uzbekistan by bicycle

[mike1872]

Hello to all,
I would have to be held in September, a solo journey by bicycle from Tashkent to Bukhara or, if I can, Khiva, and back to Tashkent by train.
Journey time of 17-18 days
Arrival in Tashkent by air with bicycle embarked (with Aeroflot or turkish).
I wish I had this information:
- it is sure the country for a bike trip?
- there are logistical problems or other problems to travel by bike?
- the train from khiva (Urgench) or Bukhara performs bicycle transportation?
- along the way there are countries where the night (hotels or private homes), at least every 70-100km?
Thanks to everyone who can help me with any information.
Michele

[steven]

Hi Michele,

1. traffic is dangerous. Criminals are not a problem. Many 100s of cycle tourists pass by every year.
2. No problems
3. Yes
4. No, this is a problem. There are not so many hotels in between big cities.

[arturowing]

I traveled 2015 from Urgench, via Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand to Tashkent by bicycle. Its really easy and the people very friendly. There are some htspots you may avoid, like larger roads/highways. I always felt safe, even if sometimes a little bit stressed because the highly kindness of locals, soemtimes it's close to harassment. I always avoid, in all ex sovjet countries, to drink alcohol togehter with locals, and I never get in troubles. In UZ sometimes I felt observed by civil police man and two times they get my cellphone and look for pornographical material, this was the explanation. But all in one it was a nice country. my blog either in spanish or german about UZ is here: http://www.bike4happiness.com/category/ ... tan-de_at/
Enjoy your trip!

[arturowing]

Oh and I forgot:

Bike transportation by train: I guess its not regulated, and due to an advise of a local, I just deal the transportation with the controller onboard, givin him a little extra fee. May you have to bargain. Its not a problem and the black market seems to be more than usual there. Keep care, the train tickets are all written in cyrilic so you may take the wrong train as I did. Anyway, the experience is worth.

[James.on.a.bike]

Is it pretty much a sure thing that the wind is always blowing from the east or NE or SE in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan? Trying to decide if i want to ride from Aktau to Almaty in December/January and if I'm fighting a strong headwinds the whole way that is certainly something to consider.

[steven]

Check this website over the next few weeks: https://www.windfinder.com/#7/43.3931/58.0298

Currently, it is indeed coming from the east.

[James.on.a.bike]

Yeah, been keeping an eye on a similar site, so far its very strong and very east