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Life on Two Wheels
We run unique road cycling tours that let you discover the real Asia. Our blog contains news, photos and videos from us and the people who have come along and taken part in our cycling holidays. To learn more about our bike tours and to see itineraries and dates, visit our website by clicking the image below...

My Tour of Lanna - Micaela's Diary 6

Micaela lives and rides around Paris. She has ridden extensively in the Alps, and in Provence, and has taken part in the following cyclo-sportives; Time Megeve - Mont Blanc, Le Mille Bosse, L’Alp d’Huez. She has also taken part in numerous cyclo-randonees round both the Paris region and the stunning vineyard areas around Bordeaux.
She has ridden the London to Brighton and the London to Cambridge bike rides, and has ridden The South Downs Way.

NB: All quotes in italics are taken directly from Micaela’s tour diary.

INFORMATION
Getting There: Crouching Tiger Cycling Tours, “Tour of Lanna” of Northern Thailand commence from Chaing Rai. Connecting flights from Bangkok are available through Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and various low cost airlines.
Visa: Australian, European and USA citizens can enter Thailand for up to 30 days. Prior application for a visa is not required.
When to Visit: October – May when the weather is dry with plenty of blue sky. Temperatures (depending on month): Day approx 25 – 35 degrees. Night approx 15 - 25 degrees


Tour info
Bike: Lapierre carbon pro frame, with Campagnolo centaur group set and Mavic Kysrium Pro wheels. Weight 7.8kgs
Gears: compact crankset. Front: 34/50 Rear: 12/28
Tour duration: 10 days (1 rest day)
Distance: 750kms
Total climbing: over 5000 metres
Grade: Challenging terrain, spectacular scenery. Some testing climbs, with gradients 6 – 15% at times and long down hill stages. Superb road conditions, minimal traffic outside the main towns.
Support: Full tlme on road support vehicle with drinks, high energy snacks and mechanical support
Police escort: Tourist police providing road safety and first aid support for groups of 6 and above.
Contact: info@crouchingtigertours.com
Web: http://www.crouchingtigertours.com/
Languages spoken: English, French and Thai

Address: Crouching Tiger International Cycling Tours
225/266 Moo 13, Kad Farang,
Baan Waen, Hang Dong,
Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50230
Tel./Fax: +66 (0)53 430 880

My Tour of Lanna - Micaela's Diary 5

Our last day on the road took us on an awe-inspiring route. We had a challenging day through dramatic landscapes, with stunning views across deep valleys and tropical forests. Keeping our initial exuberance in tow we maintained a steady pace as we climbed high. The road began ramping up steeply with every corner, hitting 15% at times. On reaching the top we flew down steep descents only to start the climb all over again! On and on, riding up and over mountain passes, putting our gears through their paces. Awesome cycling! The high, jungle shrouded roads weaved round and through the most magnificent scenery which was all the more breathtaking with every corner. And to our delight the roads were deserted. We passed terraced fields, and tiny villages precariously perched on the steep hillsides, in a rarely visited area high above Chiang Mai. I think our police escort gained the utmost respect for the more skilled riders amongst us who flew along the route back down to the bottom. Exhilarated by the quality of the roads and the sheer speed they achieved, soaring round sweeping bends, pushing the police car all the way, there was more male adrenaline pumping than you could possibly imagine when we finally stopped at the bottom.

One final ascent awaited us in Chiang Mai and it certainly didn’t disappoint! We finished our tour by cycling up to one of the most impressive and peaceful places I have ever visited. Having already ridden over 80km that day, one final 12km climb stood between us, and the pinnacle of our cycling tour of northern Thailand. Standing high on a mountain, 1000 metres above the city, is the Buddhist temple – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. We decided Chiang Mai must be the cycling Mecca of Thailand. On the way up, a steady stream of cyclists passed us, flying back down the hill after having already completed what we had just begun. Winding and climbing up again, for the last time, we could see the city dropping further and further below. “At long last I arrived at the temple gate exhausted and feeling a huge sense of achievement. The guys that were already there stood on the road yelling and cheering me on towards my last 100m of the tour. I made it! What a ride. What a trip. What an effort! Did I really just do all that cycling these past ten days? Over 750kms of challenge, adventure and personal achievement.”

Entrusting my bike to our driver Pot I turned to face the final challenge of our adventure: 300 steps to reach the temple itself where we visited the amazing collection of pagodas, statues, bells, massive gongs, and the many shrines that make up the monastery. The chanting of the monks seemed a fitting end to our journey. The deep resonant sound reverberated from every corner of the temple grounds and sent a vibration through me, reminding me of the deep spirituality of this ancient culture. Looking out over the views of Chiang Mai and beyond, I personally took a few long minutes in contemplation of what we had all achieved and enjoyed on our journey through Northern Thailand. Personally living up to and well exceeding my expectations, I was sad that our holiday was coming to its end but privileged to have been part of such a fun and brilliantly organized trip through an amazingly diverse and hospitable country.

My Tour of Lanna - Micaela's Diary 4

With the sun shining and the temperature already high, everyone was enthusiastic to get going the next morning. The Thai Highway Police, fascinated by our lightweight carbon framed bikes, encouraged us to have a photo shoot under the big Buddha. The whole scene looked like the Police posing for their next recruiting campaign! They were enjoying themselves on this trip as much as we were, and shared many a joke with us. They took pride in showing us places of interest, and teaching us about their culture. We all acknowledged this was an amazing way to experience the Thai people, their country and their way of life. Leaving Chiang Saen we took advantage of the flat, well-surfaced road to settle into a good pace and practiced rotating in a tight peloton. Working as a team and bonding as a group was not only rewarding, but a huge energy saving and we flew out of town! We cruised along roads that dipped and rolled east along the river, the life line to this part of South-East Asia. We passed through local towns and villages, stopping to inspect rural rice farmer’s properties. Everywhere, the locals gave us a friendly welcome with their smiles and waves and shouts of “sawasdee”. We took a break for a breather, and to take in the most spectacular views of distant rice fields and villages in Laos, just a stone throw away. Personally I took a quiet moment to absorb the view and the atmosphere.

Over the next few days the tour progressed deeper into the mountains, through rural farming communities.
One memorable day, and another hard pass; “I struggled up, breathing hard and finding the extra effort from somewhere deep within” As always the reward came at the top. The views and the most charming village where the welcome was very warm and somewhat tinged with intrigue. I felt very privileged as we wandered round their village, filmed their houses and children and watched them cooking and making craft items for the markets. We chatted with the children as they shyly watched us and looked at our bikes and clothes with fascination. We must have looked like aliens from Mars to them, lycra clad in our cycling gear and staggering around in our cleated shoes!
The cycling continued to get even more remarkable and the scenery even more breathtaking. The superb road conditions thrilled us. Remote mountain roads and rural farms, rice fields, people working the land, passing small tractors and the occasional buffalo, our route snaked up and over the landscape both ahead and, looking back, way down behind us. What an amazing experience to see Thailand this intimately. Our cheek muscles began aching from the constant grin etched on our faces! Egos were soaring now! The dramatic climbs, with only sheer determination testing my endurance, were more than rewarded by the exhilaration of long downhill stretches. Feeling the hum of the tyres on the smooth, deserted road, feeling the bike responding and the warmth of the wind on my face, I felt at one with nature; totally in tune and totally absorbed. An exhilarating final 18km descent, at the end of one long hard day, left us all buzzing!

There was no shortage of opportunities to restock on our route. Our support team was always nearby with endless supplies of cold water and high energy snacks. We took many an opportunity to sample the local produce, stopping at roadside stalls for fresh fruit juices, freshly cooked noodles, pancakes or bananas. Seated by the roadside and being served sweet grilled bananas and attempting to chat with the locals, who were fascinated by this bunch of strangely dressed “farang” (foreigners), were the intimate moments that made this so special. Experiencing the Thai food took us through a rich culinary journey of exotic mouth-watering, freshly prepared delicacies and along with the carefully selected comfortable hotels, and the awesome cycling, this was top-notch adventure.

In keeping with the individual and unique Thai experience offered by Crouching Tiger Cycling Tours, we had plenty of rewards both during and after long days in the saddle. We took every opportunity to enjoy the local culture; visiting ancient temples with their ornate architecture and faded paintings of historic battles, enjoying the night markets with their exotic aromas and numerous road side stalls, undertaking a hike to a cliff top location to watch a stunning sun set and visiting the renowned elephant conservation center on the outskirts of Lampang. We even exchanged pedal power for horse power on one occasion and soaked up the sights and sounds of this bustling city from a horse and carriage. Suffice to say, we also took regular advantage of one of the things the Thais do best – fabulous massage to repair some of the damage to our poor tired bodies! The amazing massage girls: innocently provocative with their healing hands, their smiles and their offers of marriage!

My Tour of Lanna - Micaela's Diary 3

Our first day of cycling took us out of Chiang Rai, heading north towards the Burmese border. Our enthusiastic Police escort amazed us by turning up with bunches and bunches of bananas to keep us nourished along the way. “It felt amazing cycling behind these guys – with their lights flashing and occasional siren – talk about feeling important – they showed us so much genuine interest and warmth” This police presence was beneficial not only for their traffic management skills in the busier towns, but also for the peace of mind of having them nearby in the more remote areas for their first aid skills and speedy reaction, neither of which I am pleased to say, we needed! Many a wave and cheer from the local stall holders, lining the road out of town, gave us an insight into just how warmly received we would be during our stay.

The well-surfaced, quiet roads North of Chiang Rai led us past the nearby mountain ranges bordering Thailand and Burma. Spinning efficiently we cruised out of town, soaking up the views. 50 km slipped by unnoticed. A perfectly timed pause, to visit a curious local Wat, added excitement along the way. Here, lively cheeky monkeys ran riot amongst the mostly Thai visitors. This short break prepared us for the long coast up to Mai Sai, a bustling, vibrant market town on the border with Burma. Here the relaxed border guards observed us with bemused interest, a welcome distraction to the routine checks they proffer the stream of human traffic trading goods between the two countries. After soaking up the atmosphere and refueling our energy reserves on dried fruit bought from the local market, we headed out of town. Our route continued on to include some challenging climbs through some beautiful hills, which lay between us, and the slow moving, majestic Mekong River. The cycling began to get more demanding and reminded us of what we could expect in the days to come.

An extract from my diary, of my thoughts over the next few tough kilometers;
“The thud of my pulse – the urgency of my breath trying hard to keep up with the demands being made by my body, the feeling of being so alive and so in tune – the mantra of determination screaming round my head “don’t give up, keep pedalling, keep pushing, just believe – believe and achieve” – affirmations of resolve to boost my now fragile will power from the temptation to give in to the screaming thighs, the gasping breath, the cramping stomach. So much to prove; to the guys riding, to the support team driving just metres behind me – their patience extraordinary – crawling up the hill a lot slower than I care to mention! I felt the pressure of forcing them to follow so slowly but they were there for me with water and encouragement. Beyond all of that, I had so much to prove to myself.
The final push, the last 100 metres of steep gradient, just holding on.
Then in a split second all that changed – exhilaration – flying down the other side – the struggle forgotten in an instant. Looking ahead and not seeing the bike beneath me, feeling like a bird, flying free and unstoppable – sheer unashamed delight – in every way worth the struggle just minutes before. Freedom, invincible.”

After 100km in the saddle, we finally reached The Golden Triangle, an area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma meet along the banks of the Mekong River. Here, in the town of Chiang Saen, we enjoyed some of the charm and cultural heritage of this ancient part of Thailand. This area has a history of Opium production, which was illegalized in 1959, and has been successfully eliminated thanks to the crop substitution program initiated by the King of Thailand. These days the region is popular with visitors who are looking for something more authentic than the commercialized islands further south. Here travelers enjoy the stunning landscapes, many ancient wat, and sleepy villages that abound here. We had a remarkable and memorable evening in Chiang Saen. We visited the huge golden Buddha, which towers above the numerous colourful prayer flags, candles, and incense. The sights, sounds and exotic scents in the area overwhelmed our senses. The picturesque views over the Mekong River towards Burma and Laos, only adding to the atmosphere. Our day’s efforts were richly rewarded by our warm welcome at our hotel – one of the King of Thailand’s residences, and we spent a night in lavish comfort.

My Tour of Lanna - Micaela's Diary 2

“Paris – Charles de Gaulle, Bahrain, Bangkok and Chiang Rai airports, all in under 24 hours. Reeling from jet –lag, culture shock and unsuppressed excitement, we were met at arrivals with friendly smiles, warm welcomes and the elegant, respectful Wai greeting (prayer gesture) from the Thais.”
Back home in Paris, we had left behind us a misty October morning and less than 24hrs later found ourselves immersed in the warmth of a tropical evening; the kind of evening, with its unique scent and exotic sounds that so depicts the ambiance of the South-East Asian environment. We had arrived in the North of Thailand for a 10 day cycling tour and expectations were running high!

We started our journey with a day of acclimatization in Chiang Rai, a busy town in the northern most province in Thailand. My first exposure to the lavish architecture of the temples, or “Wat”, in Thai, left me speechless. The golden statues, magnificent ornate carvings and red and green tiled roofs, were particularly impressive when silhouetted against the vivid blue of the sky! We spent an afternoon making final checks and adjustments to our bikes, (checking, rechecking, fiddling, cleaning, pumping tyres, adjusting brakes, comparing, admiring, coveting wheels, discussing gear ratios) – “just how much discussion does it take? The guys make me laugh!” I might add at this point, that I found myself to be the only woman cyclist on the tour. This was not only a tad daunting to begin with, but also immensely challenging - and I certainly rose to the challenge!
Later that evening we took the opportunity to dive into the local culture and we wandered around the night market, sampling the wonderful regional delicacies and soaking up the atmosphere. During the group’s first evening together, we shared the excitement and expectation of what lay ahead.

My Tour of Lanna - Micaela's Diary 1


CYCLING THAILAND……

NB: All extracts are taken directly from Micaela Hobb’s tour diary.

Thailand – a land of astounding beauty, of mystical wonder and exciting discoveries. Ever considered cycling your road bike through foreign pastures? Are you searching for that “je ne sais quoi” ride experience? Micaela Hobbs recounts an unforgettable journey through some of the most spectacular landscapes, picturesque villages, and exotic culture that Thailand has to offer …

If, like me, you are a cyclist, fervent about your sport and at the same time blessed with an insatiable wanderlust, then you will recognize what led me to venture further afield, for a cycling holiday that offered that additional buzz factor! And I found the perfect balance of exhilarating, heart pounding cycling while discovering the spirit and culture of the real Thailand, away from the normal tourist traps. Guided by those who share a passion for cycling, adventure and people. This was road cycling at its finest!

Arduous climbs, spectacular mountain passes, tranquil rural villages and a local hospitality marked by generosity and warmth, Crouching Tiger Cycling Tours offers cyclists the opportunity to discover the spirit of this magnificent country and its people, in an intimacy and style of adventure not often encountered. Taking advantage of the superb road conditions and mesmerizing topography, some of the best in the world, Crouching Tiger provides a journey which will both exhilarate and satisfy the cyclist looking for the ultimate experience...