Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Pamirski

Some bridges are guarded, I assume Vitim bridge is among the guarded ones. So they wouldn't let you over the bridge, you could probably take the elektritschka, which stops at Vitim and then get off in Kuanda. Wasn't there a talk of dissmantling the second Vitim bridge, what would probably result in closing the BAM for throughgoing traffic.
btw, when I crossed the Jenissey-bridge in Kransoyarsk, I think it was much more heavily guarded, with dogs running around.

As for the bridges, I also wondered, but more on the road of bones. They are building a lot of new bridges and upgrading heavily the surface, meanwhile the relics of the bridge in Kyubeme stay as they are. It would make much more sense to get an allweather-proof crossing at Kyubeme, than building new bridges on the federal highway, while the old ones are still ok. But Tomtor and Omjakon are not lying at a federal highway.

There is no electrishkas after Taksimo. Its the Eastern end of electrification on the BAM. You would be able to put the bikes on a local diesel train with a flatbed at Taksimo and get off at Kuanda or Chara .... bearing in mind you also have to cross the Kuanda river.

There is not a lot of point building an all weather crossing at Kyubeme on the Road of Bones, because there is almost no population it serves. Basically Tomtor and Oymyakon are served OK without a bridge there. Trucks go thru the river to bring fuel, food and whatever else to the 1500 people of Tomtor and Oymayakon.

The Federal Road further north also serves mines, and bigger towns. It all comes down to economics. There is no economic justification for Tomtor and Oymyakon. There is a lot of economic justification in keeping all weather roads to Ust Nera from both the coast (Magadan) and from the regional capital (Yakutsk).

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by Scribe

Possibly a stupid question here, but why not take that shiny new(er) rail bridge off to the side? You did rail bridges in other sections and I assume there are emergency pullouts as there were on those other bridges?

Yep! It was guarded my armed military.

Amost all of the longer bridges (more than a couple of 'section units') on the BAM were heavily guarded. The nearer to International borders even shorter ones.

The only way a bike crosses those bridges is as freight on a train.


On the eastern BAM in 2009 we were stuck at a deep river for over 24 hours. The Commandant at the adjacent bridge came and met us. He was friendly, sympathetic and enthusiastic towards us. He allowed us to use a semi-abandoned building just outside of the compound to 'camp' in. In the evening he even came with his Son and presented us with a bottle of vodka.
BUT, no way would he let us ride the bridge, otherwise he would lose his rank and position in the military.


The pullout balconies occurred only on longer bridges and alternated from side to side every second or third 'section'

[Pamirski]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

There is no electrishkas after Taksimo. Its the Eastern end of electrification on the BAM. You would be able to put the bikes on a local diesel train with a flatbed at Taksimo and get off at Kuanda or Chara .... bearing in mind you also have to cross the Kuanda river.

Right, I just got accustomed to calling those short trains, that are running on the BAM elektritschka (irrespective if they are electric driven), but locals often say rabotschnik or so to it. They consist of one engine and one passenger wagon and sometimes a plattform for the tools of the worksmen (which basically use them). Allthough they do not run big distances, you can travel the whole BAM with them (I only know the stretch up to Tynda). So you have every day at least two trains at the smaller stations to get out, if you have a problem (I wouldn't count on taking motor bikes with them from a small station, where it has only 2 minutes). The larger trains might not take you at every point. I have spent once a night at a station, where two truck drivers with a broken down truck where waiting for the next train. The Moscow train stopped for some minutes, but did not let them in.

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by littlebike

This crossing really looks scary especially when filmed from helmet camera
Wonder how much chance you have to recover any unbalance mistake or loose focus only 1 sec towards end of this deadly long bridge

Respect to the finishers

Due to the fact that three very experienced guys walked the Vitim in 2009 I had a pretty open mind about what to do when I came to the bridge. I had a low threshold for walking the bridge. I have a wife and a few kids back home. No stupid heroics here

I had been riding shotgun with Terry the whole day. We had crossed some bridges and it all felt good. When we came to the start of the bridge I took a quick look at it and felt this was doable. I asked Terry to double check that my GoPro was on and saddled up. I started easy. Got the bike into second gear and stood up. It felt good. I was very focused. My eyes were locked about 20 - 30 meters ahead. I listened to my breathing. It was very calm and very deep. I actually heard it.

When I came to the bump in the middle I just had to stop in order to shoot some pictures




Things got a bit more interesting towards the end. I now had to drive between parallel planks that were about 4 cm high I felt relaxed though. I am not a very seasoned off road driver, but this felt completely normal that day




We all had a good start in Taksimo. That helps For the record, I only bought motor oil from that girl

[Gale B.T.]

For the record, I only bought motor oil from that girl

Sure glad that's cleared up and all sorted out! Carry on !!

[hardwaregrrl]

Originally Posted by EtronX

I started easy. Got the bike into second gear and stood up. It felt good. I was very focused. My eyes were locked about 20 - 30 meters ahead. I listened to my breathing. It was very calm and very deep. I actually heard it.

Really neat...I felt like I was with you after reading this line. Bravo to you sir, for riding across it and just being Zen with the moment. Thanks for remembering and explaining how you were feeling.....

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

I was kinda hoping one of the Norwegians would have some pics of the 5 of us jammed into two rooms in that old wooden shack in Taksimo ... maybe some video stills.? Guys?

Sorry for being a bit late here I only have one picture of the estate we were living in. It is from the outside.




When we came to the place it was dark and I was feeling miserable. When we stopped at the Severomuisk range we agreed that Walter and Terry should drive ahead and arrange some housing in Taksimo. I should wait for the rest of the gang. When they came we headed of.

Then, in a silly little stream I tipped over. Flooded the engine with water. Erik and Steve gave me a hand and we got the bike ashore. I was wet from my helmet to my boots. We drained the air filter housing and took out one plug. Then we put the bike on its side and cranked the engine out of the cylinder. I was now getting cold. When we got the bike to run again it was getting dark. We had 100 km's to go. I checked the oil level of the bike when it was running OK. The oil looked like milk. Nothing I could do about it before I came to Taksimo.

Trans Sibir eXpedition velt from EtronX on Vimeo.

It was a long and cold drive. I was wet to the bone. When we finally got to Taksimo I was freezing We found the guys and the place we should stay. The kind lady there fired up the Banja and soon I was a happy man again

[fooswolf]

Etronx

Is it me or is that Submarine video only 35 seconds long, but you uploaded 7 minutes of dead video?

Dan

[EtronX]

Just afew more pictures from the road to Taksimo

Here we have Terry's bike after being fixed with "Biltemastropp" The crazy part is that Terry didn't slow down afterwards




A normal BAM bridge.




Terry with our helpers in Novyy Uoyan.




We tried, but gave up and took the rail road bridge. These guys just had to try the river




Lunch

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by fooswolf

Etronx

Is it me or is that Submarine video only 35 seconds long, but you uploaded 7 minutes of dead video?

Dan

Dan, you are so right. Will be fixed.

Thanks for telling me

[joenuclear]

Are those Terry's pink slippers?

[Brunosk]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

The trails gave us a lot of confidence ... smooth and predictable. We were soon cranking up the speed again:

Walter,
it may have been asked already somewhere in the 200+ pages of this amazing ride report (THANKS to you and the whole crew for this !) but I am curious about your GPS mount : As far as I can see on this picture, you are using the standard Garmin mount, but is it the simple handlebar one (and in this case how did you manage power ?). How securely does it hold the device in place ?

[quicktoys2]

Originally Posted by stemic01

aaahhhhh .... nice smooth and flat road surface

[Yamezz]

Originally Posted by quicktoys2

aaahhhhh .... nice smooth and flat road surface

Looks like a standard South Australian road to me

[Schannulleke]

Originally Posted by Brunosk

Walter,
it may have been asked already somewhere in the 200+ pages of this amazing ride report (THANKS to you and the whole crew for this !) but I am curious about your GPS mount : As far as I can see on this picture, you are using the standard Garmin mount, but is it the simple handlebar one (and in this case how did you manage power ?). How securely does it hold the device in place ?

I can't speak for walter, but what I did:


1+2 = handle bar mount, unpowered
3 = powered AMPS mount
Seperate 1 and 2. Add 1 to 3.
1+3 = powered handle bar mount.