Silk Road Mountain Race
As the year winds down, perhaps you were thinking about a new challenge in 2018? Well, there’s the Silk Road Mountain Race
An unsupported bikepacking race in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
WHEN: August 18th to September 1st, 2018
WHERE: Start and finish near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
WHO: Racers can ride solo or as a pair
DISTANCE: ~1700 kilometers / 26,000m of climbing. Fixed route with 3 manned checkpoints.
END: After party the evening of September 1st, 2018
COST: 300£ or 250£ with your own tracker.
The Silk Road Mountain Race is a fixed route, unsupported, single-stage cycling race through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The clock does not stop and prizes are not awarded. It will follow gravel, single and double track and old soviet roads that have long been forgotten and fallen into disrepair. There will be very little tarmac. There may be some walking and at times there will be great distances between resupply points.
Looks like what they organizers have done is mapped a route for you and the reward is bragging rights. If you complete it by 9/1, there’s a ride back.
The race director, Nelson Trees, spent over 6 weeks scouting the roads and the entire route has been checked in person to ensure a continuous and safe race. After participating in three editions of the Transcontinental, Nelson felt inspired to create another race in a different part of the world.
And, the edit for it looks fantastic with sweeping vistas along isolated roads.
Nothing that’s worth anything is ever easy.
The motto of the race is a quote from Mike Hall and participants should expect a true demonstration of this sentiment. To that end, because of the extreme isolation, remoteness and difficulty of getting help if you get into trouble, riders will be required to use a SPOT tracker with an SOS function and should probably acquire they’re own medevac insurance.