Europe To Asia!! Need advice!

Originally Posted by Davai Nagore

I'm glad I found this forum!

I am planning a really big tour and I need some expert advice, quick.

I am going to cycle from Bulgaria to Thailand, through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, starting in a couple of days, or even tomorrow (30June)!

All I have is a bike, a passport, a jacket, about $1000 in my bank account (I am going to get it tomorrow as cash), and no experience of long range biking except for a few 50 km trips...

My goal is to become a Bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) in a Thai wat.


I am in GREAT need of advice!!!! Most of all concerning the border crossings. Is my passport enough, or will I have to cross them illegally?

Also, is my money enough?

I have read this list: http://tallabomba.ambiprospect.com/equipment/index.htm , but I have to minimize a lot, can I do this? Can I do with just some clothing, a tent, a map, the bike, and a pump?

Also, I am running away from my family, I don't plan to tell them.

I am 18 years old, currently in not a very good shape - I am very slim, and have not exercised for some time, but I plan to increase gradually as I go along.


Do you think what I'm planning to do is at all possible? I'm asking because I just have little experience, and to somebody it might seem like what I'm doing is crazy.


And finally, here's a picture of me:





Thank you for any bit of help,

Stefan

Originally Posted by limerickman

Davai,

Got your PM.

Not having traversed continents on a bike, my advice to you can only be in relation to your bike and yourself.

You have stated that you will have a pump, tent, a map.
Have you got a puncture repair kit? You need to have one with you.
What about tyre levers to get the tyre off your bike if you puncture?
You need these levers too.

If you plan on cycling at night - I suggest that you also bring a lamp for your bike.
What about your bike when you're away from it? Have you thought of purchasing a lock for your bike ? Perhaps two locks in case one is trampered with on your trip.


In respect of cycling long distances - if you do plan to do a lot of mileage per day - you need to ensure that you have plenty of food and liquid.
I would suggest that before you set off that you plan your route to ensure that you're in proximity at all times to locations where supplies can be purchased (especially in warmer regions).

The total distance which you intend to cover is huge (Bulgaria to Laos).
I would suggest that you think about what you're doing before setting out.

Originally Posted by Davai Nagore

Thank you very much for replying, and for pointing these things out, I will concider them seriously.

Another choice would be flying by plane, but I fear my money is not enough and this is why I chose biking.

Another possibility is by train, do you think it's a better choice? I fear about border crossings mostly. Because I don't have any time to waste for waiting to get visas for all countries.. And I am determined to achieve my lifetime goal - to become a Buddhist monk.


The thing is how can I get to Thailand with $1000?

Cycling seems to be the best option for now.


Thanks for the tips again,

Stefan

Originally Posted by limerickman

Not knowing the price of air tickets/ train tickets, I cannot advise you.
But I do think that you need to a budget that can pay for tickets and will feed you until you get to your final destination.

In respect of cycling to Laos, it is a very long distance but it's not impossible.
The cyclist/adventurer Goran Kropp cycled from Sweden to Mt Everest.
Here is a link :

http://outside.away.com/peaks/fischer/goran.html

Originally Posted by blackbird05

Stefan,

I'm assuming you're from Bulgaria. Pleased to meet you! I'm originally from Slovakia, so we're kind of from the same corner of the world.
Now to your questions. Davai, I don't know what you're running away from, so I can't judge whether it's right or not. I will give you a beginning answer for your bike touring questions, because I'm worried that you may run into trouble if you leave without this information.
First, your budget: I do not know how long your planned ride will take, I can only give my comparison. When traveling for four months bicycle camping in Europe, I spent roughly $8000. This does not include plane tickets, but does include some train tickets. You may run out of money before you reach your destination. You need to research and answer these questions: are you capable of working legally in the countries you plan to visit? If you are not capable of working legally, do you know where to look for work under the table? Are you going to be biking in places where you can stop and earn money when you run out? Poor towns don't generally have much opportunitites for employment, and big cities are expensive. Make sure you have a skill you can use to earn money if you run out.
Second, your documentation. In all honesty, I have no idea about document requirements when crossing the borders you've listed, and I won't risk giving you inaccurate advice. One word of caution however: if you are indeed running away, there is no one back home who will be capable of helping you if you get arrested in a foreign country for crossing a border illegally. They will not know where you are. Hopefully your passport is enough, but definitely do your research to be sure.
Third, your equipment. You have done a few longer day trips, and I'm assuming you've camped before. That's good. For an extended trip however, you need a basic kit of tools to repair your bike with. When you're travelling alone like this, the kit should be fairly complete. To find out what you need, basically take your bike apart: wheels off, tires and tubes off, seat off, handlebar loosened. Then put it back together. The tools you use will be part of your repair kit. You'll need extra tubes and/or a patch kit for your tires at the very least. If you know how to replace them, extra brake cables and shifter cables won't hurt.
Fourth, your map. One map won't be enough, because if it's covering the entire area that you plan to cross, it won't be detailed enough for your purposes - it will show only large autoroutes which are needlessly dangerous for a cyclist to travel on. Also, consider taking a careful look ate the topography of the places you're traveling through. Remote mountain ranges can be brutal to cross with a low initial fitness level.
Fifth, your fitness level. There is no problem in starting a bike tour with low fitness, as long as you do it right. You can train up to some good distances, however you mus pay attention to what your body is telling you. Biking too far too fast can cause serious damage to your knoeews, so be gradual in your training and take entire days off to rest. Carry very large amounts of water, refill whenever possible and drink it constantly. Eat when your hungry, and eat properly even though you're on a budget. Your body is a machine that won't work without fuel.
Lastly, your clothing: if you're not planning on spending any of your limited budget on clothing, you need to start out with enough clothing (and a sleeping bag) to keep you healthy in a very large range of temperatures, from -30C to +40C for example, depending on exactly what altitudes you plan to bike and how long it will take.

So basically, I'm not in a position to judge whether it's right or wrong that you're taking this trip, but I can judge if it's a good idea that you're leaving this quickly without proper preparation. It is not a good idea to do this without more research. Personally, I would probably suggest the train, especially given your budget.