Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Kyrgyztan

Before the Silk Road Mountain Race, Rickie Cotter journeyed alone in Kyrgyzstan to find some peace – and some fear – for herself. She ended up finding far more.

Words Rickie Cotter Photography Ellen Mosman

“Can you find me a bra? A dog has eaten mine.” Panic over, it’s in his cage. He’s just sitting on it.

Kyrgyzstan is a place to expect the unexpected – a place where every day opens the door to something crazy, and that uncertainty brings with it a wild charm. And possibly even an unnerving charm. But that too, is part of the charm.

I needed to leave. To turn off the internet for four weeks. I wanted to just ride my bike and needed to feel fear. My head was hectic leaving Bishkek, Kyrgystan’s capital, but as soon as I headed into the silence of the mountains I felt free.

I could breathe.

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