Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[Blader54]

I wish my school had taught us two or three other languages right alongside english when we were first starting school. Studies seem to say that little kids learn languages much easier than do teens, say, and for sure easier than adults. But you can't really become fluent in another language here in America, I don't think. We don't have France, Germany, Italy or Spain nearby. The best we can do probably is French Canada and Chinatown in NYC or San Francisco, or the zone just north of the southern border! So even if we had years and years of language schooling, we'd only be fluent in the schoolbook version, not the way people actually speak on their home turf because we don't have the opportunity to practice speaking with native speakers. Also I suspect that here in America foreign languages are taught as an academic discipline but in Europe they might be taught more for everyday use because Europe is a place of many native languages? I was discussing this with a young woman who teaches French in high school here. She was very knowledgeable about how "street French" is actually spoken but I'll bet she doesn't get to teach it to her students. When I see her again I'll ask her.

[selkins]

Originally Posted by EtronX

Just before Kansk we stopped for gas. As we pulled to a stop we saw another bike there. It was a BMW R1150 GS with funny plates. We got our helmets of and said hello. Then we met Jacob.




Jacob was on his way to Vladivostok and then USA. He came from Israel and had just retired from what used to be called Mossad. He was a man of many words and now on his way around the world. We asked if he would ride with us to Irkutsk. That he would. The Trans Sibir eXpedition 2012 now counted four bikes for a short time.

I ran into Jacob (given name Doron) in Whitehorse in September. As y'all say, he's very much the loquacious guy. He's working his way around the world and maintaining a blog, though I've unfortunately lost the link to it He had a pretty aggressive schedule, and by my recollection he would likely be near Tierra del Fuego or beyond (I think Africa was next) by now.

Here's a pic of Doron/Jacob with another world rider, in Whitehorse.

Originally Posted by selkins

World-riders: Kornelius and Doron.

[max384]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

All.
This seems like an opportune time to step back from the thread and let the guys actually participating in Chapter 3 tell the story without the distraction of posts from my ride across Russia.

Once they get to ...wherever they get to () I'll put put up the story of the ride across and onward to the UK via Moscow and Tony P.
If anyone's interested, the bike was faultless all the way and I ran the same tyres all the way home. 9000 miles in all.

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, questions and PMs. If you have any more Qs either stick 'em up on the thread or PM me. Cheers.


Now. WTF happened next ??RC

I can't speak for everyone here, but you're an integral part of this story, so your solo ride across Russia is far from distracting. It's just as much a part of this ride report as the 'main ride.' I urge you to keep telling it (besides you seem to post your story at a faster rate than most anyone else here! Gotta have my fix!).

[O'B]

Originally Posted by kyns

The reason some countryes do NOT DUB movies... is not economics. Dubbing is soooo uncool. I would hate to watch a Hollywood movie with Finnish dubbing, no way. To hear the original actors voice, is part of the experience, that's why we use subtitles.

Lighten up Melvin! Classics like "The Legend of The One Armed Swordsmen" and "The Drunk Monkey" would not be the same without the skillfull dubbing!

[TrvlGrvl]

I agree! Rod, don't be a stranger, I think everyone would like to see and hear of your progress!

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by TrvlGrvl

I agree! Rod, don't be a stranger, I think everyone would like to see and hear of your progress!

I promise I will post it as a chapter 4-lite/epilogue once the main body of the story is complete in a few weeks.

[Colebatch]

OK ... I get back into the story now.

So there I am in Moscow .... its the day before I fly back to Irkutsk. My mission to Moscow (to get spare parts of course) was a success (thanks to my spare parts assistant Boris - pictured below).

I am packing my bags, and then a text comes in from a guy I havent heard from in a month or so.

You see, there was this Norwegian guy who had been hassling me late in 2011 for info about the BAM and about bike preparation - He wanted to go there in Summer 2012- same time I was going there. I discussed the BAM in detail and told him he cant go wrong in preparing an X-Challenge or two if he contacts Erik at Hot Rod, Ray of Rayz Seats and Bas at Hyperpro, all in Holland. The next thing I knew is that he was heading to Holland with a couple of X-Challenges, for a week or intense bike prep. He had asked me if I was going to be around when he was there, but I was in Holland the weeks either side of his bike prep week, but for that particular week I was in the UK.

The week after, when this Norwegian guy was back in Norway, I returned to Holland, where I stayed with my good friend Erik from Hot Rod for another few days of my own bike prep work (making a dashboard and assorted other pieces).



I asked him ... so how did things work out with the Norwegian guy? What did he get done to the bikes?

Erik replied, well one guy turned up with two bikes, the got the fuel tanks and fairings fitted, Bas sorted out his suspension and he stopped to visit Ray on his way back north to get the seats sorted.

I asked ... OK ... so ? nice guy?

Erik replied ... well he is one huge son of a bitch, but a really good guy ... and his name is Geir. We got drunk most nights while singing the Norwegian national anthem.

Well with that recommendation from Hot Rod Erik, my dialogue with the Geir increased. We exchanged a couple of messages in the months before the trip. Geir had asked me when I was planning to be at the start of the BAM Road ... and I replied about 25th July. He said he was going to be there about the 15th of July. It looked like Terry and I were going to be 10 days behind him on the BAM. It would be useful for me to keep in touch and get any live updates on the condition of the road ... so we kept in touch one a month with updates of plans.

Once I was in Mongolia it was impossible to keep in touch with anyone. I hadnt heard from the Geir in a month or so, and suddenly, here I was, a day before leaving Moscow to return to Irkutsk, he tells me he will also be in Irkutsk tomorrow night, and to reserve 4 beds for his gang at Nina's. So It looked like I would finally meet the big Norwegian.

I wondered if he was still planning to do the BAM ....

[Blackbert]

...Synchronicity

[just jeff]

Originally Posted by Eldezento

There is another reason for learning english, too: Hollywood
Due to economics most movies get not translated to czech, greek, and even svensk, whereas every movie is synchronized to german, spanish,... So if you live in a small country (exactly: small population) you will see every blockbuster in english. When you are just 4 years old, you cannot read your own language, but you can follow to english movies.
so there is no wondering that people from eastern Europe a often speaking english much better then Germans or Austrians, like me: Although I learned it in school, I was not forced to speak or understand it in real life, apart from holidays in other countries. but this forum is my best training now

Well judging by your post you have it nailed, I don't see any accent AT ALL!!
Regards....just jeff

[vintagespeed]

the RR just gets better & better! love all the different angles of the story, you guys are all doing a great job at telling it!

edit:

and the pic of "Boris" explains the intensity of the cross-Mongolian sprint!

[davidbrundage]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Erik replied ... well he is one huge son of a bitch

I LOLed at this

[mbravo]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

I think it's worse than that Walter. We Brits are shamefully embarrassed anywhere we go

wasn't it a pretty well-known British band that sang "hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way"? ;-)

let me tell you though, hearing a Brit is like a some kind of healIng ointment on your ears after some weeks spent in the States ;-P

[norseV4force]

I ended up getting married to a "Boris". "He" also helped me to get spare parts, "he" also arranged the break down truck when i was stranded half way up a mountain in the Pyranees. These "Boris's" don't half come in handy.

As has been said numerous times already this ride report is fantastic and I can't wait to see the full contribution from the Vikings. I know Jon Pall Sigmarsson was Icelandic but his catchphrase was awesome and very apt....VIKING POWER!

[Viking]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

There are some nationalities that as an entire nation are fluent in English as non native speakers.

The Dutch are number 1. Best non native english speakers in the world ... Prutser and Beamster were obviously totally fluent.

Followed by Swedes and Norwegians. Older Swedes and Norwegians dont speak much english, the younger ones are almost all fluent. Our boys here are middle aged Nordmenn but all very good with their English.

In Holland everyone leans FOUR languages in school ... Dutch (of course), English, German and French.

These days in Europe, everyone learns English in schools. When a Swede talks to a Norwegian, they will probably speak in English (sometimes Swedish if the Norwegian isnt ashamed to admit he speaks Svensk). When a Italian checks into a hotel in Czech Republic, he will talk in English. When a Dutchman talks to anyone anywhere outside of Holland or Flanders, he will speak English.

I know loads of mixed language couples (like a Frenchman married to Russian living in Poland) and they speak English to each other.

English is just like the common language of Europe.

We native speakers are spoiled ... thats why we are lazy.

Agree with the above except the Norwegians, Swedes and Danes pretty much speaks the same language and will understand each other. Most Finns also speaks Swedish. They all pretty much manage in English, German and French.
Great thread btw....

[Franck B]

Originally Posted by CharlestonADV

This is a terrific piece of gear. I've owned one for 5 years and it has always performed flawlessly.

I´ve always used a hand MTB low pressure/high vol. pump with threaded connector. It´s light, reliable and does the job in 2mn... I fixed my tyres quite a number of time on the way, under hot sun etc. Isn´t an electric pump the bongo-truck of adventure tyre fixing ? In any case soon more posts on pumps then on the bongo truck..