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joeadnan · DirtGuru Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 361

Was in Chiang Mai over the weekend, and squeezed in a ride with [url=http://www.mountainbikingchiangmai.com]mountainbikingchiangmai.com[/url].

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/496035923_68ffc3ca8c_o.jpg[/img]

Had to put on body armour for the ride. I must say that I was pretty skeptical at first. I mean, how difficult can the trail be if they're [i]guiding[/i] people down these trails?

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/496003790_c82f0a4706_o.jpg[/img]

Well, turns out that it's pretty edgy stuff. I could ride down on my hardtail, but I was pretty much right on the limit.

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/496041041_8a012beefd_o.jpg[/img]

We rode a trail known as variation 4c of the "Hunter's Escape Route". It was almost 100% downhill, for about 2-3 hours, including rest stops. This is Jay, my guide for the day, who prior to working at Mountain Biking Chiang Mai a year ago had never mountainbiked before.

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/496007960_2a53d1830b_o.jpg[/img]

Not too shabby for a newbie.

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/496036767_45679dd166_o.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/204/496038799_98a1a1210b_o.jpg[/img]

Check out the [url=http://www.mountainbikingchiangmai.com]website[/url]. Cost was very reasonable, about RM160 per person, inclusive of full suspension bike rental, lunch and transport. Highly recommended, if you have a day free to bike. Best time is at the end of the year, when it is drier (it's the monsoon season now) and cooler.

For more photos, check out my flickr account: [url=http://flickr.com/photos/joeadnan/tags/chiangmai/]http://flickr.com/photos/joeadnan/tags/chiangmai/[/url]

fishbrain · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 11:15 pm Post subject:

whoa, nice bike carrier!!!

the ride looks interesting!!! i think i will bring my bike along the next time i go to thailand.

Butt Ruff · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 12:10 am Post subject:

wow ! amazing pics .....
Good on u Joe

andrewawi · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 12:11 am Post subject:

Joe, the 5th photo down---taken very well---it's as though the rider is escaping from the mystical forest.

And Chiang Mai, Thailand---I hear it's an exotic place to go to w/ sights and sounds that can be very luring!!!

About CAD $50-cost wise- very luring!

Maybe the next return---YVR to KLIA, then take Air Asia. Can't believe the return ticket from KLIA to Chiang Mai (direct) costs about CAD $50.

Thanks for this info.

jun · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 10:22 am Post subject:

thanks Joe, this is certainly very do-able

joeadnan · DirtGuru Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 361

That's right, Jun and Andrewawi. Can fly AirAsia to Chiang Mai, although don't forget that their baggage allowance is only 15kgs, which might be a problem if you plan to bring your own bike. Not sure how much they charge for excess baggage. Fortunately I was flying with my office mates, and was therefore able to check in with someone who did not have any check-in luggage. (My bike, in its suitcase with all the biking barang, weighs 24kgs.)

Accommodation in Chiang Mai is also both plentiful and affordable.

In addition, there appears to be quite a number of different trails, so you could easily spend 3-4 days riding.

fakawichief · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks for sharing the experience joe!
Looks like a cool freeride break in the highlands of Chiangmai.. love your power rangers body armour! (is it really recommended?)

poh · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject:

Joe, as always, great pics and write-up! Man, makes me wish I did some biking when I had a long weekend in Changmai last year.... Ended up spending 4 days in my friends garden drinking beer instead, which is also a good way to waste a few days...

joeadnan · DirtGuru Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 361

[quote="fakawichief"] love your power rangers body armour! (is it really recommended?)[/quote]

For the 4C trail, definitely! (It's the most difficult trail.) Some parts are more gnarly than the very rocky section of Rock Garden. And it goes on and on! 1000m+ of elevation loss, with only 2 uphill sections (okay, but one was a portage).

As I said, I could just about ride the whole thing on a hardtail. There were lots of opportunities to do jumps and generally test the ultimate tensile strength of your various body parts, but you could also finesse your way downhill.

Poh, Butt Ruff and Andrewawi: thanks! We [s]aim[/s] shoot to please.

jasontan · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject:

dayumm.... looks like hella fun! definitely something doable for us... time to make full use of our fullsus rigs finally :P

are there any downhill-only routes available?

joe: would you happen to know of any mountainbiking in phuket?

joeadnan · DirtGuru Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 361

[quote="jasontan"]dayumm.... looks like hella fun! definitely something doable for us... time to make full use of our fullsus rigs finally :P

are there any downhill-only routes available?

joe: would you happen to know of any mountainbiking in phuket?[/quote]

What I rode was pretty much a downhillers-only route. At least that's what it says on the printed brochure. You will definitely have a blast on a fullsus rig.

In fact, at the top of the hill, the guides were very skeptical of my bike. They pointed that the saddle was too high, that clipless pedals were a no-no, and were convinced that my camera (in the chest pouch) would bite the dust!

Phuket -- I've ridden there before, but it was very unremarkable, nothing to write home about. However, it could be that I did not hook up with the right guys.

andrewawi · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:04 am Post subject:

[quote="joeadnan"]
In fact, at the top of the hill, the guides were very skeptical of my bike. They pointed that the saddle was too high, that clipless pedals were a no-no, and were convinced that my camera (in the chest pouch) would bite the dust!
[/quote]

Hahahahaha... Joe, welcome to DH on HT... Sounds very familiar?
[img]http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/5054/loweringseatkv8.jpg[/img]

So how did both your arms feel coming down?

Arms chattering away, one can actually get a good work-out despite help from gravity. Morever, I suppose being strapped w/ the body armor probably felt like having a sauna too.

yish... · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject:

Hehehe...so did you lower your saddle Joe?

joeadnan · DirtGuru Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 361

[quote="andrewawi"]So how did both your arms feel coming down?
[/quote]

Yeah, tell me about it. My triceps were sore the next couple of days.

[quote="yish"]Hehehe...so did you lower your saddle Joe?[/quote]

No, I didn't feel like opening my carefully packed toolkit to get the 5mm allen key out!

yish... · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject:

Well...at least you had one. Mr. Swampy (see picture) made me take my carefully packed toolkit out so that he could lower his saddle.

Nice pictures Joe. Word is out that others are organizing a trip there sometime soon. How's this compared to Bali?