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In October 2014 I will be joining the MacMillan Cancer Support team as they ride mountain bikes from Amritsar to Shimla in the Indian Himalayan Mountains and it could well be that is the easy bit.
In the time between now and October 18th, 2014 I need to train through an English winter, around the dodgy roads of Surrey, complete with potholes that could swallow a Volkswagen. On top of that I need to help my friends and acquaintances part with approximately £4000 pounds for MacMillan and finally I need to lose approximately 30 kgs and get back below the weight I was when I got married.
Easy, peasy lemon squeeze says my 6 year old, Will. Well we will see.
I am looking forward to the challenge and a once in a lifetime experience.
The ride itself is from Amritsar (actually starts just outside Amritsar in a place called Prapur)
Day 1 An early start sees us driving east to Pragpur, on the edge of the Himalayas. Pragpur (610m) is India’s only UNESCO World Heritage Village. Our route takes us along the quiet back roads of the Kangra Valley, passing through a wonderful sub-tropical landscape of cultivated fields and small villages – a fantastic introduction to our journey. We finish in the small town of Kangra (735m).
Day 2 The ride continues through the Kangra Valley before we reach the Dhauladhar Mountains, the outermost range of the Himalayas. We then ascend nearly 1,000m over 20km to Dharamsala and Mcleod Ganj (1,770m). Here we're treated to magnificent views of the mountains towering above us. It’s a hard end to the day, but Mcleod Ganj – home to the Dalai Lama – makes it all worth it.
Day 3 The morning starts with a sharp descent down to Dharamsala (1,457m) before our route curves round and the peaks of the Outer Himalaya loom 4,500m above us. As we reach Baijnath (1,230m) the landscape suddenly changes – tea plantations, grazing buffalo, wild forests and daily village life are all set against the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas.
Day 4 is more challenging as we head for Mandi at the foot of the Kulu Valley. We ride closer to the mountains; the vegetation changes as we move higher. We follow the line of the Dhauladhar ridge, and tackle some steep ascents, before we descend into the market town of Mandi (830m).
Day 5 the difficulty of the long uphill climbs is matched only by the fabulous scenery. Our route cuts through the Outer Himalaya and its striking landscapes, with the mountains rising sharply on each side. We have some steep climbs before lunch at Larji (1,075m), a small settlement in a stunning position between the torrents of two rivers.
We then ride on the fringes of the Great Himalayan National Park – home to bears, leopards and wildcats. The road steepens as we approach our camp just past the small attractive town of Banjar.
Day 6 Is the highest elevation in the trip. We start early, making for Jalori Pass (3,223m) and take it gently to start with before forests give way to sub-alpine birches and rhododendrons as we ride above 3,000m. From the pass there are spectacular views over the Pir Pinjal range and Tibetan peaks. We then have a breath taking descent to the small town of Luhri (940m) and our camp lies near a beautiful Himalayan river.
Day 7 An early start sees us pedalling along quiet, narrow roads and tracks. We follow a narrow road cut dramatically into the steep cliff-sides, with the mighty Himalaya river to one side. Mainly on dirt roads with some tarmac, the road undulates as it twists it's way west towards Tattapani. We then climb back into the hills on a narrow ascent of approx 30km, keeping our eyes peeled for monkeys!
Day 8 The last day of cycling is shorter, but the hills aren't finished. There are some spellbinding views across to snow-capped peaks and we pass small villages with women and children working in the fields. Our destination is the hill station of Shimla (2,205m), the state capital of Himachal Pradesh, and the former summer capital of British India. There’ll be feelings of joy (and a little sadness) as our incredible Himalayan ride is at an end. The afternoon can be spent exploring Shimla before meeting up in the evening for a slap up dinner to celebrate our achievements.
So that's preview. Over the next months I will be provide an overview of the pre-India challenge including all the good stuff, training, weight loss, choosing the right kit and most importantly... Raising money for MacMillan Cancer Support.
I'll do the training and the ride but I could really do with your help with the fundraising, please make a donation by clicking HERE
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