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Mt. Everest Bike Rally
Oct. 23 - 30, 2010
From Darjeeling for 8 days trip.
Mirik Lake Resort is basecamp for the MT. EVEREST BIKE RALLY.
Considered to be a cycling Mecca, this area offers some of the
best mountain biking in the world. Riding your own bike on rural backroads
dotted with monasteries, tea estates, and shopping markets is an unforgettable
cultural experience. The real fun begins on single track through Sandakphu
National Park when spectacular views of Everest, Kanchenjunga, and major
peaks unfold around every turn. Lush jungle trails are soon replaced by
long downhills on rural roads with fantastic views.
 In
1993, six mountain bike riders joined the Stage Race trip to survey the
potential for cycling in Sandakphu National Park and Darjeeling area.
John Weissenrieder and Julia Ingersoll were professional riders with a wide
range of experience. If we consider their fitness and skill as a 10 on
a 1-10 grading level, we also had riders at the 2, 5, 7, and 9 levels.
Since the route of this trip is absolute without recognizing male and
female riders, there is just one scale. One non-professional rider actually
rode the entire route of the trip so he would represent a 10 on the scale.
John didn't ride the entire route but he could have, so he would be at
least a 10.
If Julia was the best female rider we can expect to join this trip,
she would have been a 8 on this scale. For example, it took 7 hours (a
10 on the scale) for the first rider to reach Sandakphu from Maneybhanjyang.
This section has steep uphills and rough cobblestones mixed with downhill
trail. John and Julia took about 9-10 hours and John stayed with Julia.
 On the
technical downhill section of the course, it took the first rider about
4 hours (a 10 on the scale) to reach Rimbik from Sandakphu via Molle Turn.
It took John and Julia 2-3 hours longer to complete this section so we
can assume the best female rider would compare at a 7 or 8 on the scale.
These two sections of the Everest Bike Rally course are the most demanding
in terms of skill and fitness of the entire trip. It is important to remember
nobody was racing so the scale described is simply a way to generally
compare male and female riders of a very high skill and fitness level with
yourself.
Mountain Bikes: Bring your own bike, tools, spares,
and be prepared to assemble and disassemble as necessary for transport
by air, bus, jeep, and porter. Allow about $50. per flight for excess
baggage cost of your bike on domestic air in India; excess baggage on
international flights will vary. Indian tour operator is not responsible
for damage to your mountain bike.
Itinerary Summary
Saturday
October 23, 2010
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MIRIK Trip starts on arrival Bagdogra Airport which serves Darjeeling
area. All meals included until trip ends at Bagdogra. Mirik Lake
Resort,
located near Darjeeling.
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- Sunday
October 24, 2010
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MIRIK Day trip to
Darjeeling. Visit Himalayan museum, and markets.
Ride famous Toy Train. Mirik Lake Resort.
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- Monday
October 25, 2010
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SANDAKPHU (11815 ft) 100 Mile
Stage Race starts at Maneybhanjang. (6600
ft). Stages: 24, 20, 26, 13, 17 miles. Aid station and jeep support
for 24 miles. Non runners walk 10 mi. Bungalows.
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- Tuesday
October 26, 2010
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SANDAKPHU (11815 ft) Views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, & Kanchenjunga
all day. Trails out to Molle & back. Total 20 miles. Non runners
optionally walk 5 mi. Bungalows.
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- Wednesday
October 27, 2010
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RIMBIK (6350 ft) Everest Challenge Marathon Views of peaks and jungle.
Route: Sandakphu- Phulet-Molle-Rmbik. 26.4 miles. Non runners walk 10
mile. Sherpa Lodge
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- Thursday
October 28, 2010
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PALMAJUA (6560 ft) Follow rural road 13 miles. Bus back to Rimbik.
Non runners visit monastery & villages. Sherpa & Tenzing
Lodge.
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- Friday
October 29, 2010
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MIRIK (5500 ft) Rural scenic road 17 miles to finish at
Maneybhanjang.
Bus to Mirik Resort. Awards dinner. Non runners walk 5-10 miles.
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- Saturday
October 30, 2010
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TRIP ENDS Drive to Bagdogra Airport. Connection to Delhi.
Stage Race (8 days trip) or Marathon (4 days trip)
Includes shared accommodations
at Mirik Lake Resort, mountain huts at Sandakphu, lodges at Rimbik, all
meals, transportation, aid stations, guides, porters, full Race support,
and Bagdogra Airport transfers.
Early Arrival at Mirik Lake Resort. .......... per pax per night on twin
sharing basis and......... per pax per night on single room
accommodation. Include meals,
lodging, guided sightseeing. Early arrival allows extra time to acclimatize,
recover from jet lag, visit tea estates, monasteries, and shopping markets.
PRE
& POST CULTURAL SIGHTSEEING EXTENSIONS
1. GOLDEN TRIANGLE (DELHI/AGRA/JAIPUR)
2. WILDLIFE /
BUDDHIST SECTOR etc..
Itinerary and cost details contact:
Race
Director
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