August 4, 2025 to August 9, 2025
The day Motaacycle decides to quit..
I spent a couple of days in Aarughat before slowly making my way towards Gorkha, starting at 7 a.m.
The climb was a mix of pitched, unpaved, and everything in between. The ride was going smooth and I thought I’d reach Gorkha in an hour or two.
By 11 a.m., my bike failed—I lost all pedal tension. The pedals spun freely but no power reached the rear wheel. I checked and realized something was seriously wrong with the gear cassette or freehub. I was screwed. I had spare tubes, chain, cables, and brake pads—but no freehub. What should one really carry as emergency supply?
With 25+ km to go, I decided to walk the bike uphill (ukaalo) and ride it downhill (oraalo). Eventually, I reached Gorkha and my Warmshowers host, Biren-dai. By chance I had contacted him just a day earlier—turned out to be a lifesaver.
Biren not only hosted me but also took me to the only bike mechanic in town. The mechanic tried flushing the freewheel with petrol, but no luck. Biren then helped me load the bike onto a bus roof for Pokhara, where his mechanic friend lived. This was Mister Gordo’s (my bike’s) first bus ride in Nepal—I usually avoid them for fear of breaking something else.
In Pokhara, Bishal-dai, who runs a small bike shop, dismantled the hub. The ball bearings spilled out, and he showed me the tiny spring that had snapped in two. Trek/Giant replacements didn’t fit, so he jerry-rigged a spring from keychain wire. Amazingly, the bike worked again—though he warned it was only temporary and I had to fix it properly in Kathmandu.
So now I was stuck. I needed to go back to Kathmandu for repairs, then return to Pokhara to start the Annapurna Circuit. I tried other mechanics, but no one had the right part. Nepal's oldest and largest bicycle shop too was dragging it's feet about the availability of the part.
Meanwhile, the Himalayan Singletrack in Pokhra invited me for a Saturday ride (the day for group rides/runs in Nepal—you’ll see the country’s real spirit then).
I asked Bishal-dai for advice. His gut feeling: Don’t give up on your Annapurna dream. The bike’s as ready as it can be, and who knows if your body will be next time. Go for it!
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So I joined the Saturday ride—met amazing people, pushed through fears, and the bike held strong.
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The very next day, I set off towards the Annapurna Circuit.
Today's ride: 115 km (71 miles)
Total: 3,965 km (2,462 miles)
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