The Mt Everest Bike Rally follows the Stage Race course, and offers views of Mt. Everest while riding a bike at your own pace. A demanding day of uphill riding is rewarded by single track and mountain views. Technical riders enjoy days of riding downhill jungle trails and through villages. Rural roads allow riders of all abilities to enjoy Himalayan culture and scenery. The running events and the bike tour are held simultaneously.
Mirik Lake Resort is base camp for the 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 back roads 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 out of 10 levels. John and Julia took about 9-10 hours to reach Sandakphu from Maneybhanjang, riding together. This section has steep uphills and rough cobblestones mixed with downhill trail. 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 through Molle. These two sections of the Everest Bike Rally course are the most demanding in terms of skill and fitness of the entire trip. But remember: this is not a race, and there is no time limit.
Cyclists are required to bring bike own bike, tools, and spare tires, and to able to disassemble and reassemble their bikes as necessary for transport by air, bus, jeep, and porter. Allow about $50 per flight for excess baggage cost for your bike on domestic flights; excess baggage on international flights will vary. The Indian tour operator is not responsible for damage to your mountain bike.
Walkers are also welcome and encouraged to join the trip. You can walk at your own pace with a guide and enjoy spectacular views of peaks rising from Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet, and Bhutan, including Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga, the first and third highest peaks in the world. Jeeps support the aid stations that are provided for runners and cyclists, so there is always a chance of getting a lift if the walking becomes too strenuous and tiring. Following mountain trails, you can stop at hill villages and monasteries along the way; cyclists have dinners and overnight with runners. Walkers have plenty of time to enjoy the cultural diversity of Hindu and Buddhist religions, colonial charm of Darjeeling and scenery during the running events. All abilities and ages are welcome.
