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Table:
These should make it easier for you to select your trip. Again, this is the very short version, but it gives you some idea of what you are in for. The ratings are based on a simple system:
3: extremely hard, including for most people long stretches of carrying your bike
2: difficult, but manageable for any biker in a reasonably good shape
1: easy off-road cycling, quite comparable to many stretches of normal Bhutanese roads
0: very easy and smooth tarmac with a downhill gradient between 3 and 4%, which means that you can just sit on your bike and steer, even braking is not required.
A word of warning. Start with some of the forest roads and not with the Dechhenchhoíling-Sinchula-Punakha ride.
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Summery
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From
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to
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via
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Dist.
(km)
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Elevation (m)
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Slope
(%)
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Avrg
diffic.
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Total
effort
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Challenges
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% cycleble
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Time (min)
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Start
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High
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End
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Min
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Max
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Fast
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Slow
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Dechhenchh.
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Hontsho
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Dobchu La
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20
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2420
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3660
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2890
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10
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1.2
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2.5
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very rocky track down, ice in winter
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90
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95
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190
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330
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Simtokha FR
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Talakha gp loop
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FR below gonpa
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16
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2250
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3010
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2250
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10
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1.5
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2.5
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some steep, slippery parts on the trail down
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90
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98
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116
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180
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Radio tower
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Youth centre
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Phajodhing, Pumola
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15
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2670
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3740
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2550
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15
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2.1
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3.1
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quite a few: steep slopes, rocks, incised trail
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60
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85
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200
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400
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Simtokha FR
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Talakha gp loop
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FR above gonpa
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21
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2250
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3300
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2250
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10
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1.6
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3.3
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some steep, slippery parts on the trail down
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80
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95
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36
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60
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Simtokha
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Wangdi-bridge
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Hinglay La
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40
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2250
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3260
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1200
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8
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1.4
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5.6
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rocks and mud
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75
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85
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355
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550
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Dechhenchh.
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Punakha
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Sinchula
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30
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2420
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3500
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1330
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11
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2.0
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6.1
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too many, esp.down: rocks and roots
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50
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65
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370
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660
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Phobjikha
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Wangdi
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Kotokha
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44
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2900
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3460
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1300
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11
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1.6
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7.1
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rocks, roots and steep sections
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70
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85
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500
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800
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Note: many of these figures
are estimates needing verification
Avrg diffic. = average difficulty for the route (between 1 and 3,
where 3 means lots of walking)
Dist.
= Distance
Total effort = estimated effort in which 10 is extreme and 0 is
greasing your chain
% Min, % Max = estimated minimum and maximum % of route that can be
cycled
Fast/Slow time = estimated average fast and slow times for the routes
in minutes
(Note: to get back to your starting point you may need to travel anywhere
from 0 to 65 km, mostly on tarmac roads )
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Below are some suggestion for easier off-road tracks than those indicated in the table. Most follow forest roads which are not too steep because fully loaded logging trucks should be able to manage:
- Up the track above the Youth Centre, with plenty of possibilities to cycle on smaller side trails
- Up the forest road starting at Pangri Zampa Lhakhang in Dechhenchho'ling. The nicest trail is the one that gets you to the ridge high above Taba (some 700 m above the bridge near the Lhakhang). Take a right at the junction about 25 km from the Lhakhang. There are only a few really steep sections on this track. 12.5 km up and down.
- Up the forest road from Simtokha to Talakha goenpa. This ride can be very muddy in the rainy season. Pass the Chamgang prison (don't follow the main track back up to the left), cross the creek, take the road up to the right at the second junction. At the highest point it's about 500 m to the goenpa. 22 km out and back.
- Up the forest road from Simtokha past Chamgang school and village. Take the main track back up to the left near the prison, and keep following this track past smaller side tracks and the trail up to Hinglay La. Views along this track get better as you get higher. Up to the end of the road and back: 36 km.
- Up the forest road from the primary school at Tshelung nang at the end of Gidakom valley. At the junction after 5 km take the left track. Views are not so great but the ride up the valley is quite nice. Total length up and down the forest road: 26 km.
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Copyright@ Piet van dier Poel
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