Atherton Bikes announces the release of Ridgeline Nepal | The Last Forbidden Kingdom, the latest film in Gee Atherton’s Ridgeline series.
Filmed over 18 days in Upper Mustang, near the Tibetan border, this project takes Gee and the crew into one of the most unforgiving environments they’ve worked in to date.
Big terrain, and in typical Gee style, very little room for error. Some features were built, including a huge canyon gap in Tange, but much of the riding was down raw, unridden sections. Exposed ridgelines, high-speed fall lines, and loose gullies and chutes. In places, the landscape was almost purpose-built for riding.
Altitude added a new layer of complexity. With most of the trip spent above 4,000 metres, the team had to adapt how they approached the project. Everything takes longer, recovery is slower, and the crew couldn’t operate at the same pace as previous Ridgeline edits.
“It changes how you ride and how you work. You have to manage it properly. You can’t just push through it.” Gee Atherton
Beyond the riding, the team were warmly welcomed throughout Nepal with a level of hospitality that left a strong impression. Travelling through remote villages in Mustang, they were consistently looked after by local families, with simple accommodation, home-cooked food, and a willingness to help that made the project possible.
The scale and speed of the riding defined the bike choice for the trip. A 170mm bike would have made the hikes easier, but the length of the lines and the consequences involved made a downhill bike the right call.
Gee rode the Atherton A.200 downhill bike throughout. Slightly lighter than his S.200 for hike-a-bike benefits, but ultimately chosen for the control and composure needed to attack these lines.
Ridgeline Nepal | The Last Forbidden Kingdom continues to push the Ridgeline series into bigger environments. It’s a step on from previous projects, and a sign of where things are heading next.
This project was brought to life with the support of a small group of trusted partners. Continental Tires, Red Bull, Deuter and Prologo all played a key role in making this chapter possible.
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