Unlike the trekking seasons for which there are two main periods, mountain biking offers a huge span of time to over the year, most of which offers perfect to near perfect riding conditions. Here’s a short summary:
1. Prime time:
If you’ve got the choice then go for October through December, whilst October gets a 5star & November a 4star cycle rating. The main difference is that from Mid-Nov. into Dec. it’s getting a lot cooler in the late afternoons & nights. The days are sunny & fine with little chance of rain. You need to be off the trails by approx. 4:00 to 4:30pm in the latter months, due to light. Visibility is as good as it gets. The first months are the busiest on the trails as its no surprise that this is also prime trekking time.
2. Close behind:
From January to March you are experiencing the same conditions as above but in reverse, as winter meets fall/autumn. It’s a great time to bike as few people are around, trails are empty, hotels mostly quiet and the views so good they’ll stop chattering downhill teeth as your mouth assumes the position of WOW!
Make a detour to Pokhara as on average it’s about 5 degrees (Celsius) warmer and offers stunning mountain trails & vista’s.
3. Sizzle:
April to June sees the warm weather emerge and increase in intensity in the latter weeks before the summer rains are welcomed in. Still good ridding time making for T-shirt only conditions and suntans plus an extra water bottle. It’s dustier, the air & views more hazy and the city a lot less tolerable in the heat & pollution. Long day light hours.
4. Monsoons:
July to September is generally not the best season for cycling however it can still offer superb riding time as the rains are limited to an hour or two in a day and mud trails dry fast. The land is lush and green and offers sights to behold & unavailable in any other season. The mountains are generally covered in fluffy clouds as the Himalayas go on holidays along with many locals.
This is prime riding time for Tibet & Ladakh & those regions, which fall in the shadow of the monsoon. HMB offers regular departures in these areas during the monsoon season.
