its side . It soon becomes clear that they can not cross the Himalayas with it . “ It was as if we were dragging three heavy tractor tyres behind us ,” describes Claude of the high-tech sled . For a couple of hours the atmosphere between him and Thomas , who was the one to select and prepare the sled , is tense and gloomy .
UNWIELDY SLED , UPSET STOMACH
Thomas and Claude decide to store the sled in the next monastery and Claude straps his bike to his backpack because there ’ s another frozen river a little further along the route . After a few hours of walking , Claude is back on his bike and has regained his sense of humour .
However , Thomas , the fit , aspiring mountain guide is struggling to keep pace . He cannot handle the local food and is suffering with diarrhoea . In Phuktal monastery , the group takes a day ’ s rest and Claude decides to leave his bike . “ Goodbye until summer ,” he says as Tundup closes the door . It ’ s also where they say goodbye to Martin , who has to head home to his wife and newborn baby .
The next day the group continues towards the main Himalayan ridge . But Thomas is dragging himself forward weakly and Claude is not sure he can manage . But Claude cannot cross the mountains that lie between him and Manali without the trainee mountain guide . Thomas checked the trail the previous summer , and he ’ s the one who knows the route they need to follow .
At Tundup ’ s home village they decide to stop for a few days to give Thomas a chance to recover . Tundup and his wife take special care of the ride of a lifetime | MTB | 29