Mail by Runner 89: The Inaugural Ratnange Enduro

We hope you enjoy this slightly longer Mail by Runner this week...

Some of you may remember - in 2021 the Himalayan Trust collaborated with Move92 to provide funding for the newly created Phaplu Mountain Bike Club. With the funding, Ang Tshering Lama - the club's founder and a big proponent of HT's work - set about building a pump track, that school kids could ride their bikes around, with the caveat that they could only go there after the school day had ended.

In 2021, there was a vision to develop Phaplu as a mountain biking destination for both Nepali and foreign riders.

Today, we can happily say that that vision is becoming a reality! In the forest above Phaplu called Ratnange, there are now 13 dedicated mountain biking trails for riders of varying abilities.

Recently, the first 'enduro' race (a mixture of technical downhill and uphill riding) was held there - attracting riders from across the country, with a few foreigners taking part too.

The excitement generated from this successful event sparked a discussion between Ang Tshering and the Himalayan Trust team.

After having chatted with a few people, we think that there could well be some Kiwis who would like to go mountain biking in the Himalayas...

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement very soon!