hailand is well known for it's beauties, but even the landscape is worth a visit. So it is no wonder that the travel brochures are overfilled with "exploring the North of Thailand". Nevertheless I wanted to explore the landscape. But as I hate to sit in a bus taking me from one place to another, a plan to ride my Mountainbike in Asia developed.

This gives the traveller a wider range than hiking, and you are very close to the nature. During my earlier visits I never left the tourist places like Bangkok, Pattaya and Samui. So this seemed to be a good idea to see something more natural (as far as it is left).

As I only had limited time to do this trip I had no time to plan and explore the landscape on my own. So I searched the internet for guided tours.

The search engines returned several hits. Several tour operators offered guided tours. But a closer look into the intenarity quickly showed that they only bike a few miles, just to stop at another sight. I was wondering why they all choose the same route. So this was not what I was looking for. Other tour operators offered 14 days  trips.  Too long - my family would not allow me

An added complication is the price for single travellers. The supplements are astronomic, and some tour operators are simply not interested in single travellers. On www.chiangmaicycling.com I found a page called: "Need someone to ride with?". So I filled in the form and, after several mails to and from Asia, I had my personal guide who was willing to ride with me along single trials. Even the price including bike rental was acceptable. The following is a short report with some pictures which unfortunalety can't reflect the mood.

Day One. Warm-up around Lampang:
I a m the only Farang* amoung 10 passengers sitting in a small jet of PB-Air.   I am still suffering from jet lag, as I have only been in the Land of Smile for  two days . So it is no wonder that I fall asleep after take-off.   One and a half hours later arrival in Lampang, a very small airport.   My guide wants me to pick up here - blinddate! 
But there is no one to pick me up !  I wait for a while, and think about what to do.  What to do if no one comes?   I see all my dreams evaporate!  Meanwhile all the passengers had now left the terminal leaving me standing alone. After an never ending half an hour I remember my mobile phone (I'm one of the few that can live wthout a phone on their ear all day). So I find out that he i s on his way ...   
At 3.00 o'clock in the afternoon we a re sitting on our bikes.   At first on tarmac roads follow ed by rural backroads, leaving rice plantations and passing small villages.   Children wave and call "hello F arang".   It is impossible for Thai people to comprehend - riding a bike just for fun.   Especially "rich" Farangs, who can a fford a car.
Suddenly , from the middle of nowhere , loud music.   There is a party at the municipal hall .  The officers sitting orderly in front of a small stage, where a band , with a female leadsinger in short Hot-pants is playing ... Unfortunately we have to press on.
After dinner the jet lag and biking take their toll: I sleep for 11 hours !  The following morning onwards , I no longer have any problems and get out of bed at 8.00 am at least. I never managed to do this in Pattaya ;-)
* All people from the western part of the world are called Farang what means "longnosed" 

Day Two.
We're in Chiang Mai now. "Today we are going to flirt with the hills - tomorrow we're gonna to f uck 'em."  my guide says!  So , about the trips of the comming days.   We start on top of the hill Doi Kan and again use small roads, away from every point of civilization.  But suddenly small houses or huts seem to appear from nowhere. Our destination is a canyon, where we rest and have a bath. 

Day Three . Chiang Mai, Doi Sutthep Natinalpark 
We bring the bikes and the car to the top of Doi Sutthep.  I would like to ride the hairpins up Doi Sutthep with my bike, but we need the time offroad.  Today I understand yesterdays brief description of the intenarity!
There are very steep hills and I start to sweat , even under the shadow of the trees.  But the climate is not too hot , it feels like a nice summer 's day in Central Europe.   We use small paths or single tracks, which show deep channels from rain.  I don't want to know what it looks here during the rainy season !
Sometimes we have to push our bikes as the hills are to o steep and impassable.   In these case s you can't bike , not even with a 24 geared MTB !





We again put our bikes on a Pick-Up to drive further north to Chiang Dao. Read on here