Silk Road Mountain Race
I write this as I sit outside my tent at 2800m as dusk encomases my surroundings.I am in Ala Archa national park, I've come up here to acclimatise to the altitude in preparation. And in honesty to have a mental break - to reset, refresh and prepare for what lies ahead, the 1,800km and 30,000m of The Silk Road Mountain Race.
It is my second time in Kyrgyzstan, I was here in 2019 for the second edition of the race. Kyrgyzstan is an amazing place made special by two things; the people and the mountains. It must be one of the most amazing places to ride a bike and explore. Coming back this time things have been different. After the 2019 edition all I wanted was to return. I hate to leave things unfinished and I felt I had not been able to express myself on the bicycle the way I knew I could. Towards the end of the race I had encountered two men up in the mountains who tried to rob me, I get away and back to the checkpoint, I did eventually carry on and finish - you can read more here.
East of Naryn
Over time from the longing and excitement has changed to anxiety. In the weeks before the race I did not feel the fire to come back here. The world is a different place now and Covid has affected the way many of us see things. Its a long way to travel and far from home and those I love. For the past year and a half I've barley spent a few days apart from my best friend and wife, Isabelle. To be apart for three weeks as I leave her in a country where she doesn't speak the language, our new home of Catalunya, felt uneasy - and given that the car we bought before I left broke down and my van got broken into the day after I left, it was not a good start. However as the days ticked by and departure neared I realised that if I were prividged enough to be able to travel here I must make the most of it, with deep thanks to Canyon, Endura, Ride with GPS and Christopher Ward for supporting me. While out riding I spend time reflecting on what making the most looks like to me currently, I realised that my sole priority would have to be to have fun doing what I love and inspire others to challenge themselves.
I last raced at the end of May at the Highland Trail 550 which went great. When I got back home the week after, I was so ill I took myself for a Covid test. I still wonder if the result was a infact a false negative. Anyway, I got back training eventually, managing to put in two good weeks when an old hamstring injury came back to haunt me. And in reality I've spend the past three weeks simply managing that to ensure I am as healthy as possible when I arrive here. Ironically, two years ago I also raced the Highland Trail and wasn't able to ride for 6 weeks after with a strain on my ACL. I came to Kyrgyzstan with two weeks riding in my legs. Note to self, perhaps best to avoid that race if I want to be fit later in the year!
Kegity pass North side - a solid scramble and push
SRMR is not like any other race I've done, nothing compares. It's not primerally a test of fitness but instead perseverance and problem solving under fatigue and harsh conditions. The altitude ranges from 1,000m - 4,000m with a long stretch above 3,000m. The temperature will swing from +30 C to -15 C. It's a race against oneself and the conditions first - to finish is to succeed. I haven’t changed much to my setup from last time, I was always warm and dry. I have however brought a full suspension - the tracks here are terrible and I took a real beating on a hardtail. I am hoping that having rear suspension will reduce fatigue too. I've worked with Endura to put together some prototype kit to the match the conditions and my fussy demands. It's not a place to take risk - there is no phone reception to call your mum to come pick you up because you’re wet and cold.
I am back in Kyrgyzstan to have fun first and foremost. It's when I'm having fun I am at my best.
The loaded up rig.