Cycling around Chiang Mai with Croching Tiger Cycling Tours through the eyes of Di and Bernie McGoldrick.

Bern & I have just done a fantastic 4 day bike ride around the Chiang Mai area of Northern Thailand and thought we'd let all the Bandidos back in chilly Melbourne know what great riding is to be had in this area. 

Chiang Dao in the clouds

We organised the ride (a 60th birthday present for Bern from the family) through Marcus Maguire (ex Melbourne - now International Bandido) and his Crouching Tiger Tour company and can't speak highly enough of the organistaion, support and best of all the choice of rides Marcus  mapped out for us.
As it was low season, Bern & I were the only riders with Marcus as our  personal guide and a well stocked a/c support van trailing behind.


Marcus specialiss in 'road bike tours' so has a small kitty of Trek bikes to hire. As we travelled straight from the boat, we hired ours from Marcus but apparently most customers bring their own bikes,which is a good option if you love your bike so much and want to take it on an exotic holiday!

Chiang Mai itself is a relatively flat city, situated in a valley bound by mountain ranges either side. So the choice of rides is vast. Most of the riding we did was out of town on well-sealed roads in surprisingly, excellent condition. As it was just the two of us the rides were customised to suit us but  involved a mixture of flat, undulating and a couple of challenging climbs. We averaged 100kms each day starting out at 7.30 each morning and with stops for cool drinks and fresh or dried fruit mid-morning and finishing by early afternoon for lunch. This was good timing, as by midday it really starts to warm up. And for hill climbers there is so much on offer around this area. Marcus is as fit as a mountain goat and keen on hills! The scenery is beautiful- green and lush with rice paddies in abundance and dense jungle growth through the mountains and eye-catching temples everywhere!

As it was a 'package tour' accommodation, all meals, transport etc was inclusive and of an excellent standard and well chosen. So for a cycling holiday doing what you love most in a warm climate check out www.crouchingtigertours.com

 P.S.I've just re-read what I've written and I know I sound like a tourist brochure, but the description is how it really is!!!

Many thanks to Di and Bernie McGoldrick for this account of their tour with us last month. Come again soon guys!