Riding in Cambodia
« on: Sep 27th, 2002, 2:13am » Quote Modify Remove
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About to return home from one month in Cambodia and I'm definitely coming back. Cambodia is off road heaven. There are two bike shops in central Phnom Penh that have excellent deals on rentals. I picked up a Baja 250 in impeccable condition for $6 a day. For long term rentals $4 per diem is possible.
Urban riding is chaotic, but reasonably predictable. There is no 'system' like that of Thailand, pretty much anything goes as long as you don't ding up your bike or anyone elses. No sudden movements seems to be the best strategy for survival.
The roads have been ungoing improvements recently, unfortunately. But there are still many rough rides around without looking too hard. Recently rode down to Kompong Som via Kampot and the Bokor hill station. The latter has had alot of massive potholes filled in with pototo sized rock so it can be done fast but you still wouldn't want to biff it. It's a remarkable ride: 3000 vertical feet to the top of the plateau and it's easy to spend a half day exploring the sights. There is a marked mine in the middle of the road near the station. Whether it's real, just a piece of metal, or a prank is anyones guess, but it made for a good photo op anyway.
Some of hwy 3 is still unimproved and with the recent rain it's a bog of Laos proportions, but fortunately the bad stuff's only a few kms. Hwy 4 is a Thai style 120 km/hr rip between Phnom Penh. As usual, watch for dogs, pigs, cattle, chickens, and children on the road. Some of the kids actually lay down on the highway for a nap!
Next trip will be up through the northeast into the Laos panhandle (which sounds like it is open and easy to traverse) and hopefully back down through Vietnam. May have to buy a bike for that one.
Happy travels!
leebaer
« on: Sep 27th, 2002, 2:13am » Quote Modify Remove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About to return home from one month in Cambodia and I'm definitely coming back. Cambodia is off road heaven. There are two bike shops in central Phnom Penh that have excellent deals on rentals. I picked up a Baja 250 in impeccable condition for $6 a day. For long term rentals $4 per diem is possible.
Urban riding is chaotic, but reasonably predictable. There is no 'system' like that of Thailand, pretty much anything goes as long as you don't ding up your bike or anyone elses. No sudden movements seems to be the best strategy for survival.
The roads have been ungoing improvements recently, unfortunately. But there are still many rough rides around without looking too hard. Recently rode down to Kompong Som via Kampot and the Bokor hill station. The latter has had alot of massive potholes filled in with pototo sized rock so it can be done fast but you still wouldn't want to biff it. It's a remarkable ride: 3000 vertical feet to the top of the plateau and it's easy to spend a half day exploring the sights. There is a marked mine in the middle of the road near the station. Whether it's real, just a piece of metal, or a prank is anyones guess, but it made for a good photo op anyway.
Some of hwy 3 is still unimproved and with the recent rain it's a bog of Laos proportions, but fortunately the bad stuff's only a few kms. Hwy 4 is a Thai style 120 km/hr rip between Phnom Penh. As usual, watch for dogs, pigs, cattle, chickens, and children on the road. Some of the kids actually lay down on the highway for a nap!
Next trip will be up through the northeast into the Laos panhandle (which sounds like it is open and easy to traverse) and hopefully back down through Vietnam. May have to buy a bike for that one.
Happy travels!
leebaer