The road is calling

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Abishek Kumar Sharma … Indian bike traveler is in transit in Moscow, where he met with journalists. The meeting was organized by MIA Rossiya Segodnya. Abishek, before arriving in Russia, traveled 20 thousand kilometers in 25 states of India. His goal was to convey to fellow citizens the need preservation of the environment and obligation compliance with sanitary standards, which today is considered optional in the second most populous country in the world.

In connection with this extraordinary incident of cycling around the world, I remembered the case when a certain Khursant Sherov was brought from the streets of Moscow to the editorial office of the newspaper where I worked by our photographer for an interview. This also an outstanding person last year came by bicycle from Tashkent to Moscow (3,500 km) on the seventh anniversary of the death of Muslim Magomayev, his idol, and after official performances he arranged a concert of his favorite songs at the grave among the assembled fans. The song called.

And what invited the Indian, Ashibek Kumar, to the bike trip? Of course, such serious projects do not pass without dedication. Internationally, the epigraph of his journey also acquires an ecological meaning: "World climate change and global warming", and the slogan is added: "For peace and harmony", in social terms.

The route of the bicycle traveler will pass through European countries to London with a visit to Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and many countries, it is planned to visit 41 countries in Europe. Then he will move to America, where he will ride not only in North, but also in South America, then Australia, New Zealand, probably in the reverse order, but not necessarily. Next comes Africa, many countries, and the return to India.

- Please tell us about your trip to Russia. What surprised you, did you like it and not so much? - Kristina Ignatova, the host of the conference, MIA "Russia Segodnya", asked.

- I liked the people. Many on the road provided assistance, which, usually, first of all, is required by the traveler. This is a vehicle repair and overnight stay. The Russian people did everything free of charge, with pleasure. In Russia, wherever I stayed, a delicious dinner and serene sleep awaited me and, of course, charging my gadgets. My journey is not for the sake of travel, I am driving along the roads of the world in order to convey to everyone who sees me, maybe read my slogans: "For the climate, environment, world peace and harmony." I stay in cities, talk to journalists, as you do now. I prefer to sleep somewhere on a visit than in a tent, communication is the most important here, and it will not hurt to charge my batteries.

As for communication, a lot of people, in particular, in Russia, can perfectly explain themselves in English, surprisingly. And I learned a few Russian words, - Ashibek took out a shabby piece of paper from his pocket and read the usual Russian words, - "thank you", "hello", "how are you", etc.

- I know that in Germany you had a case of an unkind, aggressive attitude towards you, when you had to run away from bandits. Have there been similar cases in Russia? - asked the question of the journalist of the magazine "Geo".

- No, - answered Abishek's question, - I haven't had such cases in Russia. There were, however, troubles with food. It is difficult to explain to people that I am a vegetarian, I do not eat meat, but all dishes of Russian national cuisine, with rare exceptions, are meat.

- Please dwell on a technical issue in more detail. I am sure that you will find followers in our country who want to travel on a bike. What points in the choice of equipment do you consider necessary to note? - The correspondent of our publication asked a question.

Mr Kumar continued:

- My bike is the most common, from the store. Yes, it is not the cheapest, but also not exclusive. For long distance travel, I keep a couple of tires and cameras in stock. Better to have different protectors for different weather conditions. The big plus is that the parts for the "ordinary" large are easily sold all over the world, in which case. But the bike must be strong enough, and not a road racing bike, to withstand several hundred kilometers a day and carry my belongings, in which there is food for 2-3 days, and a tent, and sleeping camping gear and much more. The total weight of the transported exceeds 45 kg. Here is such a large, designed for a very large person, and you should choose.

- At the same time, you run your website almost from the wheels, answer visitors' questions in social networks. How do you manage it, what gadgets do you use? Our readers will surely have similar questions, how do you communicate with the world, WI-FI or GSM?

- Of course, in every country I have a support group, my compatriots help me. They provide SIM cards, which are popular in every place I pass, for free Internet access. I have a GO PRO camera, it is mounted either on the handlebars of a bicycle or on a helmet, there is a tablet and a mobile phone, a camera-soap dish, a lot of light, lights, reflectors in front and behind And, of course, several batteries from which you can recharge all these gadgets on the way. And I recharge the batteries themselves, usually at night, when I “recharge” myself. Be sure to convey this trick to tourists and cyclists. Such high-power batteries, and more than one, should definitely be taken with you, otherwise it's a disaster.

- Do you know that a Japanese cycling traveler not so long ago, also passed Russia with a round-the-world intention, died in a car accident in one of the regions of Russia? How do you get around the completely bike-free Russian roads?

“I have a“policy,”“I am the same as you,”“we are from the same family,”it works whenever I need help, or when an alternative arises, go now or wait. I choose to wait. Safety comes first. Moreover, I will not develop high speed on my loaded bicycle, so let the faster vehicles go forward.

Easy dear to you, Abishek Kumar Sharma. So that, as in Russia, you are met only by kind people, all over the world.