doi mesalon
- Thread starter long pete
- Start date
hi Long Pete ,
it sure is a beautiful climb up and down on paved road see here :
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t4678.html
i did it a few times , starting from chiang rai , and spend the night up there
because going back is still hard climbing , too much for one day of fun
i find the climb up to doi chaang mountain much harder , mixed concrete & of road and steep all the way up
you can go up , taste doi chaang coffee and be back in town before lunch
great fun downhill overheating the brakes , carefull , hardcore riders only
it sure is a beautiful climb up and down on paved road see here :
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t4678.html
i did it a few times , starting from chiang rai , and spend the night up there
because going back is still hard climbing , too much for one day of fun
i find the climb up to doi chaang mountain much harder , mixed concrete & of road and steep all the way up
you can go up , taste doi chaang coffee and be back in town before lunch
great fun downhill overheating the brakes , carefull , hardcore riders only
Are you guys talking bicycles or motorcycles? :wink: If it is motorcycles, i certainly do not classify Doi Mae Salong as difficult. Some steep hills, yes!, but it is all good pavement and some great winding sweeping curves.
The links supplied above should give you a pretty good idea of what there is.
If I am in Mai Sai, I will usually cut through Doi Mai Salong when coming back to Chiang Mai via the 107. It doesn't add that much time and is worth the ride.
The links supplied above should give you a pretty good idea of what there is.
If I am in Mai Sai, I will usually cut through Doi Mai Salong when coming back to Chiang Mai via the 107. It doesn't add that much time and is worth the ride.
i was just there with my 420Kg Beemer LT and not hard at all, even Koh Chang has harder turns if can compare to it,, but it's sure nice climb up to there and back.
Nice and cool this time,, yesterday morning it was +16c at 6am
Nice and cool this time,, yesterday morning it was +16c at 6am
If we're talking motorbikes, I'd say not too difficult at all, provided you are sensible and use caution on a few of the steepest downhill sections...corners, up and down, aren't too outrageously tight...just be sure your bike's brakes are ok, and if you're on an overloaded clapped-out automatic 50cc, you MAY have to hop off on a couple of uphill sections and walk alongside...
I certainly had no trouble on my ride there last month (trip report soon-ish) on a CB400 rental.
I did overtake a cyclist along the way out, and surprisingly, met her at a cafe in Chiang Khong that evening. I was amazed that this dutch woman (who'd brought her own pushbike on the plane) had ridden the Mae Salong loop, though she did admit she'd hitched a lift in a pickup for the last km of the climb. She also said she needed new pads for her brakes after the downhill run...LOL
Motorbike = easy, but take care.
Bicycle = crazy, but possible.
I certainly had no trouble on my ride there last month (trip report soon-ish) on a CB400 rental.
I did overtake a cyclist along the way out, and surprisingly, met her at a cafe in Chiang Khong that evening. I was amazed that this dutch woman (who'd brought her own pushbike on the plane) had ridden the Mae Salong loop, though she did admit she'd hitched a lift in a pickup for the last km of the climb. She also said she needed new pads for her brakes after the downhill run...LOL
Motorbike = easy, but take care.
Bicycle = crazy, but possible.
If you take a look at the GT Rider Golden Triangle guide map you will elevation profiles of the Mae Salong roads
R1130 - R1234 Pasang -Doi Mae Salong
R3051 Akha Sam Yaek - Thoed Thai - Mae Moh
R1334 Thoed Thai - Doi Tung
All incredible biking/ cycling roads.
But I would not think that the Doi Mae Salong road is the toughest in the north, however the climb up in the last 6kms would be a real killer.
Please let us know how you go.
Here is a link where you can download the track for gps:
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xqhmjcidypxhnhkx
The track is made with a garmin oregon and start in chiang rai.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xqhmjcidypxhnhkx
The track is made with a garmin oregon and start in chiang rai.
Thanks for the answers, links and gps-tracks.
I'm talking about mountainbiking. And mountainbiking in Thailand is real hard because of the steep slopes. First time in my life I had to walk about 20 meters because front wheel was airborne.
Unlike Europe where it goes up until the top, most roads and tracks go up an down all the time and that's killing both physically and mentally.
Doi Inthanon was looooooong(back in Chiang Mai after dark), but firts part ok. Some steep curves in the last 8 km at the wrong time of the afternoon I will never forget.
@ Ron are you the Ron from mountainbike.be.
How the fuck do I change pedestrian?
I'm talking about mountainbiking. And mountainbiking in Thailand is real hard because of the steep slopes. First time in my life I had to walk about 20 meters because front wheel was airborne.
Unlike Europe where it goes up until the top, most roads and tracks go up an down all the time and that's killing both physically and mentally.
Doi Inthanon was looooooong(back in Chiang Mai after dark), but firts part ok. Some steep curves in the last 8 km at the wrong time of the afternoon I will never forget.
@ Ron are you the Ron from mountainbike.be.
How the fuck do I change pedestrian?
Pedestrian - Cyclist - in your profile just referrs to how many posts you have on the board here...
This board is mostly about motorcycling, but is also good for road conditions... but you need to understand that all info will be coming from a motorpowered bike point of view...
Cycling in Northern Thailand is just crazy... go south young man... still minor hills but very scenic... or go to Issan, not a rise or fall for 100s of km...
www.darryleaston.crazyguyonabike.com
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/883
Cheers,
Daewoo
hi Daewoo , young man ,
sorry but i have to reply on thisone , but i ' ll keep it short
first i know this forum is about motorbiking & different viewpoint , no problem , but we have also a 4WD chapter but not too activ
all the reasons why the north is a motorbikingparadise are exactly the same for cyclists
i guess to understand this you need to be a real cyclist , or maybe i am just crazy , ok probably true also
look worldwide , europe , the alps , the mont ventoux , canada , new zeeland , .... , all sorts of mountain regions are very challenging and popular for cyclists
there is a lot of mountainbike competition going on here in north and elsewhere , getting more popular every year , mostly thai participants
definitely not go south or issaan , flat is boring
i did do the beaches in Phuket , i mean cycling around the island , and yes that is a bit crazy , not just very steep , too much traffic and the island is too small also
keep on biking ( no smoke or drink and in bed by ten !!! , ok & maybe some power pills )
@longpete : yes that ' s me , sorry for pedestrian confusing joke
sorry but i have to reply on thisone , but i ' ll keep it short
first i know this forum is about motorbiking & different viewpoint , no problem , but we have also a 4WD chapter but not too activ
all the reasons why the north is a motorbikingparadise are exactly the same for cyclists
i guess to understand this you need to be a real cyclist , or maybe i am just crazy , ok probably true also
look worldwide , europe , the alps , the mont ventoux , canada , new zeeland , .... , all sorts of mountain regions are very challenging and popular for cyclists
there is a lot of mountainbike competition going on here in north and elsewhere , getting more popular every year , mostly thai participants
definitely not go south or issaan , flat is boring
i did do the beaches in Phuket , i mean cycling around the island , and yes that is a bit crazy , not just very steep , too much traffic and the island is too small also
keep on biking ( no smoke or drink and in bed by ten !!! , ok & maybe some power pills )
@longpete : yes that ' s me , sorry for pedestrian confusing joke
When me and Dougal did Doi inthanon there was also so cyclists 2-3bicyckles,, that is just nuts(in nice way),,but must keep person in hell of the phycical condition,,good on you , but just something what is not for me,, im just ordinary 125Kg lad,,,LOL
Isan(north-East) for cyclists is real boring : flat, wind, always straight ahead, no change in landscape for days except for the border regions(Loei, Chiang Khan etc).
Most of the time I rode onroad, except for chiang mai region. Doi Ang Khan was my favourit, a real tough and long one.
I also did about 5000km by car in the Northwest and Northeast. Some roads were quite an adventure(average of 40km/h), some roads were 4 lanes in perfect state,without traffic through beautiful landscape.
What i hated most is the thai habit of driving in the dark without lights, real scary if this happens if riding past another car. A good second was ghostriding on third lane (most right) on highways.
@Ron is that you on the photo's? Where did you win(can't read the name).
I'll be back.
Most of the time I rode onroad, except for chiang mai region. Doi Ang Khan was my favourit, a real tough and long one.
I also did about 5000km by car in the Northwest and Northeast. Some roads were quite an adventure(average of 40km/h), some roads were 4 lanes in perfect state,without traffic through beautiful landscape.
What i hated most is the thai habit of driving in the dark without lights, real scary if this happens if riding past another car. A good second was ghostriding on third lane (most right) on highways.
@Ron is that you on the photo's? Where did you win(can't read the name).
I'll be back.
If you follow my links, you will see that I have done a 10 day ride down the Gulf and loved it... Until my knees wouldn't let me anymore I was a pretty keen rider... I competed in endurance (6/12/24 hour) mountain bike comps here... and rode daily for many years...
I was just trying to point out that what is difficult or easy is different between motorbikes and cycles... for instance, the difference between 100 and 130km on a motorbike isn't worth thought... on a bicycle it is quite significant... the difference between a steep grade, and a very steep grade is hardly noticable on a motorbike... not so on a bicycle...
Not trying to say cyclists aren't welcome here... not at all... as long as you put in if you take out, we are happy to have anyone...
I joined GT-Rider many years ago when I was researching a cycle tour from Bangkok to Phnom Penh and back... found the guys here great, and my body too old... so got into motorised bikes...
just trying to help...
not so serious about Issan... but the south (like I did) is a great ride... the hills aren't too challenging (you can blast up them is one big effort)... but the scenery is spec and the roads good with low traffic...
Cheers,
Daewoo
hi Daewoo ,
i still think you are a young man , wright ?
next time when you are around we can have a beer together , i am interested in your biking adventures ( the link didn ' t work yesterday )
i am cycling with friends of age 60 + , strong riders , addicted for sure
but they have to keep on cycling , because when they stop , a heart attack is just waiting around the corner , rpm too low
just to give you guys an excuse , and marco you are much faster then me on the downhill for sure , maybe we can change bikes ?
sometimes my body feel too old also , especially after a long enduro trip & crash
maybe a bonneville - scrambler for my older days would be nice ( at kawa prices )
@long pete : the race was in Mae Chan - Mae Salong last month
and you 're gone already ? without visiting chiangrai ? ok , hope you had fun , and thanks for sharing some great pictures on your picasa album(link on highest spot )
i still think you are a young man , wright ?
next time when you are around we can have a beer together , i am interested in your biking adventures ( the link didn ' t work yesterday )
i am cycling with friends of age 60 + , strong riders , addicted for sure
but they have to keep on cycling , because when they stop , a heart attack is just waiting around the corner , rpm too low
just to give you guys an excuse , and marco you are much faster then me on the downhill for sure , maybe we can change bikes ?
sometimes my body feel too old also , especially after a long enduro trip & crash
maybe a bonneville - scrambler for my older days would be nice ( at kawa prices )
@long pete : the race was in Mae Chan - Mae Salong last month
and you 're gone already ? without visiting chiangrai ? ok , hope you had fun , and thanks for sharing some great pictures on your picasa album(link on highest spot )
David Unk, just a thought, reading this post just keeps me thinking of asking you to create another section for MX bikers as already done for 4WD. Met a lot of motorbikers who also love to get on MX-bicycles. Routes are also sometimes similar.........just a thought....... :lol: cheers, Fr
@ daewoo/Daryl : I enjoyed reading your trip stories, and the Mr Pumpy link.8)
I think it would be nice to give the suggestion of franz about mxbicycles a thought, because it is real hard to find anything about mountainbiking in thailand that's not written in thai.
@ron : already gone, after Chiang Mai we went to pai, soppon, mae hong son, mae sariang umphai; on this trip I met 4 cyclists, sometimes I went uphil by car and down on the bicycle(unsufficent time to climb it all myself); this loop is excellent bike tertitory;chiang rai wil be for another year.
I wonder if an ofroad alternative in this region is possible; that's what i would like to do : a one week trip with rucksack on the bicycle ofroad with lots of singletrack(i don't mind walking up, as long as i can ride downhill).
One of the things i liked most about thailand is that you don't have to carry around lots of food and drink like in South America or the Alps.
Euhm only one pic of thailand so far on picassa
http://picasaweb.google.com/langepeter13), but more will come; and the non thai pics are worth a moment I think.
I think it would be nice to give the suggestion of franz about mxbicycles a thought, because it is real hard to find anything about mountainbiking in thailand that's not written in thai.
@ron : already gone, after Chiang Mai we went to pai, soppon, mae hong son, mae sariang umphai; on this trip I met 4 cyclists, sometimes I went uphil by car and down on the bicycle(unsufficent time to climb it all myself); this loop is excellent bike tertitory;chiang rai wil be for another year.
I wonder if an ofroad alternative in this region is possible; that's what i would like to do : a one week trip with rucksack on the bicycle ofroad with lots of singletrack(i don't mind walking up, as long as i can ride downhill).
One of the things i liked most about thailand is that you don't have to carry around lots of food and drink like in South America or the Alps.
Euhm only one pic of thailand so far on picassa
http://picasaweb.google.com/langepeter13), but more will come; and the non thai pics are worth a moment I think.