Final Results for the 2008 Silk Route bike race are:
Albert Bui - 401 hours and 48 minutes
Fred Promoli - 468:58
Stewart Sinclair - 531:47
After 3 and a half months of navigating our way through the Middle East, Central Asia and China the cyclists rode the pleasant side lanes and bike paths to Tienanmen Square. Hugs were shared and pictures snapped. Chinese onlookers stared perplexed, wondering what direction we had all arrived from. A cool autumn day surrounded us, albeit with a decent amount of grayish haze. Mostly people seemed to struggle putting their bikes down, having grown attached at the hip to them, if you will.
Many stories are sure to be told; highlights of the trip will be recounted with broad smiles, and the challenges of the trip will be recounted with even broader smiles.
While we congratulate all the participants, we make special mention of seven cyclists who rode both the Orient Express and the Silk Route - from Paris to Beijing -
Albert Bui, Daniel Longo, Fred Promoli, Nicole Richardson, Graeme Scrivener, Stewart Sinclair & Manon Van Kleef.
Way to go guys!!
Till the next Silk Route Tour…
After 3 and a half months of navigating our way through the Middle East, Central Asia and China the cyclists rode the pleasant side lanes and bike paths to Tienanmen Square. Hugs were shared and pictures snapped. Chinese onlookers stared perplexed, wondering what direction we had all arrived from. A cool autumn day surrounded us, albeit with a decent amount of grayish haze. Mostly people seemed to struggle putting their bikes down, having grown attached at the hip to them, if you will.
Many stories are sure to be told; highlights of the trip will be recounted with broad smiles, and the challenges of the trip will be recounted with even broader smiles.
While we congratulate all the participants, we make special mention of seven cyclists who rode both the Orient Express and the Silk Route - from Paris to Beijing -
Albert Bui, Daniel Longo, Fred Promoli, Nicole Richardson, Graeme Scrivener, Stewart Sinclair & Manon Van Kleef.
Way to go guys!!
Till the next Silk Route Tour...
Final Results for the 2008 Silk Route bike race are:
Albert Bui - 401 hours and 48 minutes
Fred Promoli - 468:58
Stewart Sinclair - 531:47
For almost one third of the year, we have been eating, sleeping, camping and biking together - all working together towards a common goal - to bike over 10,000km through 8 countries (we flew over one of them!!) from Istanbul,Turkey to Beijing, China!!
We arrived safely here into Beijing yesterday at approx 12:30pm. The first stop before celebrating at the hotel finish line was at Tienanmen Square where we took some quick group photos. A huge picture of Mr. Mao stood in the background in front of the entrance to the Forbidden City! Our last day had us riding just over 95km, the last 30km of which Ben and Shanny led the group to the finish line in a group convoy.
We were welcomed at the hotel by Miles who made it to the finish line a few days earlier in order to organize a nice celebratory banquet and a special dinner. When it comes to food, whether cooking or ordering for the group, Miles never lets you down! He had prepared a great spread of really nice champagnes and wines (which are almost impossible to find in China), cold beer, tasty cheeses, nice chocolate and many other good foods and drink to indulge in after so long without many of these luxury items.
After we stuffed our faces, patted each other on the back and took some final photos, we had a little slide show. Then it was off to shower and relax a bit before heading out for a Peking duck dinner and a Chinese opera, Beijing style.
Hard to believe that it is all over; 3½ months dedicated towards this common goal and I think we can all say that it was time well spent. Today had everyone packing their bikes up into boxes, getting rid of unwanted gear and sorting out final details of flights and hotels - just getting overall reorganized. We said our final goodbyes today as we are all heading out in different directions!!
Congratulations to everyone on a safe and successful expedition, and the best of luck to you all in the years to come. We overcame many hurdles and obstacles along the way and still reached our common goal. Remember, we create our own opportunities in life and there will always be many obstacles - only we choose which ones will become barriers!!!
Ben Shillington “Silk Route Tour Leader 2008”
For almost one third of the year, we have been eating, sleeping, camping and biking together - all working together towards a common goal - to bike over 10,000km through 8 countries (we flew over one of them!!) from Istanbul,Turkey to Beijing, China!!
We arrived safely here into Beijing yesterday at approx 12:30pm. The first stop before celebrating at the hotel finish line was at Tienanmen Square where we took some quick group photos. A huge picture of Mr. Mao stood in the background in front of the entrance to the Forbidden City! Our last day had us riding just over 95km, the last 30km of which Ben and Shanny led the group to the finish line in a group convoy.
We were welcomed at the hotel by Miles who made it to the finish line a few days earlier in order to organize a nice celebratory banquet and a special dinner. When it comes to food, whether cooking or ordering for the group, Miles never lets you down! He had prepared a great spread of really nice champagnes and wines (which are almost impossible to find in China), cold beer, tasty cheeses, nice chocolate and many other good foods and drink to indulge in after so long without many of these luxury items.
After we stuffed our faces, patted each other on the back and took some final photos, we had a little slide show. Then it was off to shower and relax a bit before heading out for a Peking duck dinner and a Chinese opera, Beijing style.
Hard to believe that it is all over; 3 ½ months dedicated towards this common goal and I think we can all say that it was time well spent. Today had everyone packing their bikes up into boxes, getting rid of unwanted gear and sorting out final details of flights and hotels - just getting overall reorganized. We said our final goodbyes today as we are all heading out in different directions!!
Congratulations to everyone on a safe and successful expedition, and the best of luck to you all in the years to come. We overcame many hurdles and obstacles along the way and still reached our common goal. Remember, we create our own opportunities in life and there will always be many obstacles - only we choose which ones will become barriers!!!
Ben Shillington “Silk Route Tour Leader 2008â€
A rest day in Anyang gave us a last chance to get into Shillington’s Bike Shop between 9am and 11am for one final tune up. Complete drive train change overs have been a very popular request as everyone is hoping to shed some weight before flying home, and let’s face it, you really can’t get the same quality bike mechanic work like this at home!!! Right guys?
The crew also relaxed and rested up for the last time as we are now only a mere 302km from Beijing. Although most of us have only one thing on our minds - “GET TO BEIJING” - it’s not over till its over and our main focus is on making it to the finish line, healthy and uninjured. The mental stress will be well above the physical. The roads are flat and the days now are fairly short, but the amazing amount of people and crazy non stop traffic keep you focused and thinking every second of the day, and that is energy draining in itself!!
We are all thinking about friends and family back home and looking forward to a long awaited reunion.
Three days and counting untill Beijing!!
A rest day in Anyang gave us a last chance to get into Shillington's Bike Shop between 9am and 11am for one final tune up. Complete drive train change overs have been a very popular request as everyone is hoping to shed some weight before flying home, and let's face it, you really can't get the same quality bike mechanic work like this at home!!! Right guys?
The crew also relaxed and rested up for the last time as we are now only a mere 302km from Beijing. Although most of us have only one thing on our minds - "GET TO BEIJING" - it's not over till its over and our main focus is on making it to the finish line, healthy and uninjured. The mental stress will be well above the physical. The roads are flat and the days now are fairly short, but the amazing amount of people and crazy non stop traffic keep you focused and thinking every second of the day, and that is energy draining in itself!!
We are all thinking about friends and family back home and looking forward to a long awaited reunion.
Three days and counting untill Beijing!!
I do not know what the weather is like back home in Beachburg, Canada, but the weather here in Northern China has been very sunny and unusually warm, especially for this time of year. After the heat of the many deserts we have traveled through in the months past, I can honestly say that I can’t wait for the icy, snowy, cold Canadian winter.
The topography has leveled out considerably over the last three days but the traffic and smog has picked up. The other day the riders arrived into Luoyang with pitch black faces from all of the coal dust. Along with the smog and dust comes the noise pollution from the billions of cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles that fill all the empty spaces of the roads, bike paths, paved and dirt shoulders and everywhere else in between. Here in China there seems to be only one traffic law and one law only. It is not to obey the speed limit or traffic signs, it is not to watch where you are going or to pay any attention to anyone or anything around you or to ever stay between the lines. The only rule is, when in doubt HONK YOUR HORN and honk it long, loud and repeatedly!! If we can’t have the challenges of the terrain, we might as well have the challenges of the vehicles!!!
A few nights back, the staff organized an after dinner bowling tournament to mix up the evening and to get everyone’s competitive juices flowing. The grand prize… bragging rights and a round of beers compliments of TDA and for the losers… a round of beers compliments of TDA.The teams were as follows “The Dutch Connection” the “East meets West” the “Double Doubles” (as in Tim Horton’s double double coffee) the “Chinese Uighur All Stars” and the “Russian Attack” First Place was taken by the Dutch Connection, second place by pure luck the East meets West (no thanks to gutter ball Drouin) and in third the Double Doubles!! We also found out that night that Knut is the next Norwegian Olympic ping pong hopeful.
Time is flying by to fast now. Tomorrow we will be in Anyang for our last rest day and then five more days on the road to the finish line.
Every day spent on a bike is a perfect day. Lets enjoy the last final miles!!
I do not know what the weather is like back home in Beachburg, Canada, but the weather here in Northern China has been very sunny and unusually warm, especially for this time of year. After the heat of the many deserts we have traveled through in the months past, I can honestly say that I can't wait for the icy, snowy, cold Canadian winter.
The topography has leveled out considerably over the last three days but the traffic and smog has picked up. The other day the riders arrived into Luoyang with pitch black faces from all of the coal dust. Along with the smog and dust comes the noise pollution from the billions of cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles that fill all the empty spaces of the roads, bike paths, paved and dirt shoulders and everywhere else in between. Here in China there seems to be only one traffic law and one law only. It is not to obey the speed limit or traffic signs, it is not to watch where you are going or to pay any attention to anyone or anything around you or to ever stay between the lines. The only rule is, when in doubt HONK YOUR HORN and honk it long, loud and repeatedly!! If we can't have the challenges of the terrain, we might as well have the challenges of the vehicles!!!
A few nights back, the staff organized an after dinner bowling tournament to mix up the evening and to get everyone's competitive juices flowing. The grand prize... bragging rights and a round of beers compliments of TDA and for the losers... a round of beers compliments of TDA.The teams were as follows "The Dutch Connection" the "East meets West" the "Double Doubles" (as in Tim Horton's double double coffee) the "Chinese Uighur All Stars" and the "Russian Attack" First Place was taken by the Dutch Connection, second place by pure luck the East meets West (no thanks to gutter ball Drouin) and in third the Double Doubles!! We also found out that night that Knut is the next Norwegian Olympic ping pong hopeful.
Time is flying by to fast now. Tomorrow we will be in Anyang for our last rest day and then five more days on the road to the finish line.
Every day spent on a bike is a perfect day. Lets enjoy the last final miles!!
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