Mustang Magic with Team Chilli Crabbikers

The usual suspects from Singapore decided that Nepal was our next destination to explore on two wheels. Rebecca made all the arrangements and signed us up for the "11 Days of Mustang Magic" package, described as ...

"A glorifying mountain biking trip, which blends everything together from breathtaking high Himalayas to diversified culture and some of the exotic places of Annapurna Region for almost seven days around Lower Mustang till Beni by offering a ride through some of the fantastic riding trails of Nepal."

As usual, I couldn't control myself and let the trigger-monster snap away during the whole trip, resulting in thousands of photographic memories of this epic journey.

A view of our plane floating in the clouds with a rainbow halo...

This Photos are the initial snapshots which hopefully captured the breathtaking moments that made this Nepal Mountain Biking trip so EPIC!

DAYS 1 - 3 : WELCOME TO KATHMANDU, SINGLETRACK RIDE KATHMANDU, TRANSFER TO POKHARA

Navigating your way out of the chaotic airport traffic is quite a feat..

Bike was perfectly fitted for ride with Epic Mountain Bike (EMB), one of the Best Mountain Biking company professionally run and managed by the experienced & pioneers of Mountain Biking in Nepal (Parent Company of Epic Rides Nepal)

Starting point of Ride 1 - Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu

Pedaling through the padifields in Kathmandu.

The rabbit disease spreads to Nepal...

Not recommended if you're claustrophobic... Glad our bikes went overland and not on the plane with us.

DAY 04 : FLY TO JOMSOM (2750M) FROM POKHARA & RIDE TO KAGBENI, (2800M) (10.5 km, 1 Hr.) & OVERNIGHT AT KAGBENI

Our guides was always on the move...

The trail follows the Kali Gandaki River which forms the deepest ravine in the world; ; on one side lies the Annapurna mountain range and on the other side is Dhaulagiri."

This is the part where you should observe the warning :- "...the gravels and the very strong wind that starts around 9-10 AM in the morning can be expected to make our ride very challenging." More so over a suspension bridge. Oh, the thrills that we put ourselves through!

Rebecca trying hard not to end up in the Kali Gandaki river!

Evidence of Foo carrying his own bike...

A room with an amazing view...

DAY 05: DRIVE TO MUKTINATH, LOCAL EXPLORATION & RIDE TO MARPHA VIA LUPRA VALLEY. OVERNIGHT AT MARPHA

Time to load the van for the 1 hr drive to Muktinath..

Like a green oasis in the middle of an arid desert...

....the rest of the entourage take their time to gain elevation...for a perfect panorama view & great descend...

Just Amazing Ride...

Dinesh, our friendly guide overlooks the FR section...

Everyone checking out the next downhill segment before blindly following the leader! I guess that's how we remained largely injury free during this trip!

Ready let's go freeriding!

Choose your own line...or just follow the guide's line...

DAY 06: RIDE MARPHA-KALOPANI.

One of my all time favourite riding spots...streams running through green meadows...the grass quality was golf course carpet grass quality....it's amazing that no one mows the lawn here!

Check out the fowl backpackers....

Major river crossing...

Titi Lake....reminds me of the scene from Twilight where Robert Pattinson gleams under the sunlight... Pity that the group photo didn't turn out....will have to be content with just the 2 thorns amongst the wild..

The father of the teahouse owner...extending more than a warm welcome!

DAY 07: RIDE KALOPANI- BENI, DRIVE TO POKHARA

Awesome pineforest singletrack to start the morning...Kalopani's version of Singapore's Butterfly trail...

We continue our ride on a downhill jeep track to Tatopani via Ghasa

"The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon (or Tsangpo Canyon), along the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, is regarded by some as the deepest canyon in the world at 5,500 m (18,000 ft). It is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States. Others consider the Kali Gandaki Gorge in midwest Nepal as the deepest canyon, with a 6400 m (21,000 ft) difference between the level of the river and the peaks surrounding it."

DAY 08: RIDE IN POKHARA

A little close to the water's edge...but not quite close enough....

Now...that singletrack is gettin' a little narrower.....

Here we are, crossing a short stretch of the Phewa Lake using a self-service pontoon equipped with a self-service rope... The engineer has a go at pulling himself to the other side...

Landing pad for paragliders near Pewa Lake...

Last Ride in Pokhara around Pewa Lake..





Words/Photo: Chuen Ling Lee
Quick and Dirty GoPro footage: Yew Weng

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