Torsten FrankFeb 17

Atlas Mountain Race is fakenews. Hasn't really happened yet. Still too fresh.

Any content from it still needs to mature. Like good cheese. Kyrgyz cheese, in fact.

Yes. Like Kurut! 😅

So here is my well cured day 11 report of the last Silk Road Mountain Race. 😉😄

https://www.instagram.com/p/DU3fGOyjH8t/?img_index=1

#SRMR2025
#SRMR2025cap201
#silkroadmountainrace
#bikepacking
#ultracycling
#weitradeln
#Kyrgyzstan
#Kirgisistan

Torsten Frank | Day 11 of my Silk Road Mountain Race. I wake up refreshed just before the sun rises over the ridge line. But of course that is already 7:30... | Instagram

62 likes, 8 comments - torsten_frank on February 17, 2026: "Day 11 of my Silk Road Mountain Race. I wake up refreshed just before the sun rises over the ridge line. But of course that is already 7:30...

Instagram
Amnesty DuesseldorfJan 30
Die Journalistin Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy ist in #Kirgisistan zu Unrecht im Gefängnis. Sie berichtete über Korruption und Menschenrechtsverletzungen... Ihr Berufungsverfahren steht bevor. #Pressefreiheit
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/01/kyrgyzstan-authorities-must-free-journalist-makhabat-tazhibek-kyzy-and-quash-her-wrongful-conviction/
Kyrgyzstan: Authorities must free journalist Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy and quash her wrongful conviction

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has unequivocally concluded that Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy’s imprisonment is unlawful, her conviction must be quashed, and she must be immediately released and compensated for the violations suffered

Amnesty International
Ute S.Jan 15
Die gefährlichsten Schulwege der Welt - Kirgisistan

arte Doku

https://arteptweb-a.akamaihd.net/am/ptweb/118000/118600/118628-000-A_SQ_0_VOA-STA_10733361_MP4-2200_AMM-PTWEB-101163529615219_2lN4D7JQBE.mp4

#film #doku #arte #schulwege #kirgisistan
Torsten FrankDec 30

Während andere schon festeweg Jahresrückblicke und was sonst noch posten, bin ich gerade mal bei Tag 10 des Silk Road Mountain Races angelangt... 🙈😅

Gerade frisch veröffentlicht: Day 10 Recap mit Start aus Naryn, über den Iyri-Suu und dann hinein in das Tal des Smaller Naryn River...

Drüben bei Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DS5nyWyDGOq/?img_index=1

(kommt dann auch irgendwann im Blog, wenn ich komplett durch bin)
#SRMR2025
#SRMR2025cap201
#silkroadmountainrace
#bikepacking
#ultracycling
#Kyrgyzstan
#Kirgisistan

Torsten Frank on Instagram: "Woke up refreshed in my guest house bed. Breakfast could have been richer. It’s basically only a bowl of rice pudding with a spoon of melted butter, yum. And a bit of dry bread and tea. Oh well. I’m in Naryn, scratch city. But scratching here I didn’t. I’m still on the race course. But in my mind I’m already very much on touring mode since CP 2. Having pondered several options to reach the finish in Karakol under my own steam but without time pressure before the finish closure which will be on Saturday, midnight 24:00 hours. Today is Monday. I have 990 km under my belt. But still 934 km to go. Which is not impossible - given that there isn’t any more super ridiculous hiking ahead and technically I have many more hours of the day left to spread my riding time into. But that would have meant a seismic shift in effort after all these previous days and I also would arive at the last second probably only. Leaving me to pack my bike in the night for the bus drive to Bishkek on Sunday morning. And packing my bike is something I like the least and takes me long even at the best of times. Unlike actually riding, hiking and hoisting my bike it’s also the activity which is hampered most by my back problems. Or maybe second most hampered to actually getting up and dressed in the mornings and pack camp. Which always takes the extra minutes in this race for me. Many such minutes, actually. Apart from having the satisfaction of completing the race I’m already over the moon that I crossed Kyrgyzstan from South-West to North-East over such many mountain ranges and intend to reach the finish line under my own steam. But don’t need the last parts of the race route for this. But I really want to see the Burhkan and Arabel valley. And I want to spent at least a full day in Karakol to take the finish line vibes and post race bubble all in. So my plan matured the previous days, route options got considered and now it’s pretty much decided: I will follow the route until the cross roads on the Arabel Plateau at km 1200 and then turn left towards CP 3. Still on the race route, but omitting the 150 km loop around the upper Naryn valley. (cont'd in comments)"

13 likes, 2 comments - torsten_frank on December 30, 2025: "Woke up refreshed in my guest house bed. Breakfast could have been richer. It’s basically only a bowl of rice pudding with a spoon of melted butter, yum. And a bit of dry bread and tea. Oh well. I’m in Naryn, scratch city. But scratching here I didn’t. I’m still on the race course. But in my mind I’m already very much on touring mode since CP 2. Having pondered several options to reach the finish in Karakol under my own steam but without time pressure before the finish closure which will be on Saturday, midnight 24:00 hours. Today is Monday. I have 990 km under my belt. But still 934 km to go. Which is not impossible - given that there isn’t any more super ridiculous hiking ahead and technically I have many more hours of the day left to spread my riding time into. But that would have meant a seismic shift in effort after all these previous days and I also would arive at the last second probably only. Leaving me to pack my bike in the night for the bus drive to Bishkek on Sunday morning. And packing my bike is something I like the least and takes me long even at the best of times. Unlike actually riding, hiking and hoisting my bike it’s also the activity which is hampered most by my back problems. Or maybe second most hampered to actually getting up and dressed in the mornings and pack camp. Which always takes the extra minutes in this race for me. Many such minutes, actually. Apart from having the satisfaction of completing the race I’m already over the moon that I crossed Kyrgyzstan from South-West to North-East over such many mountain ranges and intend to reach the finish line under my own steam. But don’t need the last parts of the race route for this. But I really want to see the Burhkan and Arabel valley. And I want to spent at least a full day in Karakol to take the finish line vibes and post race bubble all in. So my plan matured the previous days, route options got considered and now it’s pretty much decided: I will follow the route until the cross roads on the Arabel Plateau at km 1200 and then turn left towards CP 3. Still on the race route, but omitting the 150 km loop around the upper Naryn valley. (cont'd in comments)".

Instagram
Torsten FrankDec 1

Silk Road Mountain Race Report, Day 9:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRu37t5DHab/

Towards and reaching Naryn!

#SRMR2025
#SRMR2025cap201
#silkroadmountainrace
#BlueCaravan
#bikepacking
#ultracycling
#weitradeln
#Kyrgyzstan
#Kirgisistan

Torsten Frank on Instagram: "Day 9 and Naryn awaits! I get up a bit after 7 am. It did indeed rain last night. It’s still very cloudy when I finally start pedalling at 8:42. First interesting point will be Kunda Pass at 3398 m. Well - from this side it’s hardly noticable. It’s only 300 m above the Ak-Say river I crossed yesterday afternoon. But before, surprise: another watch tower, military checkpoint and borderline. Oh yes - here it is where our border permits will be checked. Shortly after I’m already at the crest of the pass. A good rideable serpentine gravel piste follows. Nice views are opening into the North and it’s stark how green everything suddenly is. There is actual grass. And trees. You can also smell it in the air. It’s been 4 days since I’ve been at that low altitude - which still is over 2700 m. And will be 2.400 m at the lowest when I will reach Ak-Muz at noon. But not there yet! When the major descending part ends the piste and valley turns left and west. Lush valley, contrasting sediment coloured rivers. And then: washboard from hell. There were traces of whashboard already earlier. Today and on former days. But this is the most severe so far. You also can’t escape to a lesser or even non-corrugated lane. Trying left or right, middle or very edge - nowhere it’s really ok. I title the respective Strava activity of this day as: „Waschbrettpiste des Todes bis Naryn“. On the plus side: it’s basically all slowly downhill (sans a few counter ascents) towards Ak-Muz which I reach 55 km from my morning start point. This took me over 4 hours despite all the descending, though! There really isn’t any rpm left in my motor. It basically is stuck at super low power. This and the washboard combined has me riding at only 100 Watts average! Oh my. (cont'd in comments)"

28 likes, 4 comments - torsten_frank on December 1, 2025: "Day 9 and Naryn awaits! I get up a bit after 7 am. It did indeed rain last night. It’s still very cloudy when I finally start pedalling at 8:42. First interesting point will be Kunda Pass at 3398 m. Well - from this side it’s hardly noticable. It’s only 300 m above the Ak-Say river I crossed yesterday afternoon. But before, surprise: another watch tower, military checkpoint and borderline. Oh yes - here it is where our border permits will be checked. Shortly after I’m already at the crest of the pass. A good rideable serpentine gravel piste follows. Nice views are opening into the North and it’s stark how green everything suddenly is. There is actual grass. And trees. You can also smell it in the air. It’s been 4 days since I’ve been at that low altitude - which still is over 2700 m. And will be 2.400 m at the lowest when I will reach Ak-Muz at noon. But not there yet! When the major descending part ends the piste and valley turns left and west. Lush valley, contrasting sediment coloured rivers. And then: washboard from hell. There were traces of whashboard already earlier. Today and on former days. But this is the most severe so far. You also can’t escape to a lesser or even non-corrugated lane. Trying left or right, middle or very edge - nowhere it’s really ok. I title the respective Strava activity of this day as: „Waschbrettpiste des Todes bis Naryn“. On the plus side: it’s basically all slowly downhill (sans a few counter ascents) towards Ak-Muz which I reach 55 km from my morning start point. This took me over 4 hours despite all the descending, though! There really isn’t any rpm left in my motor. It basically is stuck at super low power. This and the washboard combined has me riding at only 100 Watts average! Oh my. (cont'd in comments)".

Instagram
Paul WohlfahrtNov 29
In #Kirgisistan wird morgen ein neues Parlament gewählt.
Die Wahlkomission wirbt dafür mit SMS an alle und informiert noch einmal darüber wo man alle wichtigen Informationen zur Wähltenahme findet.
Wäre vielleicht auch etwas für Deutschland
Show threadPaul WohlfahrtNov 25
#Kirgisistan & #Russland sind Teil der Eurasischen Wirtschaftsunion, 🇷🇺 der wichtigste Handelspartner für das zentralasiatische Land, das sich um einen Balanceakt zwischen 🇷🇺, 🇨🇳 & westlichen Staaten bemüht.
2025 gingen die Importe aus der EU erstmals wieder merklich zurück
Paul WohlfahrtNov 25
Putins Konvoi in #Bishkek.
Der russische Präsident ist für drei Tage in der kirgisischen Hauptstadt, um insbesondere über die Handelsbeziehungen der beiden Länder zu sprechen. #Kirgisistan ist eines der zentralen Hubs um die westlichen Sanktionen zu umgehen
Paul WohlfahrtNov 25
Du weißt es gibt einen Staatsbesuch in #Bishkek, wenn alle 20m entlang der Chuy Avenue ein Polizist steht.
Putin ist für einige Tage in der Stadt, um insbesondere über Handelsbeziehungen zu sprechen.
#Kirgisistan ist einer der Staaten, über die Sanktionen massiv Umgangen werden
Paul WohlfahrtNov 20
Wahlkampf in #Kirgisistan ist, wenn dir das Wahlplakat direkt an die Haustür geklebt wird