June 24, 2008 - 2:08pm — jdillman85
IDEAS FOR MY FRIENDS IN NEPAL?
When I lived in KATHMANDU, I used to wake up every morning around 5:30 AM (I know, what was I thinking???) and begin each day exploring the valley on my mountain bike with a group of Nepalis.
I soon discovered that they were incredible riders, shimmying up the endless vertical of the Himalaya while I struggled along behind! Their endurance and bike-handling skills are all the more impressive when you consider that most of them earn only $30 a month!
They compete in the 5 or 6 races held in Nepal each year and finish way ahead of foreigners such as myself! There is prize money and some recognition, but virtually no high-profile races are held in Nepal and they lack the resources to travel abroad and compete.
This fall, for the first-time, my friends will have the chance to prove themselves against the best riders in Asia because Nepal is hosting the South Asian Games!. HOW CAN I HELP THEM CONVINCE A BIKE COMPANY OR BIKE SHOP TO SUPPORT THEM?
