UPDATED October 9, 2026 BY Henry Gold IN The Road to Shangri-La no comments On My Way To Shangri-La (By Bicycle)Tea is the taste of the wind, the fragrance of the mountains. Chinese proverbTea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness. Lu YuWhats your next tour? This is a question that participants asked each other me included as the Road to Valhalla Cycling Tour wound down.I am fascinated by China. If you want to know why, read the book The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester. I highly recommend it. I first went there in 2006 to scout what was then going to be our companys 3rd transcontinental tour, the Silk Route Cycling Expedition. At that time, China was in the midst of a great transformation and my eyes were often open wide in wonder. The following year I cycled the inaugural Silk Route tour, including two months crossing China from west to east, an adventure in every sense of the word.Henry in Beijing in 2007 on the Silk RouteIn 2013, I had an opportunity to cycle a different part of China on our Bamboo Road Cycling Adventure from Shanghai to Hong Kong and then on to Vietnam. As on my previous visit, there was no end to the surprises and discoveries. In March of this coming year, I hope to be on our companys new tour, The Road to Shangri-La, which will be passing through one of the most fascinating places in China. The riders will enter the country from Northern Vietnam into Yunnan, one of Chinas most culturally diverse regions. Twenty five ethnic minorities live there a personal interest of mine 15 of which reside only in that area.During a recent dinner in Montreal, I asked Max Dionne, who scouted this route before Covid hit, what the highlights were. Maxs face broke into a big grin and he started listing them.The first was the spectacular Honghe Hani Rice Terraces (pictured above) which the riders will see soon after entering China.He went on, pointing out that while all cities in China have gone through modernization, on this route many of them kept their traditional ancient Chinatowns. In particular, he pointed out that the city of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had thousands of heritage houses and apparently is one of the most authentic ancient towns in Asia.Lijiang Old TownAnother area of interest to me is the worlds second most consumed beverage, of which I drink a lot tea. Tea originated in Southwest China and I recall my first tea tasting in the country, an elaborate and very pleasant event. Afterwards, I felt as if I havent ever drunk real tea before.On the Road to Shangri-La, riders will visit Shaxizhen, home to some historic landmarks where horse caravans carrying tea would often stop. On one of my previous visits in China, I bought a book in English published in China called the Tea-Horse Road which describe how tea was being transported from China onwards, often through difficult and challenging landscapes.This brings me to another highlight Max mentioned, Tiger Leaping Gorge, a scenic and dramatic canyon on the Jinsha river. Max also mentioned the spectacular temples in Shangri-La, similar to the ones in Lhasa and the large praying wheels which apparently take at least four people to move. By the way, Shangri-La in Tibetan, means the sun and moon in ones heart.Tiger Leaping GorgeAnd, of course, there is the food. Max mentioned loving the Crossing Bridge Noodles and in a recent blog, our Operation Manager and former chef, Miles, pointed out a few more things to try in Yunnan. Having grown up on potatoes in Eastern Europe myself, I cant wait to taste Old Grandmas Potatoes! Besides the cuisine, what Max found particularly delightful were the evening activities on the town squares with people dancing and just enjoying themselves and outsiders encouraged to join in.For myself, going back to China is to get a glimpse of what feels like the most fascinating transformation of a society in human history. Returning home from my previous trips in China, I often found it was hard to describe what I had witnessed and experienced. I fully expect this tour will be no different.Going back also means enjoying some great Chinese food and sampling a lot of wonderful tea in the company of a number of TDA riders. Some of them I know from previous tours and some I hope to meet on the Road to Shangri-La for the first time. If you have never been to China, or for that matter Laos or Vietnam, join us for this unique tour. I promise, you will not regret it.RELATEDTOURThe Road to Shangri-La Shangri-La, an earthly paradise cut off from the world in a hidden Himalayan valley, a place where there is no war or suffering and where people live... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "On My Way To Shangri-La (By Bicycle)" Cancel reply

Here's what to expect of the first UCI Gravel World Championships outside of Europe, and how Matt Page plans to attack his race

Il Lombardia will take place on the 10th of October 2026. The race is the ultimate culmination of the Italian autumn classics, having the status of fifth and last monument of pro cycling. WithTadej Pogacarabsent this year, there will be a new winner after five editions. Below, you will find the pr...

Hey, its Friday, how do you like that?Here in the processed meat of the North American sandwich (were the deli ham, Canada and Mexico are the bread) its also the start of a three-day weekend! See, this coming Monday is the day we used to call Columbus Day:But colonialism is bad, bad, bad, and so now its Indigenous Peoples Day:Though there is a loophole, and if youre Italian you get to call it Italian Heritage Day:[Classic Cycle]And to a lesser extent if youre a cyclist you can always claim youre celebrating the tubing and not the explorer, though in the current climate Id say youre on shaky ground there:See, the whole Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day thing is very much bound up in the right-wing-versus-left wing-culture wars, so taking the tubing stance will fail to ingratiate you with either sideand speaking of wings, is that the Columbus birds right one, or does it have two heads and one of them is napping?Anyway, to paraphrase that Shakespeare guy, a holiday by any other name is still an excuse to fuck off, so please note that I wont be posting on Monday in observance of Indigenous Columbus Italian Tubing Day and will instead be engaging in concomitant off-fuckings.(And yes, I briefly considered asking the AI to generate an image for Indigenous Columbus Italian Tubing Day, but I was afraid to see the result.)In the meantime, since its Friday, lets dip into the mail bag, shall we?Dear Tan Tenovo,I am emailing you because in the last 2 years, I have noticed a new subspecies of roadies in Prospect Park. I see them mostly on weeknights or on Sunday afternoons. They ride in most of the normal road-approved threads (300$ brown bibs, Fizik shoes, hyundai colored kaask helmet) on their industry-standard 30mm-tire plastic aero bikes but then, bizarrely, they chose towear a T-shirtover top. I feel like this wardrobe decisionmerits its own subspecies of road cyclist, but ultimately, as the boss, you get to make the call.In myopinion, this whole subgenre of road riding has its roots in the sort of weird inbetweenphase of grvl. Just before, or mayberight as it was getting huge in, like 2019. I certainly think the first person I ever saw do it was Taylor Phinney in an EF Education First YouTube video. But then again, what do I know, Ive basically only been around the block once. Anyway, I find these guys ridiculous, so if you want some photos of them when Im in the park, Ill happily send. Otherwise, feel to send this straight to the trash.Sincerely,Young Man PetersonAs cyclings leading anthropologist I found this fascinating, and I feel it warrants further analysis, for I too have observed this phenomenon. Now, to be clear, wearing a t-shirt with Lycra shorts is nothing new. In fact, this is something the Fredliest of Freds have been doing for decades:Basically, it was run-of-the-mill dork behavior, and therefore it was completely normal to see people on the bike path wearing t-shirts and Lycra half-shorts and running shoes stuffed into unfastened plastic toe clips.However, as the letter writer observes, this current strain of t-shirt wearer does appear to be something relatively new and completely distinct from the aforementioned species. Furthermore, 2019 does indeed appear to be the inflection point, and I also first noted it around this time and in a similar milieu. Specifically, thats the year I went out to Eroica California, where I was put up in sort of an Influencer house, and among the people staying there were Gus Morton:[From here]And Sami Sauri, shown here executing a flawless Jesus Carry:While I may have had some idea that Gus Morton was malnourished ultra-endurance cyclist Lachlan Mortons brother, for the most part I really didnt know who these people were. However, it was immediately apparent by the manner in which they failed to engage with me or even look anywhere near me that they were extremely and almost painfully coollike Jesus-carry-your-bike-and-give-camera-directions-while-making-metal-horns-and-wearing-a-cowboy-hat cool:So as both cyclings leading anthropologist and an uncool person I resolved to learn all I could from their behavior, and when we all headed out for some kind of warm-up ride or something I noticed that Gus and possibly Sami wore t-shirts:Naturally I didnt ask them why they were wearing t-shirtsyou dont ask cool people why they do things, you just dont, plus even if I did ask them theyd have just looked right through mebut my sense was that it was born of a level of insouciance an uptight person like me could only dream of possessing, and a way of saying, This ride is hardly worth my time.But surely on the day of the event they would wear proper jerseys, right? Hardly! Heres a photo from the ride, with Jrs Trli circled in green:Do you see what theyre wearing? Shirts. In fact Gus Morton is wearing a shirt so hard hes got his bibs up over them:Its a statement of both commitment and defiance, as if to say, I am wearing a shirt and not a jersey so emphatically Im locking it in under my bibs. Its basically a clipless shirt.Then theres me bringing up the rear:Not only am I wearing a jersey, but Im wearing my own jersey:Naively I thought having your my own jersey was cool, but in retrospect its like wearing your own bands t-shirt, and between that and the cheap Chain Reaction bike I was riding its no wonder they wouldnt look at me:Also, my jersey could not have been more out of touch with the nascent gravel zeitgeist (or GRVL ZTGST, which sounds like the name of a gravel apparel company). I mean where were the earth tones? Did they even use indigenous peoples dye?!?By the way, thats from the website of the people who made the shirts they were wearingand I know this because they were selling them at the event, and I even bought one for my wife, since obviously they were extremely and almost violently cool, plus I figured maybe shes appreciate a unique garment from a ZERO WASTE STUDIO, WITH A BOTANICAL, HOLISTIC AND ANCESTRAL APPROACH. But she did not appreciate it and never wore it, and in fact I ended up rescuing it from that garbage bag full of clothes you fill up every couple of years and donate to the local whatever as I was about to haul it to the local whatever. Now I wear it as an undershirt, and I think some of you were even disturbed by it in a recent photo because you thought it was my chest and that I had a skin condition:I dont wear it by itself because its too small for me, plus its got moth holes:It is really comfortable though, because merino is truly the greatest. (Unfortunately the moths agree.)In any case, thats how I became attuned to the look, and like the letter writer Ive been noticing it more and moreand I do get it. Sure, part of it is probably them saying, Im just doing laps in Prospect Park, not the big Fred ride to Bear Mountain. Im not even trying! And yes, maybe they want to spare their expensive PNS jerseys the unnecessary laundry cycles. But wearing a loose-fitting t-shirt can feel liberating, and I too am sometimes tempted. (I mean specifically when Im on a road bike and otherwise wearing bike-specific clothesobviously when Im just riding in regular clothes the t-shirts a given.) However, I rarely do, becauseyou know, pockets:[Not that kind! I mean the ones in the back.]Lets just say Im headed out for my usual easy 20-miler. At a minimum, I need to carry the following on my actual person:KeysPhoneWalletAdditionally, I may want to carry a mini pump if one wont fit on the bike. Additionally additionally, if Ive been working on the bike recently and think I may need to make adjustments, Ill carry a multi-tool in my pocket so I dont have to keep going into my saddle bag. (And again, were talking specifically about rides on road bikes and in cycling-specific clothes. If Im on a regular bike in regular clothes I just carry what I need in my pants pockets.)Now, I realize that part of what makes the whole t-shirt look possible is the advent of the side-pocket bib short, which is also born of the GRVL ZTGST:I have a couple of pocketed shorts like this thanks to Pearl Izumi, and the pocket is handy, though I wouldnt want my phone and my wallet and my keys in there. Plus, bro with the expensive new tattoo he carefully chose so it would look old like he got it on shore leave 1950s is obviously having trouble accessing the pocket due to his multiple rings. And while I dont wear multiple rings myself, what if I decide to start?Okay, AI, lets have it:So weird.So what have we learned today? Well, nothing, as usual. However, it just occurred to me that I actually pioneered the hanging-down-bib-shorts-with-t-shirt look way back in 2008and on a cyclocross bike, no less!Hey, maybe Im cooler than I thought.

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe have confirmed their '7' for Il Lombardia, the final monument of the season. For the first - and last - time in their years spent together in the German team, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic will race together. In 2026, Red Bull took in Remco Evenepoel as its new leade...

Eddie Dunbar signed with Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team last winter on a two-year deal but was close to ending his career halfway through the season. After experiencing another bout of bad luck, the Irishman didn't believe he was capable of returning to the top, until he once again won at the Vu...

German brand Tout Terrain is shaking things up with todays announcement of its debut drailleur-based 29er, the Catalina, which is also its first model offered as a standalone frame kit. Learn more about the new Pinion-less Tout Terrain Catalina steel hardtail hereThe post The Tout Terrain Catalina is a Derailleur-Driven Bikepacking Hardtail appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Davide Piganzoli is one of the breakthrough riders of the 2026 season. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike headliner began the year as a question mark in the Dutch team and ends it as its leader for Il Lombardia - the final monument of the season. I expected growth, but a gradual kind. Instead, it was a...

This weeks Debrief features IKEA-inspired saddle bags, chrome Allygn racks, Apidura's new long top tube pack, a fresh Kona Unit X, an escape from car hell, a Munda Biddi FKT, Tumbleweed merch, two events to follow live, and more. Find it all hereThe post Friday Debrief: Shiny Allygn Racks, New Kona Unit X, Escaping Car Hell, IKEA Saddle Bags, Seal Shoes, and More appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

This weekend, while much of the planets population is still tucked up in bed, the Gravel World Championships will be taking place in a tiny little place amid the enormous space that is Western Australia. Nunnup, the host town, boasts some brilliant, albeit extremely tricky pea-gravel trails, and many people agree that its wonderful to see the World Championships of the fast-growing cycling discipline of gravel racing taking place outside the usual confines of Europe. But theres no getting away from the fact that it has been horrendously hard and very expensive for lots of riders to travel to the other side of the world to compete for their country.Cycling's national governing bodies, British Cycling included, are unable or unwilling to devote thinly stretched funding to support riders travelling around the globe to take part in an event that isnt featured on the Olympic programme. In a statement, British Cycling said they are "not currently able to provide financial or operational support for riders attending this event." It has therefore fallen to teams and individual riders to pay their own way. Despite all of this, the line-up is surprisingly strong. There are 63 riders taking part from Britain, including 2025 British champion Connor Swift and the current national champ Jenson Young who, along with teammate Sophie Wright, received assistance from Ribble Outliers to get to Australia. It wasn't like fully funded, just because it wasn't budgeted for at the start of the year, but yeah, they [Ribble] gave us a fair bit towards it, which is really helpful, Young tells Cycling Weekly. Even though we ride in GB cycling kit, weve had no communication or any support or anything from British Cycling. It was the team that supported it and got us out here. I have not even heard from anyone at British Cycling. Thats a bit disappointing, really, that we've spent all this money to get here, and were riding in the GB kit, and to not even speak to us.Maddy Nutt in Australia (Image credit: Maddy Nutt)Other riders have completely self-funded their travel, using sponsorship income and their own savings to get themselves and their bikes to Australia. I've had no assistance at all from British Cycling, former British gravel champion and Traka 560 winner Maddy Nutt told Cycling Weekly, the night before the womens elite race. They even charged us for the skinsuits, which we have to race in. I just used some of my racing budget from my sponsors as a privateer to get here.Another rider, Tom Martin, who races for Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli, told us that he had to shelve plans to compete at the Worlds when it became too expensive. I very nearly decided to go, after finishing in the top 20 at European Championships and racing near the front, along with being first British rider," he says. "But I made the decision [not to go] in the middle of the season. I was waiting to see if I could get some more financial support, but I didn't have enough budget."He is philosophical about the event being so far away, though, saying: "Weve had it good with the last three Worlds all being in Europe." And he's not surprised about the lack of funding and support from the governing body. "There never is [support], unless its an Olympic event, unfortunately. Ive been to two mountain bike marathon worlds, both self-funded."Still, plenty of elite riders from around the globe have made it to the Worlds, including Marianne Vos and defending mens champion Florian Vermeersch, and the event does promise to be enthralling for those who are lucky enough to get there. The field is definitely not as deep as normal for World Champs, but its still very competitive says Nutt. There are [fewer] road riders dipping their toes in and giving the Worlds a whack, but still a good number of the gravel peloton have made it out. British Cycling's responseWhen we approached them for comment about the level of support being offered to riders at the Gravel World Championships, a British Cycling spokesperson said:We are proud to see British riders competing on the world stage at the UCI Gravel World Championships, and we recognise the commitment, preparation and personal expense that goes into representing your country at an elite level.As the national governing body for cycling, our role is to support and enable the growth of the discipline, helping create the conditions for long-term, sustainable development. Gravel is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing areas of cycling, and its success reflects the passion and commitment of organisers, participants, and the wider community. We value the role they have played in developing the discipline and will continue to work closely with them as gravel continues to grow. As a non-Olympic discipline, the funding and resources available to support gravel differ from those available in some other areas of the sport, and British Cycling is not currently able to provide financial or operational support for riders attending this event.We remain committed to supporting the growth of gravel and will continue to explore the opportunities and resources available to support future editions of the event as the discipline develops.