Khardung La  claims to be the highest motorable road in the world and we biked down it. 

It is in Ladakh in northern India  and is a historical pass between Leh and the Nubra valley.

It was a great test for the  Braemar Ventile Smock as we started at below zero at over 5350 meters and ended at Leh village 39km and 1000m below at 20 degrees C.

The pass was extremely rough for the first 15km and we were held up by a bulldozer clearing rockfall which was knocking rocks on the track below. On the way down we had to avoid Indian army trucks on their way to the Siachen Glacier.

The paved road on the lower half of the pass was made for speed and some of the others took off into the distance while the rest of us took it easy.

Odlo Longsleeve half zip Windproof

15th May, on a cold and breezy Sunday, and a hardy group of mountain bikers meet for a strenous ride around the Ladder Hills to the North of Corgarff.

I had chosen to wear my new Odlo windproof baselayer due to the wind, but didn’t want the extra warmth of my cycling jacket. The baselayer is made of 2 fabrics. Windprotection 3L on the front of the body & sleeves, with a highly wicking,  fine pique material on the rear of the body and sleeves. Odlo recommend the 3L tops for any sport in which the wearer is moving forwards at speed i.e running/cycling/Nordic skiing. Thankfully I’d made the right choice, as the red and sweaty faces of my colleagues poked out from the collars of their waterproofs.

The weather as I mentioned earlier was cool and breezy, and as the ride progressed we were caught in intermittent showers. Luckily due to the windproof front of my top, I could carry on cycling without having to overheat in a jacket. The highly wicking fabric meant that at the end of a long pedal uphill, I wasn’t chilled by perspiration on my skin. The material also dries very quickly, so the showers did not pose a problem.

I have worn the Odlo windproof over the last few months, and it has exceeded my expectations of what a baselayer can do, as well as reducing the need to layer up on cool, windy days. All in all, a fantastic piece of innovation.

Push hard,

John Green