{"id":2761,"date":"2024-10-23T09:36:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T03:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/blog\/"},"modified":"2024-11-23T19:37:01","modified_gmt":"2024-11-23T13:52:01","slug":"into-nepals-wild-an-epic-enduro-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/feature\/into-nepals-wild-an-epic-enduro-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"A ride on the wild side: Journey into the heart of Nepal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After an exhilarating experience in last year’s inaugural race, I\u2019m excited to return to the heart of Nepal! As I prepare for this thrilling challenge again, I reflect on the connections forged amidst breathtaking scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last November, I embarked on a wild 14-day expedition that left me breathless\u2014literally\u2014and buzzing with excitement. Let me take you on a journey through the highs and lows of my unforgettable adventure in the foothills of the majestic Annapurna Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picture this: the iconic Fishtail Mountain towering in the background, the air crisp with anticipation, and the vibrant city of Pokhara beckoning us with promises of adventure and nightlife. That\u2019s where my story begins\u2014amidst the thrills and spills of the Pokhara Enduro race, a magnet for thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Anuj Adhikary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2014what-the?\u2014a 72-year-old mountain biker taking on this challenge? Yep, that\u2019s me! Alongside my adventurous younger wife, we dove headfirst into the heart-pounding world of enduro racing, starting with an event in Singapore earlier in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after that event, we found ourselves being lured into the Pokhara Enduro International Mountain Bike Race by its organiser, Sunil Chandra Sharma, during his captivating pitch in Singapore. And just like that, we were in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Sunil Chandra Sharma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This inaugural competition was held in the village of Mahaprabhu Dham, where riders from 11 countries battled it out across seven categories. Organised and run by a crew of local enthusiasts and supported by sponsors who share a passion for mountain biking and advancing local tourism, everything worked like clockwork from the get-go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Anuj Adhikary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The local townsfolk and villagers, eager to share their pristine mountains and services with us, added another layer of experience for riders, especially us foreign visitors. Smiling faces in traditional garb lined the streets, handing us flowers and signalling a warm welcome as we cruised through villages in 4WDs loaded with bikes and riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Anuj Adhikary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over two days of official practice, we tackled the six trails of Arba Hills, each designed to blend seamlessly with the natural landscape. They were more chunky than chundery, featuring primarily soft loam surfaces and flat turns. None would rate as super-gnarly, making them doable even for intermediates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, nothing can save a rider from bad judgment. On day two, a split-second decision led me off-piste and over a decent vertical drop, resulting in broken ribs and a collarbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, the not-so-apparent aspects of the organisation of the Pokhara Enduro kicked in. Within 10 seconds, an official was attending to me; three minutes later, a medic arrived to check my spine. Ten minutes on, a doctor showed up and repeated all the checks. Shortly after that, a stretcher arrived and eight people lifted me onto it. I was whisked away in a 4WD ambulance; a painkiller was injected and I was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays and observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Anuj Adhikary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even that little ordeal had a happy ending. The next day, I was back up on the mountain as a supporter, watching the competition unfold and proudly cheering as my wife snagged a podium spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, fellow adventurers, mark your calendars for November 27-29, 2024 and join us in the heart of Nepal for an experience like no other. With its strategic timing after the local summer, the Pokhara Enduro is accessible and affordable. The arrival and transfer logistics are smooth, the accommodation is great, the food is even better, and the overall experience has to be felt to be believed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned rider or just winding into the world of mountain biking, the Pokhara Enduro promises a rad yet manageable ride, mixed with the magic of Nepal. Trust me, you won\u2019t want to miss it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Anuj Adhikary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Related Images:<\/h3>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A 73-year-old Australian mountain biker looks back on his journey through the breathtaking trails of Pokhara, where the spirit of enduro racing brings together riders from all walks of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2770,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[105,56,26],"class_list":["post-2761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-moutainbiking","tag-mtb","tag-pokhara-enduro"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Chris Stott","author_link":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/author\/christott\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Pokhara-Enduro-2023_Full-Res_Anuj-Adhikary-268-300x200.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Blog<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Blog<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Moutainbiking<\/a>","MTB<\/a>","PokharaEnduro<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Moutainbiking<\/span>","MTB<\/span>","PokharaEnduro<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":0,"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 1 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 ago","modified":"Updated 1 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on 23 \u0905\u0915\u094d\u091f\u094b\u092c\u0930 2024","modified":"Updated on 23 \u0928\u094b\u092d\u0947\u092e\u094d\u092c\u0930 2024"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on 23 \u0905\u0915\u094d\u091f\u094b\u092c\u0930 2024 09:36","modified":"Updated on 23 \u0928\u094b\u092d\u0947\u092e\u094d\u092c\u0930 2024 19:37"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2761"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2761"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3843,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2761\/revisions\/3843"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8850media.com\/np\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}