vamos a preparar una ruta de nuestro nivel
la Transhimalaya!!
despuès de la operación malaya -la trans-hi-malaya!
9 dìas de MTB , 750km ,14.000 m de desnivel acumulado..
MTB HIMACHAL 2007,
http://www.mtbhimachal.com/
con fotos, videos y la información...
quedan 167 dias
saludos ceci
Pedal through the western Himalayas, as MTB HIMACHAL unveils its 2007
edition, and salutes the indomitable human spirit. It’s a toast to
adventure lovers from around the world, as they come together for this
grand cycling and hiking spectacle to the majestic ranges of the
Himalayas. Ride through uncharted interiors, hike through deep forests,
hear the music of the rivers and soak in the Himalayan autumn sunshine,
as you get your set of wheels ride worthy through Single-track, Village
back roads, jeep tracks and as you’d expect a lot of ups and downs. 9
days of splendid adventure racing through a staggering 750 kms, gaining
an elevation of over 14,000 mts, a test of strength and determination,
MTB HIMACHAL 2007, the trans-Himalayan challenge. ……….Are you ready?
The best images one can conjure up of a biking event would be of Tour De
France where we can see hundreds of bikers vying with each other to be
the leader leaving behind people lined streets of towns stung by the
event’s popularity with the event promising to test the endurance of the
bikers. Here in the other part of the world where biking is not much
more than the means of transport comes an event which has the competence
to come out as the world’s only real endurance testing biking stage race
for the real adventure bikers who take their relationship with their
bikes and nature seriously. It’s MTB Himachal, the mountain enduro &
adventure put together for the real enthusiasts by HASTPA (Himachal
Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association) along with the
department of tourism Himachal Pradesh.
As the wheels move along the trails, MTB HIMACHAL is already surging
towards the 2007 fall edition. The route this year is almost similar to
the one in 2006, though expect more challenges and stages as well as
time trials. The adventure becomes more adrenalized and much tougher
than its preceding avatars. The chequered flag goes up on the 4th of
October at Shimla, the start of the adventure and the finish podium is
set at Manali on the 13th October. 14th October 2007, is reserved as the
prize distribution day as the riders relax their nerves after their
endeavors through the 9 day thrilling adventure; time to link back your
tryst with the Himalayas. The total kilometers of the route this year
almost remain the same (look for details under the route section)
however expect more stages, time trials and very tough hike and bike
sections. Prepare yourself well; for the adventure promises surprises,
obstacles and only those who are tough in their mental makeup will
survive the task; though we maintain that it’s not a survival course,
it’s an adventure, limitless and as rustic as it can get. Those not
living on the edge; take respite; we do have a new comfort category
being introduced this year (take a look in at the categories section).
The Himalayas are rewarding, ask someone who has wheeled or hiked
through its trails; its uncharted interiors; and the revelations it
brings. The exquisite vistas, gushing rivers & streams, Rolling Meadows,
verdant forests and golden peaks, lend to MTB HIMACHAL again its unique
status of also being one of the most beautiful rides in the world. There
is the grandeur of the Himalayas, the magnificence of deep forests of
Pinus Roxburghii, Oak, Horse Chestnuts and Himalayan Cedars through
which the trails wind their way, there is the sheer sense of triumph and
contentment, there are moments of wilderness in solitude, there you are
stretching your limitations crossing Himalayan passes, pedaling high,
reaching altitudes of 3600mts and as you mountain hop through the happy
trails it’s a surprising 11,000 meters of total climbing (total
elevation gain) through the gruesome, challenging 9 days totaling an
even more surprising over 700 kilometers. There are long downhills and
grueling uphills, as there are straight stretches, there are tougher
sections of hike and bike, and there are fast paced gravel roads. There
is a lil’ bit of everything for riders of all initiations (Mountain
Bikers, Road Riders etc), just not dirt roads and single tracks. We look
forward to great days of pedaling through the mountains, as do we also
look forward to hiking through high meadows and trails at
3300mts.Understand the only timeless things are courage, stamina,
endurance, resolve and determination and you would need these in huge
reserves, if planning to have a great time exploring yourself pedaling
and walking through the Himalayas. It is about passion and it is about
mountains, it is about the riders as much it is about the ride. MTB
HIMACHAL 2007 awaits all those willing to discover a new hidden self and
ride high. So if you hear within, and have itchy feet; read the signs;
it’s the Himalayas calling you.
A stupendous challenging course through some great Himalayan scenery and
classic mountain cycling terrain.
7 exclusive camping sites in some of the most scenic places of Himachal
Pradesh, through the 9 days of the event.
A real test of strength and determination, the endurance event is over
650kms/310miles of single-track, jeep track & village back roads through
great Himalayan terrain.
Over 14,000 meters in elevation gain through eight days with the high
point being at Jalori pass 3223mts
Trail conditions include forest double track, unpaved switchbacks with
steep drops on the side, stream crossings, extended sections of smooth
and broken tarmac, single-track, and a few technical rocky runs with
drop-offs. Please always ride within your ability and walk anything
you’re not fully confident in riding. On the whole, the trails should be
dry. Expect climbs of up to 1500m in elevation, long and fast descents,
village back roads with zealous kids and some short sections on main
roads with chaotic, frenetic Indian traffic! There are bike-and-hike
sections: a 2km set of steps and broken link between stretches of jeep
track.
The average riding altitude is 2000 mts with the high point at Jalori
pass 3223 mts and touching low at Pandoh 750 mts.
MTB HIMACHAL is the only mountain cycling event in India, and again the
only 9 day cycling event in the country.
Each night halt camp having a separate enclosure for ayurvedic massages,
a relief for those tired muscles after the grueling pedaling tests of
the day.
MTB HIMACHAL 2007 would run on the timed stage format, which implies
there would be one or two timed stages each day, which would be the
timed section of the day i.e. the competing stage.
The course each day would feature feeding stations to meet the
nutritional needs of the riders. These would be stacked with Fruit,
Glucose, Health Drinks, and energy bars. These would at equal distances
each day and manned by volunteer marshals.
MTB HIMACHAL has full back up of a fleet of ambulances and a team of
doctors, moving with the entourage along the course of the event. All
ambulances are well equipped to meet any kind of emergency.
ACCOMMODATION: We provide accommodation in our tented Race Camp from 5th
October to 13th October. Please note there is NO accommodation included
in the race entry package after 13th October.
DURING THE RACE: Accommodation during the race shall be provided in pre
erected camps. The race camp each night shall have 2 men alpine tents
with a double foam mattress, and sleeping bags. Riders may bring their
sleeping bags if required. Each tent is big enough to accommodate two
riders, implying all accommodation is on twin sharing basis. The
campsite shall have the provision for Showers, hot water and chemical
pit washrooms. As we are traveling in interiors it is not ruled out that
there may be no hot water. Last year’s event saw hot water being heated
in Kilns for the comfort of riders. A separate mess at each campsite
shall take care of all dining, which is a separate enclosure. Each night
would also have a separate enclosure for bonfires and the jersey
presentation. Remember this is the Himalayas and be prepared to rough it
out. Though at some night halts electricity would be available, we don’t
promise that at all the sites. Provision for battery recharge is not
available officially. Each rider will use the same mattress and sleeping
bag each night, virtue our unique listing procedure.
BEFORE THE RACE: All competing and Non competing riders and supporters
shall be provided accommodation on the 4th of October, the pre race day
at a comfortable hotel in Shimla. Transport shall be made available if
your hotel is a lil far from the start venue. Please note the race
starts from Peter Hoff in Shimla on the 5th. If you are arriving a day
or two earlier, we suggest that you e-mail if you require us to make
arrangements for your stay. All participants are requested to arrive in
Shimla by the morning of 4th October and report at Peter Hoff Hotel.
Accommodation extras (OPTIONAL): If you want us to book a room for you,
before or after the race please let us know in advance, lest you may you
require us to make any arrangements.
Please mail dhananjayahluwalia@gmail.com if you wish to avail this
service.
YOUR BIKE
Your Bike MUST be at least an “entry level” Mountain Bike - call us if
unsure. Front suspension is highly recommended. Many of the roads and
tracks we follow are only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles, and in
many places not even these!
A hard tail with front suspension or a short travel full suspension bike
is ideal for MTB Himachal, as there are long climbs, rough descents,
single-track and extended tarmac sections.
We cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring that your bike is in
perfect working condition before you start this race. You are depending
on your bike for both pleasure and to transport you during your race,
across demanding terrain. It is VITAL to ensure it is THOROUGHLY
SERVICED to guarantee it is in good mechanical order before the start.
If you are not mechanically minded, get your local bicycle dealer to
service it for you. For home mechanics, points to note particularly are:
a) Check rims and if they are worn (concave) or cracked/dented
replace with new rims to avoid wheel failure.
b) Check wheels are true and spoke tension is tight.
c) Check and grease ALL bearings and (QR’s) Quick release
skewers.
d) Check / replace brake and gear cables.
e) Check disc / brake pads, mounts and cables.
f) Check (lube / thread lock and tighten) bolts (especially
suspension pivots and bottom brackets).
g) Check chain, cassette and chain rings for wear.
h) Have you got the right tires, inner tubes and BIKE SPECIFIC
SPARES?
We recommend the following:
• 11-34t rear cassette with 22t inner chain ring gearing
• All round cross country tyres that are suited to unpaved tracks, some
loose corners, and extended tarmac back roads
• Cycle computer to keep track of distance
WEATHER
MTB Himachal takes place in the foothills of the Himalayas, along back
roads and jeep tracks that range from 900m to over 3000m in altitude. In
October, the weather should be clear and stable with hot days and cold
nights. Below 1200m it can be humid around mid-day, but most of the time
the weather should be warm and dry. Please remember that although the
monsoon would be over, the higher altitudes and mountain passes can
experience mixed weather (rain, sleet, and fog) at many time of the
year. For this reason, it is very important to always carry waterproofs
and extra layers in your daypack.
For accurate weather updates on the region one may visit
CLOTHING
Your riding clothing should be comfortable, sweat wicking and quick
drying. While clothes can be hand washed at campsites, it will be
difficult to dry them fully by the next morning.
The following items are essential:
* Safety-approved Bicycle Helmet
* Sunglasses with high UV rated lenses
* At least 3 pairs of shorts
* At least 3 wicking t-shirts or jerseys
* Cycling shoes (Note: If you’re riding in bike specific shoes,
please make sure they have enough grip for the bike-and-hike sections.)
* 1 waterproof jacket (also acts as a windproof)
* 1 pair waterproof trousers
* 1 thermal long-sleeve top
* 1 pair thermal longs
* 1 fleece/similar top
* 1 pair warm gloves
* 1 pair bike gloves
* 1 warm hat:
* Buff or similar layer to be worn under the helmet
* Arm, knee/leg warmers
Food
The food served during the trip is a mixture of local and Western,
cooked for us by highly trained trek cooks. The emphasis is on providing
a high-carbohydrate and a vegetarian and non vegetarian diet, which we
have found to be easily digestible at high altitude. Expect Indian
Bread, Red Kidney beans, Pasta, Barbeque etc at the campsites. A
detailed menu for each day would be displayed at the campsites every
night.
Medical checklist
Our team recommends you carry your own set of personal medicines. Come
prepared with all your personal and special medicines – including any
allergy medication. There will be medical back-up for emergencies,
please carry a small first aid kit with the following:
• A general painkiller
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antiseptic – iodine/betadine drops
• Bandages, plasters, medical tape
• High factor spf sunblock (minimum 30)
• Lip balm with spf 15+
• A course of general antibiotics - see your doctor for advice
• Imodium or similar gut-immobilizer
• At least a dozen sachets of re-hydration mixture
Bike rental
Subject to availability, we can rent out Mountain Bikes and other bike
essentials for the race, which includes bike, helmet and gloves. These
are charged @ 400/- INR a day.
Luggage
At registration each participant will receive a special sleeve imprinted
with their start number. This should be used to mark your luggage. Each
participant must drop-off their bag at the transportation truck on the
morning of each stage (location and time will be announced). The bags
will be transported to the next stage location where they can be picked
up on arrival in the finish. This will include your bike box as well
which will then be transported directly to Manali and can be picked up
at the end of the race. HASTPA the organizers shall not be responsible
for any lost or stolen items.
THE ROUTE 2007
Day One: The race begins at 8AM from Peter Hoff Hotel. The first
stretch follows through the main town area of Shimla “The Mall” to pass
through the thickly wooded zone of the forest road. We meet the main
highway at Navbahar crossing and this continues amidst traffic till
Mashobra, where it a respite from the busy traffic. The first
backcountry trails of the MTB begin from here when we approach the
single track which takes us all the way down to Thaila village. It’s a
downhill technical single track and as we reach its end we meet the
trail which steep downhill to the bridge at Thaila. From here on through
switchbacks it’s a tedious uphill all the way up to Koyal village.
October month is usually warm during the day so be prepared to tone up
your endurance along the steep gradient uphill. We meet the tarmac road
and the highway jut after the village of Koyal and from then on it’s a
fairly level ride along the highway to the first day camp at Shilaroo
sports complex.
Day Two: A typical day in MTB HIMACHAL begins at 8 am in the morning
when the chequered flag goes up for the race. The breakfast is at 7 am.
Today we start from the camp as we follow the highway and taking a
diversion plummet down a few hundred meters from where on it’s a forest
track passing through villages of the upper Shimla area. Navigating your
way through the wilderness the uphill climb towards Narkanda is
grueling, where we again meet the state highway. This is the apple
country of Himachal and as we wind our way through apple orchards the
altitude begins to rise. A beautiful backcountry road, the great vistas
of the Himalayas all are a great sight as the gravel road rises and
falls through some great switchbacks. A fast easy ride, which should not
come as great test of endurance but your ability to gain time over the
past day’s endeavors. The highest point of the day is at Tutupani before
the village of Khadrala as we start descending towards the camp at
Bahli. Overall an easy day through some great Himalayan scenery.
Day Three – A tough day as we start from the camp early morning. The
cliff sides for the first part of the day are invigorating, passing
through some thickly wooded area. It’s all a pleasant downhill to the
village of Taklech, under the shadow of the Katrech range. The descent
is fast and one has to be careful while navigating the curves as there
are a lot of blind spots. To make things a lil easy the road is semi
tarmac. From Taklech, the first of the real grueling uphill sections of
the MTB HIMACHAL begins. For the first few kilometers it’s through some
gentle switchbacks, and gradually the road becomes muddy and rocky.
Gaining almost 1400 meters in 35 kilometers the climb is going to be a
test of nerves, muscles and perserverance. Remember only the tough ones
survive. The highlight is the 2827meters high Daranghati pass affording
some great views of the Srikhand range of the Himalayas. Be ready for a
fast descent through a very thick forest of Himalayan cedar to Dofda,
our camp for the night. Beware of wild animal (bears in particular)
through this stretch.
Day Four – It’s a beautiful morning in Dofda under the shadow of snow
capped peaks of the Katrech Ghati and a fairly easy day today. We begin
with a technical downhill, almost 27 kilometers, and reach Rampur, on
the banks of the river Sutlej, the fastest flowing river of India. From
Rampur we skip the highway, and take a detour to Varry on the other side
of the river. This is Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. From Varry
it’s a 9 kilometer uphill through a tarmac road to Nirmund. A fairly
lever ride through some more apple orchards gets us to the diversion at
Tikrikanchi, preceding a fast descent to the village of Baghipul. These
are the interiors of Himachal Pradesh, and tonight’s camping is at Kullu
Sarahan, one of the most beautiful places amongst all destinations of
MTB HIMACHAL. It’s a steep gradient to the camp as we gain nearly 800
meters and the last two kilometers are a bike and hike. A long day
(almost 83 kms) with a lot of descents and ascents has come to an end as
we unwind at the camp and link back to the day’s progress.
Day Five - Descend 1000meters to the village of Baghipul. Today winds
through the backcountry of Himachal Pradesh, where the children welcome
the riders and small villages dot the route all through. The whole track
is a jeep road with stretches of tarmac road at some places. The first
stage to the village of Nither is a gradual uphill with a low gradient
and a lot of scary cliff sides. One has to be very careful so as not to
speed through stretches of downhills. Another grueling uphill begins
from the village of Nither to Kandagai, a sprawling ridgeline village
with a very narrow road as the only access. The downhill is through
switchbacks to Chowai, set amidst, again apple orchards. We meet the
inviting tarmac section after a long rumble tumble through the dirt
stage, at Chowai from where it’s a gentle descent of about 6 kms to the
camp at Bahu village. As the presentation takes place for tonight we
have already traversed 450 kilometers of MTB HIMACHAL and it’s the
middle stages of the race, awaiting, the real test of endurance as we
relax, to take on another challenge the next day.
Day Six - The “toughest day” of MTB HIMACHAL is awaiting us all as we
set ourselves ready for the task ahead. There are no downhills today.
Barring the first two kilometers of descent to Shamshar bridge it’s all
an uphill, an uphill task, gaining nearabout 2000 meters to the 3223
meters high Jalori Pass. No surprises, here this is also the best uphill
of MTB HIMACHAL. The air is thin, though the course winds through a semi
gravel road, the altitude does takes its toll. The first 24 kilometers
are gradual uphill through switchbacks, to the village of Khanag from
where the tough climb to the pass begins. Once at the pass it’s a little
time to rejuvenate yourselves, before we begin the first Bike and Hike
section of MTB HIMACHAL. Winding your way through some singletrack a
very steep gradient hike of about 1.5 kms brings you to the meadows at
Raghupur fort which is good riding through the meadows to a high
altitude lake. From here on it’s a hike through a rough cobbled path,
technically ridable downhill to village Khauli, from where it’s a 7 km
descent to the overnight camp.
Day Seven – Another one of those tough days, though reasonably moderate.
A perfect follow through to the Jalori Ascent. We start early morning
from Gadah Gushaini ascending to Chach Galu, the start for the days Hike
and Bike section. The start of the hike and bike section winds its way
through some technical singletrack before the grueling hike to the Magru
Gala top. From here it’s a descent and very tough navigation through a
hiking section before reaching a double track which descends to
Jhanjehli. We meet the tarmac here and following the state highway ride
up to Thunag Bridge. A gradual ascent through a jeep track brings us to
the ridgeline at Ranglidhar. A very fast downhill section meets the road
just before Bagsad, our campsite for tonight. A perfect finish for the
real endurance test of MTB HIMACHAL the bike and hike sections demand
the most out of the riders and timing here synergizing with your
reserves could make the difference between being a survivor and opting
out. MTB HIMACHAL has reached its last stages.
Day Eight – Today, barring one singletrack and a little stretch of dirt
track, the route is gravel. Also the only day of the race when we ride
on the main highway connecting to Kullu. The ride starts with an ascent
to Kanda village through the state highway; further on up the road is
Keolidhar from where it’s a speeding downhill to Pandoh, the lowest
altitude destination of MTB HIMACHAL. We meet the busy highway traffic
here and we all line up drafting behind each other to ride in a caravan
to Kullu, riding along the river Beas. Enroute pay obeisance at the
Hanogi temple. The highlight of the road ride is the 2.8 kms long tunnel
just before Aut. Kullu is the second major town we visit after Shimla
along the route of MTB HIMACHAL. Dusshera festival of Kullu is famous
worldwide and it is worth a visit to the fair at the Kullu grounds. A
feast awaits us all at the camp Basingh, a few kilometers from Kullu
town. The second last day of the race has come to an end as we unwind
and link back to the past 8 days of riding.
Day Nine – The last day of MTB HIMACHAL. Another of those tough days,
but very rewarding as for the great vistas of the Himalayas. We start
from the camp early morning and crossing the bridge to the left bank of
the river Beas, begin an ascent of 12 kms, gaining 600 meters to the
village of Haroli, our base for the 3kms hike with an elevation gain of
500 meters to the top at Bijli Mahadev temple. We pay our obeisance, and
start the long and gradual descent through log bridges, double track and
a thickly forested stretch of 39 kms to Naggar, the ancient capital of
the kingdom of Kullu. The ride is fairly technical however a mountain
bikers delight. We meet the gravel road at Naggar village and ride on
towards our put up point just before we enter Manali. At the put up
point everyone gets together, drafting behind each other, as we march on
towards Manali town, our final frontier. MTB HIMACHAL has come to an end
and the tough ones have survived the almost 800 km long course through
the majestic Himalayas, coupled with 14000 meters of climbing and bike
and hike sections, MTB HIMACHAL is probably the toughest cycling
adventure in the world.
MTB HIMACHAL 2007 – THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE
Day One
Distance: 58 Kms
Elevation Gain: 1450 Mts
Descent: 13 Kms
Ascent: 27 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Matiana 2450
Day Two
Distance: 88 Kms
Elevation Gain: 1400 Mts
Descent: 36 Kms (gradual)
Ascent: 38 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Tutupani 2834
Day Three
Distance: 72 Kms
Elevation Gain: 1300 Mts
Descent: 38 Kms
Ascent: 34 kms
Highest Altitude:
Daranghati 2850
Day Four
Distance: 81 Kms
Elevation Gain: 1400 Mts
Descent: 37 Kms
Ascent: 28 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Kullu Sarahan 2400
Day Five
Distance: 86 Kms
Elevation Gain: 900 Mts
Descent: 38 Kms
Ascent: 34 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Kandagai 2270
Day Six
Distance: 54 Kms
Elevation gain: 2300 Mts
Descent: 13kms
Ascent: 34 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Jalori Pass 3223
Day Seven
Distance: 53 Kms
Elevation Gain: 700 Mts
Descent: 21 Kms
Ascent: 23 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Magru Gala Top 2835
Day Eight
Distance: 83 Kms
Elevation Gain: 600 Mts
Descent: 18 Kms
Ascent: 9 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Keolidhar 2145
Day Nine
Distance: 77 Kms
Elevation Gain: 1600 Mts
Descent: 31 Kms
Ascent: 33 Kms
Highest Altitude:
Bijli Mahadev Temple 2460
We ask every person interested in riding the MTB HIMACHAL to evaluate
his or her riding ability. To help the riders, we have put together the
following guide for determining riding ability. Please find the
paragraph that best describes you, and determine which category you want
to enter in MTB HIMACHAL.
Novice – You have just started mountain biking or have been doing it for
a few years, but not often. You prefer easier riding on smooth trails.
You don’t like obstacles, riding over logs or up small steps.
Intermediate – You have been riding for a while now and you get out on
your bike often. You have ridden most types of trails and you know
danger when you see it. You are comfortable riding singletrack and
avoiding small obstacles. Although you would love to try a 2-foot drop
off, it is still a bit beyond you. For you, mountain biking is not an
extreme sport, just great fun.
Advanced – So, you have been riding a while and you think about riding
almost every day. You have good technical skills and can ride most
terrain. You are comfortable on just about everything. You have ridden
lots of singletrack, tree roots, mud, drop offs … the lot. Be honest!
CATEGORIES MTB HIMACHAL 2007
From edition 2007 onwards, it has been unanimously decided amongst the
organizers, that MTB HIMACHAL shall be organized amongst two major
categories. One would be the competitive category aptly titled “EXTREME”
and the other would be the non-competitive category a.k.a “COMFORT”. So
it necessarily means that the riders entering in the EXTREME category
shall be the ones to race and claim the prizes, and the ones in the
COMFORT category shall be there to ride. Also coming to SUPPORTERS; they
shall only be allowed to enter along with their team only in the EXTREME
category. In the EXTREME category, we have further sub-categorized it
into two INTERNATIONAL and NATIONAL, which are further categorized
according to your choice. Please choose what best suits you, for you
shall not be able to change later on.
CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
The minimum age limit to participate in MTB HIMACHAL is 18 years as on
4th October, 2007.
All applicants must complete the Entry Form, pay the Entry Fee, read and
sign the Acknowledgment, Assumption of Risk etc, and send to arrive by
the close of entry specified. (please download the form from the website
Organizers reserve the right to merge categories if required due to low
numbers. Three entries are considered the minimum number to constitute a
category, either individual or team.
Cancellation of entries prior to the event will incur a 15%
administration fee. There will be no refunds after entries close on
October 1st, 2007.
MTB HIMACHAL - EXTREME
INTERNATIONAL EXTREME
The International extreme category is open for the following sub
categories.
SOLO MEN (Min age 18 years as on Oct 1st, 2007)
SOLO WOMEN
SOLO MASTERS (Min age 40 as on Oct 1st, 2007)
TEAMS (Min 2 members will constitute a team. The combined age of both
the members should be minimum 36 years as on Oct 1st, 2007. Also the
minimum age limit is 18 years, please remember that) There are no
sub-categories in the Teams category. Regardless of your riding
abilities, it’s more or less like an open challenge. Please decide
carefully if you want to enter in the Teams category along with your
riding partner. If less than 6 entries are received for the Teams
category, the riders shall have to race in the SOLO category.
ENTRY FEES – USD 500/-
NATIONAL EXTREME
SOLO MEN (Min age 18 years as on Oct 1st, 2007)
SOLO WOMEN
SOLO MASTERS (Min age 40 as on Oct 1st, 2007)
TEAMS (Min 2 members will constitute a team. The combined age of both
the members should be minimum 36 years as on Oct 1st, 2007. Also the
minimum age limit is 18 years, please remember that) There are no
sub-categories in the Teams category. Regardless of your riding
abilities, it’s more or less like an open challenge. Please decide
carefully if you want to enter in the Teams category along with your
riding partner. If less than 6 entries are received for the Teams
category, the riders shall have to race in the SOLO category.
ENTRY FEES – INR 10,000/-
(Students & Bonafide Himachali residents can avail a 50% discount on the
entry fees upon producing the relevant documents)
MTB HIMACHAL COMFORT
MTB HIMACHAL, from the 2007 edition onwards also runs a non-competitive
category “COMFORT”. The riders who choose to participate in this
category also ride along the same route as the ones in the extreme
category; however it’s just for the love of the ride and not an
endurance test. You get back up transport and have the option of riding
the whole distance of the ride or enjoy the course sitting in the jeep.
For those with time constraints, one can enter in the comfort category
and choose to ride for some days; one can opt for the 3, 6, and full
packages for the ride. The details are as follows.
Full Package – 9 days of MTB HIMACHAL, with back up transport and other
services including accommodation, meals etc.
Entry Fees – International – USD 600/-
National – INR 12,000/-
6 Day Package – 6 Days of MTB HIMACHAL, choose either the first six or
the last six (i.e. you can join on the third day at Rampur).
Entry Fees – International – USD 400/-
National – INR 8,000/-
3 Day Package – 3 Days of MTB HIMACHAL, either the first three or the
last three (i.e. one can join in at Gadah Gushaini)
Entry Fees – International – USD 200/-
National - INR 4000/-
VOLUNTEER FOR MTB HIMACHAL
You may not be able to ride MTB HIMACHAL, but you can still be part of
the experience by signing up for our Volunteer Program - volunteers get
to stay in the Race camps just like the riders. We need all sorts of
skilled people to stage an event of this magnitude, and your
participation in this program helps us to keep our costs down. There is
no charge for volunteers.
Each volunteer receives:
Accommodation in the race camp each night.
All meals during the race days.
Crew T-shirt
Crew Cap
Transport between stages
THERE ARE ONLY 10 VACANT SPOTS FOR THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
To enter as a volunteer please visit www.mtbhimachal.com
form. Don’t forget to mention as to why you would like to volunteer for
the event and your area of specialty.
MTB HIMACHAL SUPPORTERS
Supporters are welcome; however we have to restrict it to one supporter
for each rider/Team. The supporters will be entitled to all amenities at
the race camps. However they shall have to pay extra for the transport
between race stages. They are welcome to bring their own transport. A
RIDING SUPPORTER SHALL HAVE TO MAKE AN ENTRY AS PER THE EXTREME CATEGORY
RULES. Supporters are allowed to carry spares and one extra bike for
their team/rider and provide service at the designated points.
Supporters are only allowed for riders entering in the extreme category.
Riding supporters are not entitled to transport between stages.
Entry Fees – International – USD 600/-
National – INR 12,000/-
MISCELLANEOUS DETAILS
Health & Travel Insurance
Participants must be in good health and be experienced, well-trained
mountain bikers. All participants are responsible for their own health
and travel insurance. Participants will be asked to show proof of
insurance upon registration and will not be allowed to participate in
the event if they do not have the proper documentation. Proof of health
and travel insurance is mandatory. MTB HIMACHAL also hires an insurance
company to insure the riders for the duration of the race. This is also
mandatory.
Liability
The organizers, sponsors, volunteers and event personnel are not
responsible for any injury or damage that may occur during the event, or
cancellations, delays or re-routing due to environmental concerns. Each
participant will be required to sign a waiver upon registration
declaring that they take full responsibility for, risk of injury, to
themselves or their equipment and any lost or stolen items.
Entry Forms
You may download the entry forms from the website
forms along with your entry fees can be mailed to
HASTPA,
Park Café, The Mall, Shimla – 171001
(H.P) India.
Your payment mode can be demand draft, cheque or bank account transfer
to our account. Your entry is confirmed only at the receipt of your
entry fees and completed entry form.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For International Riders
Traveling with your bike
We have found that the best way to look after a bike on the flights is
to partially dismantle it and put it into a cardboard bike box. This is
the same type of cardboard box that all new bikes are packed in when
they arrive at a cycle shop. All cycle shops have more of these
cardboard boxes than they can easily get rid of and they are usually
more than happy to give them away to local customers. For a small fee,
the shop will often pack your bike in one of these boxes for you. To fit
your bike into one of these boxes you will first need to remove your
pedals, and take out your seat post. Then take off your handlebars,
which you should tape (masking tape) under the down tube, you may need
to release your front brake cable for this, be wary of crimping
hydraulic cables if you have disc brakes. Finally deflate your tyres and
air shocks, take off your front wheel leaving the back wheel in place,
and your bike should fit in the box. You will probably have to take the
skewer out of the front wheel, and you should keep this in a padded bag
with your pedals. If you use disks place a piece of cardboard between
the pads to stop the pistons from popping out. It is important to use as
small a cardboard box as possible to fit your bike into, as a tight fit
will help to protect your bike. A small bike box also helps to overcome
potential problems at airport check-in. As an added precaution you
should also fit a plastic fork end protector. These come with new bikes,
and most cycle shops will have a few lying around - which they will let
you have. Also purchase some pipe lagging (expanded foam tubing) from a
hardware store and tape it around the frame’s tubes, shifters and back
derailleur. You can also pack some of your clothing around the bike in
plastic bags. Please be aware that your bike can entail its frequent
loading onto support vehicles and while we will make all efforts to look
after it, there is a good possibility of your bike being scratched. If
you want to protect the paint work, you should consider keeping sections
of the plastic pipe lagging taped onto your bike tubes throughout the
trip especially for thin walled aluminum bikes. At the start of the
biking, we flatten all bike boxes for easy storage. Because you will be
using the same boxes for the return flights you will need to take with
you an extra roll of packing tape to put your box back together and seal
it for the return journey. Another option is to use one of the latest
padded bike bags, which are easier to handle than a cardboard bike box,
especially if your journey involves public transport on the way to or
from the airport. DO NOT USE a purpose-made rigid bike box, as these are
expensive, heavy (which puts you over your baggage allowance) and also
too bulky to be easily stored or transported on the group’s support
vehicle.
Visa requirements
A valid passport (with at least 6 months remaining validity) and a
current Indian Visa are required for this trip. You will need to apply
for your Indian Visa in advance. Up-to-date information on visa cost and
visa application can be had at your country’s Indian Embassy.
Vaccinations
You should see your doctor and dentist for a check-up. Your doctor will
have access to the most up to date information on the required
vaccinations for the country you are visiting. In general we recommend
vaccinations against the following: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis
‘A’.
International flights
We recommend that you book your tickets in advance for your journey to
New Delhi. Though you are the best judge for the ticket prices, we
recommend one may visit
,
options.
Baggage allowance
Most airlines allow 45 pounds/20 kgs of check-in baggage on flights to
Delhi. Your boxed bike will be one piece of baggage and your luggage
will be the other. In addition, one should carry small valuable items
(such as your pedals, camera and film) in a small daypack, which you can
take onto the plane as hand luggage. You can possibly overcome potential
problems at check-in by advising the airline and your travel agent in
advance that you will be traveling with a bike. One possible problem
that one might encounter is that the boxed-up bikes are (strictly
speaking) larger than the maximum size allowed for a single piece of
luggage. It is very important in this regard that you use as small a
bike box as possible. You can be charged extra if you have “oversized”
baggage.
FOR NATIONAL RIDERS
Traveling with your bike
If you are undertaking a rail journey or traveling by air, the best way
to transport your bike is to pack it in a bike box and put it in cargo.
All trains coming to Delhi or Kalka have a cargo compartment where one
can store the bike and collect at the end of the journey. Please don’t
forget to tag your bike with your name and address on it. For
transportation after Delhi or Kalka, the Volvo buses or ordinary buses
traveling to Shimla will store your bike in the boot compartment or on
the top at an extra cost of approx 300 INR. The same applies when you
travel back from Manali.
Doctor’s Certificate
It is mandatory that you have your medical check up done prior to
participating in MTB HIMACHAL by a doctor to certify that you are fit
for the ride. One shall only be allowed to ride after this certificate
has been produced, duly by an authorized medical practitioner.
HOW TO GET TO SHIMLA
ROAD: Shimla is 380 kilometers from New Delhi, the capital city of
India. The easiest route to here is via Chandigarh on the grand trunk
highway (GT Road) and thereafter the meandering ride on the National
highway 22 up to Shimla. The road is well maintained and wide (Four
Laned) as far as Chandigarh, from where it narrows down to a two lane
mountain highway till Shimla and beyond to the higher reaches. It is
approximately a nine hour journey from New Delhi to Shimla. Regular
buses ply from the Interstate Bus terminal in Delhi and from the
Himachal Bhavan opposite Mandi House.
For more information one may visit www.himachalpradesh.nic.in
there.
RAIL: The nearest broad gauge head to Shimla is at Kalka, 110 kms from
Shimla. There are four trains to Kalka from Delhi during the day.
Thereafter if one is traveling by day, shift to the toy train which runs
on the 105 year old narrow gauge all the way up to Shimla, complete with
103 tunnels and 18 bridges. It is worth the six hour long journey as the
rails wind their way through valleys of the foothills. Approximate time
to reach Shimla by train, 6-7 hours to Kalka and 6 hours to Shimla. The
super fast Shatabdi Express also runs between Delhi and Kalka. If coming
from Mumbai there is the Paschim Express which has a direct connection
with Kalka. The Himalayan Queen starts from Delhi at 5AM in the morning
and reaches Kalka at 10:30 AM. That is the easiest option to travel by
train from Delhi in the morning. If traveling by night The Kalka –
Howrah express is a good option. It starts from Old Delhi Railway
station at 10:45 PM and arrives at Kalka at 5:00AM in the morning. One
can hop on to the Toy Train at Kalka which arrives at Shimla at 10:30 in
the morning. For more information please visit www.indrail.gov.in
AIR: Shimla has its own airport that accommodates turbo-props dorniers.
Jet, Airbus and Boeing 737’s land at Chandigarh airport which is much
larger. The approximate flight time to Shimla from Delhi is 45 mins and
to Chandigarh from Delhi is 30 Mins. The airport at Shimla is a 40 min
drive from the main city. The drive from Chandigarh takes approximately
3 hours. Only Jagson Airlines plies flights between Delhi and Shimla.
www.jagsonairlines.com
Depending on your schedule we recommend allowing at least 1-2 extra days
before and after the event. This will give you a chance to recover from
the flight/bus journeys before the riding starts, and time to relax at
the end – “You’ll need it”. Please remember it takes 10 hours to get
from Delhi to Shimla by bus and
14 hours to get back to Delhi from Manali.
Departure From Manali
ROAD: Manali is well connected by road from New Delhi, Chandigarh and
Shimla. Delhi is 560 kms from Manali and Chandigarh is 280 kms. There
are two Volvo buses in the morning and 2 in the evening out of Manali.
Also there are three regular bus services between Manali and Delhi. We
recommend booking your tickets in advance for our departure from Manali.
RAIL: The nearest railway junction is at Chandigarh, from where there
are connecting trains to major cities of India.
AIR: The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, near Kullu, 36 kms from Manali.
Jagson Airlines and Deccan Airlines have regular flights in and out of
Kullu. Please visit
www.jagsonairlines.com and
www.deccanair.com for more schedules.
What to Bring – List of other Essentials
Please bring ample warm clothing for after rides and sitting around camp
– the evenings can be very cold.
* Jumper or fleece
* Trousers
* Thick socks
* Hat
* Gloves
* Trainers
* Emergency front and rear lights.
A 20litre daypack should be enough to fit the following:
* Waterproofs
* Hat and gloves
* Extra warm layer
* Lightweight headtorch or small front light for the bicycle
(Night riding is not ruled out)
* LED rear light
* Solid bike lock or padlock and long security cable
* Mini-padlock for duffel bag
* Photocopies of important documents (passport, travel
insurance, list of emergency contact numbers, visa, flight tickets)
THE PDF DOCUMENT IS AN OVERVIEW OF MTB HIMACHAL 2007. FOR MORE
INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT http://www.mtbhimachal.com
or e-mail to
mtbhimachal@gmail.com,
dhananjayahluwalia@gmail.com,
hastpa@gmail.com
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