Revolutionary Armenia: Travelling By Bicycle Through The New Republic

Filed under .

Until now, I feel like I’ve done a pretty bad job of telling tales of travel and adventure in the Republic of Armenia.

This feels counterintuitive, as Armenia is one of the countries in which I’ve spent the most time on the road, to where I have returned most often (those who’ve seen or read Janapar will know why), and thus about which I have the most to share.

I’ve written about being a digital nomad in Yerevan, and why you might come cycling here, but travel writing per se? Pretty much nothing.

I’m hoping to remedy this situation today by kicking off a season of Armenia-focused cycling adventures.

You might say it’s an interesting time to do this, politically speaking. Armenia has made headlines these last couple of weeks for becoming the second nation in the Caucasus to peacefully overthrow its despotic Soviet-generation leadership, echoing neighbour Georgia’s Rose Revolution of 2003. (Two down, one to go, some are saying.)

Indeed, I was myself one of the estimated 100,000-strong crowd in Republic Square on Monday, when Serzh Sargsyan announced his resignation in the biggest political upheaval since the 1991 independence. ‘Electrifying’ doesn’t even begin to do the atmosphere justice.

The provocation that started it all? Spending the maximum 10 year term as President before rewriting the constitution and moving seamlessly into the new role of Prime Minister. He lasted all of six days. Doubtless Serzh had thought this a particularly clever manoeuvre in the face of mounting unpopularity, but it was a step too far for a newly empowered generation of Armenians – and he now looks set to bring down the entire establishment with him.

But this is not just a loud minority in Yerevan. It’s a truly national movement; one of those all-too-rare unifying forces that seems to have encompassed all. And while it would be fascinating to stay and experience how things play out in the capital, it’ll be equally fascinating to see how the rest of the country feels about it all – and I’ll be doing so from the seat of a bicycle.

I know, I know, it’s a tiny little country, smaller than Belgium and with a population comparable to Birmingham. But I think of Armenia’s diminutive size as an advantage. Rather than spreading myself thinly across a vast area, I can instead go deep, really getting under the skin of the place and satisfying lots of other travel clichés. As with my escapades in neighbouring Iran, speaking the language is bound to help with this.

The journey starts right now. Like, today. It’s going to be a bloody interesting ride – I don’t know why I haven’t done this before!

Tales from the road will appear here on TomsBikeTrip.com every week, as has become customary. I’ll share daily images and snippets on Twitter and Instagram (which will also go through to my least favourite social media platform). There might even be the occasional video, too.

With the kind and generous support of the Awesome Foundation’s Yerevan chapter, I’ll be sharing the best of the routes I ride, as well as writing up a spread of background information on cycling in Armenia on a dedicated new website, on which more details soon.

Rather than this being just another ‘look at me’ exercise, then, the legacy should be a collection of road-tested routes all over Armenia – routes that you can incorporate into your own rides if (when?) you finally make it over here…

Because you are planning a bike trip to the new and revolutionary Republic of Armenia, aren’t you?

Comments (skip to respond)

6 responses to “Revolutionary Armenia: Travelling By Bicycle Through The New Republic”

  1. ANDREW CHOFFIN avatar
    ANDREW CHOFFIN

    Hi Tom. Plugged in Armenia cycle touring and you’re name popped up. Naturally!
    I only thought of this country whilst watching “The Promise” dvd. A very harrowing film indeed. Anyway, what are the seasonal logistics cycling there please? I fancy a combo of wild camping and all varieties of accommodation. How’s it with getting vegetarian food there too please? And would 1>2 weeks be ok as a taster?

    1. Hey Andrew! Check out cyclingarmenia.com for a lot of information on this topic. Anything not covered there just drop me a line!

  2. Good luck Tom! Armenia was great to hitchhike last year but yes, I can certainly see the cycling appeal and have been told the same by some other travellers… will come back with a bike sometimes soon, for the moment, I’m off to explore Pakistan 🙂

  3. It’s on my list. Looks like there aren’t many trees in the hills. Are you taking a tent or a hammock?

    1. Tent this time – trying out a Terra Nova Starlite 2. There are enough trees in the valleys that I think you could hammock it, though.

  4. John Metcalfe avatar
    John Metcalfe

    You’re definitely selling this to me Tom. I’m so pleased you are writing this account. I’m fascinated by the whole region and hope I’ll get there soon. Meanwhile I’ll lick my lips reading your stories. We need more of this to inform folks over here in the UK about the deep history and culture of the place (that includes me). Well done my man.

Something to add?