Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[lukeman]

Originally Posted by euskalherria

Yes, was very funny, but I had my adrenaline level, very high!!!

Soon......

Es muy divertido ver a tus vídeos. Es como si el diablo te persigue. Creo que el truco consiste en gritar yeehaw!

[Pamirski]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

But a word of caution ... the Western BAM is built on an embankment wide enough for two tracks ... what if they actually lay that second track? Then the free space on the embankment disappears. They are building a rail line to Yakutsk now, at great expense. It is not meant to be a quiet branch line. The Western BAM will form part of the main rail link to one of Russia's wealthiest cities. Its very possible that the Western BAM will be subject to both electrification and double track as far as Tynda in the coming years. If that happens then riders will be very much dependent on the old service road, which between Taksimo and Yuktali, no-one seems to care about too much when it comes to maintenance.

That's an interesting thought, although when I went along the BAM I feared the opposite: that the BAM would be closed down (after all the investments done, this would not be easy to justify politically). But that's just a personal impression when you see the dying villages. They mostly only exist because the railway is there. Most people I met were working for the railway. There are some mining sites, but not enough to justify the BAM. I don't know how important it is for the goods transport over long distances, though you see a lot of wood carried arround.
Interestingly people around Yakutsk were not only happy about the new line (taxi drivers of course), some said it was only built to extract the wealth of Yakutia.

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

The Western BAM (west of Tynda) is made up of a broad embankment ("dam") that has been constructed for two tracks.

Riding shotgun with Terry along the BAM. This is from the stretch not long before Novaya Chara.

Trans Sibir eXpedition riding with Terry from EtronX on Vimeo.

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

They are building a rail line to Yakutsk now, at great expense. It is not meant to be a quiet branch line. The Western BAM will form part of the main rail link to one of Russia's wealthiest cities.

At the same time occasional official talk continues of extending the Kolyma Highway ('Road of Bones' between Yakutsk to Magadan) north east to Anadyr and on through an undersea tunnel to Alaska.

Why not a rail line too?
But I doubt I will be doing much riding by the time that might ever happen !

[agentsteel53]

thanks for the other angle on the bridge gap, and the explanation!

Originally Posted by Colebatch

If that happens then riders will be very much dependent on the old service road, which between Taksimo and Yuktali, no-one seems to care about too much when it comes to maintenance.

is there even a priority to have a service road at all? as opposed to transporting service/maintenance/construction vehicles on the rail itself.

[C-Stain]

Cool. I just figured out I can hold my breath for 1:13. I swear to God I didn't breathe through that whole video. You guys is AWESOME!

[El Saguaro]

Originally Posted by K88

Link doubled up - try this.

PS: Can anyone provide a translation of what Iker is saying when he crosses these bridges? Please?

Okay, I'll take a stab. (Except for the Basque expressions-I don't know Basque.)

Before mounting:
"It is difficult. Going on top is really hard, going on the lower part with the panniers-I don’t know. On top, it is really really complicated! Let’s hope the train doesn’t come. I put my hands on the rail to see if there was no vibrations. It’s not coming."

Riding on the bridge:
"Huaa! This is really narrow my friends-there is oil and it is slippery! On the lower part it is more secure and slower, but I would have to remove the panniers and I don’t want to do that. Joder! (this is like saying God damn! Or F*ck!) This is worst than Vitim. Damn! (some yelling of Basque expression) Yeehaaaa! No train, no riding on bottom and no removing of the panniers!"

As he dismounts:
"I’m looking at it with out adrenaline now and it is not so bad. Yeehaaa! (fist in the air)."

As he rides on:
"Today I’m thinking of a lot of people in the Bam. Really, I’m thinking of a lot of people: My friends (goes on to name some friends) and my family! Many times I have adrenaline and my heart to the max! Sends his love to them and yells some Basque expression) and then Yeehaaaa!!!"


The interesting thing about Iker's narrations is his enthusiasm-- It's off the charts! And his narrations are in the moment and makes you feel that you are with him. He is always saying: "my friends, you are with me."

[Gale B.T.]

Iker, we know the true older generation of Basque can still give the "Basque war/attack '' YELL. I have heard such a spine tingling yell from two Basque ladies in Pinedale, Wyoming. I shall never forget it!!

Maybe Iker , since we have heard your conversations on the bridges , we could all get you to video your self on that 990 giving the "Basque yell" .. what say ye???

Walter, kinda glad you were not my history teacher , I may not have enjoyed 39 years of teaching/coaching. AWESOME!!! or awful ,right Christian!!

gale

[EtronX]

You just got to love the Russian practicality

[EtronX]

As we got close to Novaya Chara we met these guys. They had some small problem with their bike. When we left them they still had the problem




We got some food and checked in to Novaya Charas finest. Sometimes I don't know what is best; hotel or tent




One good thing when being on a trip like this is that you really appreciate your own bathroom. You don't have to wear your sandals in the shower and you actually dare to sit down when taking a dump. Not being afraid of catching something with a long and difficult latin name




That said mind you, I am not complaining. Just observing the facts. We got beds and a few beers. Life was good

[Frodo]

A solution to vehicles on rail bridges? We have two such bridges in New Zealand. Note the "Give way" sign!

[EtronX]

I am sorry that I am a bit behind with the videos. This clip happened a few days ago from where we are now in the story. It was our first attempt at a major river crossing and our first crossing using a rail road bridge

Trans Sibir eXpedition 2012 Crossing of the Angara River from EtronX on Vimeo.

[vintagespeed]

Originally Posted by EtronX

You just got to love the Russian practicality

carpool lane?

[muppet8mycat]

Originally Posted by cgvaughan

Highly recommend it to anyone! Outstanding trip!

I second that notion Craig it was an Outstanding Trip and I’d highly recommend it to everyone, and no reason why more ladies can’t tackle the BAM it’s a fantastic adventure if you love off-road riding

[Pate]

Originally Posted by Pamirski

.....

The major obstacle on the western BAM seems to me not the Kuanda bridge, as this one has alternatives, but the Oljokma bridge. The river is bigger than Kuanda and I think even than Witim. Therefore you have no alternative by truck (only in winter). We'll see how they get over it this year

Yes you are right, I was mistaken with the river name, I wrote about the bridge on the Olyokma River.