No, not like that!
I'm off to Chiang Mai in January to visit my gf's parents, and a bit of google work has unearthed [url= http://www.mountainbikingchiangmai.com/about.html ]this[/url], my question is has anyone been? and what are the trails like if you have? Also, did you hire bikes there or take your own?
Ta
I admit to having never ridden in Thailand. But I have been there many times on business and would have thought the general temp and humidity wouldn't make it the nicest of experiences.
You get minging just walking around.
I have never seen anyone biking, or for that matter even an MTB in Thailand.
The Thai's are past masters of making things look good but the reality can be different. Not saying this is the case with these guys though.
As an alternative sit in the sun drinking singa beer and sampling the great Thai cuisine. Then there's the girls.....................
I'll refer you to my first post... My gf IS half thai! I've been before so the humidity shouldn't be a problem as we're out there in dry season, and apparently it's uplift to the top and ride down...
When i was last in Bangkok i saw a kid on a super-t'ed up hardtail disappear down a dirt track on the outskirts of the city, so there must be some riding there!
I went mountain biking in Chiang Mai. It was fantastic! Got driven up to the top of a mountain, body-armoured up and we must have done two hours of descending and sweet singletrack through bamboo groves.
There's loads of places in all the hotels that'll sort you out with a guide and a bike. I rented a GT I drive. It was perfect for the job.
Funnily enough i was there in Dec/January too and weather was not a problem.
That's what i wanted to hear! Was looking at taking my sx-trail on the plane, but got told off for so much as even thinking it, i'll be taking my own armour though, as I don't fancy wearing stuff that 100s of people have sweated into before me, when I could bask in the comfort of my own ming...
Touchy.
You wanted to hear it when i suggested her dad (he's english) was a sex tourist! 😉
The best thing is when you've finished riding you can go down to the beach and get all your aching limbs massaged 😛
Hmm, I'm there in Jan too, might have to have a look into it
The best thing is when you've finished riding you can go down to the beach and get all your aching limbs massaged
That's a hell of a long ride from Chang Mai down to the beach from what I recall of going backpacking there 20 yrs ago.
Not used that particular company in Thailand, but I've generally found that if a local developing world bike operator sounds like they know what they are talking about, you'll have a great time with them. Send them a few emails asking about their trips, if you get a bad feeling give 'em a miss, but otherwise go for it!
I've been biking on rough roads in Southern Thailand and Cambodia using an outfit called Spiceroads. It wasn't hardcore biking, but still an awesome holiday.
I rode there March time, was there for Song Kran, there are a number of companies in town that do mountain uplift bike tours. It was fantastic, dropped down through a coffee plantation then into singletrack through the jungle. Wasn't particularly gnarly but it was with a group of beginners and you actually forget how hard mountain biking is to someone who hasn't really done it before, the group was bloodied and battered when we got back into town. Rode through the Song Kran traffic on the way back and got soaked! Thoroughly recommended! Definately take your own gloves and if you can be arsed your own body armour.
That's a hell of a long ride from Chang Mai down to the beach from what I recall of going backpacking there 20 yrs ago.
Haha, so it is! In my defence my memory is a bit hazy, a lot of mushrooms were consumed on that trip....
hi- i lived in thailand for three years and rode with an oufit in chaing mai called mountainbiking chaingmai.com it was an american bloke running it and we had a blast.. the best riding we did was very close to chiang mai i also rode a tour with him a few hours away but- the riding there was all too steep and on the brakes all the time due to sharp sliced bamboo and cows tied on ropes etc etc..
i had my own bike there and was very glad to it was a full sus GT sts.. so taking your own would be great but extra fairs on the internal flight would be expensive too..
i stayed at a place called riverview lodge where the owner has about 30 top end bikes that he collects as well as e type jags and various mercs!!) Riverview Lodge 25 Soi 2 Charoen Prathet Rd
yeah weather will be chilly that time of year sweaters in the evenings.
hope its a blast ..
I´ve used them for the last 2 years. Fantastic setup. Heavy bikes but most of the riding is downhill. Cheap as chips with a lunch of local thai food included. Choice of technical skill levels and routes. Run by an American with local thai guides. Local guides get not a lot of pay so don´t forget the tip.
I went out for a day with those guys. As people said, owned by a big American with Thai guides. Bikes not really up to much - Merida budget full sus things. They make you wear awful plastic armour too!
Good trails from what I remember though. They split people off in terms of technical ability, and take the better riders on singletrack stuff.
Nice rest stop at a coffee plantation, and you finish up by a lake eating nice food.
Enjoy!
Ten years ago I rode with the local mtb club in CM, near the town - good laugh, with a decent descent and a noodle stop at a cafe near the big temple on the hill. There was a bike shop in town then too - I remember it had a nice Kona Chute hardtail in the window. Also ridden with my gf at Soppong, from a place called Cave Lodge - we bumped into three guys herding two elephants and paid a few baht to ride the animals off-road with our bikes lashed to the wooden seats. Perhaps not massively animal-friendly, but a top laugh and better than a circus.
Just come back from Chiang Mai a fortnight ago!
We went out with Mountain Biking Chiang Mai, second time we've been out with them. No need to book, there are tour shops all over the city, they all have leaflets and will book you a ride for the next day.
Haggle over the price a bit as we got it cheaper than advertised in the leaflets, then give what you save as a tip to the fantastic local guides!!
Bikes are OK, don't expect disc brakes or clipless pedals! Take your own armour and back pack. They won't let you ride even xc without armour and their backpacks STINK!!
Good mix of trails, wasn't too hot as the rides start high in the mountains, but don't forget the insect repellent.
Have a fab time..........v jealous, I want to still be there!!!
Thanks all. I'll leave the bartering to her mum!
Hi all, just got back this morning, sat at my desk wishing i was still there!
Ended up riding with this lot
[url= http://x-biking-chiangmai.exteen.com/ ]X-Biking Chiang Mai[/url]
Was a really good day out, but was lucky to get them as they're usually booked up and only normally do groups of 3-8 and multi day tours. They run all year, as the trails are rideable if a little muddy in the wet season.
It's entirely thai run and all of the guides are seriously good riders. Apparently 80% of his trade comes from Hong Kong. All I need to do now is get some friends together and go out there for some proper riding!