Srinagar: Pushing boundaries has always been the motto of 44-year-old Aabid Rashid Bhat— an avid mountain biker from the valley. His latest challenge was travelling from Srinagar to Jammu on a bicycle. The catch was covering 255 kilometres in 15 hours along with a fellow cyclist.
Not only did he manoeuvre the slopes with fineness but he found the ride a much rawer and more rewarding experience. “It’s always challenging to navigate through the breathtaking routes and towering mountain passes of our region. What makes it more stimulating is the fact that the tracks here are rockier and inhospitable in many places. That makes the process mentally challenging too,” he said, who is also a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Mountain Biking Association.
Kashmir was never known for mountain biking. But slowly this adventure sport is catching up with the locals. Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. For some young people, cycling steep climbs gives an adrenaline rush, while for others, it is the best way to keep fit.
“Many have picked up this type of cycling as part of their fitness routines, some to find adventure and a few to find their inner calling — the last being subjective, yet a very real quest,” Riyaz Ahmad Wani, President, Jammu, and Kashmir Mountain Biking Association said.
He said a lot of people, especially millennials are inclined towards mountain biking post-Covid.
“Also, it’s heartening to know that beyond competitions, cycling is becoming part of the exercise culture in the valley. Kashmiri roads are still dangerous for cycling. But things will get better as more people start cycling and take proper precautionary measures like wearing helmets. We are also running a small campaign wherein we convince the employees of various departments to reach their respective offices by cycles rather than cars. This will be cost-effective and cut on emission at the same time,” Wani said.
He added the association takes all the safety measures before going for mountain biking expeditions. “It’s important to know that mountain biking can come with the distinct possibility of severe injuries or even worse. No matter where you ride or how well you know the trail, you should never ride without a helmet, beyond your skill level, and always ride in control.”
Presently, they have around 50 active cyclists associated with JKMBC. “We organize weekly cycling expeditions around different trails across Kashmir,” Wani said.
The members have conducted around 120 cycling expeditions on their own and 100 rallies in collaboration with the Department of Tourism.
“These expeditions include journeying from Srinagar to Leh, Gurez, Betaab valley & back, Jawahar tunnel & back, Raazdan pass, Sinthan top, Margan top, Zojilla, Kargil, Drass, Namik la, Fautu la, Khardung la, Nubra valley, Tangdar and Danwass.
“Our pending targets for upcoming days are Zanaskar, Inshaan Wadwan, Doda, Kishtiwar, and Teetwal,” he said.
Wani said cycling has the power to transform not just the waistline but define that essence of life we call happiness. “Slowly and steadily, Kashmir is pedaling its way there.”