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| Day 4 on rocky Himalayan terrain |
| Friday October 2, 2009 |
| After a cold night spent at Tanu Jubbar camp, it was time to start the leg of Day 4 of Mountain-Biking Himachal. It was a routine for the riders to wake-up, freshen up before the start of the first stage each day. The riders had gotten used to it by now, but not all. I was probably the only one who would sit up inside the tent, and think about the day ahead. I was mentally fatigued more than physically. I guess this is the same feeling all of the riders shared. I was just dreaming of reaching the camp at the end of day 4, as this meant resting at Kullu-Sarahan in between the 2 continuous legs of the event. Day 5 was meant to be a rest day at Kullu-Sarahan itself. But then I was still dreaming, ain't it ! Amidst all this, I could hear the race director who began briefing the riders about the race stages for the day. Stage 1 was to start after a short 5km downhill ride from the camp. It was pretty cold in the morning, but soon enough as the sun rose above the towering mountains it felt nice. Stage 1 was a easy downhill of 22km, at the end of which we found ourselves next to the Sutlej river adjacent to the highway. All the riders loved this stage, because downhill is always fun for any mountain biker. After stage 1, it meant we had to climb and gain all the altitude that we lost during the first stage. And yes, stage 2 was just that, a climb. Stage 2 started just after we crossed the Sutlej river. The riders quenched their thirst, and started in groups of 4-5, as was the norm. After a 13km climb, it was time for lunch. There was a rider who happened to break his bike's chain, but since this stage was competitive he actually completed the stage by running along with his bike till the finish. All of us cheered him on and were full of praises to his never-say-die spirit. The lunch spot always was the best place to meet other riders, lie down, relax and do whatever. Not to forget, this also was a good time to capture/absorb the fabulous beauty of Himachal. After another short climb, it was time for stage 3, last stage of the day. Stage 3 started with a short easy climb, but then transitioned into a downhill which ended at a small village. The route was filled with school kids returning back from school in the evening. Their smiles made me smile too. Actually during the same time, I was pretty exhausted with all the riding since morning, but seeing these super enthusiastic kids it made me feel stronger while crossing the finishing line. A scene which will be etched in my memory. We still had to reach Kullu-Sarahan, which was 13km of uphill. But the rest of the day, made me feel easy and so I and a bunch of riders decided to hike towards the camp which was situated at a considerable altitude. After covering almost half the distance, there was a sudden downpour, and we were fortunate enough to find a shelter. From a very pleasant temperature, it turned very cold and so we had to quickly grab our jackets and hoped to take a drop till the camp. And yet again we were blessed to find the Army truck Stallion (part of the Army team, also competing) as its called en route to camp. We were quick to get inside the huge loading area meant for transporting troops. Only difference being that now it was filled with cycles as well as stranded riders like us. With its super-high ground clearance and 4*4 capability, it was not long before we reached the camp. Although I must say that the road that led to the camp definitely did test the vehicle's off-road capability to the fullest. We were all impressed by the skills of the Stallion's driver and thanked him well. After reaching camp,we all sat next to the bonfire and made ourselves comfortable, and shared stories of different riders. It was time to just relax now and do your own stuff for the next day. |
Sriram is another participant at the 'MTB Himachal 2009' and is passionate about cycling. 
