Back in my sophomore summer break during college, while volunteering as a teacher in Yunnan, I saw cyclists heading to Tibet. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to go teach in Tibet. I love public welfare activities and enjoy getting involved in all sorts of adventures. After returning, I searched for schools in Tibet and contacted many, but none were suitable. A big reason was that I was a stranger going alone, and they were hesitant to accept me. So I thought, why not cycle to Tibet? At the end of March this year, I decisively bought a bicycle. Since I didn’t know much about bikes and didn’t want the hassle, everyone suggested getting one around 1,000 RMB. But I figured the roads would be rough, so I should get better gear—so I bought one for over 3,000 RMB, a Giant XTC750. Later, in April during practice rides, every cyclist I met said my bike couldn’t make it to Tibet. Frustrating—this was a big chunk of my savings. I went to Tibet in the summer, and now that I’m back cycling, I feel my bike actually did fine. The brakes were great, totally unlike what others said about constant repairs and such. If you have the funds, I’d suggest getting a slightly better bike, but not too fancy—nothing over 10,000 RMB. That was my thought at the time; too nice and it’s easy to get stolen. Remember that~

Equipment Notes:

1. Choosing a Rack:

      You can buy a better bike, but be sure to ask if it can support a steel rack. Absolutely do not use a folding rack—it’ll break from the bumps on the road, and you’ll be miserable. I saw people who had that problem. Some good bikes over 5,000 RMB are racing bikes without built-in rack mounts, so they use quick-release folding racks. These are made of aluminum screwed together, and if they break on the road, they’re almost impossible to fix or weld. Also, the rack must be able to carry a passenger. I met someone with a rack that looked like a single tube—it didn’t work. He had just gotten off the train, ridden a short distance, and his pannier was already scratched and damaged.

2. Choosing a Kickstand and Fenders:

      Your bike should have fenders and a kickstand. Many people who haven’t been to Tibet, including bike shop sellers, say they’re unnecessary—but for long-distance travel, they really are. They’re convenient, and without fenders, your clothes and shoes will get dirty. Almost everyone I met on the road had them. If you’re saving money, you can skip them, but I met a Hong Kong guy who used layered cardboard wedged in the rack. It could even hold an inner tube. Those two items are essential.

3. Choosing a Water Bottle Cage:

      When buying the bike, also ask how many water bottle cages it can hold. Ideally, it should come with two. Because later on the road, you might only want water and not even food—water is crucial. Mine only had one cage because I was clueless at the time. I ended up carrying water in my pannier, which wasn’t convenient to access. I brought a large insulated bottle in the pannier and filled it with hot water and tea before each departure. It’s best to bring extra black tea on the road because it’s antioxidant and helps prevent altitude sickness.

4. Choosing a Pannier:

      I bought a canvas pannier with two sides for 300 RMB, but it wasn’t great. Canvas panniers, like the ones from Gaowei, leak when it rains heavily—and mine did. Once it’s ruined, you can’t use it again. If you can afford it, go for a Kaile pannier—they’re made of waterproof fabric, easy to clean. I recommend just getting the rear pannier. Their front panniers are too expensive and not durable. A friend bought one, and it kept falling off—the design was bad. But the rear panniers are great, though a bit pricey. You can search on Taobao; a set of three rear panniers costs around 700 RMB. But they’re reusable and convenient. My 300 RMB canvas one was useless after the trip.

5. Choosing an Outer Tire:

     Some people ride the whole way without a flat tire—that’s just luck. I met a kid who got a flat on the rear tire during a downhill turn and almost fell. Scared me to death. When I started, I switched to Michelin tires known for not getting flats, and I didn’t have any issues the whole way. Remember: at every place where there’s bike repair, check your tire pressure. If it’s low, inflate it. Even the best tires can get punctured if underinflated. I carried two spare inner tubes the whole way to prevent flats. Thank God I didn’t get any.

6. Choosing Clothes:

     The best purchase I made was a raincoat—it blocks wind, rain, and cold. The one I got from Decathlon in their mountaineering series had separate pants and jacket, and you could even stuff both tops into one pocket. I don’t know the technical term for it. I also brought a Decathlon windbreaker, a fleece, two cycling kits, three T-shirts, thermal underwear, one pair of quick-dry pants, a full raincoat set. In the snowy mountains, when it’s super cold, I just wore the raincoat—it kept me warm.

7. Choosing Cycling Clothes:

     At first, I thought I needed high-end cycling shorts, but on the road, I realized cycling shorts weren’t necessary at all. I wore long cycling clothes the whole time. The short ones ended up being useless and added weight. I mailed them back from Feilai Temple. Two sets of long cycling clothes are enough.

8. Choosing Gloves:

   I bought two pairs of gloves—one fingerless and one full-fingered. On the road, I found the fingerless pair was enough because it was hot, and they dried quickly. Same goes for cycling clothes. I brought two pairs because your butt can get sore. The full-fingered ones are for descending snowy mountains or navigating the 72 Hairpin Turns—it gets freezing, and your hands shake on the downhill. I also recommend bringing a pair of silicone dishwashing gloves. Wear them over the full-fingered gloves when descending, especially in the rain. They’re great for warmth too.

9. Choosing Headphones, Cameras, and Electronics:

      At first, I brought over-ear headphones, but they were useless on the road, so I mailed them back. Just bring a small headphone and a power bank. I didn’t bring a camera because I was afraid it’d get stolen—do whatever suits you. Some people brought DSLRs, and the scenery was stunning, but there was too much to capture. Reminder: don’t wear headphones while riding—it’s dangerous. You can play music out loud from your phone. Small headphones are good for music at night when resting. Most places now have Wi-Fi, and hostels are well-developed. The cheapest beds are around 20 RMB. The best I stayed in was a 60 RMB standard room in Shaqiao—like a three-star city hotel, newly renovated and comfortable.

10. Choosing a Route Guide:

        Find one online, or you can ask me for one—just leave your email. You must follow the route guide, or things will go badly. As mentioned earlier, get to the places listed on time. Otherwise, you’ll run into lots of problems. There are tons of mountains, no people around, and it can get really dangerous. While checking the guide, also ask hostel owners how far the next village is—that’s for safety. If you’re close to a checkpoint on the guide, push to reach it. Otherwise, you’re just making the next day harder. Later parts are mostly gentle climbs. The section from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Chongjiang Nuclear Power Station is all uphill. The road is weird—when you look ahead it seems downhill, but when you turn your head, it’s all uphill. Sometimes I even thought my bike was broken. It’s just constant uphill.

11. Hitchhiking Issues:

      If you really can’t pedal anymore, consider hitchhiking to the next point on the route guide. But hitchhiking is tough—especially with your bike. I was scammed twice. I met a pickup truck driver who seemed nice, but when we got out, he demanded 300 RMB. I was stunned. The night before, I even treated him to dinner. I shouldn’t have. My money was taken by that uncle, and the drop-off spot was all Tibetan people—scared me to death. So, think carefully before hitchhiking.

12. Choosing Souvenir Items:

        Don’t buy caterpillar fungus or Buddhist beads along the way—they’re all available in Lhasa, mostly wholesale. Fake caterpillar fungus is common—if you don’t know how to identify it, don’t buy. Red coral and turquoise are scams—don’t touch them. I met a guy who spent thousands on a fake stone.


13. Choosing Sunscreen:

        I was careful with sun protection the whole trip and didn’t get very tanned. I used Coppertone Sport. Don’t apply sunscreen too thickly—it clogs pores and causes breakouts. Everyone, male or female, should bring sunscreen—not just to avoid tanning, but to block UV rays. Not using it can lead to peeling skin. Pay attention.

Every time I arrive at a place, I wash my bike—even if I’m exhausted. I lube the chain because it’s my BMW, my protector. Treat it well, and it will treat you well.

Feeling like you’re on the road—riding slowly, taking your time, even on climbs. Keep the bike in the lowest gear, play some slow-paced music, pedal along with the rhythm, and climbing becomes easy. Bring some gum to chew on during uphill sections~

        Riding to Tibet—actually, I hitchhiked a lot of the way. I got rides through the treacherous mountain passes and also over one of the snow mountains. If you really can’t ride anymore and feel unwell, don’t push yourself, because there are no vehicles along the way. We riders can sometimes take paid buses. It’s miserable if there are no vehicles and no accommodations. I’m a beginner cyclist. I didn’t rush through the treacherous mountain passes. Yesterday, I heard from a friend that there were landslides during the rainy season there, and 13 people died, including 4 cyclists. My biggest takeaway from the trip is that I’m finally back safe and healthy—that’s all that matters. There are several scratches on my new bike, and I’ve got a thick callus on my thumb. These are the memories Tibet left me. I went without telling my family. While I was on the road, there was an accident at the 72 Turns. To those who want to cycle to Tibet: please prioritize safety on the road. Before you go, buy travel insurance. Mine cost about 255 RMB and covered up to 700,000 RMB. While riding, keep a good mindset. There will definitely be people faster than you—I was pretty much at the back the whole time—but there’s no need to rush. Everyone has their own pace. Safety is the most important thing—remember that !

         If you push yourself too hard while cycling, riding fast every day and forcing your body, it can damage your knees. I met many people on the road who injured their knees halfway through. If possible, bring extra calcium tablets before you start—you’ll find them very useful. Also, bring knee pads. Tibet is a long journey; it’s not about who rides fastest, but reaching Tibet that’s the biggest goal. And arriving there safely makes you the real winner. Nothing else really matters.