By Bicycle Through Southeast Asia

[FMFK86]

dont know wheres the best place to post, so i put it in chiang mai and hobbies. i will start in chiang mai and go through laos and vietnam, time will be in the beginning of may. let me know if anyone is interested in joining this trip.

[gotlost]

Now that's what I call some serious arsh pedaling. Hope you have a great time. Go for it.

[SoCalChris]

I did Laos and have bicycled all through Thailand as well. Want to do Vietnam and Cambodia someday (I'm looking for a biking partner actually for that). Make sure you are in shape for 100K rides. Get the book Lollipop Fury (in the Thailand interest sections of farang bookstores) to provide you some more insight for doing this. It's a great read for people like us.

Right now it is freakin hot, and I have learned to put off cycling until later because I quickly dehydrate. If you get wet from rain, no problem, put all of your clothes into plastic bags and bring chain lub with you. Good luck!

[spawn]

Hi,

Bicycle in SE Asia is the best way of travelling, a real experience.

I did route 13 in Laos, Vientian Luang Prabang, then back to BKK by Loei - Dan Sai - Phetchaboun on 2 wheels as well.

Then I did Trat - Koh Kong - Sihanoukville - Phnom Pehn - Siem Reap and back to Thailand by Poipet.

If you need any advice or have questions about these itineraries, don't hesitate.

[Limbo]

.

.

.

.Alan Bate from Chiang Khong started 5 days ago at the Royal Palace in Bangkok.

This morning at 10 am he had done 1014 miles (about 1620 km).

He might reach Singapore today.

But it is another story, see:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Cyclist-Alan...ng-t352217.html

I wish you a great trip, must be a fantastic thing to do!

Go for it!

Limbo

Alan shortly after the start in Bangkok . . . . .

[FMFK86]

hi! thanks for the replies! do you guys have MSN messenger or skype? would be nice to stay in touch maybe for future tours or just exchanging info about cycling in chiang mai.

about allan bate: wow! that dude is insane. i will keep track of his progress, really interesting to see that. my plan is more the "chilled way":take it easy, take a day off when i come to a very nice place etc. its not just riding, i also want to see a lot. for me the heat is kinda problem too, so far all my training has been going up and down doi suthep/pui. its nice because it gets a lot cooler after some climbing and less smoke. yesterday i made it to the village (pushed back up tho, that little road is so steep), and came out 45k, so i definetly think im in shape for 100k rides under normal circumstances regarding the heat yesterday and that i made 1,5k+ in height.

[SomchaiCNX]

I did Laos and have bicycled all through Thailand as well. Want to do Vietnam and Cambodia someday (I'm looking for a biking partner actually for that). Make sure you are in shape for 100K rides. Get the book Lollipop Fury (in the Thailand interest sections of farang bookstores) to provide you some more insight for doing this. It's a great read for people like us.

Right now it is freakin hot, and I have learned to put off cycling until later because I quickly dehydrate. If you get wet from rain, no problem, put all of your clothes into plastic bags and bring chain lub with you. Good luck!

Ortlieb paniers are available now in Thailand they are water proof.

[el jefe]

I'm just back today from several days of mountain biking in the northwest corner of Laos. I've cycled just about every paved road north of Vientiane (including some that were paved but no longer are!) and have done a decent amount of riding in Vietnam. I love riding in Laos but have a pretty intense dislike for Vietnam.

Feel free to PM me for more info, or we can chat on a ride.

[ChouDoufu]

have covered southern china (guangxi,yunnan), northern laos. (if the jeff says the roads are bad, you can trust him!)

cambodia last month; surin-o'smack-kralanh-siem reap-anlong veng-preah vihear-phnom penh-exit at koh kong.

will be in vietnam this month, saigon to hanoi, ho road to danang, then hwy 1 towards halong bay...subject to change.

pm if you have questions.

so jeff, did you ride xieng dao - xieng kok?

[martijn12345]

I once went cycling with my buddy in Luang Prabang, to a swimmingpool up a 5K hill that doesn't even compare to Doi Suthep...

Embarrassing moment, buddy is 15 years older then me. At the food of the hill he said ' You go ahead, I'll catch up' and he stopped for a smoke. About halfway up the hill he did catch up with me, another 1km further I knew I would have to trow up if i would continue... We went for a swim in a pool at the foot of the hill.

Good luck Julian

Edited April 7, 2010 by martijn12345

[el jefe]

have covered southern china (guangxi,yunnan), northern laos. (if the jeff says the roads are bad, you can trust him!)

cambodia last month; surin-o'smack-kralanh-siem reap-anlong veng-preah vihear-phnom penh-exit at koh kong.

will be in vietnam this month, saigon to hanoi, ho road to danang, then hwy 1 towards halong bay...subject to change.

pm if you have questions.

so jeff, did you ride xieng dao - xieng kok?

Hi Stinky,

Yeah, I rode from Xieng Dao to Xieng Kok. Piece of cake. The epic ride was from Muang Long to Vieng Phoukha. Over 100kms of very rough "road" with 3,000+ meters of climbing. Only one of the stream crossings was more than knee deep but in the 40+° heat, it was a welcome relief. Very few villages and almost no opportunities to get food or water. I was worried I might have to do some very rough camping. I'm glad to be back in CM, even with the heat and pollution here.

To the OP -- the GT-Rider forums http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/ have excellent info on roads in most of SE Asia.

I'll eventually get around to posting my trip report there.

[FMFK86]

just a bump since no one is up for it so far, ill start soon. stayed a bit longer than expected in china without training but im still aiming to start in the beginning of may.

[FMFK86]

ive got a kind of weird question for all u who have been cycling in laos and vientam: what about all those dangerous animals, like bears, tigers, and leopards. is there any real danger by them? ive heard that snakes dont bite you when u dont actually sit down on them or something. id appreciate any help (i know this question is an invitation for a million stupid answer-jokes ;-)

and i wont be starting in chiang mai to avoid traffic, anyoone knows if i can take a bicycle on the bus in thailand?

[spawn]

ive got a kind of weird question for all u who have been cycling in laos and vientam: what about all those dangerous animals, like bears, tigers, and leopards. is there any real danger by them? ive heard that snakes dont bite you when u dont actually sit down on them or something. id appreciate any help (i know this question is an invitation for a million stupid answer-jokes ;-)

and i wont be starting in chiang mai to avoid traffic, anyoone knows if i can take a bicycle on the bus in thailand?

Bicycle in the bus = app 200 Thb on top of the fare

Chok dee

[el jefe]

ive got a kind of weird question for all u who have been cycling in laos and vientam: what about all those dangerous animals, like bears, tigers, and leopards. is there any real danger by them? ive heard that snakes dont bite you when u dont actually sit down on them or something. id appreciate any help (i know this question is an invitation for a million stupid answer-jokes ;-)

and i wont be starting in chiang mai to avoid traffic, anyoone knows if i can take a bicycle on the bus in thailand?

There are no wild animals left in Laos. They've all been hunted to near extinction.

In VN, it's all the other road users that you need to worry about. That problem really doesn't exist in Laos, other than in Vientiane.

I've had my bike on at least a dozen Thai buses and have never had a problem. I'd say that 1/3 of the time there was no additional charge, 1/3 of the time I was charged 50 baht, and the remaining 1/3 of the time 100 baht. On VIP buses you can usually just throw the bike in the luggage bay underneath without a problem. On smaller buses you often have to remove the wheels and maybe the left pedal.

[twofortheroad]

  ...... i wont be starting in chiang mai to avoid traffic ................

I remember asking a Thai friend about the drive to Bangkok from Chiang Mai. I was told that you can't get there from here. I had to drive to Lampang, and start there.

The old ones are the best.

[Blinky Bill]

Back in 1984 I met a young Australian lady (click here) who had ridden her bicycle alone from Singapore to Chiang Mai. She ended up staying with my wife at the time and myself at our house in Chiang Mai for a few weeks.

She rode up to the Mae Sa Elephant camp one day to shoot a few pics, including one of her astride her bicycle upon an elephant, after a few minutes of this the elephant decided he didn't want her or the bicycle on it's back so both made a hasty descent to the waiting earth. Consequently she broke her hip and ended up in hospital. About the same time my wife decided to crash her motorcycle and break her leg so I ended up with 2 women on crutches in my house. One of them had to go, sadly I made the wrong decision and the wife stayed. The other lady went on to bigger and better things.

[witold]

I would love to see the resulting pic, Blinky Bill.

Traveling by bicycle is great. One day I will have to get in shape and do something like this. Until then, I will stick to motorcycles - still a great experience and more practical in terms of covering ground.

[jayinoz]

Cooler season would be better. Although the raining season starting now may cool you down a bit. I would be up for a month or so in cool season. I find Lamphun to CMai a decent ride. Not the 106 curvy way as you are more likely to be knocked down.

If you declare a date in mind I will start riding more in prep. One of the best ways to see the countryside- beware the city drivers. I would include me in that now, as if you do not adapt to their style you never reach your destination in timely manner. CMai traffic getting very bad now.

Red buses simply wish you to pay double (Not 200bt extra), as I jump on one when entering CMai to avoid major traffic sometimes.

Just a note of caution- travel insurance will not cover cyclists or motorbikers.

If anyone has insurance that does please post...

[SomchaiCNX]

Cooler season would be better. Although the raining season starting now may cool you down a bit. I would be up for a month or so in cool season. I find Lamphun to CMai a decent ride. Not the 106 curvy way as you are more likely to be knocked down.

If you declare a date in mind I will start riding more in prep. One of the best ways to see the countryside- beware the city drivers. I would include me in that now, as if you do not adapt to their style you never reach your destination in timely manner. CMai traffic getting very bad now.

Red buses simply wish you to pay double (Not 200bt extra), as I jump on one when entering CMai to avoid major traffic sometimes.

Just a note of caution- travel insurance will not cover cyclists or motorbikers.

If anyone has insurance that does please post...

AIG (Thailand) still covers cyclists in their travel insurance. Moto bikes have been excluded from their travel insurance for at least 15 years now.

[el jefe]

Just a note of caution- travel insurance will not cover cyclists or motorbikers.

If anyone has insurance that does please post...

AIG (Thailand) still covers cyclists in their travel insurance. Moto bikes have been excluded from their travel insurance for at least 15 years now.

Further to Somchai's comments, just about every travel insurance company covers cycling accidents unless you are racing or participating in some type of extreme mountain biking. I occasionally lead bike tours for a Bangkok based tour company and know of several participants who have collected on their policies, including a friend who was medivac'd from Siem Reap to bangkok and then flown Business Class accompanied by an Air Travel Nurse specialist all the way to the US. All covered by travel insurance.

[lazygourmet]

Spice Roads -even if your are not traveling with them- have always great itinerary ideas.

[burgdawg]

...fellow bicyclists....Thailand, Laos, maybe northern Vietnam enroute to Lao Cai or Mon Cai to China......maybe.

Vietnamese are venomous, what can I say?

Myself? I've been to Vietnam twice, no more for me. You can keep the <deleted> place. Why?

Ever have a Glock 9mm pistol shoved into your mouth and robbed? It knocked out a back tooth that

I still have to get fixed. No picnic for me.

Hey, you might be next.. Have at it. Not worth the price of admission, imho.

I'd steer clear of anything Vietnam. Suss it out first with other mates that have BEEN THERE. We are all too-easy prey.

Ask yourself at night: "..... will you take a bullet for in the mouth? How much?"

Vietnam is a gorgeous country, too bad the people are filled with bile.

Why else do you think China is going bonkers with Vietnam cozying up to the USA of late over armaments?

The Vietnamese are the only known folks who have consistently beaten the Chinese.

Read your history. Better yet, read the details of the Battle of Mon Cai, 1979.

Some 20-25k Chinese soldiers routed by the Vietnamese. Many suspect nerve gas, VX.

I'm traveling with a mate, southern part of Vietnam, Nha Thrang.......it is noon, Iam solo and I get abducted, middle of the day!

The Vietnamese have cleverly imported many Phillipinos to run their scams because of their fluent English.

I had $1200 USD on me, gone. Three credit cards, soon to be toasted to the tune of $17k USD. That would be

544,000 Thai baht, poof, gone. How?

Three-accomplices paraded me around to various Nha Thrang banks and gold shops. Sorry, I wear cheap Casio watches

and no rings, no jewelry. My three credit cards have been dormant for 6 months, suddenly pinged outta sight and charged to the max

via bogus, fruadulent charges.

I am very happy to be alive, typing this out.

What would you do?

I signed the credit card slips. I even "bought" $4k USD worth of gold. I had it in my hands a whopping 5 minutes.

Once free---an adventure in itself---I called the credit card companies to cancel and explain all. Much to their credit,

CitiBank and AT&T Universal Card reviewed my pings, transactions and wrote the charges off made under duress,

null and void.

NOT JP Morgan Chase. 4.5 months after pistol-in-mouth, am still battling with these clowns. I had to explain to them what

"duress" meant. Their claim is that I "signed" the slips. Now they are charging me with hefty interest.

Geem thanks. How do YOU prove a negative?

Wanna know the funniest bit of all? Chase's Fraud Unit is based in Manila! I laughed myself silly over this one.

Yeah, travel to Vietnam, have at it.

You've been warned. Not worth it. Not worth the constant hassle.

Just buying a coffee is a hassle. Lunch and dinner? Forget about it.

I LOOKED at a hat vendor for more than 1.1 seconds, what happened? She staked out my hotel room for three days to

make a <deleted>' $1 sale in HaNoi.

If this is your idea of fun...have at it. Too many of us transfer the good vibes and friendliness of the Thais and Laotians to the Vietnamese.

I did and look at what happened. Don't believe me? Do you own Google Search of Vietnamese and Phillipinos running scams.

You are next.

[burgdawg]

...did not mean to bum others out about bicycle adventuring in Asia. I am with El Jefe in that I (now) have an intense

dislike for the Vietnamese. I did not feel this way prior to visiting Vietnam. Was not in the American War, but have plenty of buddies

shipped back in a pine box.

If you would like a similar experience without the actual hassle of travelling there, visit a friend who keeps

bees, wasps or hornets and get stung several dozen times. Get a cortisone shot (Kenalog) and lay up for a few days.

There, you just had your 'Nam experience.....

[mikejphuket]

Amen,

One cycling trip in Viet Nam was more than enough. Attitude and traffic sucked. Why go there when there are other choices that are much nicer?

...did not mean to bum others out about bicycle adventuring in Asia. I am with El Jefe in that I (now) have an intense

dislike for the Vietnamese. I did not feel this way prior to visiting Vietnam. Was not in the American War, but have plenty of buddies

shipped back in a pine box.

If you would like a similar experience without the actual hassle of travelling there, visit a friend who keeps

bees, wasps or hornets and get stung several dozen times. Get a cortisone shot (Kenalog) and lay up for a few days.

There, you just had your 'Nam experience.....

[mongoose11]

Amen,

One cycling trip in Viet Nam was more than enough. Attitude and traffic sucked. Why go there when there are other choices that are much nicer?

...did not mean to bum others out about bicycle adventuring in Asia. I am with El Jefe in that I (now) have an intense

dislike for the Vietnamese. I did not feel this way prior to visiting Vietnam. Was not in the American War, but have plenty of buddies

shipped back in a pine box.

If you would like a similar experience without the actual hassle of travelling there, visit a friend who keeps

bees, wasps or hornets and get stung several dozen times. Get a cortisone shot (Kenalog) and lay up for a few days.

There, you just had your 'Nam experience.....

I'd have to say in No Chi Min towards Cambodian border, there was some underlying animosity. Guys waving hands aggresively out of car windows and a battle in the HCM, would follow you from bar to bar to try and get you to get in the cab/tuk tuk thing.

From Hanoi upto the chinese border - TOTALLY different. Really nice and chilled.

You should go from Hanoi up thru the hills to SAPA as part of your route if you haven't left yet.

EPIC and SAPA's wicked!