Off The Rails: 10,000 km by Bicycle across Russia, Siberia and Mongolia to China

by Chris Hatherly, Tim Cope

This is the true story of two twenty-year old Australians who travelled for fourteen months on recumbent bicycles from Russia, across Siberia and Mongolia, to Beijing. It is as much a story of perseverance, passion, and belief as it is about the people and remarkable landscapes of Siberia and Mongolia. Tim and Chris are not just fearless adventurers but philosophers on wheels, willing and able to open themselves up to everything from the voice of the Steppes to the Russian villagers and the nomads of the Gobi desert. From this they draw an often funny, moving and inspirational tale of living out a dream. Mixed into this journey is the story of their tumultuous relationship as two opposing wills battle it out in the midst of heat, snow and hunger.

Genres: Travel, Russia, Cycling, China, Nonfiction, Asia, Adventure

439 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[LibraryKath · Rating 1 out of 5]

One dude spent WAY too much time moping over his girlfriend and I couldn't continue reading it.

[Megan Reardon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Tim Cope's On The Trail of Genghis Khan, so I had to read this too. It's an awesome story and actually a great read, but I marked it lower because I found the writing style to be not as good. There was less cultural information in some sections and wayyy too much information about Tim and Chris's bickering and Chris moping over missing his fiancé. Might have been a big deal to him but not productive from a literary standpoint!

[Chelsey Meighan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best or the funniest, but still a good read

[Gordon Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

How we whinged our way across Russia and China.
A disappointing tale, written in alternative chapters where they complain about each other.
Could have been so much better.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the true story of 2 Australian lads who decided to ride across Russia, Siberia, Mongolia and China to Beijing on recumbant bicycles. I was particularly interested to read this as it mirrored quite closely a journey I took by train. The chapters alternte between the two authors and whilst Tim's chapters were well written and interesting, I found Chris's chapters a little lacking and all too full of how much he was missing his girlfriend.

A really good read, I'd recommend it.

[Tito Quiling, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Off the Rails is probably one of my favorite travel books to date, and although the narration can be quite confusing at times, since it switches between the two authors every now and then, the reader would probably figure out the differences in their characters as one goes through the book.

Written by Tim Cope and Chris Hatherly in 2003, the book is practically a journal of their 10,000km journey from Moscow to Beijing on recumbent (customized) bicycles in a span of 14 months. As with every destination, they managed to achieve this feat, but with numerous adventures along the way, while they were still in their early 20s.

More than the spirit of traveling deeply embedded in the book, there are certain moments where you suddenly stop because the last lines you've read describe exactly what you feel about your life. For Cope and Hatherly, riding across Russia, Siberia, Mongolia and ending up in China meant meeting various locals along the way and experiencing their hospitality, acquiring frostbites, diarrhea, and fighting weight loss, camping in schizophrenic weathers, and discovering a lot about your companion, and yourself.

Tim Cope defined this perfectly in the following lines: "I knew what kind of experience I wanted. I had learnt that it wasn't the spectacular moment that made journeys special for me -- they were always transient and rare. It was finding enjoyment and a deep satisfaction from the ordinary and routine that was most important. And the only way to do that, I though was to get to know a place deeply."

[Warren Gossett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of adventure by two Australians in their early 20's, about the same age as my surfing son now. Tim Cope and Chris Hatherly travelled, camping very roughly, across Siberia to Beijing in the year 2000. Camping with mosquitos, ticks, rain, and heat. Meeting Russians, though having only a rudimentary knowledge of Russian and none of Mongolian and Mandarin. They had to cope with the with the winter cold, excessive alcohol, poor food, and the rural poverty but friendliness of most but also the rudeness and criminality of a few.

Of course, I know I am different. If I am on holiday from my middle class life in America and Australia, I have always preferred, even in my 20's, soft beds, 4 or 5 star hotels, and vegan food. I learned something reading about Tim and Chris's adventure, but never would attempt anything like it myself. I was happy to hear Tim Cope at the Perth Writers Festival 2017.

One of the funniest things to me in the book is this story on the road in Siberia.

"The country escaped definition - it wasn't Europe, it wasn't Asia, and it wasn't even a northern or southern culture.

That evening, as I pedalled fiercely to reach a hilltop, a petrol tanker stopped in front of me. The driver stepped out, motioning for me to stop.

'C'mon, have a couple of shots of vodka with me,' he urged.

'Oh, no, I had better not. I find it pretty difficult to ride after vodka,' I replied.

He peered down at me in sheer anger and puzzlement.

'And you think it's easy to drive a petrol tanker after a couple of shots of vodka?' he yelled."

[Ria Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surreal undertaking of an adventure!

I have always liked Tim Cope's travelogue, and Chris' was something I had to get used to. But he was probably more real with his insecurities and passions which at first was annoying, but later morphed into mature understanding. They are both true explorers! 👍

[Nancy Dardarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. Two thoughtful young men traverse Russia and Mongolia to end up in China. What a story. And what an interesting look into the people and environment that I knew so little about. Now I need to track down the documentary they made.

[Shane Vontelin Van Breda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to be inspired for your next adventure give this a try. I first read this years ago. I’m considering picking it up again.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting choice to bike across Siberia made this a unique read. Some funny parts, some history, some current events during the time of the trip. I have a feeling when the authors look back on this, they'll cringe at what they were so preoccupied with throughout the journey. Mainly, one of them pining over his girlfriend the entire trip and both of them nitpicking each other's idiosyncrasies. Two people of such profoundly different personalities should not spend so much time together. That was made quite obvious and made for petty arguments and dull reading.

[Nasreen Ghori · Rating 4 out of 5]

& the conclusion they find was: that every problem finds its solution in the end, does not matter how much awkward. That there are more good people in the world than the bad ones. That at the end of the day you never sleep hungry. That you can make it, you just have to keep moving through thick and thin.

Tim and Chris rode approximately 100 km per day without any google map, GPS or fan following at a time when mobile phone was a rarity and FB was not invented munching on tons of Pryaniki biscuits. They spent 14 months together. . .

https://nasreenghori.blogspot.com/201...

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just makes me want to drop everything and ride a bike around the country. An inspiring and moving read, with honest humour and real trials of grit.
The two author diary style of writing can be a bit messy at times. I was left wanting more at some points.
Time to track down their film to watch!

[Diane P · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read tale of true adventure. It made you think a little more about what we actually need in life when you read of people with a lot less but are happy & hospitable. A tale of travelling light.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about two 19 year old Aussie guys that ride recumbent bikes across the countries stated in the title.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome travelogue of two australians cycling on recumbent bicycles from western russian to beijing china, through mongolia.

[Kate]

Loved the adventuring and philosophising.

[Westerag]

great read. Highly recommended.

[Nightocelot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than their film about it.

[Vjnobregayahoo.Co.Uk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent adventurous book, full of wit and brilliantly put together. Very inspiring!!

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great escape during lockdown - hopefully on the cards one day.

[Terry Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Privilege to Read

Wow, it really is a great thing to be able to relax at home and read about this expedition. Tim is a great writer and adventurer.
It is so refreshing to read in these times of "stopping the boats" of refugees, of the absolute appreciation and respect these two adventurers developed for the most poverty stricken, hard living yet generous and kind, babushkas. A story of that acknowledges man's capacity for cruelty and violence bm while promoting an underlying faith in the hope and trust among humankind

[Christel Keijzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic journey by 2 young Australians, who bravely endured all sorts of hardships traversing Russia through Mongolia, to Beijing. Having hair-raising adventures along the way and meeting fascinating people, some who had never met foreigners before and were usually very interested to welcome stranger.
And leaves you wondering whether they telephoned Baba Galya at the end of their trip letting them know of their successful arrival..

[Fin Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well delivered overview of the lads' travels. The idea for them to write alternating chapters was wise and allowed for the challenges, high and lows and perspectives of each to be incorporated into the book. It also shed light on the pains and joys of travelling so intimately with a mate! A time when travelling was simpler before mobile phones. Reading the book was a great escape from the perils of 9-5 working life!

[Jay Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully written book and a hearty read! Tim and Chris’s adventures in the Russian and Mongolian hinterland was truly encapsulating. The idea of living for a year in the wilderness in itself is spectacularly simple and the book certainly does justice to describing the beauty of that landscape.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Tim's I've read and I really enjoyed it. As someone else mentioned Chris goes on about his girlfriend a bit but the journey that these guys undertook was incredible.
I've travelled around that area a little bit myself and was struck by many similarities between our journeys.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided me with a lot of insight into Russia (in the late 90s) and to a lesser extent Mongolia and China.
This book successfully depicts the challenging experience of travelling from Moscow to Beijing on bike.
An example of escapism through non fiction.
It made me want to go on another adventure!

[David Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off The Rails ** Read in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia and Dubai (August 2023)

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredible, insane journey and window into grim but resilient life in Russia at the turn of the century. Unfortunately, not very well written, but worth reading for the journey.

[Tole]

Still nothing amazing but i really like reading about people travelling :)