Brussels (Belgium) to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
 

Hi guys (and girls too of course),

Am planning to ride from Brussels to Bishkek this summer (July to be precise). Would like to get there as quickly as possible (got more time for the stans then). So I was wondering which route would be best: a Northern one via Moscow (and then on to Chelyabinsk), or a Southern one via Kiev (and then Uralsk)?
Or maybe even another one?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Just take the E 40
 

Just take the E 40 in Brussels. It'll bring you trough Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Russia into Kazakhstan. It's a bit confusing right after Astrachan, although by now there should be a bridge over the Volga, and who knows, maybe proper signposts....

E40 beyond Astrakhan
 

Hi Robbert!
Thanks for replying. What about road conditions of the E40 between Astrakhan and Nukus? Aren't we going to lose a lot of time there (compared with the Moscow > Chelyabinsk itinerary)? We would definitely prefer the fastest route from Brussels to Bishkek (Kirgizstan).

Short way to Nukus... ?
 

Hey Luc,

Not sure what Map you're looking at, but unless you take the train, I believe the shortway to Nukus (that is the Nukus in Uzbekistan, right?) is via Shimkent and Samarkand. If you're spending too much time on that route I'd say you didn't take enough time off.

East of Astrachan, the roads where between very bad and extremely good. There where a lot of road works ongoing last year, with endless stretches of perfect asfalth where we wheren't allowed on. In our lada station car we spend 2 days between Atyrou and Aktöbe, 2 days between Aktöbe and Aralsk, and 2 days between Aralsk and Turkistan (about). I guess you'll be faster on a bike.

I haven't done the more northerly route, so I don't know, it might save you a few days.

Here's some impressions from on the road...
2007 2 Central Asia - a set on Flickr
Nadjenka - a set on Flickr