Given the many visitors to the Pamirs on bicycles, I have decided to include a Cycling section. Rather than attempt to make recommendations for itineraries as I do in the Trekking section, however, I felt it would be most useful for those planning a cycling tour in the Pamirs to have a listing of blogs and other websites where they can find useful tips from those who "have done it."

Most cyclists concentrate on the Pamir Highway, but - as can be seen from some of the blogs listed below - there are also other challenging and interesting routes.

This listing is by no means complete nor is it in any particular order. If your blog/website is not here, or if you know of another useful site, please contact me at the e-mail address on the Home Page. N.B. Many thanks to Edwige Derain and Carlotta, Claude Marthaler, Tracey Maund, Nicholas Saunier, Armand de Lhoneux and Colin Champion for help with this section.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON CYCLING FROM THE NORTH TO DUSHANBE

Cyclists coming from the North (Khujand or Penjikent) to Dushanbe will have to ride either over the Anzob pass (3,372m) or through the Anzob tunnel: 5km of badly lit, heavily potholed road down which large trucks boom day and (especially) night. Do not attempt the pass unless you know that it is free of snow and ice - in 2010 the pass was still closed end-May. Some cyclists may prefer to try to load their bikes on a passing truck. Others may be encouraged by the following report by Roman Kallweit (end-May 2010).

"We passed the tunnel on Saturday, cycling, and the conditions were much better than we had hoped: - just a small river to cross in front of the tunnel (we had to take off our shoes, but another couple found less water and was even able to cycle through) - a little light installed for 3/4 of the tunnel, which does a good job combined with your own headlamp - no water at all (apart from all the filled potholes, which are easy to avoid if you have some good light) - the worst thing was the incredible noise caused by 2 huge ventilators in the middle of the tunnel, but thanks to this:
- the air was not too bad (just don't go directly behind a truck)
- it was pretty cold inside - around 15 degrees Celsius, combined with wind..- worthwhile to put on a pullover and some gloves if you have them.

One cyclist couple we met last night had gone for the old pass route, but had to turn around 300 meters (in altitude) before reaching the top, because of huge snow and ice fields. They said that it was worth a try anyway, because of the route being very scenic, and Anzob being a very quite and peaceful village."

See also the report here.

Bon Voyage! - Take care.

http://cycling.martinhilbers.info/PamirHighway/index.htm

http://travellingtwo.com/resources/10questions/pamir-highwaym

I have put these two websites at the top of the list because the first provides very detailed information on daily altitude profiles from Dushanbe to Osh along the Pamir Highway and the second gives useful answers to practical questions.

http://www.masterlyinactivity.com/pamirs

http://www.masterlyinactivity.com/pamirs/intro.html

http://www.timbarnes.ndo.co.uk/tajnotes.htm

http://cycling-the-world.blogspot.com/

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/1

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/2

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/3

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/4

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/5

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/6

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/7

[These accounts by Christian Stenshorne, Bill Weir, Peter Gostelow, Peter Quaife and Jonas Honegger - some of the "crazy guys on a bike" on Neil Gunton's remarkable website - are probably the most comprehensive review of cycling opportunities (and adventures) in the Pamirs and contain good description and some great photos of their routes.

http://www3.utsidan.se/corax-e/travels/log4.htm

http://sur-la-route-des-nuages.blogspot.com/

http://www.2wheels.org.uk/return/expedition.asp

http://ashortrideincentralasia.blogspot.com/

http://www.redspokes.co.uk/

http://www.joergersvelotour.ch/

http://capalouest.travelblog.fr/

http://silkroadsbybikeenglish.blogspot.com/2008/09/tadjikistan-pamir-highway.html

http://www.tibetblume.com/

http://braddavies.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-QPDuXye4g (video of the above)

http://www.cyclingwithoutborders.org/category/tajikistan/

http://sionroulait.blogs.marieclaire.fr/tadjikistan-12_juillet-17_aout_08/

http://gillesveloalberty.over-blog.com/article-22173408.html

http://robik-troglodyte.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

http://candmwanderings.blogspot.com/

http://acharlieblog.blogspot.com/2009_08_16_archive.html

http://www.hermanveldhuizen.com/wp/?cat=29

http://bugoybikerstajikistan.blogspot.com

http://www.globenotes.com/travel-blog-entry/Tajikistan/

http://en.poehali.org/frontend_dev.php/events/po-chukuram-cherez-pamir/2009-04-04#

http://www.betzgi.ch/de/veloreisen/routeninfos/tadjikistan/
[This site gives very useful information on altitude, distance and, especially important, condition of the road surface of the Pamir Highway. N.B. in German!]

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/petcul/1/1254472816/tpod.html#ENTRY_LIST

http://mattofdoom.blogspot.com/

http://cyclinghighasia.blogspot.com/
Superb photos of the Great Pamir, Zorkul area and Wakhan by a cyclist/photographer who shows great respect for the local people and their way of life

http://www.horizonsnouveaux.com/

http://blog.getaway.co.za/activities/cycling/cycling-tajikistan-5-reasons-losing-breath/

[The following seven are in German.]

http://www.strassenkreuzer.org/

http://elias.kiwi.at/?m=201005

http://www.globoride.ch/

http://bike-pamir.blogspot.com/

http://radreise-forum.de/

http://velo-traumreise.blogspot.com/

http://www.by-the-way.ch/page15/page40/page40.html

[The following three are in Spanish and/or Catalan.]

http://www.trans-tadji.info/content/view/18/59/lang,CA/

http://www.cyclotherapy-tajikistan.blogspot.com/

http://himalaiaenbtt.blogspot.com/

http://www.rodadas.net/2013/02/27/pamir-highway/#.UX0u_sq1ZLx/

http://freeloaderjoe.wordpress.com/
A cycle trip from Osh to Khorog, with some nice video footage.

http://www.cyclingnomads.org/ben/dushanbe-murghab-5927km/

http://bike-pamir.blogspot.com/.
2010 itinerary up the Shokhdara valley (Roshtkala). See his July 2009 page for itinerary Dushanbe to Kala-i-Khumb.

http://www.strassenkreuzer.org/ - from Osh through the Pamirs to Dushanbe and Pendjikent.

http://www.straight.com/

http://globetrottinggeologist.blogspot.com

http://www.ouestef.net/2011/10/tajikistan-the-land-of-the-pamir-highway/

And finally, although this is a page for pedal cyclists, a motor cycle blog (in German), included because of his superb photos.
http://www.ekam.at/blog/?p=405

 

---

All text and photographs (c) Robert Middleton 2002

---

Web master Romanyuk Mikhail