Khazir mohd
Mountain biking is drawing the eyebrows of bikers and adventure lovers in Kashmir as the sub – Himalayan valley is an ideal place for this adventure sport that puts to test the grit and presents one with amazing experiences for life. Mountain biking involves off-road cycling, often through hilly terrain, and using purposely manufactured bikes.
The geography of Kashmir is apt for mountain biking. Cycling one’s way over the landscape of Kashmir Valley peppered with scintillating pine and deodar forests, is an astound and enthralling experience. Pedalling on the hills of Kashmir, that are abundant with beautiful pines and deodars, is enticing and gets the adrenaline rushing. “Many have picked up this type of cycling as part of their fitness routines, some to find adventure and a few to find their inner calling — the last being subjective, yet a very real quest,” says Riyaz Ahmad Wani, President, Jammu and Kashmir Mountain Biking Association (JKMBA). Whether you want to go for a Trek or Safari, Kashmir never disappoints the adventure seekers. The biking trails you would commonly traverse here are hilly or uphill. Adventure seekers get on their cycles to pedal here in June and July. Following are the most suitable cycling hotspots & trails in Kashmir are Gulmarg to Pahalgam, Pahalgam to Srinagar, Sonmarg to Wular/Manasbal Lake, Srinagar to Sonmarg, If one is a pro at mountain biking, he may also try Srinagar – Pahalgam route.
Tourism in Kashmir has evolved to a refreshing concept of shift in adventure avenues. Biking in Kashmir has enthralled the nerves of adventure junkies globally. Mountain biking demands specially designed mountain bikes that possess a rugged framework, a trail through local settlements, shepherds with their flock, crystal clear streams, paddy fields, vast meadows, Kashmiri bazaars and so forth.
Biking in Kashmir has loads of challenges and thrill to offer, so for this, you ought to be prepared with requisite equipment in addition to your active mountain bike. If planning to go for the biking adventure in Kashmir, it is a pre-requisite to prepare oneself with suitable gears and equipment that allow you to embrace this exhilarating adventure sport with all safety measures in place. Below is a list of all essentials one is required to be equipped with before traversing the trails of this pristine valley are Mountain Bike, Biking Shoes, Insulated Gloves/Waterproof Gloves, Helmet, Biking Bags, Washable and Insulated Bottles, Beverages, Collapsible Water Bags, Insect Repellents, Sunglasses, Sunscreen Lotion, Repair Kit, Aero Spray, Bike Pump, Spare Tyres, Speedometer, Batteries, Maps, Flashlights.
Low impact, carbon free & healthy lifestyle are merely reasons, there is something exciting about cycling that one can enjoy an exhilarating feeling. Let’s accept it, youth or old age, all of us would be gleaming on bikes in Kashmir, going along the wind brushing past our hair and a feeling of serendipity everywhere. Biking in Kashmir provides one an escape to mellow down the fast paced life and to observe the intricacies of their surroundings; lauding all parts of the valley from locals to the scenic mountains, wildlife and landscapes covered with meadows. It’s a fantastic means to get a feel of the topography and to soak oneself in the beauty of Kashmir. After you’ve completed your first biking trip in Kashmir, you’ll not be able to resist to avail more vacations on a bike whether here, or elsewhere. Presently, JKMBA has about 50 professional cyclists enrolled with it. “We organize weekly cycling expeditions around different trails across Kashmir,” says Riyaz Ahmed Wani. The cyclists have traversed about 120 expeditions and 100 bike rallies in association with the Kashmir Tourism Department. “These expeditions include cycling from Srinagar to Leh, Gurez, Betaab Valley & back, Jawahar Tunnel & back, Raazdan Pass, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Zojilla, Kargil, Drass, Namik La, Fautu La, Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Tangdhar and Danwass. “Our pending targets for upcoming days are Zanskar, Inshaan Wadwan, Doda, Kishtwar, and Teetwal,” says Riaz Ahmed Wani. All of us would desire that our biking vacation to Kashmir is as enjoyable as possible, hence it is imperative to undertake prior training. Doing some sort of training before arrival here will make one bike-fit for the local trails. One thumb rule of biking is to make sure that your bike is properly adjusted to your height. Too low a seat or high can be discomforting and can make you pedal unnecessarily hard. You need to slowly work upon your cycling routine weeks preceding your departure. One must think of devoting 4-6 hours per week beginning with low intensity training, and slowly graduating to longer and higher intensity workouts. The intensity would come by including few hills into your biking practice. This would then strengthen your muscles and stamina that is required along with the confidence on your bike and different surfaces. Riyaz Ahmed Wani says, “Cycling has the power to transform not just the waistline but define that essence of life we call happiness.” And slowly and steadily, Kashmir is pedalling its way there.
The pic used in this story is a file photo
