It's going to hurt.
It's going to pain.
But, where there is no roads, that's where the beauty is.
Yes, that's makes trail biking so special is the ability to explore. You can ride the same roads and trails everyday or you can add a little variety. Familiarity becomes monotonous and the urge to explore is present.
Exploring and going on adventures is one of my favorite things about riding. It really cool to experience a new area for the first time and not knowing what is coming around the next corner. So, that when I decided to take Tatsang Monastery or Tiger Nest on my Scott Aspect 950 MTB Hardtail aka Garud.Yes,you heard it right! Tiger Nest,Bhutan on paddle n Saddle. Shocked! Well, I was too!!
Bhutan is a small country but has a great variety of trails to ride, and it definitely is hard to get bored. Being said, I'm excited to ride out Tatsang Monastery which is 10kms from Paro.
The trail of Tiger Nest are unlike anything that I normally ride. It has trees, rocks and the angle is so steep that hard to manage grip most of the times. I carried my bike to the top and decided to come downhill. An important skill for riding trails like Tatsang is cornering. The trails are rocky and loose, so cornering technique is critical. If you make a mistake, you will be washed out on the ground! This was hard for me since my home trails always have good traction. I was riding bit more cautious than I would normally at home.
Met many locals along the way. Awestruck and dumbfounded with what they are seeing makes my eyes pop-up in happiness. I often hear, "no way, it's not possible" or "you know what, you're crazy". But sometimes just that little bit of pride and craziness is all it takes to open someone else's eyes to the future possibilities that an area might have.
Sometimes, going a bit off the beaten path can turn a ride into a challenge and may even lead to a new discovery. It may not be as fun or glorious as lot of other trails around, but I know at the end of the ride, I certainly feel accomplished. Untill next time, I'll be chasing after the next trail!
Note : There is a small canteen near Tiger Nest run by Bhutan tourism which offers snacks and proper meal to the tourist who visit monastery. You can also buy some souvenirs from there.
