will take me through Turkey into Iran towards Tehran and to the border of Iran and Turkmenistan. I am looking forward to travesing these lands, meeting people and visiting some wonderful sites.
Stage 3 - Turkmenistan to China via Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
I will need transit visas to travel though Turkmenistan, so will need to use other mode of transport to reach the border before my visa expires. I expect this stage of the journey to last some 6 weeks. The landscape would be through deserts and mountainous regions, via very old cities which Marco Polo may have visited on the Ancient Silk Route.
Stage 4 - Chinese Border to Beijing
The last stage of my solo cycle through China to Tiananmen Square, Beijing, could take up to 2 months. Between Kashkar and Xi'an I will take the train. I hope to reach Beijing in time for the Olympic Games closing ceremony on 24th August; and to return to England in time to start University.
The Trip Home - Beijing to London
Back Home to return to England in time to start University I will take a flight which my parents have booked, aiming for 3rd September 2008. I will have to ship my bike to the UK, ot bring it bagged up as excess baggage.
Baggage
I have equipped my bike with two large rear panniers such as Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus with carrying capacity of 25 litres each. In addition I have two panniers on a front rack and a handlebar pannier capable of holding a map. Additional space should be available on the rear rack itself to place additional items such as a tent. I am also taking a light camelbak hydration system.
Spare parts
Due to the long distance of the ride I will have to carry spares for certain parts. Bike tubes will be necessary instead of having to constantly repair the same tube. If the tube necessary is easy to find in shops along the route, I will buy them else rely on posted deliveries. Extra brake pads are relatively standardised so picking up more along the route should not prove to be too much of a problem. Additional items such as extra gear and brake cables, lights, tyres for other terrain will be replenished when I parents meet up with me.
Camping
Due to the long distance and my somewhat restricted budget, camping may be necessary however this must be balanced with the need to keep weight to a minimum. Thus I shall be packing a small two person tent along with its necessary tools, a top range sleeping bag and groundsheet. Although I shall be camping, I have decided not to take cooking equipment as this would add considerable weight.
Health and Insurance
Although I am taking quite a risky journey, I need to ensure that I have a plan incase anything goes wrong. This involves taking out travel insurance that will cover me for medical expenses while touring. Finding an insurance policy that will fit my criteria will be difficult so I have decided to use Fortune Insurance to get one on my behalf. I also require an ECHI form applicable while I am in the EU. I need to take inoculations prior to leaving to ensure that I have some protection as per travel advice. The Kenton Medical Centre has provided these for me. I went to a travel clinic in Harrow for Rabies and Tick-born encephalitis. I am also carrying a special medical kit for adventurers.
Money
In order to complete this journey I will need access to money across every country I enter. This will require a medium that is both safe and efficient in terms of exchange rates.
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