I’m posting rolling daily coverage of the 56 brave, noble fools taking on the second edition of the Monkey Run Mongolia. This is 50cc monkey bikes versus the wild open steppe: proper old school adventure.
"After being epically lost for most of the day, it was nice to find an actually useful sign for once." Jeff Baker
Gobi sky by Tomek
"Still getting chased to the finish line by this." Tom Paveley
"One last attempt before I bring this mofo back. Some assembly may be required." Dom
Kristian - Day 10
Wednesday 12th July – Day 9
"F##k!!" - Brian
Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi - Riley
"Yolyn Am Canyon was a bitch to get to, but definitely worth it." Chase Hensel
"Gave up on roads with their lies and just set a course due east with a compass. Didn’t pan out." Jeremy Day
Cricket match in the Gobi - Riley Mac and Joe Mendrala
Cricket match in the Gobi - Riley Mac and Joe Mendrala
Cricket match in the Gobi - Riley Mac and Joe Mendrala
Tuesday 11th July – Day 8
Heavens on fire - Daniel Attstrom on the Monkey Run Mongolia July 2023
Well overdue chain tensioning - Daniel Attstrom
Night repair in the Gobi - James Snell
This morning summarised - Jeremy Day
Matt Rutherford - Day 8
Everyone wanted to help read the map - Ricky
No monkey business. Route planning by candlelight in the flooded town of Choir - Tom Paveley
Monday 10th July – Day 7
The backdrops in Mongolia are so beautiful - Carin
It was at this point we knew we fucked up - Dom
Got bored and decided to test the monkey bikes as trials bikes - way better than expected - Javan
Got chased down by police who then road our bikes around - finally understood it was a road closure because a horse race was coming - Jeremy Day
Fuckin rack keeps breaking learning to weld - Matao
Matt Rutherford on the Monkey Run Mongolia July 2023
A family had to unpack half their trunk to rescue my dumb ass who run out of gas - Paul
Tyler on the Monkey Run Mongolia July 2023
Sunday 9th July – Day 6
Matt Rutherford - Day 6
Matt Rutherford - Day 6
Matt Rutherford - Day 6
Another day another river crossing. We call this the road-shower - Javan - Day 6
They really go everywhere - Paul
Matt Rutherford - Day 6
Side hustle - James Snell
Saturday 8th July – Day 5
Camp's setup, now we gonna make a 🐒🏃♂️👶 - Vince
This is well deserved after 262km in one day on a Monkey bike 💪 - Daniel Attstrom
Monkey bikes are appropriate for all ages… Ricky
Jeremy Day - Day 5
My monkey bike does not like the mud - Jeff Baker
Friday 7th July – Day 4
After extensive testing we’ve determined a foolproof way of hydroplaning across any body of water less than 100 meters - Steve
Ricky - Day 4
An Adventurists most dreaded traffic sign - Paul
How much horsepower in this photo - Tomek
Tonights camping spot. Cold ramen with mosquitos for added protein - Tom Paveley on the Monkey Run Mongolia
Thursday 6th July – Day 3
Good thing the warranty didn’t include scratches - Chase Hensel
4 flat tyres, how many more to go? Gianni on the Monkey Run Mongolia
Tom Paveley
Team AOB
Team AOB
Pro tip river crossings wide open in 3rd - Matao
Mongolia iron riders - Kade on the Monkey Run Mongolia
David Jester
The lost Swedes have had a couple of rough days. But there are rewards. Daniel Attstrom on the Monkey Run Mongolia
Wednesday 5th July – Day 2
Team AOB
Matt Rutherford
This legend helped us with a flat tire so we let him take a spin - Tyler
David Jester on the Monkey Run Mongolia
Tom Paveley
Team AOB
Paul Bleicher - handmade river crossing
Kristian crossing a river
Tuesday 4th July – Day 1
Riders hit the road / track / steppe
Steven Rasovsky
Kristian mid navigation
River crossing by Riley
People are into the monkeys - Matt Rutherford
Jon Mendrala
Helping out the locals - Jon Leary
River view by Riley
Camp spot by Riley
Alex Roupakia
Tavis Hebler
"Didn't quite make it to the Russian border." - Loren Groves
Jeremy Days
The Launch
56 brave fools thundered off the start line to take on 11 days of monkey vs steppe.
Monday 3rd July – Test Driving
Advanced manoeuvres at test driving
Riders are unleashed to test their monkeys
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Monkey Run Mongolia Test Driving
Registration, mechanical briefing & ger etiquette
Before riders are unleashed into the surrounding steppe to test drive their monkeys they have to register. Then there’s a mechanics briefing, where expert knowledge on how to keep these mechanical marvels moving is bestowed upon the riders. Particularly in the inevitable case that they break down.
We also arrange a Mongolian Ger and nomadic culture etiquette session. Riders are heading out into the steppe where they’ll meet people who live in remote areas.
Test driving has been taking place at Harganat Lodge out on the Mongolian steppe in the Delger Murun River valley. The mobile signal is pretty much non existent but a few photos have sneaked through from the riders…
James Snell at test driving
Alex Roupakia - bike customisation at test driving
Jeremy Day at test driving
Test driving on the steppe
Follow the riders on Instagram
Alex Roupakia, Team Hoof Hearted, Greece – @alexroupakia
“Long, 16 hour bus ride to the starting camp. Gave us lots of opportunities to hear the extremely varied opinions on how cold it will be at night, how many miles per day you can reasonably expect to do, and how much gear you actually need to be successful.
“Our thinking is somewhere around the middle so I don’t think we’ll be as shocked as some of the others here will be when the reality unfolds. That said, everyone looks like they can eat iron and crap out nails so they’ll be fine.”
Rider bus to start camp on the Monkey Run Mongolia - by Jonathan Leary
15:00 local time
Right now the riders are on the bus from the Mongolian capital out to the start camp. It’s a 12 hour+ journey to reach Harganat River Lodge beyond the town of Murun. And the perfect spot to start a southerly jaunt down to the Gobi Desert on a child-sized bike.
Meanwhile the Monkey Crew are setting up for their arrival and polishing the mighty monkeys. Here’s a few shots Adventure Chief Alex sent over from the start camp today.
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