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ARCHIVES | 2007 | RECAP
2005 saw the first ever Hercules Mountain Biking Himachal, MTB Stage Endurance race and made a mark in India and necessarily the Western Himalayas, in introducing the stage race challenge to the sub continent. Hercules Mountain Biking Himachal can proudly claim itself to be the only true MTB stage race in the sub continent. It was not only the first of its kind in India, inspiring riders from around the world to ride high in the Himalayas but the organization of the event through some of the most beautiful and tough terrains left a lasting impression with the mountain biking community in India and abroad. Resounding memories which still echo in the Himalayan Trails, as riders and the Himalayan back country waits each year for the unfolding of this Mountain biking spectacle.
The 2007 Hercules Mountain Biking Himachal inspired 42 riders from India, Australia, Ireland, USA, UK, Belgium, Italy and Scotland to challenge the trails of the western Himalayas, through trails dotted with spruce and fir, with the elevation gain totaling a staggering 14,000 meters and the ride totaling 730 kms through nine days of the golden Himalayan Autumn.
The first batch of riders started arriving by the morning of 4th October in Shimla, the capital of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. Shortly after checking into their respective hotels, these few headed out to train themselves on the verdant trails of the hill town. The evening was reserved for the first briefings of the riders, braving themselves to head out into the mountains. Well, logistics in organizing are always a dilemma and the non arrival of a few riders had the briefing postponed to breakfast next morning. The dinner was a palatable authentic Himachal platter. The bike parc ferme set the riders and the officials headed out to a good sleep.
D-day and at breakfast, the first initial briefing took place with a question answer round stretching the length of breakfast. The whole venue peterhoff was buzzing with activity, with the arrival of the remaining riders and the media teams, excited to do story on the only MTB endurance stage race in India. The riders lined up before the start gate when one of the media teams headed out to them and pegged them on for a photo moment with the all riders in unison shouting in Punjabi "MOR NU WANG DE" . meaning win the curves. The chequered flag went up and the race passed through the historic Mall road of Shimla, in the early hours of the morning with the route opener guiding the riders through the Mall. This was only a warm up ride till the beautiful glade of Mashobra, a 9 km ride from the start. A few riders got so warmed up and speedingly .. hehe . they crossed the start of the first stage and headed straight into a different trail, much to the first horror of the officials who could only but shout, and the safety officer had to rush behind the speeding riders to get them back to the start. The first stage was a gravel doubletrack switchback, through involving only downhills and technical stuff, and 9 kms long. It was an hours break before the astray riders got back and were headstarted by the stage officials. The first stage followed a downhill all the way to Thaila Bridge under the shadow of Shalli Tibba, Shimla's highest peak. Here the difficult uphill section began, a treacherous climb through Cedar forest. To the dismay of everybody, Joe, the leader of the astray riders, surpassed everything with the ease of a mature mountain goat and led the pack to the finish line as other riders followed. One also could not miss the sight of Alex from Solitude cycles, England, riding a singlespeed bike, to much amusement of his fellow riders and the organizers. It was a hard first day as everybody headed out to the camps to relax those muscles and discuss the modalities of day One.
The night leading into day two experienced autumn rain, however the tents kept to their promise of being waterproof and warm. An early breakfast and the riders gathered for the day, with a total briefing about the ensuing stages and the tearrain. The first stage involved muddy trails and because of a rainy night many a slippery patches through the first downhill. The stage was up and down and most finished in good time to get on the cruise stage to lead to the second stage a 13 kms tarmac uphill with staggering cliff sides to the village of Baghi. The day still had two more race stages to go with the riders pegging on the winding hilly roads. Most of the traffic was closed for the race however for the mountains and riding through these areas still expect villagers wide eyed and cattle staring innocently at you, wondering what's goin on. The third stage of the day was speed, adrenalin and great vistas. And it was also unfortunate for Reinhart Mauch from Australia who fell into a trap by small kids enroute, mistaking a cassette tape strewn across the road (The kids were making it like a ribbon to see the riders cutting it off and flying across) to be a wire, braking and toppling over. Serious injuries and the following stage was cancelled for the day and Reinhardt was taken to a hospital. At the camp most of the talk was about the fateful accident and everybody deeply concerned. A relief spread out through the camp as news poured in from the hospital about him being fine, however sustaining serious injuries to his jawline and face. And yet again much to the horror of the organizers, the official photographer out for an evening landscape capture, went missing, only to be found later taking shelter some 700 meters from the camp, deep in the woods, in a hollow branch of a tree. He had lost his way.
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Day three was a beautiful sunny morning, with the nearby Himalayan peaks shining in all their grandeur and the F&B staff laying out a grand breakfast buffet. Reinhart was missing, but it overjoyed everyone as news poured in from the hospital that he would be joining soon as the day's race comes to an end. The first stage of the day was a cruise stage, through a most beautiful forest and a winding mountain road, at an average 2400mts. The Cliffside was invigorating, inspiring vertigo and to even all this, the view across was most captivating with the Srikhand range of the Greater Himalayas spreading out to the awe of everyone. The first day's uphill seemed a dwarf in front of the first stage of the third day as riders were briefed about the day in advance. A staggering climb from 1550mts at Taklech to 2900mts at Daranghati pass. It was a doubletrack, tarmac in the beginning, soiling in the middle and suddenly giving way to rim rattling rocky path towards the end. A 29 kms bone rattling, huff-puff ride to the top. Extra feeding stations were set up for this first stage with essential salts and nutrients in good supply. It was the first test of endurance to all riders, as they reached the top and spread out in the open field under the warm autumn sunshine. Not much of a rest though as there was still one more stage to go, a downhill stage through classic switchbacks, as is the norm anywhere after a mountain pass. It was well past late afternoon, in October, when days are just equal to nights, sundown at 6 PM. All the riders through the start point, the stage drew to a halt, with half the riders stranded at the top. A wireless message from a stage official confirmed a large cedar tree obstructing way and posing danger. A team was quickly rushed to clear the way. The tree was huge. To one official it reminded of Lord Hanuman spread across as the famed Bhimsen was walking to his home (ref. Mahabharatha). The lord was summoned, which was here too, however, the uprooted tree here had to be either straightened up to the side of the road or down to the valley side. A team of eight officials with the permission of the forest officials headed out with just strength and blades to put it aside. A two hour job and the race stage started again. The last rider reached the stage end at twilight and was quickly transported to the camp (a rare happening beyond time). A great time ensued at the camp, with the arrival of Reinhardt and a warm welcome to his wife and him. The organizers announced on the house beer for his grit and determination, as he raised his victory sign and signaled his return to join the ride yet again. Salute and Applause !!!!!
Day four, straight out of camp, the first race stage, the best downhill stage. The riders headed out, and yet again, another mountain living problem... LANDSLIDE .. on the route. The stage was held up by over an hour, as the stage officials roughed it out on the muddy trail to clear the stage. All hands went up in a loud proclamation of being ready for the ordeal as the riders set off. The stage was cut down by a few kilometers, to meet the deadline requirements, as at the end of the stage and a few kilometers down we crossed the river Sutlej, to the other side, entering the valley of Gods. The second stage of the day began, on a private trail of the Sutlej Jal vidyut Nigam, as all riders assembled on the bridge across the river. The riders loved the riding as the day's race stages ended and everybody cruised along, photographing the mesmerisig Himalayas, following the orchard trail towards Baghipul, at the base of night's camp at Kullu Saraun. Kullu Saraun is the most exquisite site along the MB HIMACHALS course, a long wide meadow, blessed by the heights of the Bashleo pass, a perfect ground to unwind.
Half way through !! Most riders, the bravehearts ! fascinated a rest day .. Day five . no one just wants to leave the vista .. Keep goin on . that's the mantra .. Promising we would come back again . as all head out . the stage began! A thirteen km downhill stage to the base at Baghipul. It was a fast paced downhill, no holds barred, as everybody speeded down. The fastest was 12mins for the 13 kms stage . and the army guys went flat out, with Kalyan from the army team emerging to be THEIR hero and everybody else's scourge. Our man went kissing mother earth 5 times through the stage, and everyone at the start of next stage wanted to inspect our hero of the day down to the basics. The second stage of the day saw the riders riding through a salt killing uphill and gradual uphill road towards Nither, a hard ride, a test of strength and determination as the legs fought with the pedals to arrive at synergy between mind and machine, between endurance and courage. Time proved feeble here when the stage officials at the end heralded the arrival of the raiders .. A cruise stage followed the final stage of the day as the shadow of horse chestnut provided a great lunch site. Short cuts are not unknown, and the linguistically familiar are always able to find them. However even the cruise stages demand spirit. So a few riders chose to take the short way to the start as the others counted steps through a vertical steep. A wireless communication got our language experts back to where they began from. The third stage was dramatic. Fast downhill, gradual uphill, and then again a final downhill as the stage ended. The drama began when the first riders crossed the stretch with maximum safety officers and rescue officials. The Keolidhar Pass with its famed Cliffside and a new road is a challenge, and that goes for two legs traversing as well . the road that day had a widening team using dynamites for blasting the sides off . hehe . so a whole lot of manpower to keep the BOOOOOOOOOM! Off ... the last rider through and most riders were advised transport to the camp . look how the ride gets to passion . it's a downhill and everyone rode it all the way through . that was a confession of homing in to the Himalayas .. SUPER !!! ... the toast for the day was Mr. Reinhardt joining in the race and arms of enthusiasm and exuberance backing him.
Gadah Gushaini !! Interiors of Himachal . uncharted . yet off the mapping route .. still the offbeat route . virgin! Desirable! Eluding!! Gadah Gushaini .. The seventh morning saw all waking up to a fine autumn morning . The race was not first priority . it came as a surprise and a knock knock to the organizers . it's a race . not a tour . not a ride to see the world's beautiful places .. A half an hour was announced to soak in the tranquility . and a few set out for the cruising uphill . towards Khauli .. The base of the hike and bike section of the only race in the Himalayas .. As the rest followed . non willingly to let go of the smell of the autumn grass . towards the aroma of the most amorous and pulling inwards . the Himalayan meadows . as all walked towards the connecting stage . which would lead everyone towards the start of the second stage for the day . (the hike and bike is not stage .. its to enjoy the Himalayan Outdoors) . Jhanjehli to Bagsaad .. Lots of character Lots of thought . as we go up and come down, pure mountain biking lingo . as someone pointed out " Its all about going up and coming down" .. And if someone dwells deep, its meeting yourself in those mountain deeps
Day eight was just one stage .. Just one race stage . from the cold and camaraderie of Bagsaad village towards the calm and inviting of leveled pastures of Pandoh by the banks of the river Beas. The stage experienced yet again a fast paced downhill to Pandoh.. School kids lined up along the route, villagers waving hands, Mb Himachal was progressing towards a thoughtful adieu, as all the riders looked forward to the last race day, and reminisced about what is all and what should never be . arriving somewhere where you gain the highest altitude and nowhere, where it's a journey well rode. The stage ended at Pandoh dam, and thereafter the riders were transported in vehicles to Kullu, Police grounds. The 2 hr journey was a picturesque one, cruising along the riverside.
Last day, memories which would resonate for times to come, rustic revelations along the way to endure and keep in a safe for times to keep, discovering a newer self, the riders lined up for one last stage. Involving a ride to Bijli Mahadev base at Tapu and thereafter a hike and bike to Bijli Mahadev for the days only race stage. It was a fast paced stage through a forest again resplendent with vertigo invoking cliffsides, and ended at Naggar, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kullu. Joe cruz and Naresh Dev Burman emerged the final winners. That was not all at the podium, the most spectacular toughest mountain biking stage race in the Himalayas, had the riders riding in tandem to the Finish venue at Manali . and as the riders claimed in unison it was not about survival, surviving the ups and downs, the altitude and distance, it was about attitude at ground level and being a champion for what you never knew what you were . Hercules mountain biking Himachal 2007 reached yet another milestone in Manali, and as everybody would believe .. Some stones are not left unturned . its surging ahead as TEAM HASTPA works hard and beyond horizons to give birth to yet another EXPERIENCE in the Himalayas ... THE HERCULES MOUNTAIN BIKING HIMACHAL 2008 .. we are waiting for you !!! ride high come again to the Himalayas for more surprises and hidden trails........... Cheers
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