Cycling on mountain trails is a challenging sport. Competing in a mountain endurance race makes it even more difficult. This is an expensive sport which discourages bikers on a frugal family budget. Mountain biking is far more costly than either cricket or football. Worse, organisers offer paltry prize money compared with the two well-paid sports.

Mountain biking (MTB) competitor Chris Keeling says, “Mountain biking pinches the cyclist’s wallet. Riders use special cycles. These racing-grade rigs start at $3,000. Maintenance costs are high too.”

Kathmandu resident Keeling, 25, finished third in 2023 Monduro Downhill Race organised by the Tawang Cycling Association (TCA) in Arunachal Pradesh, India. He works as a guide in Nepal to support his passion. “My vocation helps me fund cycle maintenance expenses,” he says.

Do-It-Yourself cyclists save money, says Keeling. “Fixing yourself cycle parts saves retailer’s service fee. Having basic knowledge of mechanics helps too. My father supports me with my bike expenses sometimes. Switchback Nepal supports my race expenses now.”

Expensive Endeavour

TCA President Dr Dukhum Magu says, “Riders use high-end bikes at events such as Monduro. The bike should bear the stress of riding through the gnarly rough trails. Normal bikes will not survive the trauma of these tough trails. Expensive bikes feature heat-dissipating disc brakes that respond instantly to make sudden stops and turns. Riders need superior-quality gear. Safety is vital. Safety gear, such as a helmet, gloves and body armour, are not cheap either. Competitors may not find such gear in India. They would have to import from abroad.”

Edward Pinheiro, an MTB and cyclothon competitor from Mumbai, agrees that the costs associated with mountain biking are prohibitive. “My first MTB, a Trek Fuel Ex5 that is a little of enduro and Cross Country as well, cost me INRs200,000,” he says.

“In January this year, I bought a Van Rysel RCR 900 for INRs110,000 only to ride on Mumbai and Pune roads. For more than 12 years, I had used a Chinese dual-suspension folding bike that cost me INRs17,000. I used this cycle to commute to work.”

Not all bikers are as fortunate as Keeling and Pinheiro, who have the means to fuel their passion. Anyway, after a mountain biker scores the perfect ride, he faces six major challenges that test his skills and grit. The type of terrain. Physical fitness. Riding technique. Bicycle knowledge. Weather conditions and considerable risk of injuries.

Terrain challenges: Riders face rugged, craggy, steep, and uneven trails in a downhill mountain endurance cycling race. The trails present obstacles like stones, rocks, shrubs, roots, grass, wet and slippery ground.

Fitness Fundamentals

Mountain bikers need high physical fitness. They need strong leg and hand muscles, flexibility, and stamina. Riders need to prepare long before a competitive mountain race.

Possessing a good cycle is winning half the battle. Riders should develop good riding techniques, such as cornering, braking, swerving and descending skills. Perfecting these skills needs endless hours of practice under a good coach.

Riders should know how to fix their cycle. Rugged mountain trails take a toll on your tyres, brakes, and other components, putting them to the ultimate test. Knowing how to fix these problems does not hurt.

Riders face the thrilling yet perilous risk of crashes, falls, and slides. Riding skills and an alert mind often spare mountain bikers serious injuries. Lastly, the riders need to deal with weather conditions during a race. Snow and rain make the ground slushy and slippery. Weather affects riders’ performances. High riding skills are vital.

Pinheiro concurs. “A cyclist needs high riding skills for technical trails Monduro route presents in Tawang. I took on the challenge to compete in November 2023,” he says.

Also Read: Monduro: India’s gateway to enduro biking

Sharing his Monduro experience, the Kuwait-born and raised 44-year-old biker says, “Monduro was my first ever MTB race. I’ve never experienced anything like it. The thrill and the adrenaline rush, learning all the lines on the trails, which one to take or avoid is FUNtastic. The backdrop of rock gardens galore gives even the best of riders a run for their money.”

The beautiful backdrop of greenery in Tawang masks the reality of the tough trails, Monduro competitors say. Crashes and falls are just part of the cycling experience.

Badges of Honour

Keeling suffered a major setback in 2023. “I broke my collarbone last December while riding the Nagarkot trails in Nepal, he says. “It happened whilst I was out with my friends on a casual weekend ride.”

How did a casual ride turn disastrous? “I decided to hit a big gap I had completed previously. I fell a little short. I landed nose-heavy. I ended rugby-tackling the ground with my left shoulder. The surgeon fixed a big titanium plate with eight screws and one wire to hold my collarbone in place.”

Crashes and injuries are inherent aspects of an enduro rider’s journey. These athletes wear their injury marks like badges of honour, pushing through the pain to continue racing with resilience and determination.

“I started lower body training after one month of the surgical procedure. I started with squats and worked out on a stationary bicycle. After three months, I started rebuilding my upper body strength. My left arm looked as if it had deflated from the muscle loss,” Keeling continues.

“I restarted cycling after five months. I gradually tested my collarbone and worked hard to regain my confidence after the accident. It took eight months to fully rebuild my speed on the trails. I thank my riding buddy Rajesh (Magar) for this, as I would chase him during rides trying to keep pace with him.”

On the traumatic experience, Keeling says, “You realise how much we take MTB for granted after an injury. My love for the sport has increased. I am enjoying riding bike more than ever before. It is an awesome sport that brings friends together and gives us that amazing feeling of adrenaline rush.”

Keeling navigated the trails incident-free during the Monduro 2023, but Pinheiro had a fall. “My injury was not serious. I was lucky. This year I cannot take part because I cannot avail leave from my office,” he says.

“Fear of crashes and injuries should not deter enduro riders. MTB has created a buzz in India and Nepal. Redbull has recently entered the MTB sponsorship in India. This should excite riders. It is fun to note so many riders showing interest in enduro riding. The sport can only get better from here.”

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