mtb Himachal 2010 - Bala Aluru's experience

Its been a week since I returned from the mtbHimachal. And from the moment I returned I have been siphoned back into the grind. So its only today I am managing to write something.

Mates, I have to tell you, it was one helluva rock and roll! I thought I will let my emotions flow in this blog rather than record a chronology of events in the race.

First, the locales left me breathless. Being the HBC guys we are, we need no explanation that the best way to see a place in not my motoring around it at a fast and frenzied pace but by biking and walking through it and living there. This is what exactly we did there. We rode up and down the mountains and "felt" the wilderness, the altitude, the greenery, the landscapes, the snow clad peaks and lived in the camps to actually be a part of them. And this was the objective of my visit too.

The mtb Himachal was a bike race in the Himalayas, but also an endeavor to promote Eco- friendly tourism. All this in an entertaining way.


The race was flagged from the Hill Ridge in Shimla. We went from Sainj - Tanni Junner - Kullu Sarahan - Bahu - Chwad - Luhri - Shimla.

The entire event was to be over 8 days riding through the Himalayan ranges in Himachal pradesh. People could participate as eco riders and opt to only ride the first two days. The rest would continue with the further riding routes.

Each day would have stages. Stages are timed and hence are aggressively ridden. There are distances between stages which are not ridden competitively. But for people like me whose idea is to complete the distance there is no way to distinguish the stages from the free rides.

Of the 8 days one day was reduced because of certain logistical issues on the 3rd day and snowing of the Jalori pass. But that day's distance was off-set to a certain amount on other days.

In addition to the riding pleasure the learning during the event too was immense. I got to know first hand the effects of not cleaning your bike well with all the slush from the previous day still lingering on the bike. The ride was painful as was the hard chain and the extra weight on the wheels and the frame. I never knew my bike had the feature of turning of the shocks when required. After knowing about it uphills became a little bit easy.


mtbHimachal says its India's toughest mountain biking challenge. I couldn't have agreed more. The downhills are scary. Let go off the brakes and you may not be able to successfully negotiate the hairpin bend. Hold it too tight and if you don't manage your weight well and push yourselves back out of the seat you might well topple over. There were some sections where I felt crawling down might be the best option after letting the bike slide down! Absolutely crazy! After each crazy off-road downhills the wrists and knees are the ones which are left smarting. You just can't for a second rest on the saddle. You will get catapulted out down the cliff. And the hike section on day 2 set a precursor of what we could expect during the rest of the days. There was barely any space at times. With the bike on your shoulders one weak foothold will send you tumbling down. Talking about tumbling, I had a couple of big falls. But the injuries are barely proportional to the catastrophic fall. Day 2 free ride from the camp to the stage 1 starting point. I was driving well. At one section the calm road suddenly starting getting nasty. It had rained the previous day and the road was slushy in that part. I was driving well though through that slushy downhill route. The Army team suddenly zipped past me in their US$ 8000 Treks. I can't clearly recollect the entire sequence of events. But something overcame me and I let go of the brakes and followed them. In one split second decision I had to decide whether to brake or change over from one part of the road to another part. And then it happened. I was down sliding through the slush on my right arm. And my bike was tumbling and racing with me! Fortunately, just a bruise on my left knee. No broken bones. I am sure the speed was not less than 50kmph during the fall.

If you are going for the mtb then your practice too has to be on those daunting hills and ruthless off-roads. Narne hill which I did up and down a hundred times will barely be a good simulation. You would only have trained a bit for elevations. But that's not of enough use.

Another point I wanted to make was about the bike. The Merida Matt Krish sold me was a tremendous buy I did. It never let me down once. In fact I had to live up to its abilities. Downhills, its brakes were phenomenal. One thing about the discs are that they are fantastic. But you got to be as good. If you don't have strong wrists and when you squeeze the brakes the bike will stop but you won't if you can't push yourself back enough and bring down your center of gravity. I suggest Merida for off-roaders. I can't remember one rider except me not having a puncture. Well, I did too actually, but it was just after I finished the last stage on the last day. I took it as a good omen.

Some of the sceneries of Himachal I remember during the ride are etched in my memory forever.



The view of the Sutlej river above and the bridge across it after the uphill ride remind you of the Phungsuk Wangdu's scenes at the last part of the 3 idiots movie. In Kullu Sarahan we had a cold evening. But that evening I saw a phenomenon I wouldn't have even thought of in the city's hustle and bustle. One of the several Himalayan mountains just beside our camping side was snow clad at the top. In the moonlit sky you can see only a silhoutte of the mountain but the snowclad peak appears clearly visible. Quite a sight.

Some other memories. Day 4 was a much welcomed rest day, though unplanned. Washing the clothes soaked in slush along the stream which was flowing beside the campsite. It was good water flowing from the Himalayan mountains.


And the lazing in the sun which shined that day was fantastic. Having a Maggi in the evening at a very very small "dhaba" at such as altitude. The sight of the Shrikhand range of the Himalayas makes you feel so humble. There they are the Himalayas so majestic, tall and bright. The school kid who immediately agreed to pluck an apple and in return asked to ride my bike a few meters. The Shimla apples them selves need no explanation about.


Above is a snap of a shop. The guy was sliding in and out of that aperture selling cigarettes. This was the day 4. I had the luxury of taking snaps.

I couldn't ride on day 4 from Kullu Saharan to Bahu. My ankle was paining from a slip I had from the pedal the previous day. But I did reach the highest elevation point of Jalori pass. I was the last for that stage because everybody behind me had dropped out for that stage. Jalori pass was steep, long and off-road. But I reached 3500 meters altitude. I had started feeling at home with the altitude by then. Of the 16 stages I could not ride 3 stages. All the other stages I started, I could complete. My timings though, are not enviable. But my intention was not to race either.

Some tips for aspirants.:
1. Carry enough warm clothing.
2.Practice for a week in Himachal before the race.
3. If you lose any of your biking stuff you can't purchase another there. I lost one glove of the full fingers' gloveset. I had to manage with the half fingers' one.
4. Know your bike well. Practice changing tubes. Will need it. There won't be too much time for leisurely doing it. Its a challenge for people like me who have to complete all stages before it gets dark. You can't imagine how suddenly it gets dark.
5. Get used to Parathas. That's the staple diet there.
6. A good bike and good accessories will give you a good experience. And the mtb Himachal especially requires good stuff.
7. Carry a good pencil torch, the camp sites are not brightly lit like a shopping mall.
8. Book all your return tickets also in advance. Though the mtb Himachal guys are very friendly and accomodative its better to not let them get mired in these activities. They are all busy.
9. Keep your mobile on.
10. You will need disc brakes.

In summary folks, I take the mtb Himachal as an achievement in my life. I might not do it again, given the time it requires away from work, how tough it is and a bit far from where I leave. But the memories will be there for me forever. By the way, I was told this year's event might be on TEN sports. I am not sure if that's true.

--Bala Aluru Team HBC