I honestly do not know what better gift you can give yourself than a cycling journey. So when I saw the Red Bull announcement about sliding down on Lukhmedi in Mestia, I immediately started thinking about which route to choose. I wanted roads I had never ridden before, and in Georgia there are not many left.
I left Tbilisi quite late, around noon. On the first day, I rode through familiar yet beautiful villages, from the Mtskheta road toward Dzegvi. By the time I reached Kavtiskhevi, I already felt far from home, as if the adventure had truly begun. I arrived in Gori around 5 pm, found a hotel, left my belongings, and went for a short walk. During the first days of menstruation, I try not to overload myself and instead listen to my body.
The next morning, I reorganized my bags and prepared for a long ride until dark. I followed the road toward Kareli, avoiding the highway. The only unpleasant section was between the Khcisi turn and Khashuri. From Surami toward Kharagauli, the road alternates between gravel and fresh asphalt. The valley was peaceful and perfect for cycling. I reached Zestafoni after dark and continued toward Baghdati, but because many dogs chased me in the darkness, I decided to stop in the village of Dimi at a family guesthouse.
After breakfast in Dimi, I headed toward Kutaisi. I stopped at McDonald’s for what felt like a second breakfast. From Matkhoji, I left Imereti behind and rode through Khobi and Martvili to Tsalenjikha. Finding accommodation that allowed bicycles was difficult, but eventually I managed. Rain was forecast for the next day, and I tried to prepare with enough food and energy.
That night it rained heavily, and in the morning the downpour continued. I dressed slowly, packed everything carefully in plastic bags, and put on rain gear. Approaching Enguri Dam, the cold became intense. At one point, I had to stop and jump to warm my feet and hands. Before entering Barjashi, I found a restaurant where I dried my clothes and warmed up with tea. Later, Red Bull’s car passed by, encouraged me, and gave me drinks. After many climbs, I reached Etseri at about 6 pm. I stayed with a kind host family.
In the morning, it was -8 degrees and sunny. After breakfast, I rode the final 26 kilometers to Mestia, arriving around 1 pm. I registered for Red Bull Lukvrame. The event lasted until late at night. I enjoyed training more than competing and simply ran down the slope instead of pushing hard.
Leaving Mestia the next day was difficult. I even rode six kilometers in the wrong direction at one point. I lost my favorite slippers attached to my bike and rode almost nonstop to Barjashi. From Zugdidi, I planned to take the train, but a friend picked me up by car. This is my story. Many things were left untold. You must experience it yourself to truly understand. I still do not know a better gift you can give yourself than a cycling journey.
Comments (1)