Bali is a very special place. As the days wore on, we really started to settle in and enjoy this tropical paradise. When we weren’t riding bikes, we were taking full advantage of the Indo lifestyle. The Chillhouse organized surf lessons through the Bali Local Surf School (my first attempt at surfing!). The warm Indian Ocean was a welcomed change from the freezing Pacific. I won’t be winning any surf comps soon, but I had a great time just cruising on the mellow waves. Afterwards, I spent time getting acquainted with some mischievous locals in Ubud
We took an excursion for a few days to the Gili Islands. The Gilis are three small islands off the coast of Lombok, about a three hour boat ride to the east of Bali. The islands were remote and stunning, with amazing coral reefs to snorkel and beautiful beaches to relax on.
After our holiday on the Gilis, it was time to get back into gear. Our next ride would be the Asia Pacific Downhill Challenge Course. The 2014 APDC race brought big names to Indonesia like The Coastal Crew, Mick Hannah, and Wyn Masters, with Remi Thirion taking home the win. I had watched footage of the exciting race and I was super stoked we would be getting a chance to ride the course. The race has been a major factor in the rapid growth in popularity of mountain biking on the island.
We loaded up our bikes at the Chillhouse and drove northeast to Bukit Tengah, Klungkung. At the bottom of the mountain, we stopped at a shrine to place an offering, praying for a safe ride. Shrines are a integral part of Balinese spirituality, and the locals pray to these shrines daily with flower offerings for many different things. The Balinese were welcoming and inclusive to us as outsiders.Donald Duck likes to shred bikes, too!Alex had made a few phone calls in the days leading up to our ride to coordinate with locals to get the course cleared. He informed us the track was a bit overgrown now that it was the rainy season. The Chillhouse was one of the main sponsors of the race, and Alex was the man who really coordinated the event and made it possible. He holds a key to the gate that allowed us onto the property with the course. Again, I realized how lucky we were to be riding with Alex. We also were super lucky to have Austrian photographer Hannes Mautner with us to shoot the day.
Once through the gate, the road became unbelievably steep and winding, gaining an impressive amount of elevation over a short stretch- the perfect venue for a gnarly downhill course. We parked the truck at the top, and when we got out of the car I was hit with a wave of heat. By far, this was the hottest day we had yet experienced. The sun was beating down, humidity was at an extreme, and as we geared up I knew it would be a rough day wearing a full-face.
The view was breathtaking. The mountain fell steeply away toward the expansive ocean. I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful course. First, we walked the top of the course. It didn’t look anything like it had during the race in November. The race was held in the dry season and the course looked bare and dusty. Now the jungle had begun to take back the track. The course was super green and grass covered the jumps and landings. It’s amazing how much the scenery changes between seasons in the tropics.
We started by sessioning the jumps at the top, which was super fun. The full-face helmets coupled with pushing our bikes back up the road, however, really intensified how hot it was. We were all pouring sweat, laughing and teasing each other about the heat. The course then dropped down narrow and loose singletrack through banana trees, with screaming fast straights into rocky turns.
After a few laps on the top of the course, we all needed a break from the heat to take off our helmets and drink some water. Off the side of the track, a small path led to a few homes. We took advantage of the shade to cool off.
I was surprised and excited to see a photo of Troy Brosnan, torn out of a magazine, pasted to the door of one of the houses.We were lucky enough to get a chance to meet the mountain bike fan when he rode up on his bike. High fives all around!After a nice break, we took off back down the course. He and his brother watched on as we rode and shot photo.Course markers and tape still remain, remnants of the race held on this jungle track.The course was super steep.Fast and swoopy berms were featured in the middle of the course.Any time you took your eyes off the trail, you were met with a breathtaking ocean view.A moment dealing with the heat and composing myself before dropping down the next steep section of trail.It was hot, but riding the course was totally worth the struggle. We all had smiles on our sweaty faces as we flew down the trail.What a crew!Another rad day of Bali riding comes to a close. Cheers!Stay tuned for Part 3 of Lauren's trip to Bali and follow Lauren's riding adventures on Instagram:
@lauren_gregg_
MENTIONS:
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Are there other DH tracks nearby accessible by truck?
Will the race happen next year?
We've got guys ready to ride from Hong Kong. Facebook page?