Nepal’s diverse terrain is a mountain biker’s dream adventure come true. Mountain biking offers an environmentally sound way of exploring this magnificent country, its landscape and living heritage. Because this is a spartan, laborious mode of travel, it is also considered the way to travel by the so-called "purists".
There are plenty of dirt roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker’s wildest fantasy. Mountain biking is specially recommended if you wish to explore urban centers of Nepal such as Pokhara and Kathmandu as well as countryside in the outskirts. Imagine, if you will, a ride through lush green rice fields, through hamlets, up and down the hillside, along the river bank, around temples, past the street-roaming cattle, along the suspension bridge, along the highway, you name it. Through snow, Monsoon downpour, wonderful light effects, or fierce headwinds, depending on place and season. The adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locales as Tibet, Namche Bazaar, and western Nepal. You could even do the entire length of Nepal across the plains. What you can or cannot do on mountain bike is limited only by your imagination.
The 15 to 18 gear all-terrain mountain bikes are recommended if you wish to go up the hills, mountain lookouts or hilltop shrines. If you’re going to be doing the exploring within the city perimeter itself, observing the hustle and bustle, going shopping, etc, one speed Indian bicycles will do nicely. Mountain bikes are available for rent by the day or longer in many of the bicycle rental outlets in and around the city. If you wish to be enlightened about the culture, rhythm of village life, cool spots to visit, perhaps guided trips should be undertaken.
It was in the mid-1980s that biking activity really took off in Kathmandu. Enthusiasts flew with their bikes from Hong Kong to Tibet to answer the call of the wild steppes. The two-week journey from there over the passes (17,000 ft) to Nepal is what sparked it all off. Even today Kathmandu is a mecca for mountain bicyclists, as it draws thousands of enthusiasts from all corners of the world.
