Bad things that happen on tour

[jay clock]

Thats why you never tour alone. I would not even consider setting foot in mongolia alone as the people there are too unpredictable.

Either go in a big group where its a bit safer or hire a small security detail to provide escort like on top gear. Youre going to be going through some real dodgy parts of the world and not everyone will be as civilised as the more richer and well developed countries.

If i really had to go alone I would find out if it would be legal to carry a firearm along my travels just as peice of mind. You never know what youre going to come up against but at least you have some way of protecting yourself in a dire situation like this.

Obviously my opinion isnt going to be the most popular one but If not to defend yourself from humans then to defend yourself against the wild animals that you may encounter along the way.

Im glad that William got away safely, I hope to be able to donate some money to him so that he can replace whatever it was that was stolen.

My suspicion is that if he had had a firearm in Mongolia the best outcome he could have hoped for would be with his host dead and him banged up in a local jail. And plenty of worse outcomes. There are not many cycle tourists who would think that carrying a gun is going to help in any way

 

[RoubaixCube]

My suspicion is that if he had had a firearm in Mongolia the best outcome he could have hoped for would be with his host dead and him banged up in a local jail. And plenty of worse outcomes. There are not many cycle tourists who would think that carrying a gun is going to help in any way

Just my $2. Not the best option but there are many situations where it might help. Rather have and not need then need and not have

 

[TheDoctor]

I can't imagine any situation where a gun would help, including this one. I've toured alone in France, and suffered nothing worse than a hangover.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Just my $2. Not the best option but there are many situations where it might help. Rather have and not need then need and not have

Carrying a firearm whilst easy said,, requires much more thought to use it, and for sure having to think about using it when confronted with a crazy vodka fuelled Mongolian can make for an ill fated decision. Its better to read the signs, develop a gut feeling about people that offer hospitality, in my travels across Asia and Africa I have turned down offers of hospitality many times because of a gut feeling that something is not right. The joy of touring the more remote places of our planet is the variety of sights and people you meet and the trials it puts you through, and the decisions you have to make.

 

[Andrew_P]

Not that you could anyway, border crossings are dodgy enough let alone smuggling a firearm. Both of these people are still alive as neither had a firearm..

 

[jay clock]

Updated news from William https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=uZ&page_id=441924&v=s

 

[doog]

Thats why you never tour alone..

A bit extreme, this is basically a one off.

 

[22camels]

Youre going to be going through some real dodgy parts of the world and not everyone will be as civilised as the more richer and well developed countries..

Just a tad extreme

 

[Dogtrousers]

Benedict Allen had a similar, but less violent experience in Chukotka: In this case his guides drinking surgical spirit, or some sort of household alcohol.

Although it's a bit ignorant of me to equate Chukotka with Mongolia as two dodgy Eastern places as they are geographically a long way apart and ethnically and culturally completely different.

 

[Simon_m]

it does look beautiful there from his pics. Certainly would never try what he is doing. I guess you have to have a certain mentality to do it

 

[Ticktockmy]

Benedict Allen had a similar, but less violent experience in Chukotka: In this case his guides drinking surgical spirit, or some sort of household alcohol.

Although it's a bit ignorant of me to equate Chukotka with Mongolia as two dodgy Eastern places as they are geographically a long way apart and ethnically and culturally completely different.

The problem is dodgy rough alcohol, it seems to be a problem across the old Russian states, where it seems to be a macho thing to get smashed out of their minds, to prove to the western peeps that they can hold their drink, which they cannot. The answer I think is not to join in with drinking from the start because one drink will lead to another.

 

[jonny jeez]

Jeez.

 

[robing]

That's horrible. I had to skim read it as I could see where it was going, and didn't fancy the gory details. The last time I went on to CGOAB was to read the distressing story of @SatNavSaysStraightOn 's dog encounter.

Do you have a link for the dog encounter?

 

[robing]

I haven't travelled in that part of the world, but the FCO advice is that Mongolia is pretty safe. I have read a lot of books of cyclists who have travelled through Asia, and also Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor's The Long Way Round all rated Mongolia generally as friendly and hospitable. In many of the former Soviet states, alcohol and particular vodka consumption is a big problem - which can lead to people becoming aggressive as above, or more likely to drink/drive.

 

[robing]

The worst things that have happened to me so far are food poisoning and my bottom bracket coming loose! And almost running out of water in southern Spain. Well, I have only toured in western Europe so far..