Lhasa to Kathmandu - some questions

In 2001, the only quality bikes were other bikers selling their bikes. The chinese bikes are rubbish. They can be used around town, cost appr. 60$.
A saddle post broke on my chinese bike, because it was too thin and chinese never adjust it up in the right postion. I had to stand up for the 14km back to Lhasa. gearshift is clicking, but not into position etc.

It can have changed but I prefer to bring my own bike, then you can prepare and test everything at home.

I have a map with description of the Lhasa-KTM trip and I even think there is a LP guide about just that trip

Search for permit, there have been a lot of threads about it.

I'd recommend getting the Trailblazer guide 'Tibet Overland' by Kym McConnell. Its getting a little dated now, but the information on routes is still the best available.

I agree with #1, its very difficult to get a suitable bike in China. Most local mtb's are rubbish, not up to a trip like that. Bring your own.

The situation with permits is changing all the time. You can arrange an entry to Tibet by using travel agents in China. You are required to have a PSB permit to cycle Lhasa to Kathmandu - most get it in Shigatse. But in the last few years it seems that the authorities rarely if ever check it - many cyclists never bothered to get it and didn't have any problems. You need a separate pass to get to Everest Base Camp, but this is a formality, you get it in one of the local villages.

I don't know if anyone has tried bringing bikes on the new train - I'd be interested to see how people get on with it.

You can buy 'Giant' or 'Merida' stock bikes or the frames and have a bike built to your specifications in Beijing. You will have a lot more difficulty doing it in Lhasa - in fact I doubt its possible there. Its also possible in Chengdu. Learn from my mistake of locking my bike outside in Beijing ten feet from a security guard at the insistence of the hotel. The hack-sawed the bike rack to get the bike and nobody saw or heard a thing - ten feet from the security guard's desk.

From what I understand, you should definitely book your ticket in advance. Be aware that there are illegal or sham websites that 'claim' to be the official website for the train. Do some research on the China /North Asia branch.

You get an entry permit as part of your ticket to Tibet, either by air or train. You are technically supposed to get an overland Alien Travel permit in Shigatse, but nobody has been asking to see it for the last two years (05/06) from all the reports and people I've met with who have been there.

Even though the Tibet Overland book is something like 13 years old, its still a valuable book. At least bring photocopies of the pages for the route you will be taking.
The Friendship highwa is the main and easiest route through to Kathmandu. Its also been heavily travelled, so you will run into a lot of begging and some pursuing children who will grab things off your bike/or try. Chasing them back always seemed to work - but the problem is they tend to find you at the end of the day on a climb.

You can have a read of my trip. I had to stop just after EBC due to illness and weather. Warning: its long.

I recommend a Chinese phrasebook and a working oral knowledge of some basic Tibetan, such as hello, thank you, where is, how much, some food items, some numbers, some bicycle part words or general travel things like 'hotel' camp, etc. I don;t really recommend the Tibetan phrasebook because the Tibetans I met did not seem to be able to read. If you can get a basic oral Chinese down as well - that will help you, but the chinese I met seemed to be able to read if I could not pronounce the words properly.

One more thing. A hotel may be reluctant to allow you to bring your bike inside, but they will never actually physically prevent you from doing it. If they do - don;t stay.