CycleCause

Thanks, raxmat, Danke we are thankful for all of your donations. We will end our donation action in a week from today. Gofundme.com/сyclecause All donations go to Doctors Without Borders! Raxmat
Stamps meaning friendship and freedom

For those german speaking folks interested in our newspaper article. Enjoy.
Für die die interessiert, gibt es eine schönes Artikel in der nwz über uns wieder bei unser Nachbelichten von den tour. Genieße es

2600 Kilometer große Strapaze für guten Zweck Ian Maurath und Lena Friedrich aus Eislingen sind 2600 Kilometer auf der Seidenstraße geradelt. Nun sind sie zurück – mit einer Spende für Ärzte ohne Grenzen.

For those interested in some of the fine details...here are some facts of our tour Part 1:
Countries visited: Tajikistan (3 wks), Uzbekistan (3wks), Kyrgyzstan (2wks)
Favorite city, why: Bukhara , for a bigger city, bukhara despite many tourist shops left nice open space to enjoy the architecture, food and culture. The guesthouse there was also great.
Best landscape: (Lena)ak baytal (Pamir Tajikistan) above 4000m elevation, moon landscape, almost no people and in the morning a snow landscape. (Ian) In the Ghund Valley heading to Khorog (Tajikistan), riding down along the Ghund river next to 5800m Mountains and smelling fresh air from the first trees seen in 3 weeks.
Days ridden/break:40/16
Days sunny/rainy:54/2
Longest/shortest day riding:108km/25km(halfday)
Fastest/slowest speed riding:62/3,5km/h
Bikes weighing in at:51kg/47kg
Bikes weighing out at:25kg/23kg(just luggage, bikes donated)
Money raised for Doctors Without Borders : To date......2325
How many times stayed in home stay/locals/tent/Yurt: 23/9/20/3
How's many km did you plan? 2802km
How many did you actually ride? 2491km
Did you cheat on your ride somewhere along the way? Yes, 40 km after leg injury. 160km Lena with a light flu and ian with stomach problems.
How much money did you estimate per day?15 dollars per person
How much did you actually spend per day? 20,5 dollars per person (gifts included 😉)
How many cars/trucks per day passed you by? In Pamir: 5 , outside Pamir: +300
How many bicycles per day passed you by? In Pamir: 5 , outside Pamir: 0,1
Did you cycle together with any other cyclists? Yes, Daniel (hongkong), Martin and Michael (berlin), mike and Sara (Ireland)
Where were the nicest people and why ? Uzbekistan. Very calm nature, not intruding, respectful and interested, peaceful.
Did you have a food addiction? Many, in phases, first vanilla/lemon waffles, then chips, then snickers.
Did you have a drink addiction?yes, sadly Coca Cola, never drank so much over the past 6-7 years as in the last 2 months
Most drank beverage: tea
Favorite breakfast: Oatmeal, with mixed nuts, cinnamon, dried berries, apricots and dates
Favorite dinner: ramen noodles
Best lunch spot: on a cold day in a house inThe middle of nowhere(Pamir), two older women warned us up with a fire and noodles under a yak crap fed stove.
Best dinner: Plov (traditional uzbeki/Tajik dish) from bunyod and his family on the last night
Best breakfast: first real oatmeal made on the karakul sea in Pamir Tajikistan
Weirdest food: Pamir tea (tea made with yaks butter, milk bread and salt.

So here is the sum up of our trip in short. You wanted to know it and here it is.....The Good , the Bad and the Ugly
The good: people in all of Central Asia are warm welcoming people who will give everything that they have and more then they would give themselves. They are kind, peaceful, welcoming, curious and non intrusive.
The bad: actually part of the good, they are so friendly that after a point in time it almost becomes tiresome or partially annoying. Ex. The beeping cars (to either warn you they are coming or also to greet you/cheer you on)
The ugly: after fighting for nearly the last four weeks of what seems to be a stomach virus. We are pretty sure that it is accountable to the food and/or water supply because many other tourists experienced the same as us.

We made it home, the gas cooker , and the sword......... without cutting my leg in half

First and last day of this trip. We are so grateful that we had the chance to do such a trip!!!

No swords and no knifes on the plane..... my luck continues, let’s hope these get through the luggage claim!

Hey all. We really hope that you enjoyed taking a look, when you had the time, at our 2 month trip! We also are thankful for all of those who have donated and shown their support for a great cause........Doctors without borders. Were going to keep the account open for a week or so, just in case anyone was still considering to donate a dollar (euro) or two. Thanks again all for the love!
Greetings Ian and Lena

Click here to support CycleCause organized by Ian Stephan What is CycleCause? Cycle(for a)Cause was created beCause: • We care about the environment • We care about others • It’s the most energy efficient form of transport • It is healthy for the body, mind and spirit! • We want you to ride and experience things slower and more in detail! • Every Dolla...

Sorry you weren't invited to our mini uzbeki wedding. We danced , we ate plov, we drank Schnaps , and we laughed pretty darn hard........ next time we'll invite you

This is how we end a trip. Giving our bicycles to the friend bunyod and his family, which we met and stayed with on our first day of riding . This is bliss! Hope they will ride and enjoy the bikes as we did!!!!

We do it nice , cause we do it twice. Packing and preparing for departure, now let's hope I can get my suitcase from the storage spot .......