Category: VietnamCycling2010

Vietnam Day 4

Took the van to the top of an alpine pass out of Lai Chau.Went to a pharmacy on the way for my sore back , bought meloxicam + tiger balm for $1.50. Win said we’ll roll down the hill then catch the van. Continued climbing for 12km , and lost count of the 10% gradient signs , before everyone else arrived in the van – by then it was very hot and steamy. Drove to Sin Ho for lunch. Then an undulating road with some steep climbs after lunch and then a very fast descent to Chanua. Win suggested we take the van to Muong Lai because of the roadworks – but we would have been quicker on our bikes as you’ll  see from the pics .

The after lunch profile.
The after lunch profile.

Vietnam Day 3

Drove to Tram Ton Pass ( good idea to drive to the top !) then descended to Ban Bo village , then across a very rough and hilly track and back to the main road to Binh Lu town for lunch . Finally climb out of Bin Lu and descend into Lai Chau – notably no vehicles or scooters came past on the descent! Being well ahead of the support vehicle the crew had to search for me in Lai Chau !The day’s approximate profile is below the gallery.

Vietnam Day 2

Rode from Sapa descending into the village of Ta Phin , visited one of the local houses , steep climb back to Sapa for lunch , went for walk in the afternoon and got lost . Most of the people we asked had no idea where the Bamboo hotel was , or understood what we were saying , eventually we asked one of the Hmong girls who took us back despite having a 2 hour walk still back to her village!