Mt Bike > Mustagh Ata > Story:  
 Mustagh Ata: Biking to a World Record
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Mustagh Record Attempt
Once in Base Camp we agreed that a couple of days of couch potato-ness would be the perfect way to get used to the altitude. That's to say, that's how we felt up to the moment when we saw what is arguably the highest pool table in the world. Come snow or shine, that pool table would be ours for as long as we were in Base Camp!

Base Camp is a nice place to relax: you have the local mule owners, who are always willing to chat and there are mountaineers coming down all the time with interesting stories from above — this summer's most dramatic being the death of a Slovenian climber at 7,000 meters.

As for food, we had bought plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit and other stuff in Kashgar and had a cook prepare it gourmet style during our stay in Base Camp. Luc and I were excited about finally getting round to preparing our bikes for the ascent. It had taken us 18 months to decide what bikes to bring. In that time we had considered the likes of a BMX, a children's bike, a folding bike, and a high-tech detachable carbon bike. In the end, we decided that the costs of getting a super lightweight (7kg), custom-made bike were too high (USD $2,000-$4,000). So here we were, with our own regular mountain bikes. Actually, I had taken my sweet wife Lin's bike, as it was lighter than my own (1.3kg carbon frame) and easier to handle (no front shock). Lin wasn't very happy about it, but in the end conceded on my assurance that no harm would come to her treasured possession — ha!

By the third day in Base Camp, our team was finally complete. Peter had recovered well in Ghez, and together with Stijn had taken a bus back to Karakul and Subashi the day after. And Martin arrived with his body, mind and bike fairly intact, despite torrential rains, landslides, blocked roads and a cute Kazakh girl along the way.

On that third day (July 31st), Luc and I took our bikes up to Camp 1. Jim had already taken up half a load the day before, and would move to Camp 1 one day ahead of us.


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