Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[tee bee]

By the time we,d got on the road the rain had started again. We stopped to get fuel and i noticed my radiator was leaking again.,Walter managed to find some rad seal ,while the Norwegians went on ahead, it was looking like a long wet cold journey to Yakutsk...
We had ridden around half way when on a long potholed bend ,the bars went the opposite direction to the front wheel, i knew right away what had happened, but here ,there was nothing and no one to help, we were all wet and very cold. I was lucky enough to have heated grips and jacket liner but the wet and cold still got through.
Walter stopped to help me strap the bars as best we could. I,m sure he could tell by the look on my face that the enjoyment of riding was fading...i couldn,t turn the bike at all with the bars, the only way was to grab the front wheel,but once moving the centrifugal force kept the bike in a straight line and the steering had to be done by weighting the foot pegs.With around 200kms to go in the rain and mud it wasn,t looking good.
I remember riding past Steve and Eric, i think Steves bike was overheating, by this time it was just a case of trying to keep going and looking out for ourselves. One place i do remember, it was very muddy and slippery, i had just watched a very big truck sliding down a hill in the opposite direction (i hope he made the bend), I remember seeing Gier, slipping and sliding, his mefo tyres not getting any grip at all.

By the time i got to the cafe by the police check point,i was feeling completely shattered,the last few weeks had been quite wet and cold and now my bike was feeling the same as me. .I mentioned to Walter i wasn,t enjoying the riding,he mentioned his shock had packed up and he wasn,t enjoying the riding either.

It was time to call it a day,we,d both had a great time, met some fantastic people and had been travelling with some really great riders.
I would have loved to finish the trip in Magadan, but i really couldn,t face any more river crossings and riding in the rain.

I can,t thank Walter enough for inviting me on another one of his trips, his knowledge of this area of the world is second to none and with his language and communication skills, there was always some big surprises.

As for the route, well for anybody else who takes it on, if you have half the fun i did you,ll have a fantastic time.

The trip isn,t finished yet, theres still some surprises and fun in store from Eric Gier and Steve.

Cheers

Terry

Oh and as for the Bongo trip... Rod you,d better keep a low profile :)

[kahlgryndiger]

Well done Terry

[Ze Red Baron]

your perseverance over such a great distance is admirable, Terry. You've told a fantastic story and I've looked forward to reading about it each day.

Thanks for taking the time to put this great adventure into words and pictures.

Gero

[vintagespeed]

Originally Posted by GSlite

Breaking news out of Russia:

[davesupreme]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

Didn't realise I'd fired Skype up!......still not sure if the heels suit these stockings though

that right there is some funny shizzit!.... hehehehe....

gotta say, your perseverance, demeanor and wit marks you as one of the finest kind... if i ever get to the UK, i would be honored to buy you a beer....or nine....

[Pate]

Originally Posted by GSlite

Breaking news out of Russia:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...91E05Z20130215

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Omh7_I8vI

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9539496&type=1

In Russia about this incident speak that
it is a doomsday delivered by Russian Post.
Or that that from it remained.

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by stemic01

At the next fuel stop I noticed that my front rim had got some new dents in them. I had now been riding slower and more taken it more easy than on the BAM road and it seemed like it were weaker than before. Maybe the heat treatment in Yakutsk had made it even softer than it was. A borrowed a large hammer from a truck driver at the gas station. I banged it as hard as I could to try to straighten it. (Any footage here Geir?). Not that I care to much about the looks of the RIM or that it is a little bit bent, but it is a good idea to keep the edge of the rim to seal against the tyre to avoid sand, water and dirt to enter. That will only give punctures and troubles.

Pictures

Trying to fix the rim.




I need tools...




I use tools...

[Erik RS]

To keep it in Skandinavian terms: The Hammer (= wrath) of Thor is manifested on that rim

Looking at it it, you had all rights to mistrust that, Stemic01

[sonnyboy]

Gees but that rim looks like crap, heard they were weak but... nice write up and pics from the other guys for a change. Real pity you cant take a 2 week break and resume which you might be saying over a beer in 2 weeks time. But then youre at home already and have done that

[Colebatch]

Siberia is a common part of the world for this kind of behavior ...

From the legendary Tunguska Event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event

to the Bodaibo-Vitim Event just a few years back: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitim_event

And if you really want to get kinky with this stuff, there is this explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnfIL6WmGM

Which is located near the road to Udachny that TonyP and I rode in 2009.

[Mr Head]

Rim Fixer - The old "Beat it to fit, paint it to match" ploy.

[Andysr6]

Originally Posted by elias

"Dont worry Terry , only if a meteor hits the earth can make you stop this trip"

Rod, I not sure I believe your in IT, I think your really a spin doctor for Mr Cameron (prime minister of the UK) as I see 2 people in that bongo and you seem to have successfully made poor Terry the only river crossing pussy.

Luving the report, ur sense of humour and cannot wait for the ROB. Andy

[PaulRS]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

It is theoretically repairable en route ... if you have a needle that can add 12 bar of nitrogen into the reservoir.

That's what I was afraid of, already.
So maybe a less sophisticated shock like an emulsion type might be a better choice for this kind of trips, KISS.

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Maybe I should do a shock repair course with Prutser at some stage.

If you do, give us (HotRodErik and me) a shout, never old enough to learn some tricks.

I'm just wondering what a nitrogen charged shock will do if it has lost it's pre-charge and oil and your only option is fix the seal, fill up the oil and leave the nitrogen.
I'll be meeting Erik tonight for drinks and diner, might as well talk technics over a smoke and scotch after dinner while the wives do the washing-up.

Paul.

[Scribe]

Oh no, it's coming to a close. Now what will I do with my time? Work?

Cold and wet = miserable. Cold and wet X many days = unbearable. I don't blame you guys one bit. Thanks for the ride.

[hardwaregrrl]

Erik, Steve, and Geir.....please continue when you have time. I am really enjoying your point of view on everything from bikes and equipment, to the roads and food.

Walter.....bummed you're packing it in. Don't blame you a damn bit. it's cool to think how many people know you in the world, and how many people are following in your footsteps. Thanks for being an inspiration.

Terry, you're just a bad ass, man. Going to miss you pov, as infrequent as it was, it was always full of wisdom and funny shite. Thanks....hope when I grow up, I'll be just like you.