Cyclists from Poland Discover Joy Riding on Frozen Balkhash Lake
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Imagine pedaling your way across a massive frozen lake, the clear ice stretching as far as your eyes can see, a vast frozen horizon, and the thrill of a feeling of complete freedom - that's what drew two Polish biking enthusiasts, Ryszard Jakubowski and Jakub Rybicki, to cycle across Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan.
In February, they embarked on an adventure to conquer the approximately 636-kilometer long lake and document their journey. They shared their experience, the challenges they encountered along the way, and the warm encounters with locals that made this wild expedition unforgettable.
Challenges on the Ice
Lake Balkhash, located in southeastern Kazakhstan, is one of the largest lakes in Central Asia, with a unique natural phenomenon: its western part contains fresh water, while the eastern part is saline. In the winter months, Lake Balkhash freezes, making it possible for people to ski, run, and bike across the ice.
Jakub Rybicki has always been on the lookout for large lakes to cycle across, and Lake Balkhash was no exception.
"Another big lake, which is frozen, relatively easy to get to, and nobody has cycled it before. There were a few people as far as I know, who have tried to cycle all of Balkhash, but nobody succeeded in cycling its whole length. Of course, we also didn't succeed, but we lost with style," said Rybicki.
They thought they had prepared for everything, except snow. Their journey started in mid-February at the northern shore of Lake Balkhash, but a thick layer of snow blanketed the ice, causing setbacks in their plans. The bikes they brought might be suitable for clean ice, but the layer of snow made it difficult, and in some cases, impossible.
"We spent one day cycling and the second day the whole day for eight or 10 hours, we were just pushing the bikes, doing close to no progress. After the second day of pushing the bikes and suffering, we went on the road because the conditions were not changing, and we decided to cycle on the road and check if in the next 50-100 kilometers the situation is changing," said Jakubowski.
"Snow is the main challenge," Rybicki agreed. “Cycling around a lake is, I think, the most easy thing that people consider extreme. But actually, it's not very extreme - the temperatures may be extreme, but if you have good clothes, it is easy to deal with.”
Biking Across a Frozen Lake for the First Time
Jakubowski has walked thousands of kilometers over deserts, picturesque trails, and high mountains before trying his hand at cycling. This was his first experience cycling on a frozen lake, unlike his companion Rybicki, who had cycled across the deepest lake in the world before.
"My journey with the bicycle started when I was doing a trip around Poland. I decided that before I go abroad, it would be nice to see my own country. So, I did two walking trails around 1,000 kilometers long, then I used a canoe and paddled along the western border with Germany and on the Baltic Sea, and then I did over 1,000 kilometers on a bicycle. This was my first longer experience with the bicycle,” said Jakubowski.
Rybicki discussed his own cycling journey, "I've cycled roughly most of Europe by bike. In 2009, we made the trip from Poland to Greece, which was around 3,000 kilometers. It was August, it was crazy hot - like 40 degrees hot. The asphalt was melting under our tires. After that trip, together with my friend, we decided that our next destination should be the polar circle, and we cycled to Murmansk the next year. It was also August, but it was like 80 degrees behind the polar circle, so it was cool. We decided that we prefer this kind of weather.”
When he realized he enjoyed cycling in cold conditions, this passion fostered a new approach to adventure travel.
"For the next trip, we decided to go to an even colder region, and it was Baikal Lake in Siberia. We cycled roughly 900 kilometers around Baikal Lake. It is 636 kilometers long, but we made lots of detours," Rybicki continued.
"After crossing the deepest lake on the planet, we decided it would be cool to cross the ocean, so we went to Greenland. We were cycling the Arctic Circle trail on the fjords. It was an ocean, technically, but also the mountains and lakes of frozen Greenland. After that, we went to Kungsleden, which is a very cool trail in Swedish Lapland behind the polar circle as well,” he added.
Warm Encounters along the Way
For Jakubowski, cycling across Lake Balkhash provided the maximum scenic delights as a first-time experience.
"I loved the vast spaces of Balkhash and the experience of being alone with such a huge lake, sleeping in a tent, spending a night on the lake - that was something nice! Cycling in buran [snowstorm], that was also something I never experienced before," said Jakubowski.
Beyond the breathtaking landscapes, interacting with local people is what many travelers remember with warmth. One memorable encounter was with Andrey, a former soldier from Priozyorsk who had served in Poland. Their shared connection to the country sparked meaningful conversations and left a lasting impression.
"After the second day, we slept over at Andrey's house, we started moving forward, but then buran [snowstorm] started and Andrey kind of saved us because he came with his car. We were already almost at the highway when he came and said, 'Come on, guys, it's not reasonable to cycle in this weather.' And he was right," Jakubowski said.
Locals were largely surprised by the reason for their visit to Balkhash.
"We also met some Polish people, descendants of Polish people who were moved to Kazakhstan during World War II," he added.
For Rybicki, it's about harvesting kilometers on pure ice.
"I really enjoyed the first day of actual cycling, when we started from the city of Balkhash, and we could really do cycling - that was what I expected from that trip. The vast space, some ice hills made of crushing ice parts, and this feeling of pure freedom - that was cool. It's a beautiful big lake, and the possibilities of cycling on pure ice were tempting. We didn't have a lot of pure ice, but when you try it for once, finding yourself on one huge iceskating rink, then you become addicted to this kind of adventure,” Rybicki said.
The future holds a pursuit of fresh icy terrains for both cyclists, as they plan to explore ice-covered lakes around the world, including Canada, Alaska, and other remote regions.
“I'm considering right now, North America, Canada. There's Alaska as well. There are some polar regions that I'm really looking forward to cycling in. I'm also thinking about doing some trips on the skis. Where it's impossible to ride a bike, you can ski, right?” said Rybicki. “I'm now hooked on ice cycling and hope to take on new trips in the future,” Jakubowski added.
- Despite encountering challenges such as snow and bitter temperatures, the cycling adventure across Lake Balkhash was worthwhile for Ryszard Jakubowski and Jakub Rybicki, offering a unique lifestyle immersed in outdoor living.
- The experience of cycling across Lake Balkhash, with its 636-kilometer length, added another noteworthy feat to the travel journey of these two cyclists, joining their previous expeditions that included sports like hockey and other outdoor activities.
- The adventure of biking across Lake Balkhash not only tested their cycling skills but also provided the opportunity for home-and-garden experiences, as they stayed with local people like Andrey, a former soldier from Priozyorsk, who offered them shelter during their journey.
- Though they failed to cycle the entire length of the lake, Ryszard Jakubowski and Jakub Rybicki look forward to future expeditions, considering ice-covered lakes in countries like Canada and Alaska, as well as exploring remote regions on skis during winter months.
- Armed with their belief that ice cycling offers a feeling of pure freedom, Ryszard Jakubowski and Jakub Rybicki plan to document their future adventures, hoping to inspire others to embrace the lifestyle of extreme sports and outdoor living.
