Cycling in the Chiang Mai area
I have lived in for about 8 years now Chiang Mai, most of which time with my girlfriend in Sansai district. When I have friends from the Netherlands visiting, the first question is often: Can we come here too riding a bike?
They had heard that the Thai do not cycle and only drive a car or scooter. Indeed, there are a few Thai who cycle, but not many, although I see more and more Thai early in the morning and in the early evening on their racing bikes. In Chiang Mai there are a few cycling clubs, but I prefer to cycle alone or with a few acquaintances.
For cyclists, the beautiful area around Chiang Mai is great. Usually we start from a certain place near the center, cycling partly along the Ping, north (via the area of MaeRim, Maejo) or south along the Ping towards Lamphun, but also the areas towards and around Han Dong, Bo Sang, Doi Saket and San Kamphaeng are great.
Near the large lake, the Huay Tung Thao, there is a 5 km track for cyclists and joggers. Wonderful rest breaks at coffee shops with the always friendly staff and on the way back near the terminal station a delicious stew, chowder, Brussels sprouts, spinach or croquette at Jeremy's snack bar or at one of the many delicious Thai food restaurants. A flat tire, well… it seems that there is a repairman every kilometer, because in such a case you just see that you have forgotten your own repair box.
Submitted by William
Yes,
When we stay in Chiang Mai, we always sleep at the Dutch Guesthouse, very cozy and always many Dutch people living in the area, they know the great places like no other.
Indeed Chiangmai and immediate surroundings have a very beautiful environment, and that includes enjoying on the motorbike and while riding a bicycle.
Yesterday I read a report from a fellow blogger on this blog who I think has been to Chiangmai but has not seen anything here at all,
Jan Beute.
Cycling in the north of Thailand: great! As far as Chiang Mai province is concerned, I only made some kilometers in the Doi Saket district, from a small-scale resort located in spicy hills. In recent years I have been cycling from Chiang Rai and there too you can, literally, go in all directions with an enormous variety of roads and landscapes, in all desired degrees of difficulty. More and more Thais are also taking up the MTB or road bike, usually not on the cheapest models. In the city of Chiang Rai I currently count at least 6 really serious (sports) bicycle shops and they largely rely on a Thai clientele. Don't be surprised if you see price tags of up to 200.000 baht on the bikes there………
We also cycle in Changmai every year. We always stay there for a month and rent a bicycle. Only sometimes I find it difficult to find a good bicycle. We can never find the lake you write about. We usually stay near the changklan road, but I don't really understand which direction to take. Years ago we also did a tour with a guds between many rice fields, which was also a nice trip. fairly well known in the area for years but always discover something new. We love it in Changmai.
Dear Marijke, you write that you cycle here every year.
Have you ever considered buying a good bicycle here, or bringing a Dutch bicycle here and storing it somewhere for the coming years.
Here in Pasang about 45 km south of CM is a quality bicycle dealer and workshop where bicycle fanatical customers from all parts of Northern Thailand buy their bicycles.
A young lady and acquaintance of ours even bought a mountain bike here a few years ago and, after a long tour of several weeks through the north of Thailand, sent the bike to the Netherlands by boat.
I can help with storage, I have plenty of room here.
Jan Beute.
Dear Jan, we have indeed looked into buying a bicycle. Admittedly at the big c and lotus. They look quite nice and maybe quite okay for that once a year. Who knows, we will still do it, but until now still rented. But we would have had our own cast for that. Thank you for the information.
Dear Marijke, you don't buy good bikes at the Big C and the Lotus. These are mainly bicycles of China quality where the brakes did not even work when they left the factory.
Jan Beute.
HELLO You follow the road to chang Puak past Rajabaat university a little further you take the R11.
then straight on road 107 towards Mae Rm; on the left you have the grounds of the army. once you have passed it you will see a pedestrian bridge over the road in front of you, going to hospital Nakorn Ping.for this you turn left until the end. This road is part of road 121 (runs along the canal) you follow for about 2 km then you see signposts to the lake and you have to turn right. You can continue to follow the road or if you look to the right between the bushes you can find the cycle path.
The guided cycling is with my friend Etienne Daniels (tel 053281553)
Indeed, we also did at Etienne. Loved it, if possible again this year.
Dear Mary,
With more than 10.000 Thai kilometers in my legs, I can recommend Etien Daniels. He has been the owner of “clickandtravel” for 25 years. In Chiang Mai.
Has super well maintained bicycles with helmet and panniers. Provides tours in the North and Chiangmai, possibly with a guide
But I understand that you have cycled there before . He arranges (possibly multi-day) tailor-made trips and arranges overnight stays.
Cycle and enjoy
We have already done a few trips with clickandtravel. But we also want to go out together. 2 years ago we were far from changmai and of course got lost. No trucks or anything to be seen. Fortunately, a jeweler at one point. He did not speak word of English but with sign language he still understood where we wanted to go. yet ha ha.But it is a wonderful environment and always discovering something new.Look forward to when we can go again.
We live 11 years this year. 23km. outside Chiang Mai. Not cycling itself, but see many cyclists. I don't know where in Chiang Mai, but it is in combination with an overnight stay in "Baan Pong" where you can eat, swim and spend the night in a cottage or in a dome tent. Hear many positive stories about the planned routes. If you contact “Baan Pong” they will certainly provide more information. We wish everyone a lot of cycling fun in Amazing Thailand.
Hello Ellis, it is quite possible that this is also an organized bike tour of Etienne Daneels. I have also stayed in Baan Pong Lodge several times during a bicycle tour with Etienne. Nice tours, good resorts with good cuisine and good bikes. Here is his website: “http://www.clickandtravelonline.com/indexn.php”. Regards, Jan Thai.
If you have a good sports bike in the Netherlands, you can simply take it with you on your flight to Thailand, but you must register it with the company before the time. There are beautiful bike rides around Chiangmai. Have lived in Maerim for 10 years since March 2018. Back in the Netherlands.
Greetings Wim
Cycling is very popular in Thailand.
Here in the isaan there are several cycling clubs.
Fun events are also organized by Shimano and probike, for example.
It's a fun way to be sporty and you get to know different people.
Buriram bike club runs every weekend.
On Saturday they go out with the mtb and on Sunday a road ride with the racing bike.
Of course there will be stops along the way to eat and drink.
By the way, cycling in buriram is doable for every cyclist because it is almost flat here.
I brought my bicycle from the Netherlands in a bicycle case.
Just an email to eva air and no problem at check-in.
I have already made many beautiful kilometers on Thai roads.
We have been cycling for years, in the winter months, all over the world, in recent years in Thailand. The dragging of bicycles is becoming too much for us. Does anyone know where to buy good randonneurs in Thailand? We are a bit older and I don't come on a mountain bike anymore.
'I no longer come on a mountain bike', you write, but given your question, on a randonneur? Then it seems to me more a matter of dimensions and especially adjustment of that mountain bike.
Have a look at the following website.https://www.buzzybeebike.com/.
Is by a Dutchman, Joost Rokx
Just an advertisement…. for those who don't know yet and have had a flat tire before (that's me)… buy tires from the Schwalbe brand. These are so strong that you can drive over pins without getting a flat tire. Great tyres. Slightly more expensive, but well worth it.
When I bought my bike, and it really wasn't a cheap bike, I had three punctures within the first two weeks. I then bought the Marathon Plus from Schwalbe through Lazada (my tires had a special size) ... I've been driving for a year now without a single flat tire and ... I may have had to inflate the tires twice in all that time.
I live 43 south of Chiang mai, here the area is flat as a pancake, if you go cycling early in the morning or at night there is no wind. I have 3 bicycles here that I brought from the Netherlands, a randoneur, a solid classic Gazelle and a Batavus electric bicycle. I often take my bicycle when I go shopping in Pa-sang, which is 22 km away. up and down, Chiang Mai is also sometimes visited by bicycle, the through roads in Thailand are wonderful for cyclists, also the cities, and not those vowels, tiles and other rubbish that you have to cross in the Netherlands, you will hardly find them here. And the traffic here in Thailand really takes you into account, keep driving on the left as much as possible, with two next to each other is prohibited here, not recommended if you are not tired of life. There are plenty of bicycles for sale here, you will often see small traders selling Japanese bicycles, cheap and of excellent quality.