Community > Cycle Tours
India - Manali Leh
FLV:
This really is first rate info ta. Its really good to see what the road is actually like at the right sort of time of year.
I got some of these cheap from a bike shop I used to work at, the armadillo versions. So they'll have to do the job now :)
mateusz:
We cycled around Leh two years ago for two weeks in late May early June. The weather was splendid then, the roads were just being opened, or almost rebuilt. We did Leh-Kargil, Kargil-Panikhar, Leh-Kardung La-Numbra Valley-Panamik (do stop for a local beer in Kardung Village - rough stuff!); Leh-Chang La (the toughest pass for me)-Pangong Tse;
We had a mix of bikes, one Audax 9kg semi-road bike, one Giant touring tank, two MTBs and a generic treking one. We landed in Leh, left the camping stuff in a B&B and travelled as light as possible.
On higher passes be prepared for sub-zero temperatures, don't forget spare brake shoes, as the decent from Kardung-La is on a flooded rough road for 1.5h, eating brakes like crazy. Got my feet wet, my blood hypoglycemic on the hellish ascent to Chang-La which I found much more difficult than the nominally higher Kardung - either start very early from Leh on sleep somewhere before the final ascent.
Pictures, GoogleMaps track, a 30mins movie are all at our page www.szczurek.com. But as all text is in Polish, you might have problems navigating it:
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/agnieszka.szczurek/Ladakh
A 30min film http://www.szczurek.com/ - dialogues in Polish, but gives you a feel. First part in HD on http://www.vimeo.com/5581583
Track in google maps: http://maps.google.pl/maps?f=q&hl=pl&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fwww.szczurek.com%2Fimages%2Fladakh.kmz&ie=UTF8&ll=34.353946,77.18084&spn=0.865633,2.503454&t=p&source=embed
And a special bonus, Border Road Organisation roadside wisdom:
Alcohol-related
After whisky driving risky
Run on horsepower not rumpower
Enjoy it, but not behind the wheel
Don't drive drunk
Drink and drive, your won't survive
If drunk while driving, the mountains can shrink your living
Family
If married divorce speed
Do not gossip let him drive
Love your neighbour but not while driving
Your family is waiting drive slow
If you sleep your family will weep
Darling i like you, but not so fast
Be soft on my curves
I am curvacious, drive slow
Feel the curves, don't test them
Safety on the road means safe tea at home
Patriotism
Bro in service of the nation
Himank
Ladakh pride of our country
Bro – the mountain tamers
PhilosophyWork is worship
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Without geography you are nowhere
You never lose until you admit it
A child is a father of man
The price of greatness is responsibility
He who dares wins
Alert to life, rough to death
Smile please
God helps those who take care of themselves best
If you can dream it, you can do it
Technical
Sinking area road wavy drive slow
Sorry for inconvenience
Inconvenience regretted
Pro-life
Be mr late than late mr
Alert today alive tomorrow
Time is money, but life is precious
Life is short, don’t make it shorter
Heaven, Hell or Mother Earth, the choice is yours for making
Let your insurance policy mature before you do
Speed thrills but kills
Better late than never
Drive like hell - you'll be there
General
Always alert avoid accident
Alert avoid accident
Peep, peep do not sleep
Don't be a gama in the land of lama
Sharp bends ahead blow horn
Go slow
Slow go
On my curve check your nerve
Be cautious on curves
Lower gear bend is near
Speed and safety never meet
This is a highway not a runway
Drive not fly
Danger lurks on blind curves
All will wait, better be late
The curves are stealthy, keep away to stay healthy
Mountains are a pleasure, only if you drive with leisure
Driving faster can cause disaster
Time is not rally or race, drive with grace
FLV:
Good info ta. I like the video too ;D
Looks like you had a great trip.
I'll be taking a thermal shirt and a water/windproof jacket, a down Jacket, Down Sleeping bag, Warm sleeping mat and a 3 season tent. I might throw a lightweight fleece in or a light down vest too for good measure. Warm socks and gloves too.
I think this should be ok
snow9runner:
See the page referenced below for an account of the Manali to Sarchu (about halfway) account of the ride. It was written in about 2005 and the photos have disappeared now that it has been archived, but it is a useful reference.
http://web.archive.org/web/20051227201113/http://geocities.com/_suri/trip_account.html
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