A wet and very very muddy Eco Challenge this year. The cycling route in places was like a river, not to mention the actual river which had to be waded across! Two sections of the trail required carry, one a very tricky navigation of a recent landslide, which was somewhat like a muddy waterfall after the previous nights rain. All of Biking Firsts riders took part in various teams for the cycling leg of the event.
Eventual winners where Rajkumar and his partner Aja Pandit. They left the biking start in third position, but managed to overtake the two other teams in front of them along the route. Second position team was Biking First’s Pratik Thapa who partnered Mandil, they completed the biking leg in a very fast 58 min, though both riders fell at one point in the course. Third place team comprised of two Biking First Riders, Alin and Sunil Lama.....both first timers in this kind of event. They had fast runners and rode very well to finish in Third Place.
Congratulation all boys, and the two Saroj’s who came in fourth place, despite Saroj Rai having a bit of a fall and damaging his bike, better luck next time boys. Right now its back to training, and all boys where out at the Mountain Bike Madness race course this morning.....no rest just yet, still two races to go....
Raj Kumar sadly was very flat going into the race having undertrained due to illness and bike problems. He fought it out for fourth position in what turned out to be a very tough, fast and furious race. The Elite Men’s was won by Aja Pandit, Narayan Gopal in second and Padam in third place.
Our other Elite Men’s riders, Pratik came in a well ridden sixth, fighting off some very experienced riders and Saroj, who was participating in only his second ever race rode hard and finished 9th, as a reward for finishing in the top ten, we will now buy Saroj a new bike frame to replace his Merider which is old and too small for him.
Biking First Team had much better success in the beginner/junior race with Aayman blitzing it for first place, Sunil Lama came in Second and Alin Majharat in third making it a one, two three for the Biking First Jersey. New comers Padam and Bikash hung on as best they could in a fast paced ride to finish in the top twenty and Saroj Rai who led the race at the start, had a little fall near the lake and ended up in 7th place.
We are so proud of all our boys and hope they are not too tired for this weekend’s eco challenge. Sadly as all of us where riding in the race we do not as yet have any photos, but we hope to get some soon.
A huge thanks must go to Country Villa Hotel for helping with some sponsorship to send all boys to Pokhara. Thank you too to the Race Organizers and all volunteers for making the day a great success.
Saturdays are fun relaxing, so what does the biking team do on Saturdays? They ride of course. Last week the boys did a time trail and training ride to Kakani to help assess how training is going for the upcoming races. A few weeks ago, the team rode the 100km round trip to Namobuddha via Lakhuiri Bhanjyang which was a great day out, you can see photo's on our face book profile. The next three weeks looks very busy, the team is off on Saturday to Pokhara to prepare for Tuesdays race, then it’s back to Kathmandu for Eco Challenge on the 21st followed by Mountain Bike Madness on the 28th. Mountain Bike Madness is a tough and muddy course and both Aaymaan and Padam spent the weekend up at Tolkha lending a hand to fix some gaps in the trail.
Training is going well despite the rain, though most boys are enjoying two days rest. We had a scare this week also, Rajkuma broke the drop out on his Laiperre frame and we have been unable to find a replacement, after three days without a bike, we managed to build him a new one using a V-Ket frame donated by Biking First.......hes a happy boy again now he can train.
Bananas Food is fuel and to be a good rider the boys need to eat a good balanced diet and fruit plays a role in that. Two dozen bananas does not go far among five hungry boys...
Disc Brakes Raj Kumar was lucky enough to be sponsored for disc brakes for his bike. It was like Christmas for the team when the latest shipment of parts arrived from Bangkok. Aside from disc brakes we received a Shimano XTR gear set for Rajkumar to use in the Asian Games and Fox Shocks are on the way soon coming from UK.
Aayman has also been able to upgrade his bike with a new wheel set and SLX Disc Brakes thanks to sponsorship form Biking First’s good friend Suman. And this week we have also put new drive chain on Sunil’s Bike in preparation for Pokhara race.
Asian Games Registration Very excited when Nepal Cycling Association announced registration for the Asian Games in November. Now it’s time to prepare Rajkumar for perhaps the biggest event of his young cycling life. We are working hard to secure funding and sponsorship to send Raj and also to develop a training and diet for him that will help him compete. We are very very excited for all of Nepal’s riders who will be lucky enough to compete at the games
“If I am feeling lazy, then everything is hard, if I am active and fresh then everything is easy...”
Sunil left schoolafter class eight and found his way to working in the Bike Shop. Sunil is a fast learner and he went from knowing nothing about bikes to now being a solid working in Biking First. He got his inspiration to ride from his Uncle Mangal Lama who is one of Nepal’s top riders. Sunil loves to ride for physical fitness andgood health.
Sunil comes from a big family and both his parents live overseas leaving him to live with his Grandfather and Uncle.He has four sisters and four brothers, a lot of people to look after!
Sunil is a keen mountain biker, though he has only been riding for 6 months, he is fast developing his skill on the bike, his speed and his stamina. Still only learning to ride, Sunil finds it difficult to go down tricky hills and balancing the bike on single tracks and slippery going. For new riders, it’s also hard to ride and train alone as finding the ways and knowing the best places to ride only comes from following others. At times Sunil goes out training alone, but he’s been known to get lost a bit! Biking First team give him the right support to go on riding. His first bike came from Oxy, the company owner and we also help with the ongoing maintenance of the bike. (Beginner riders break a lot of things!)
Sunil has had many problems with his bike, but he is hoping to get a new frame and parts soon, though as we know mountain biking is an expensive sport and keeping a bike in top order his very hard without good support.
Sunil’s ultimate aim is to be able to compete overseas and with both his parents living in Australia, it could be a possibility for the future, but now it’s all down to hard work, training and finding the motivation to ride every day. Most mornings he follows the older riders and by doing this can learn new skills, build confidence and increase his speed and fitness. He also would like to learn downhill racing as well.
So far Sunil has competed in two races. In Sanchu he finished in seventh place and was let down by his downhill riding, in Chobar a much more technical course, he went on to finish fourth in the junior section, a great effort and a good sign of improvement. We cannot wait to see what he will do in Pokhara.
Everybody wants to be like their hero’s, wear what they wear, eat and drink the same and ride the bike that they do...
Mountain Biking receives much support, funding and acclaim word wide as both a recreational and professional sport. In Nepal there is no funding or support or official training for our young riders and no chance of performing on an international scale. We only have to look at massive international companies like Trek, Cube and Giant among others and their mountain bike racing teams to see how much success they get, teams such as this attract sponsorship from cooperate giants like Vodafone, Coke and Sony, all companies that enjoy the lime light that sponsorship of mountain biking brings to them. This is what allows other nations to develop professional riders that can compete and carry sponsor names on an international level; this is what Nepal is missing out on.
This chance to send riders to the 16th Asian games offers limitless opportunities for our young riders. To gain international experience, to build a reputation in Nepal as being a great mountain biking country further attracting international events (In the past Nepal has hosted the Asian Championships and other international race series) tourism and recreational benefits. To sponsor a young rider, you are helping pave the way forward for mountain biking and professional riders in Nepal. A small step now can help develop the sport and help us to produce the champions of the future who can be competitive on an international scale, our champions, Nepalese sponsored, Nepalese riders.
Nations need sporting heroes, people outside of politics, cooperation’s and everyday life that can bring people together as one and give them a sense of National Pride. Sporting heroes can be ambassadors for our country like Ricky Pointing is to Australia, Sachin Tendulkar to India and David Beckham to England.
A professional rider can go a long way in promoting mountain biking through the country, encouraging other people to ride for recreation, health, fitness and well being not to mention promoting the bicycle as a vehicle for the environment and also help to boost Mountain Biking in the Tourism industry, all of which helps the Economy of Nepal, the moral of the people and the pride of the Nation.
Biking first is hoping that Raj Kumar and some of Nepal’s other top ten riders can make it to the 16th Asian Games in China and we are now seeking sponsorship to fund the training and journey there.
Raj Kumar is one of the young and upcoming Mountain Bike riders in Nepal. He’s fast, fun and friendly and many younger riders aspire to ride like him. Shy at first, once you get to know him, you will soon see the appeal of this charismatic kid who can fly down hills like a monsoon torrents and ride up them faster than you can on your motor bike! At just 21 years of age, he has limitless scope to become a true champion of the future, with the right sponsorship and training, he can go a long way.
He is active in promoting mountain biking amongst the youth of Nepal, attending schools to demonstration about mountain biking, leading daily riders for amateur riders to experience the many tracks and trails around the Kathmandu Valley and helping young riders improve their bikes and riding techniques. Raj Kumar has huge potential to become an ambassador for the future of mountain biking in Nepal.
HISTORY - Raj Kumar is a success story waiting to happen. He was born in Kathmandu and grew up without an education. Living in a family of six, it was always hard to make ends meet and he began working in a screen printers shop as soon as he was old enough. He never had a cycle as a boy and always envied those on the streets who had them. After four years at the screen printers, he went and got a job in a Cycle Shop. His limited English and education was a hurdle he had to overcome to learn mechanic skills and how to interact with tourists.
From here he grew the desire to ride and race. At first having no money he used his friend’s bike to ride and train. Riding a mountain bike for the first time is always an adventure, finding tails to ride, falling down and learning techniques by watching other riders and following behind.
THE FINICAL STRUGGLE - In 2006 Raj Kumar managed to buy his first bike which cost 3,000 nrs for a Giant Bike. It soon became apparent to others that Raj Kumar was going to be a good rider. He debuted in the 2006 Nepal Mountain Bike Championships with 6th place in the junior section, followed by 3rd place in The Epic Mountain Bike Cross Country Race and finally a win in the Junior Section of the 2007 Tharayan TAAN Mountain Bike Race. Looking to improve his bike, an American rider, Tyler helped Raj to by a new and lighter frame, V-Ket to replace is old bike.
But finical problems are always a hurdle for a mountain biker in Nepal especially when looking after the family must come first. Raj Kumar continued to race with mixed results, all top ten finishes until his frame broke. He had to wait some six months to save the money to by his current Laiperre frame which he brought himself for 8,500nrs.
Now Raj Kumar works in Biking First and after a good performance in the first two races of 2010 he has been sponsored for Hydraulic Disc breaks for his bike. Slowly he is building a fast and light race bike that can help him perform at his very best. Every day he is building his confidence in riding, working, mechanic skills and also speaking English. He rides everyday and his biggest desire is to ride for his country Nepal and help to promote and develop mountain biking for future generations.
RACE HISTORY Laxmi Cares Mountain Bike Race April 2010 – 1st Place Sankhu Mountain Bike Race Feb 2010 – 3rd Place Nepal National Championship 2009– 7th Place Laxmi Cares Mountain Bike Race 2009 – 4th Place Eco Challenge 2008 - 1st Place Thuraya TAAN MTB Championships 2008– 6th Place Nepal Mountain Bike Race 2007 – 1st Place Bagmati River Festival Race 2007 – 3rd Place TAAN MTB Championships 2007 – 1st Place (Junior) Epic Cross Country Race 2007 – 3rd Place 7th Nepal Mountain Bike Championships 2006 – 6th Place
There’s more going on at Biking First than just bike tours and repairs. Our boys all love cycling and work hard every day at improving themselves. Though young and most are inexperienced in biking, everyday is a learning curve for the likes of Sunil and Soraj who wake up early, rain hail or shine to get out on the tracks and trails of Kathmandu Valley, things don’t always go to plan, punctures, broke parts and falling down is all part of the ride and the fun and adventure of mountain biking in Nepal. Let’s just say that flat tires and a few bumps and bruises don’t stop these lads from doing it all again tomorrow!
Raj Kumar, Aayamaan and Pratik on the other hand have a lot more biking experience and confidence, you may see them blurring buy you in the mornings as they train hard for the next race, whenever that may be, in Nepal races are few and far between but when they do come around, our boys are always ready to compete.
Riding and training helps to keep the boys motivated and also fit for tours. It’s an essential part of their days and jobs and it also helps keep the good team spirit in the office during the day. Morning rides are also a good fun way to meet new people and share their passion for biking with others. It’s also a good confidence building lesson for the young and inexperienced riders, with the relaxed pace they can keep up with the senior riders and learn a lot. Since we started the morning rides in January our group has gone from just three riders to sometimes over ten and there are always new faces coming and going in the Biking First morning ride family and others are always welcome to join. Favorite places for the morning ride are Tolka, Mudhku, Chapgaon and Bim Dhunga. The boys (and girls) go out from 6 am til 9:30 most days of the week and are often joined by other recreational riders out for fun and the love of biking.Back at the shop, there are always bikes to clean and fix which keeps them busy until it’s time for Dhal Bhart, fuel for the riders.
Things get more serious in the afternoon, when the big boys go out for serious training, there’s no tag a long’s on these rides that can last up to 4 hours and this is when they truly fly. Favourite training rides for the boys are Kakani (You would not believe how fast they can get up there and back), Lele, Shivapuri and Jamacho. Back at the shop its more food, it’s a full time (and expensive) job keeping the boys fed, they train hard and eat harder it seems.....but you know teenagers they are always hungry!
Relaxing time is spent winding down and chatting about where to ride tomorrow and let’s hope it does not rain, though even the monsoon cannot put a damper on the spirits.
