Marat Zalyalov, a local mountain cyclist, gave quick tips to an Italian biker Dan, who had written to me as follows:
“Your site is really useful, but I didn’t find anything about cycling… So hope you could help me… I’m used to travel by bicycle in hard conditions, and your country looks amazing… Questions: what do I must focus on? Dangers and problems? Any suggestion?.. I am planning to cycle the Kolyma Highway [the Road Bones] this summer. Thanks in advance.”
Yeah, that’s true. I didn’t write much about cycling opportunities in Yakutia. The last post was “Video & Photos: Winter cycling on the Road of Bones.” I have many local friends of mine, who are big fans of long distance cycling. I asked them very often. I was really annoying repeating “Give me your tips. Give me your tips.” Praise god, Dan’s request was a good reason to torture Marat once again, and finally he did. He dedicated some of his precious time [ :) ] for sharing with quick tips in English.
Marat wrote (btw, I didn’t help him with the English translation):
I am sorry for my long keeping silent.
I am ready to help you in your interesting trip within Yakutia
I know some people who trip this route at winter and summer. I had a trip there in winter – in March. There was about -35C at night. My friend had traveled from Yakutsk to Magadan in March – April.
Summer is good time. It is not dangerous, if you well equipped and ready for long-term autonomic cycling. You should take a good tent without tears (because of the army of mosquitoes) and a sleeping bag designed for 0 degrees Centigrade, and food provision for 5 days.
The road is not bad. Good ground coat.
There are a lot of mountain springs and small rivers without bridges. You have to wait for water level to fall, or find suitable shallows of rivers.
If you have any questions, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Marat Zalyalov.
Dan was really happy about this reply. He wrote to me, he would keep asking Marat for sure. Both of them promised [again :)] to provide me with the text they both will come out as the result of their conversation and cooperation.
Similar Posts:
- Cycling home from Siberia or How to survive on the Road of Bones in winter
- Video & Photos: Winter cycling on the Road of Bones
- The old Kolyma roadway: Kyubyume – Magadan Oblast
- UPDATED: Travelling through Yakutsk, the Road of Bones, Magadan, Chukotka & Alaska
- Travel condition reports on the Road of Bones?
