|
Easy ride (+- 35 km)
Driving to
BatTrang pottery village have cycling around village, meeting a
craftsman in workshop. He will show tourists know how to make
pottery and then tourists can be make by themselves. Continue driving
from BatTrang to Dong ho village cross beautiful rice field of Red river
delta.
Arrival Dong Ho
where people make block printing picture. Visit the craftsman house who
recognize by state with name “Golden hand man”. We have lunch here in
his family (local lunch).
Until 2h30 pm we
cycling 8 km more from Dong Ho to ButThap Pagoda one of the
largest in the Northern Vietnam now. An hour visiting here and Van pick
up tourists back to Hanoi.
Price:
Including :
Option2: Hanoi biking tour:
MeLinh - SonTay.
Active ride +- 60 km to 140km
You will ride along a bank of Red
river, through farms, fruit plantations on the old riverside in the
north of Hanoi, visit temples and practice Buddhist way of life . Boat
trip crossing rive, continue cycling to Son Tay ,visit Duong Lam village
by bicycle, local family lunch. Learning traditional life of local
people . Cycling on other side of rive or driving back to Hanoi by mini bus. End of trip
Price for group without minibus
support
including :
Price for group with minibus support
including :
Option3: Hanoi bike: Half
day central to suburb of Hanoi. (45km )
Meet in your hotel, taxi to our
office meet bikes. Riding from our office to Long Bien Bridge "Designed
by
Gustave Eiffel,
the bridge was built in 1903 by the architects of Daydé & Pillé, a
French company. Before North Vietnam's independence in 1954, it was
called Doumer Bridge, named after
Paul Doumer - The
Governor-General of French Indochina and then French president. It was,
at that time, one of the longest bridges in
Asia with the
length of 2,500 m.[1]
For the French colonial government, the construction was of strategic
importance in securing control of northern Vietnam. From 1899 to 1902,
more than 3,000 Vietnamese took part in the construction."
Crossing river by ferry , keep riding
on bank of river meet Thang Long Bridge and riding back to central of
city. End of tour after 3 hours.
Including :
Option4: Night Hanoi travel
by bicycle tour ( 40km)
Meet at your hotel , around 21:00 ,
start riding visit Hanoi on night time.... cross Opera house, Hochiminh
Mausoleum ...riding around West lake . Tour will end in your hotel at
23:30.
Option5: Hanoi road bike
tour ( 90-110km) ( 3 to 4 hours )
Meet at your hotel , riding from your
hotel to northwest of Hanoi city ,road cycling on high way North Thang
Long to highway 18 and highway one and back to central of Hanoi.
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Tour overview
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Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Hanoi cycling tours
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Biking Vietnam- see your holiday by cycle tours with us
Cycling tours can cover many different types of land from cities to mountains and can last from hours to days depending on what type of tour your set out on. If you do participate in overnight tours you may either be escorted to a nearby hotel that has been reserved for you and your party or you may enjoy the great outdoors and camp outside depending on the type of tour that is scheduled.
Cycling tours are a great way to experience new areas as you can go at a steady pace, take breaks to take in the scenery and relax and they allow you to explore the area on your own for a bit and really appreciate the sights.
Before embarking on a cycling tour you should make sure you are fully prepared. The vietnam cycling holiday company may assist you in anything you may need for your trip, but there are some key things you need to prepare and find out before putting your feet to the pedals and go out on the tour.
First off, know exactly what you need to take with you such as food, water, helmets and more.
Even if the company will provide these things for you it may be a good idea for you to pack extra, especially if you’re planning on going on a tour that involves camping.
Secondly, make sure your bike is a good fit for your body type. Tours can last a very long time, which means you’ll be sitting on that bicycle for quite some time. If you’re not comfortable on the bicycle it could cause back and leg pain that could make the rest of your trip miserable. Many bikes can be adjusted to fit the rider more comfortably and you may try different bikes if the bicycle just doesn’t seem to work for you no matter what it is adjusted to.
Finally, know where you are going beforehand and keep a map on hand in case you get separated from the group. It would be rather difficult to get separated from a professional cycling tour guide, but accidents do happen and you don’t want to get lost in unfamiliar territory. Make sure you stay with the group. If you need a rest, try to inform the guide.
When you finally embark on your tour the only things you need to worry about are staying with your group, making sure you don’t over-exert yourself and enjoying the scenery. There are many sights that you wouldn’t be able to see outside of cycling tours or hiking so you should take the time to appreciate the world around you and wonders made by man and nature on your vietnam classic cycling holiday.
Biking Vietnam- see the real adventure travel Vietnam by Biking Tours
http://www.bikingvietnam.com/
Real mountain bike adventure travel with Biking Vietnam. See Your
holidays by mountain bike with Marco Polo travel, we offers private or
group mountain bike tours as many itineraries from XC, Freeride, All
mountain, Enduro.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Vietnam holiday by bicycle
What better way to truly get to know a country, than to mix with its people and its landscape? It is one thing to observe a country through the windows of a tour coach or train, but for the real experience you have to use all your senses and cycle tours allow you to do this.
By getting out there on two wheels, seeing and hearing the countryside and villages and by meeting the people, stopping at a roadside snack shop for a bowl of noodles or a cold fruit drink, by smelling the scents of the countryside (good and not so good), and by sleeping in simple but comfortable accommodation you can get a real impression of the country.
Vietnam is an ideal cycle touring country. You can get away from the cities and explore the rich countryside with its green jungles, rich rice paddies and mountain areas. Or you can explore Vietnam's long coast with its beautiful white beaches. And at the same time you will pass reminders of Vietnam's long history: ancient trading ports, French architecture from the colonial times, evidence of Vietnam's troubled past in the many war museums and signs of its emergence into the peace of modern times.
The more energetic can tour the mountain areas and meet and speak to the local minority people in these areas - perhaps share a simple meal with them. For the less energetic, there are shore areas and the lowlands.
Favourite tours include the mountain area close to the Chinese border, home to most of Vietnam's minority people, the H'mong, Dzao, Giay, Tay, Thai etc. Interesting villages, fascinating markets and friendly people await your arrival.
This area includes Ba Be National Park, home of Vietnam's largest lake and an important biodiversity preservation centre.
In the far south of Vietnam lies the Mekong delta , another ideal area for cycling tours. This area is less hilly than some and so makes for a more leisurely tour. You can wind your way through the rice fields, along canal banks and visit the floating markets.
In the central coastal area, you can explore the many beaches and you must visit the ancient World Heritage Site port of Hoi An. In the 1st century AD, it was the largest port in SE Asia and in the 16th and 17th century, the most important. Today, it is a small city of great interest and still a centre of the Vietnam silk trade.
Or you can even combine all these, and more, into a long cycling trip extending the length of Vietnam from The Mekong Delta in the south, through Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), then north along the coastal route stopping to explore Hue, the Imperial capital until 1945 which has its own version of a forbidden city. From here make a side trip to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, then head north again towards Hanoi to explore this captivating city. If your legs can still take it, continue north to the minority areas in the far north. Or, of course, you can start in the north and head south!
These are just a few suggestions of the many options to the traveller on two wheels. You can visit Indochina Odyssey Tours to get more information about this.
Below is a tour package maybe useful for your trip to Vietnam.vietnam holiday by bicycle
By getting out there on two wheels, seeing and hearing the countryside and villages and by meeting the people, stopping at a roadside snack shop for a bowl of noodles or a cold fruit drink, by smelling the scents of the countryside (good and not so good), and by sleeping in simple but comfortable accommodation you can get a real impression of the country.
Vietnam is an ideal cycle touring country. You can get away from the cities and explore the rich countryside with its green jungles, rich rice paddies and mountain areas. Or you can explore Vietnam's long coast with its beautiful white beaches. And at the same time you will pass reminders of Vietnam's long history: ancient trading ports, French architecture from the colonial times, evidence of Vietnam's troubled past in the many war museums and signs of its emergence into the peace of modern times.
The more energetic can tour the mountain areas and meet and speak to the local minority people in these areas - perhaps share a simple meal with them. For the less energetic, there are shore areas and the lowlands.
Favourite tours include the mountain area close to the Chinese border, home to most of Vietnam's minority people, the H'mong, Dzao, Giay, Tay, Thai etc. Interesting villages, fascinating markets and friendly people await your arrival.
This area includes Ba Be National Park, home of Vietnam's largest lake and an important biodiversity preservation centre.
In the far south of Vietnam lies the Mekong delta , another ideal area for cycling tours. This area is less hilly than some and so makes for a more leisurely tour. You can wind your way through the rice fields, along canal banks and visit the floating markets.
In the central coastal area, you can explore the many beaches and you must visit the ancient World Heritage Site port of Hoi An. In the 1st century AD, it was the largest port in SE Asia and in the 16th and 17th century, the most important. Today, it is a small city of great interest and still a centre of the Vietnam silk trade.
Or you can even combine all these, and more, into a long cycling trip extending the length of Vietnam from The Mekong Delta in the south, through Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), then north along the coastal route stopping to explore Hue, the Imperial capital until 1945 which has its own version of a forbidden city. From here make a side trip to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, then head north again towards Hanoi to explore this captivating city. If your legs can still take it, continue north to the minority areas in the far north. Or, of course, you can start in the north and head south!
These are just a few suggestions of the many options to the traveller on two wheels. You can visit Indochina Odyssey Tours to get more information about this.
Below is a tour package maybe useful for your trip to Vietnam.vietnam holiday by bicycle
cycle holiday in Vietnam
the last frontier of the tourism is the discovery of the nature, of its landscapes, its colours, its inhabitants and their traditions.That could be is cycle holiday
More and more tourist operators head at the natural beauties of the territory and at the harmony that a slow holiday can offer. Sustainable tourism, eco-tourism and green tourism are new holidays market keywords.
Today we talk about a new way to travel and destinations to discover: cycle tourism. The Vietnam on bicycle is an increasing tendency, addressed both to the professionals of the two wheels and to the cycle amateurs, who want to spend their holiday far from the mass tourism places, from the noises and the pollution.
The background of bicycle holidays is nearly always a natural park, a country side, roads and paths far from the traffic of the city.
The sound track are natural sounds, songs of the birds, noises of the forest.
In order to live extraordinary emotions and to satisfy curiosity you do not need to dream exotic and far countries, Asia is a coffer of treasures, Vietnam Biking offers sea, mounts, art, history, culture and cuisine tradition,Hanoi,Halong Bay, on the central Coast, offers everything and much more.
The historical hospitality of these places, devoted to the hotellerie since the boom of the 60's, is always careful to the new tourism market trends and always ready to satisfy the new requirements of its visitors.
In order to give impulse to its country side and its natural reserves, we has married the new formula of the cycle tourism: holidays designed around bicycle.
There are routes adapted both to the challenges of the elite runners and the amateurs.
We are equipped to answer to every requirement: bicycle rent service, mechanical and medical assistance, cycle route maps and special guides, sport menus. An holiday by bicycle is a good idea for all : you can organize easy daily excursions, with pic-nic and children in the baby-seats available for free.
Along the Road inVietnam and savours, you can find small farms and producers of rice, typical local Vietnammese food . You can stop and taste in order to discover the rural and gastronomic traditions of this land, rich of history and culture. Before reserving a standard travel offer, think how much special could be to move slowly in charming landscapes, cuddled by nature.
More and more tourist operators head at the natural beauties of the territory and at the harmony that a slow holiday can offer. Sustainable tourism, eco-tourism and green tourism are new holidays market keywords.
Today we talk about a new way to travel and destinations to discover: cycle tourism. The Vietnam on bicycle is an increasing tendency, addressed both to the professionals of the two wheels and to the cycle amateurs, who want to spend their holiday far from the mass tourism places, from the noises and the pollution.
The background of bicycle holidays is nearly always a natural park, a country side, roads and paths far from the traffic of the city.
The sound track are natural sounds, songs of the birds, noises of the forest.
In order to live extraordinary emotions and to satisfy curiosity you do not need to dream exotic and far countries, Asia is a coffer of treasures, Vietnam Biking offers sea, mounts, art, history, culture and cuisine tradition,Hanoi,Halong Bay, on the central Coast, offers everything and much more.
The historical hospitality of these places, devoted to the hotellerie since the boom of the 60's, is always careful to the new tourism market trends and always ready to satisfy the new requirements of its visitors.
In order to give impulse to its country side and its natural reserves, we has married the new formula of the cycle tourism: holidays designed around bicycle.
There are routes adapted both to the challenges of the elite runners and the amateurs.
We are equipped to answer to every requirement: bicycle rent service, mechanical and medical assistance, cycle route maps and special guides, sport menus. An holiday by bicycle is a good idea for all : you can organize easy daily excursions, with pic-nic and children in the baby-seats available for free.
Along the Road inVietnam and savours, you can find small farms and producers of rice, typical local Vietnammese food . You can stop and taste in order to discover the rural and gastronomic traditions of this land, rich of history and culture. Before reserving a standard travel offer, think how much special could be to move slowly in charming landscapes, cuddled by nature.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Cycle touring
Last year, my husband and I rode our bicycles for 2,000km across France. It took five weeks, and we camped every night. To our amazement, it was fun. More than fun – we loved it. The slow pace of life, the interaction with the scenery and people, the satisfaction of rising to a challenge all merged to become one of the best adventures of our life.
The thing is, we weren’t proper cyclists. We had bikes, sure, but we had never been cycle touring; our idea of pedalling was a quick burst on a mountain bike over a handy piece of moorland. And yet here we were, riding through the green swathe of Brittany, heading for the Atlantic Ocean, and then on to the mountains.
Why? Well, Duncan and I had been driving through France the year before, looking through the windows at the scenery. We couldn’t smell the country, or touch it; a car moves so quickly the tendency is to keep travelling. And we suddenly realised that it was so sanitised; that we could spend our lives driving along these roads without ever being immersed in the place or the moment.
Somehow, we had to slow down and get closer to the place, and the people. Walking would take too long, horses or boats weren’t practical. Pedalling, despite our complete lack of touring experience, was the obvious solution.
This kind of trip, however, would take time, and time means money. Big money, if you’re staying in hotels every night. While we may not have had many miles under our cycling belts, we had plenty of experience in lightweight camping, and this would be the key to the operation.
The problem was that everyone I’d ever seen cycle touring was carrying Too Much Stuff. They would be grinding along, gear flapping off the bike, tent poles sticking out, faces grim. It looked horrible; I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to do it. So when we decided to cycle tour, we knew we had to keep everything – and I mean everything – as light and compact as it was possible to be.
In the end, our total loads were 7kg each, including the panniers. It took months of planning and a fair amount of money and we couldn’t have saved a single gram more. And it was worth it. This gear will last us a lifetime, and having less weight on the bike meant we enjoyed every minute. Yes, even the wet ones.
Some people think that ‘lightweight’ means taking as much gear as you like, provided every piece has been weighed. A friend’s brother recently spent a fortune kitting out for cycle camping, buying all the latest, super-light kit, but then packing Homer’s Odyssey, a bird book and binoculars, which weighed more than three hefty kilograms. As the other Homer would say, D’Oh!
BIKES
The first decision was the bikes. Our road bikes were quickly rejected: the position is too bent over for long days in the saddle; the saddles themselves aren’t that comfortable, and the frame is rigid so every bump makes it shudder. Our mountain bikes were a better bet, but were too heavy and slow. A hybrid – a cross between the two – was probably a good choice but we weren’t going to add to our cycle stable. So, we tweaked the mountain bikes.
cycle camping for beginners The most obvious target was the tyres. Fat, chunky mountain bike tyres have massive rolling resistance and are mounted onto wheels with a smaller diameter than road wheels. Our first purchase was a new set of 700cc road wheels, with skinny little tyres, which slotted into the mountain bikes. They were lighter, the tyres had significantly less rolling resistance, and they had disc brakes, essential for slowing down a big load on a long descent.
Next, we removed the suspension forks, which are heavy and designed to soak up big bumps. So we replaced them with rigid forks (Kona Project 2), which cost about £35 and were perfect for cycling along roads, canal towpaths and cycle tracks.
Setting up the bike for the optimum riding position was harder. We searched online for tips and finally achieved this by moving Duncan’s seat back on the saddle bars, and shortening and raising my handlebar stem.
Next, we bought wide Ergon grips with integrated bar ends for the handlebars. These small, curved prongs allowed us to move our hands into a variety of positions, preventing muscle cramp in arms, backs and shoulders. And we bought a basic cycle computer each, showing distance and a clock (this meant we didn’t take a watch).
Some people tour with racks and panniers front and back, but that’s getting into the Too Much Stuff syndrome. We bought a bar bag for the front, to carry lunch, camera, sunscreen and paperwork; mine had a map case attached to the top. For the back, we bought a neat aluminium TorTec rack each, and a set of simple, waterproof Ortlieb panniers. These had one compartment, a roll top and a quick release device to get them on and off the rack. A plastic Crud Guard was attached to the frame as a front mudguard, while the panniers plus gear loaded on to the rack acted as the rear mudguard.
Before setting off, Duncan changed the chains, chainrings and cables. He used to make mountain bikes, and says it is important to change all this kit at the same time. Putting a worn chain onto new sprockets, for example, wears down the sprocket teeth.
Our big mistake in all this was buying cheap tyres, and we suffered puncture after puncture. Finally, after a hernia popped out the sidewall on my back tyre, I bought a new set. They were Armadillo tyres from Specialized, and I haven’t had a puncture since.
CLOTHING
Versatility is the answer. It’s usually easy to wash and dry clothes so we had one set for cycling and one set for après-bike, plus waterproofs.
For a five-week trip we had: two pairs of cycling shorts (which we mostly wore doubled up to stop our backsides hurting!), a base layer, a lightweight fleece (ditto) and an ultralight windproof shell. We took the lightest waterproofs we could find – The North Face Diad jackets and Berghaus Paclite zip overtrousers. Apart from the cycle shorts, this was walking gear; we didn’t buy any specialist cycle clothing. Shoes were important. Cycling shoes need stiff soles to transfer power through the pedals, but as these were our only shoes, they also had to be comfortable for walking around. In the end, we bought shoes from Specialized. Cycling gloves were also needed, with padding to take pressure off the ulna nerve (otherwise, after a few hours, your arms go numb).
For post-cycling time, we took lightweight trousers (The North Face Meridian Convertible, which zip off to become shorts) and long-sleeved shirt, a synthetic t-shirt, a synthetic puffy jacket (Berghaus Infinity Light, which is just amazing: warm, compressible and only 295g), a warm hat and two sets of underwear. Everything was weighed and the lightest option selected. We also took a pair of Crocs each, because they were lightweight, comfortable enough to walk around camp and useful in shower blocks.
Other kit? Sunglasses, a minimalist first aid kit and wash bag, micro towel (also used to wipe moisture off the tent), tiny Petzl e+Lite head torches (28g) and a basic bike tool kit. Maps, but no books: make conversation, people!
CAMPINGcycle camping for beginners
This gear was selected on the assumption that we would have good weather. But we didn’t: it rained every day except one. Our lightest two-man tent is the Den 2 from GoLite, a single skin tunnel without porch. It’s a wonderful thing but it’s better in dry conditions. In hindsight we would have taken our Hilleberg Nallo 2, which weighs 2kg (against 1.65kg for the Den). But, as I say, every gram counted.
Mountain Equipment Helium sleeping bags were selected for their weight (600g) and compressibility. We did, however, make a concession on sleeping mats. Duncan is quite heavy and to cycle all day, then sleep on a thin mat every night for five weeks, was asking for trouble. If you don’t sleep, you can’t ride. So he took a thick three-quarter length Therm-a-Rest that weighed around 800g, against my little ProLite 3 (600g). And he slept very well, thanks for asking.
Cooking threw up questions. The trick is knowing what fuel is available. In Britain, for trips of a week or less, we’d take a lightweight gas head for screw-on canisters. But in France, you can only get Camping Gaz canisters, and our stove with that kind of connector was heavy. Also, for a long trip, it’s too expensive. So we took our old Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove and bought paraffin at supermarkets.
The ultra-light kitchen was one titanium pot and gripper (220g), collapsible plastic mug (24g), bowl (76g) and plastic Spork (10g, spoon at one end, fork at the other, with a serrated edge to act as a knife) and a small knife. We also took a heavy-based Primus frying pan so we could cook decent food. This made a big difference to morale and was worth every gram.
Our other nod to luxury was a Therm-a-Rest chair kit each. After a day on the bike, we needed to be able to lean back in a ‘proper’ chair, and I must say they were lifesavers.
IN A NUTSHELL
If you enjoy cycling, camping and travel; if you have a sense of adventure and a sense of direction; you will love this pastime. Here are my recommendations that, I hope, will enable you to get as much pleasure from cycling, as I have.
Make sure your bike fits you, and is suitable for the terrain.
Buy puncture-resistant tyres with an internal casing.
Buy the best padded shorts you can find – regardless of cost!
Pack light. All your gear should fit into two panniers, a bar bag and a back rack.
Pick a route that looks easier and flatter than you think you can handle. This is supposed to be fun.
Keep away from traffic as much as possible; Canal towpaths, waymarked cycle routes and quiet lanes are the best. Check out the Sustrans website, sustrans.org.uk, for updates on the 10,000 miles of National Cycle Network in Britain.
Practise self-guide bike tours with your complete expedition load before you set off. The bike handles differently with weight on the back, and you will need to make more effort than for unloaded cycling.
Think about fuel. Carbohydrates are vital; we have muesli for breakfast and pasta or rice most nights. Bananas – dried or fresh – are a fantastic source of energy during the day and are easily digested. Energy bars and gels are handy and packable. Staying hydrated is also critical: I recommend two bottle cages on your bike frame.
If you are planning a linear route and need to use the train at either end, book your bikes onto the train as soon as possible. Most services will only carry two or three bikes and places fill fast.
Take it slowly and, if you’re struggling up a hill, get off and walk. This uses different muscles to cycling and it’s good for your legs to have a change… that’s my excuse, anyway.
The thing is, we weren’t proper cyclists. We had bikes, sure, but we had never been cycle touring; our idea of pedalling was a quick burst on a mountain bike over a handy piece of moorland. And yet here we were, riding through the green swathe of Brittany, heading for the Atlantic Ocean, and then on to the mountains.
Why? Well, Duncan and I had been driving through France the year before, looking through the windows at the scenery. We couldn’t smell the country, or touch it; a car moves so quickly the tendency is to keep travelling. And we suddenly realised that it was so sanitised; that we could spend our lives driving along these roads without ever being immersed in the place or the moment.
Somehow, we had to slow down and get closer to the place, and the people. Walking would take too long, horses or boats weren’t practical. Pedalling, despite our complete lack of touring experience, was the obvious solution.
This kind of trip, however, would take time, and time means money. Big money, if you’re staying in hotels every night. While we may not have had many miles under our cycling belts, we had plenty of experience in lightweight camping, and this would be the key to the operation.
The problem was that everyone I’d ever seen cycle touring was carrying Too Much Stuff. They would be grinding along, gear flapping off the bike, tent poles sticking out, faces grim. It looked horrible; I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to do it. So when we decided to cycle tour, we knew we had to keep everything – and I mean everything – as light and compact as it was possible to be.
In the end, our total loads were 7kg each, including the panniers. It took months of planning and a fair amount of money and we couldn’t have saved a single gram more. And it was worth it. This gear will last us a lifetime, and having less weight on the bike meant we enjoyed every minute. Yes, even the wet ones.
Some people think that ‘lightweight’ means taking as much gear as you like, provided every piece has been weighed. A friend’s brother recently spent a fortune kitting out for cycle camping, buying all the latest, super-light kit, but then packing Homer’s Odyssey, a bird book and binoculars, which weighed more than three hefty kilograms. As the other Homer would say, D’Oh!
BIKES
The first decision was the bikes. Our road bikes were quickly rejected: the position is too bent over for long days in the saddle; the saddles themselves aren’t that comfortable, and the frame is rigid so every bump makes it shudder. Our mountain bikes were a better bet, but were too heavy and slow. A hybrid – a cross between the two – was probably a good choice but we weren’t going to add to our cycle stable. So, we tweaked the mountain bikes.
cycle camping for beginners The most obvious target was the tyres. Fat, chunky mountain bike tyres have massive rolling resistance and are mounted onto wheels with a smaller diameter than road wheels. Our first purchase was a new set of 700cc road wheels, with skinny little tyres, which slotted into the mountain bikes. They were lighter, the tyres had significantly less rolling resistance, and they had disc brakes, essential for slowing down a big load on a long descent.
Next, we removed the suspension forks, which are heavy and designed to soak up big bumps. So we replaced them with rigid forks (Kona Project 2), which cost about £35 and were perfect for cycling along roads, canal towpaths and cycle tracks.
Setting up the bike for the optimum riding position was harder. We searched online for tips and finally achieved this by moving Duncan’s seat back on the saddle bars, and shortening and raising my handlebar stem.
Next, we bought wide Ergon grips with integrated bar ends for the handlebars. These small, curved prongs allowed us to move our hands into a variety of positions, preventing muscle cramp in arms, backs and shoulders. And we bought a basic cycle computer each, showing distance and a clock (this meant we didn’t take a watch).
Some people tour with racks and panniers front and back, but that’s getting into the Too Much Stuff syndrome. We bought a bar bag for the front, to carry lunch, camera, sunscreen and paperwork; mine had a map case attached to the top. For the back, we bought a neat aluminium TorTec rack each, and a set of simple, waterproof Ortlieb panniers. These had one compartment, a roll top and a quick release device to get them on and off the rack. A plastic Crud Guard was attached to the frame as a front mudguard, while the panniers plus gear loaded on to the rack acted as the rear mudguard.
Before setting off, Duncan changed the chains, chainrings and cables. He used to make mountain bikes, and says it is important to change all this kit at the same time. Putting a worn chain onto new sprockets, for example, wears down the sprocket teeth.
Our big mistake in all this was buying cheap tyres, and we suffered puncture after puncture. Finally, after a hernia popped out the sidewall on my back tyre, I bought a new set. They were Armadillo tyres from Specialized, and I haven’t had a puncture since.
CLOTHING
Versatility is the answer. It’s usually easy to wash and dry clothes so we had one set for cycling and one set for après-bike, plus waterproofs.
For a five-week trip we had: two pairs of cycling shorts (which we mostly wore doubled up to stop our backsides hurting!), a base layer, a lightweight fleece (ditto) and an ultralight windproof shell. We took the lightest waterproofs we could find – The North Face Diad jackets and Berghaus Paclite zip overtrousers. Apart from the cycle shorts, this was walking gear; we didn’t buy any specialist cycle clothing. Shoes were important. Cycling shoes need stiff soles to transfer power through the pedals, but as these were our only shoes, they also had to be comfortable for walking around. In the end, we bought shoes from Specialized. Cycling gloves were also needed, with padding to take pressure off the ulna nerve (otherwise, after a few hours, your arms go numb).
For post-cycling time, we took lightweight trousers (The North Face Meridian Convertible, which zip off to become shorts) and long-sleeved shirt, a synthetic t-shirt, a synthetic puffy jacket (Berghaus Infinity Light, which is just amazing: warm, compressible and only 295g), a warm hat and two sets of underwear. Everything was weighed and the lightest option selected. We also took a pair of Crocs each, because they were lightweight, comfortable enough to walk around camp and useful in shower blocks.
Other kit? Sunglasses, a minimalist first aid kit and wash bag, micro towel (also used to wipe moisture off the tent), tiny Petzl e+Lite head torches (28g) and a basic bike tool kit. Maps, but no books: make conversation, people!
CAMPINGcycle camping for beginners
This gear was selected on the assumption that we would have good weather. But we didn’t: it rained every day except one. Our lightest two-man tent is the Den 2 from GoLite, a single skin tunnel without porch. It’s a wonderful thing but it’s better in dry conditions. In hindsight we would have taken our Hilleberg Nallo 2, which weighs 2kg (against 1.65kg for the Den). But, as I say, every gram counted.
Mountain Equipment Helium sleeping bags were selected for their weight (600g) and compressibility. We did, however, make a concession on sleeping mats. Duncan is quite heavy and to cycle all day, then sleep on a thin mat every night for five weeks, was asking for trouble. If you don’t sleep, you can’t ride. So he took a thick three-quarter length Therm-a-Rest that weighed around 800g, against my little ProLite 3 (600g). And he slept very well, thanks for asking.
Cooking threw up questions. The trick is knowing what fuel is available. In Britain, for trips of a week or less, we’d take a lightweight gas head for screw-on canisters. But in France, you can only get Camping Gaz canisters, and our stove with that kind of connector was heavy. Also, for a long trip, it’s too expensive. So we took our old Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove and bought paraffin at supermarkets.
The ultra-light kitchen was one titanium pot and gripper (220g), collapsible plastic mug (24g), bowl (76g) and plastic Spork (10g, spoon at one end, fork at the other, with a serrated edge to act as a knife) and a small knife. We also took a heavy-based Primus frying pan so we could cook decent food. This made a big difference to morale and was worth every gram.
Our other nod to luxury was a Therm-a-Rest chair kit each. After a day on the bike, we needed to be able to lean back in a ‘proper’ chair, and I must say they were lifesavers.
IN A NUTSHELL
If you enjoy cycling, camping and travel; if you have a sense of adventure and a sense of direction; you will love this pastime. Here are my recommendations that, I hope, will enable you to get as much pleasure from cycling, as I have.
Make sure your bike fits you, and is suitable for the terrain.
Buy puncture-resistant tyres with an internal casing.
Buy the best padded shorts you can find – regardless of cost!
Pack light. All your gear should fit into two panniers, a bar bag and a back rack.
Pick a route that looks easier and flatter than you think you can handle. This is supposed to be fun.
Keep away from traffic as much as possible; Canal towpaths, waymarked cycle routes and quiet lanes are the best. Check out the Sustrans website, sustrans.org.uk, for updates on the 10,000 miles of National Cycle Network in Britain.
Practise self-guide bike tours with your complete expedition load before you set off. The bike handles differently with weight on the back, and you will need to make more effort than for unloaded cycling.
Think about fuel. Carbohydrates are vital; we have muesli for breakfast and pasta or rice most nights. Bananas – dried or fresh – are a fantastic source of energy during the day and are easily digested. Energy bars and gels are handy and packable. Staying hydrated is also critical: I recommend two bottle cages on your bike frame.
If you are planning a linear route and need to use the train at either end, book your bikes onto the train as soon as possible. Most services will only carry two or three bikes and places fill fast.
Take it slowly and, if you’re struggling up a hill, get off and walk. This uses different muscles to cycling and it’s good for your legs to have a change… that’s my excuse, anyway.
Cycling Cambodia to Vietnam
In the first two weeks of March 2013, we went on a cycling tour with Marco Polo Travel Adventure Company from Bangkok, Thailand, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with an extension to Cat Tien National Park and Mui Ne. It was the second time we took a tour with this company: in 2012 we had cycled from Hanoi to Nha Trang.
The company provides a mini-van which can transport bikes and bikers when the going gets too tough. Moreover the driver manages short refreshment breaks during which he provides fresh fruit, cool water and refreshing towels. The itinerary is very well designed, ensuring that eager cyclists get enough exercise, while having unique opportunities for sightseeing, witnessing amazing scenes from local life, and interacting with people along the way.
Our 2013 tour is different from the the previous in that we are accompanied and supervised by a guide who was cycling with us the whole way – one in Cambodia, one in Vietnam. Both do a great job motivating us, setting a good pace and regulating our efforts. Besides acting as proficient sport coaches, they are also clever tourist guides who make us pause in interesting places to visit temples, schools, museums, palaces, markets, animal farms, local communities, and whatever site of interest we may encounter along the way.
The total price of the tour includes all the services delineated above, entry fees to all the visits and accommodation and food, which is always the best available.
This cycling tour was the sixth for us, and by far the very best. We now want to join Mr Joe on the Sapa tour: a mountain trip in North West Vietnam and Laos. We warmly recommend Marco Polo Travel Adventure Company's impeccable, responsible and safe organization to anyone eager to plunge at the heart of Vietnamese culture... on a bike.
Michèle Terrat
New Caledonia
The company provides a mini-van which can transport bikes and bikers when the going gets too tough. Moreover the driver manages short refreshment breaks during which he provides fresh fruit, cool water and refreshing towels. The itinerary is very well designed, ensuring that eager cyclists get enough exercise, while having unique opportunities for sightseeing, witnessing amazing scenes from local life, and interacting with people along the way.
Our 2013 tour is different from the the previous in that we are accompanied and supervised by a guide who was cycling with us the whole way – one in Cambodia, one in Vietnam. Both do a great job motivating us, setting a good pace and regulating our efforts. Besides acting as proficient sport coaches, they are also clever tourist guides who make us pause in interesting places to visit temples, schools, museums, palaces, markets, animal farms, local communities, and whatever site of interest we may encounter along the way.
The total price of the tour includes all the services delineated above, entry fees to all the visits and accommodation and food, which is always the best available.
This cycling tour was the sixth for us, and by far the very best. We now want to join Mr Joe on the Sapa tour: a mountain trip in North West Vietnam and Laos. We warmly recommend Marco Polo Travel Adventure Company's impeccable, responsible and safe organization to anyone eager to plunge at the heart of Vietnamese culture... on a bike.
Michèle Terrat
New Caledonia
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