Notes from the Leh ride (ROTSMC)
A 4000 km ride in 13 days in the most demanding terrains of Leh Ladakh sounds challenging. But that's the joy of motorcycling covering - Srinagar, Kargil, Leh Khardungla Pass 17890 ft, Turktuk, Thang, Indo-pak border 1.9 km, Changla Pass, 17200 Ft, Tso Pangong, Rezengla Pass, 1.8 km from Chinese border, Chichul, Sonmarg Pathankot and more with an RE Interceptor 650, 3 Harley Davidsons and a BMW 310 GS.
1. Starting rides daily between 6-7 AM calls for discipline and high-level commitment to the ride and your rider friends. You wake up at 4.30 AM or 5 AM daily after sleeping around 11 or 12 midnight.
2. Low oxygen levels and a decrease in air pressure at high altitudes like Khardungla, the highest motorable pass in the world, can cause Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Medication like Diamox can help. I didn't take it and could manage my rides. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
3. Fog/Aux lights: You need them in Leh/Ladakh as outside the city, lights are few, and it gets dark soon, so you need to get better visibility. Don't fix the Aux lights on the shock absorber with clamps, as they will fall off, and mine did.
4. Carry a spare pair of riding shoes, as riding on rugged terrain can damage shoes faster, or you can get your boots wet and need a dry one the next day. The cold weather won't dry shoes in a day when you are moving, and it's a new hotel every day.
5. Practice riding with the front brake and gears on the hills, as the rear brakes will get heated up on continuous use, and you can get air in the brake system like mine did, leaving the rear brakes useless. On the way, they got a local mechanic of a motorcycle touring company to make it work to carry on by pumping air out of the brake system. In Leh, the RE mechanic got it back to normal.
6. You will not get phone signals or internet in many places. It's just you and nature. Be prepared and always have company.
7. Eat light. There's fabulous fresh food at Leh Ladakh always.
8. Road diversions are familiar - You may need to go 50-odd km extra at some points.
9. Shooting stones from hills can be risky, road repair can cause delays on the mountain, and you need to be flexible.
10. Careful; you are on narrow and the highest roads with deep valleys on your left or right and no barricades. Great motorcycle control and balance will keep you on the road.
Pics
Ride ON.
Cheers BT!
