Cycling off road on rough terrain is a heady sport
FOR CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS who like the rough and the tough but the beautiful as well, Uttarakhand is just the place. Both, the Garhwal and Kumaon regions offer good trails for mountain bikers. If you want to stick to something simple, hire a sturdy mountain bike and go riding around the Terai forests along the foothills of Nainital. The terrain here is relatively easy. You can begin at Thakurdwara and move on to Ramnagar, which is close to Corbett national park. The scenic road through Kaladhungi goes till Haldwani. Get on to the numerous side roads that’ll take you through sal and teak forests. Another interesting Mountain Biking trail is at Ranikhet where the 20-km downhill road takes you till the Kosi river, where you can cycle along the banks lined with trees. A tough biking trail is going uphill from Dehradun to Mussoorie, which is around a 35-km stretch. Don’t worry if you are gasping for breath. The gorgeous views of the valley will make you feel proud of what you have achieved.
SEASON:March to May and October to mid-December are the best.
GOOD TO KNOW: The helmet is the most important thing to protect you while you go Mountain Biking.
You need to be fit in order to enjoy the ride as the terrain only gets tougher once you reach higher up. The pleasant climate of Uttarakhand is a blessing.
