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Wild fling in the Himalayas [Nepal]
Quick update from a recent fling with the Himalayas (Nepal).
During a recent work-trip to Nepal, I was able to escape from the hustle of Kathmandu to do a short 2 days stint of serious mountain biking in the foothills of the Himalayas.
We met Tangi, a french pro-MTB rider (and local resident for the last 5 years in Pokhara) and he took us to his favourite trails for the next 2 days. He used to be a competition rider for COMMENCAL (a well-regarded MTB brand in Europe) and is sponsored by the company to teach 15 local Nepali kids to become pro-riders.
The bikes for hire were the latest from the Commencal stable, bot full sus and hard tails. see: http://www.commencal.com/news/index_en.htm
We spent the next 2 days climbing an average of 1200 mtrs/day, through Nepali villages, rice terraces and rugged "jeep tracks", followed by some long sweeping downhill decents. Overall an absolute blast - highly recommended (and cheap at $ 60 p.p./day, incl. hire of late model Commencal bikes).
I've also posted some more pics in photo gallery...see http://nobmob.com/image/tid/847
Tangi does more extreme tours, too, incl. a 3 days descent through the Annapurna range, check this for a flavour:
Contact me if you'd like some more info. See you on the trails.
Rgds, Hans
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...That looks awesome, Hans. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Anke
can we go????????????
that is such a good trip what amazing views how mad is that view from the top of the suspension bridge when they ride down , and ahh nice local flora in the foreground of that one section.
What more can you say.
riding there right now (but that's just me)
I went trecking there for a month a few years ago and remember how small and humble I felt walking through the silence of these massive mountains. We were only the two of us and met only a few other tourists. (that was AWAY from Kathmandu though!!)
While listing to some of the legends about mountains and their gods I felt almost like tip toeing around and at the same time it was was one of the best trips.
As much as I like riding stairs... everything there is so old and has so much meaning....
But maybe I am just a bit too romantic...
Riding those serpentine dirt roads looks definitely better than taking one of those buses, crammed with people and animals
Sounds like an amazing trip!!
I've also posted some pics in photo gallery...see http://nobmob.com/image/tid/847
Contact me if you'd like some more info. See you on the trails.
Rgds, Hans
Entertaining the locals in Nepal..and our french/local guide Tangi doing some bunny hops...in the foothills of the Himalayas!
http://youtu.be/Zce8_q20Pm0
Some of the smoother downhill section...no traffic up here! This descent kept on rollin' for another 40 mins!
http://youtu.be/bb5BN2Afypg
See you on the trails!
Rgds, Hans
Mmmm, I agree with Caro on this. Nepal is beautiful, I trekked there a few years ago too and as much as I love mountain biking, I would hate to see those ancient trials and stone staircases damaged from people riding the trails. I really hope mountain biking doesn't become too commercial there.
Hear you ...and agree....Nepal is a special place worth preserving!
While on our rides, we stayed on well used surfaces only - main tracks, jeep roads, etc. No comparison to the impact the local vehicles incl. the overloaded smoke belching local 20 ton buses and trucks you encounter even on the higher altitude tracks...(See http://nobmob.com/node/4635 and http://nobmob.com/node/4635)
The real environmental problem in Nepal is:
a) erosion due to climate change (increased snow melts, mud slides etc)
b) bad air pollution in the main capitals due to increase in increasing urbaisation and un-legislated motor vehicles and
c) no investment in infrastructure, e.g. roads, trails (despite Nepal being one of the highest per capita recipients of foreign aid).
d) low quality fuel - permanent smog in Kathmandu due to the habit of local truckies in Nepal to stretch their diesel fuel with low grade kerosne (cough).
One of the key benefits I see in the relatively green activity of MTB'ing is that you spread your spending amongst the local remote villagers, by staying and eating in the villages. And most MTB's ers are enviro sensitive and don't ride on the steps (or on the grass...)
So rest assured, the MTB activities in Nepal are relatively rare, with only a few (mainly local) operators and guides.
Contact me if you would like more info.
Rgds, Hans