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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...

Chiang Mai - Flat rides too!

Chiang Mai is fast earning itself a reputation amongst cyclists in the know, as home to some of the toughest and most spectacular cycling climbs anywhere in the world. With approximately 69% of the province comprising mountains and jungle, this reputation is undoubtedly well deserved but there is a lot more to Chiang Mai cycling than just riding uphill. The City is, after all, situated in a valley carved by the Ping River and it is perfectly possible to ride for many miles without ever encountering anything resembling a gradient.
Today’s ride is a perfect example. Roughly following the course of the Ping River, we head north out of the city, soon finding ourselves on quiet suburban roads. The road and the Ping meander their separate ways, occasionally meeting and providing us with spectacular views of the river.


We then find ourselves riding alongside the Mae Faek irrigation canal. This quiet stretch of road is a joy to ride. To our right, running along the base of a modest mountain is the canal with fishermen, waist deep in the waters casting their nets, cattle grazing the banks, egrets scavenging for insects the cattle have disturbed. To our left, workers cultivate paddy fields, work the fish farms or harvest one of a countless variety of crops. And in the distance, yet more mountains.














The bird-life is a delight too. We’re no ornithologists but, as well as the more common species, we spot brightly coloured kingfishers, bee-eaters, Indian rollers, pond heron and stork on this ride.
Further on we ride past the immaculately manicured grounds of the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort which is overlooked by a giant white Buddha and temple. We have the option to ride up and view these at close hand as well as enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding countryside but that would entail a short but stiff climb and as today we are sticking to the flat, we shall satisfy ourselves with admiring them from afar.

Now we turn to the west and ride through the rural village of Mae Faek, the otherwise simplicity of which is in stark contrast to the two opulent and gaudy temples it contains. This is the real Thailand. Other than fellow cyclists we have never seen another westerner here.
Leaving the village we start to head once more into open countryside. We’ve left the canal behind and there are some very slight undulations in the road but we barely notice as we pedal on the beautifully surfaced road enjoying the lush scenery before turning south and heading back to Chiang Mai. Checking our GPS at the end of the ride we see that we have ridden approximately 80kms with a total elevation  gain of 176 metres. That has got to be a flat ride in anyone’s book.

For information on Tours around Chiang Mai check our website.




 











                               

Chiang Mai's cycling scene

Chiang Mai’s cycling scene has exploded over the last few years. When I first came to Thailand in 2007 the locals stared and waved at alien looking foreigners dressed in Lycra and riding bikes that weighed not much more than just a few kilos. Today, several large groups of cyclists set out each morning and evening to train or just enjoy their passion, on roads and though countryside that, in our opinion, offers some of the best cycling in the world. The locals no longer stare but accept the growth in cycling as a welcome addition to tourism and welcome all with the famous Thai smile and warm hospitality.
People think of Thailand as a beach destination, with an exotic culture and delicious cuisine, but word is getting around, among the world’s enthusiastic cycling community, that Chiang Mai has a growing and thriving cycling culture and that it is fast competing with cycling hot spots such as Mallorca, Lanzarote, Girona. 
Chiang Mai, a bustling town at the heart of ancient Thai culture, with its warm hospitality and exotic way of life is fast becoming The Number ONE hotspot on any cyclists wish list.
Read local Chiang Mai resident Steve Thomas’ recent article “Cycling culture in Chiang Mai (and beyond) to see what the Pro cyclist Orica-GreenEDGE ‘s Christian Meier has to say about cycling here and find out why Asian professional and continental teams are using Chiang Mai as a serious training base.
Crouching Tiger Cycling Tours offer serious training opportunities, challenging and exhilarating cycle tours for lovers of cycling.