Silk Road Mountain Race 2025
Related to
Silk Road Mountain RaceKyrgyzstanNarynLadakhAnnapurna CircuitTrek ProcaliberThe Mountain RacesNelson TreesResupplyBikepackingRoute difficulty
What was the name of the ride?
Silk Road Mountain Race 2025
When did you do it?
14 August 2025
Where did the ride take place?
Kyrgyzstan
Please describe the ride in a few sentences.
It's a bikepacking race in Kyrgyzstan, full of surprises and beautiful landscapes. The experience is a feast for all the senses: clear night skies with streaks of light, vast valleys, highlands with panoramic snow-peak views, and food that I look forward to most.
Who organised the ride?
Nelson Trees / The Mountain Races
Link to the organiser or official ride page, if available.
https://www.themountainraces.cc/silk-road-mountain-race
What was your result?
Finished. I also finished in 2022 and 2024.
Roughly how many riders took part?
More than 200.
Good things about the ride
We're fortunate to have Nelson organise this. It's a complete ride experience. It's right on the edge of my ability: hard enough to feel too hard, but still within reach. I can take it easy, enjoy the views and food, sleep extra here and there, and still make it.
What could be improved or changed?
Nothing. It's a perfect ride.
What was the hardest part of the ride for you?
It's always the start. The start line and the few hours after are very hard to sink into. As the days go by and I get used to the world of the race, it becomes a lot easier.
What was the best or most memorable part?
The most memorable parts are the hard ones: low resupply, ridiculous terrain, slopes too steep to seem possible. Those are the parts that stick. Then there is the food. After the big hike, while descending, I saw two kids selling bread by the road. I stopped and bought one for 50 som. It was the best bread I have eaten in my life.
Was there a memorable place to eat, drink or resupply?
While I have mentioned the blue caravan before, I think the most talked-about resupply is the Naryn market. You reach there and are spoilt for choice, but after that comes the big blank. Last time it was 300+ km with no resupply. In hindsight, Naryn seems like an important part of the puzzle.
Did you discover any place, road, climb or section that you would recommend?
I would definitely recommend the whole ride. It's a complete package.
What similar rides have you done?
I have done some bikepacking on my own in India and Nepal. Ladakh has some good route options that are similar, and the Annapurna Circuit is really something, with beautiful routes, amazing food and hospitality.
How did this ride compare with those similar rides?
This was definitely more memorable and currently occupies free space in my head, pushing a lot of other stuff into the corner.
Would you do this ride again? Why or why not?
Of course. It's just too good to skip.
Who would you recommend this ride to?
Everyone who wants an epic ride experience.
Is there anything you wish you had known before starting?
This time I knew enough. Nothing really that I discovered later on.
Link to your activity, route or result if public.
https://dotwatcher.cc/profile/i/9445
Tell us what the uploaded photo shows.
It's my bike and tent near the top of a pass.