I'm planning a cycle trip from Lijiang to Deqin (or possibly Deqin to Lijiang) over the next few weeks.

I was wondering if anyone who has done this route, or other cycling in the area, has any feedback or advice... most importantly about whether the weather now will be ok for it (it seems like it'll be raining a lot - will this make the roads a nightmare?)

Also whether there are definitely enough (and frequent enough) places to stay along the route, or if camping gear is advisable. There is an article about doing this route a few years ago, which mentions places to stay, but I was just wondering if there are other places to stay in-between these stops, if you don't make it far enough in one day.

Any other advice is also welcome!

I might carry on from Lijiang to Lugu lake afterwards... the same questions apply.

Thanks!

There are several towns along the route, and if you can't make it to one, you're never more than a few kilometers from a small settlement, where you can usually find someone to rent you a bed, or even just take you in.

I hope you like uphill biking, because there's going to be a ton of it.

For the weather, expect to get rained on. The roads will get a bit messy. Luckily, this early in the season, landslides shouldn't be a problem, but rethink your trip if there are several days of heavy rains before. For your route, I would keep my ears open about Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is along your route. If officials think there's a risk of landslides, they close that trek to hikers. If they do that, you might want to wait for a bit.

Done it, loved it. Please read my blog for more information.

www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=tS&doc_id=14040&v=4H

If you're a good rider, you won't need camping gear. But that's catch-22: if you need camping gear, you'll also have to be a good rider. There is nowhere to stay between Baishuitai and Shangri-La, so count on a heavy 101 km with 3 major passes up to 3700 m.

It's not the best time of the year to do it though because rain means _very_ cold and quite probably snow at the higher altitudes. That said, my first Lijiang-Shangrila leg was in June and it wasn't that bad at all (you'll find that blog on the same website if you click on my username).

Can't help you with Lijiang to Lugu, but it sounds a lot easier than the Deqin stretch.

Also I suggest not riding through the TLG if that means you'll be following the main road from Lijiang to Qiaotou, for reasons that it stinks.

You could cross by ferry (or even bridge now?) at Daju and go in and out the TLG at that point, but that means paying an extra 200 RMB just to use the road between Lijiang and Daju. Which, sigh, is actually worth it.

Thanks so much, xiefei and bluppfisk, both very helpful and positive. I was a little worried that the rain would make the roads too difficult, but from what you say I think it'll be ok, as I don't think it has rained much yet.

Also, bluppfisk, thanks for link to blog and advice re. TLG. Great.

Note that the rains start approximately now; usually heavier in July.

The route bluppfisk indicates is the east ring road out tiger. It's a very nice bike ride, but also very sparse so lots of climbing and sometimes nowhere to stay or eat. But you can make baishuitai one day and then shangrila the next if your in good shape. This assumes you start at mid to rear gorge. You'll get rain and sun within the same hour at times.

The main route to shangrila has one big climb, then you're on a plateau slowly sloping up all the way to shangrila. It's a decent ride with good roads, except you have to share it with lots of traffic. In the rain that means getting dirty.

I've done both ways and really recommend the east ring route, but if you're playing it safe, take the main route to shangrila and maybe east ring back.

Also, in shangrila, you need to rest a couple of days if you're going further north. The altitude really hit homes at that point.