Nepal Mountain Biking Gear List

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

The trails

Riding trails in Nepal vary from wide, road-like avenues to narrow, slippery paths built out over enormous drops. In some places, a fall from the trail would be fatal. One must pay attention at all times and never ride beyond your limits. Your guide is there to prepare you for the trails ahead and there’s ALWAYS time for you to stop and walk any features that you’re not comfortable riding.

In Kathmandu you’ll encounter busy streets with traffic buzzing around you. Leave behind any rules you know from home because they probably won’t work here! It’s important to keep your eyes all around you, make eye contact with drivers and motorbike riders and be as predictable as possible. It’s easier said than done, but don’t worry, your guide is really there to help with everything, even crossing the street!

How much is enough or too much?

Pack for your personal needs. It is difficult for us to advise you of exact quantities (i.e. 2 shorts, 3 shirts, etc.), as everyone has different needs. However, our guests are usually amazed at how much they can do without and comment that they could have left some of their gear at home. Due to space limitations, please don’t pack the unnecessary items. Remember, you will have to pack it up every day and then unpack it and in some cases you have a person carrying gear for 2 people.

Medications

Any medications you need during the day must be carried in your daypack or in a pocket so you have them with you when you need them.

What To Wear When

For cultural reasons, outside of the cities we request you not to wear tight pants or short shorts. If you want to wear shorts, please make them loose fitting and long (approaching the knee). You’ll of course see a little of everything while you’re here, but the most respectful thing is to dress a little more conservatively than in other places.

While riding, we don’t recommend getting around in your lycra unless you have something baggy over the top – wearing tight clothing and clothing that shows your shoulders and legs above the knees is not polite in Nepal.

Avoid spaghetti strap singlets, having a cap sleeve is best.

What Is Available In Kathmandu

Most of all of this gear is available in Kathmandu, we now even have the originals of the major brands, even if they ARE selling last season’s gear (at great prices)! There are also some very good gear shops that sell good mountain products under their own brands at a much more reasonable price. You can ask your guide for tips on where to go for good gear if you want to pick it up in Kathmandu (doing this on arrival day is best). The items that are better brought from home are: socks, boots, thermals, gloves, Gore-tex clothing and anything that you know you can’t go without.

Renting Equipment Easy to rent items in Kathmandu are down jackets and sleeping bags.

Some of the items available in Kathmandu are of differing quality so shop around or ask us to point you in the right direction:

• Sleeping bag and liner
• Warm hat
• Cap
• Fleece top
• Warm gloves
• Toilet paper
• 1 litre water bottle (watch out for fake Nalgene bottles that aren’t necessarily BPA free)
• Books
• Lip care
• Sunscreen
• Torch
• Moisturiser
• Rain/wind jacket
• Water purification tablets
• Camp shoes

Bring from home

• Cycling/SPD shoes
• Cycle shorts/tights
• Socks
• Helmet
• Daypack/Camel bag
• Cycle gloves
• Underwear
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries and odds and ends
• Personal medicines
• Camera
• US dollars for visa on arrival (for day to day, you will need Nepali Rupees, not Dollars)
• Vitamin tablets
• Thermal top
• Day wear shirt x2 or 3

Tipping and cash requirements

While most main meals are provided while in the mountains, do not forget to bring some Nepalese rupees for drinks or snacks that you might purchase on the way, showers and device charging. You will be surprised by what is available on the popular routes now! Around Rs2000 per person per day usually covers your extras, but the amount to carry depends on the area you are going to, so please ask your guide for advice.

The easiest way to get local currency is from the ATMs in Kathmandu and other cities, exchanges booths will also exchange major currencies for you.

Tipping is now common in Nepal but there is no strict rules about how much the tip should be. You should only tip if you are satisfied with the service.

Toilets

Wherever you use a western or squat style toilet be sure to place your toilet paper in the rubbish bin provided – do not flush it down the toilet as this may block the sewer system. You may also want to carry your own toilet paper as not all public toilets or tea houses will supply it and many don’t have soap either, so a gel sanitiser/small soap is a good thing for your day pack.

Some tips for staying healthy

• Do NOT drink or brush your teeth with tap water or untreated water!
• Drink only filtered water or use water purification tablets, such as iodine. Bottled water is available, but as the plastic cannot be recycled in Nepal we request you to consider the waste impact of your bottles – we recommend you drink filtered water or use iodine.
• Your hands are perhaps your biggest enemy in terms of your health as they get very dirty during the day. Wash your hands before every meal or snack. People often think they get sick from the food, but it’s far more likely they forgot to wash their hands!
• DO NOT try to test your fitness and go too high, too quickly! Listen to your guide and take their advice as they are trained to look after your safety. Altitude sickness is a killer and you MUST take it seriously.

Security and Personal Safety

While security and theft is rarely an issue in Nepal, always exercise caution as the consequences can be a holiday-ending!

• Keep valuables secure and don’t display expensive equipment unnecessarily
• Don’t leave valuables in an unlocked tea house room (or anywhere that they’re not secure)
• While on the trail, keep money, credit cards, passports, all electronic devices and anything else of value in your day pack (don’t put them in your main luggage)

Ask your guide! The team is here to help you with every situation you may face so if you’re not sure about something you’re seeing or thinking, your guide will be happy to give some insight

Most trevellers have wonderful, safe experiences in Nepal by taking reasonable precautions and respecting the mountain environment.

Photographing people

During your time in Nepal you will have many opportunities to photograph local people and the amazing scenery and you will use tons of memory space! When you want to take a photo of a person, please ask them first and respect their right to refuse – you will be surprised how easy it is to convey the request to take someone’s photo even when you don’t share a common language! If you have a digital camera or phone it is considerate (and fun!) to show them their photo and if it’s possible to arrange to have copies printed and sent to them this is an amazing gift! However, do not promise to do so if you are not sure you can deliver on the promise, so please talk to your guide about this! Photos can be a brilliant way to establish a connection with local people, but please respect their right to privacy.

Considering the Environment

While in the Himalayan region you have to be careful not to destroy the very environment you are enjoying so much. It is not only for your enjoyment, people and wildlife rely on this environment for their drinking water and food supply and many places are of enormous religious significance to local people.

There are many ways you can help to conserve the environment of the area you’re visiting. Here are some simple tips:

• pick up any litter along the trail;
• burn all your toilet paper and bury your faeces when not in camp, make sure you go at least 50m away from any water source;
• do not make campfire, nor consume food cooked on wood fires;
• drink treated water instead of mineral water as the plastic bottles are a problem and even better, drink filtered water;
• stick to the trails to prevent erosion and damage to fragile alpine flora;
• ensure all rubbish is packed out (or burnt/buried if appropriate).

Insurance

All tour participants should obtain their own personal insurance which covers medical and emergency evacuation at a minimum. You will of course also want cover for loss or damage to personal effects, flight or trip cancellation etc.

Final tips!

To ensure that you have the best time possible and that Nepal benefits from your visit, please respect local traditions, customs, values and the environment. You will have a great time if you are open to the warm hearted Nepali hospitality and if you respect their efforts to protect their local culture and maintain local pride.

• Respect privacy when taking photographs
• Respect holy places and dress appropriately
• Refrain from giving money or food to children. There are many good organisations working to help street children, we recommend you support them instead of encouraging the kids to stay on the street.
• Your attempts at speaking some Nepali will open hearts and bring huge smiles!
• Protect the natural environment, see above
• Finally, respect local ways. You may not agree with everything you see and you may want to intervene or say something. Please remember, you probably do not fully understand what you are seeing and in any case your role here on your holiday is not to change Nepal. If you feel strongly about it then that’s great… there are many avenues for volunteering or long term work here to support positive, sustainable change for Nepal!