Silk Road Mountain Race 2023

Welcome to my most extreme adventure, and my first Ultra, The 2023 Edition of The Silk Road Mountain Race . My trail name is Rusty Crank, and I'll be racing with cap #92. I'm an artist and college professor from Brooklyn, NY. In 2018 I rode the TransAm and it completely changed my life. The following summer I rode the Northern Tier. January 2020 I cycled the Carretara Austral in Patagonia, and then that summer, as COVID and political protests raged, I pedaled from Brooklyn to Astoria Oregon. The following spring I rode the first segment of the Southern Tier and later that summer the Western Express. The Great Divide had become a goal, but the Canadian border was closed because of COVID. January 2022 I rode from Mazatlan to Mexico City, and that spring I did the second Southern Tier segment. Summer of 2022 I finally rode the complete Great Divide from Antelope Wells, NM to Jasper, AB. January 2023 I cycled from Mexico City to Oaxaca, and this past June I completed the Southern T

• Introduction • Table of Contents • Getting to Bishkek   • Shakeout Ride to Elevation Part 1   • Shakeout Ride to Elevation Part 2   • Final Preparations • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 1 Karakol to outside of Enilchek • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 2 outside of Enilchek to Lipenka • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 3 Lipenka to Arabel Plateau • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 4 Arabel Plateau to Big Malyy Naryn River Bend • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 5 Big Malyy Naryn River Bend to Bosogo • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 6 Bosogo to Key-Aygyr • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 7 Key-Aygyr to 41°2'33" N 75°4'25" E • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 8 41°2'33" N 75°4'25" E to Dzhergetal • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 9 Dzhergetal to Dyudyumel • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 10 Dyudyumel to Kichi Ak-Kolot • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 11 Kichi Ak-Kolot to Ak-Talaa • Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 12 Ak-Talaa to Koshoy • Silk Roa

  Chris came over to send me off, and then it was a smooth Uber to JFK and check-in. My bike and luggage weren't weighed and there were no extra charges. I got to the airport three hours early, and grabbed a fish and chips and a couple of Goose Island IPA'S while I waited. I had purchased an emergency aisle seat with extra leg room for the twelve hour forty-five minute flight to Dubai. As it turned out, the adjacent seats were empty and I could spread out. I enjoyed a chicken dinner and some sort of warm breakfast. I took a sleeping pill and slept through most of the flight. Dubai airport was huge, and I had to take a train to get to the next gate. I had plenty of time and slowly figured it out.  As I was boarding the flight to Bishkek I noticed some other cyclists in the queue. They were carrying their helmets and wearing masks, which was probably smart. I introduced myself to a male/female couple and ascertained that they were also racing. I quickly figured out their names fr

Shakeout Ride to Elevation Part 1  August 8, 2023 Karakol to 42° 24' 51.498" N 78° 56' 49.77" E Start 10:38 AM Finish 5:09 PM Total Duration 6:31 Moving Time 4:39 Stopped Time 1:52 Ascent 4604'  Descent 1212' Race Total 0 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/130773754 Karakol, Kyrgyzstan Racers Joe, Chris, Tom, Jono, Rob Climbing up into the mountains First grocery stop Local women Making my way up to elevation Setting up camp ⥢ prev   -home-   next ⥤  

Shakeout Ride to Elevation Part 2  August 9, 2023 42° 24' 51.498" 78° 56' 49.77" E up to the pass and then back to Karakol Start 9:04 AM Finish 5:09 PM Total Duration 6:31 Moving Time 4:39 Stopped Time 1:52 Ascent 4604'  Descent 1212' Race Total 0 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/130773740 Camping in the cow pasture Packing up camp Heading up the pass Chunky section First snow patch Top of the pass Local boy trying my helmet on for size ⥢ prev   -home-   next ⥤

 more to come Blown out holes in my Salsa Anything Cages Karakol Metal Shop Grinding new washers to fit Problem Solved Pre-race meeting in Karakol Pre-race meeting in Karakol Selfie with the eventual race winner Sofiane Sehili Last meal before the race Last meal before the race Last meal before the race Last meal before the race Food packed for the race Rigs of the 2023 Silk Road Mountain Race - Bikepacking.com ⥢ prev   -home-   next ⥤

Silk Road Mountain Race - Day 1  August 12, 2023 Karakol to outside of Enilchek - 121 Miles Start 9:08 AM Finish 11:05 PM Total Duration 13:56 Moving Time 12:04 Stopped Time 1:52 Ascent 8,591’  Descent 5,179’ Slept at 9,120' elevation (shack - floor) Race Total 121 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/131208720 https://srmr2023.maprogress.com/ Adjacent to the Karakol Yurt Lodge was a bar called The Hut. Last night being Friday it was chocked full of people and noisy. In addition, a large group of Koreans who were staying at the lodge had gathered in the courtyard and departed for an excursion at 2:30AM. My ear plugs had been ineffective and I had taken an Ambien to sleep. I woke up at 6:30AM before my alarm. Jono was already up and reported that one of the small lodge kittens had pooped in his bed. We had an early breakfast consisting of porridge, omelets, cheese slices, salad, bread, and marmalade along with tea. I was packed and ready to go, and was itching to get star