My Mountain Biking Day in Chiang Mai

Saturday for my birthday we headed up to Chiang Mai for some serious mountain biking. I had not biked properly for over 15 years and what I was expecting compared to the reality was world's apart.

Back in England I use to do more roads and steady trail paths - nothing too down hill on the real rugged terrain just the roads. So I wasn't quiet prepared when we geared up and hit the mountains.

We started at around 1800m and would head down to the bottom. But all the track was completely off road and treacherous for a guy who has never gone full pelt down trails with big gaping holes, uneven surfaces, gravel and some really sharp turns where you could easily have slipped of the edge of the cliff if you weren't switched on. Indeed it was inevitable that eventually I would come off the bike, it happened twice and while the second fall was rather nasty I was lucky to come out unscathered apart from a few scratches on my arm.

I couldn't say the same for a few of my mates who weren't saved by the fact that they were more experienced. Both ended up with nasty gashes on their arms and legs, which I sensed would happen at the speed they were going. I guess that was the price you pay for going so fast and trying an even more advanced crazy route than mine towards the end.

As we were all at different levels I stuck at the back of the pack supporting my other mate whose every second word was "f*k" or "oh sht".

He had his first fall just 5 minutes into the ride and while one of our guides encouraged me to stick near him I knew he was going to deck and that would have left me crashing too so I hung 20 seconds behind. Luckily enough he had turned up in something that resembled a black panther suit. That was his saving grace where when near the end of the day he took a big fall and skidded further down the trail on his side he got away lightly due to his full sleeved top and long lycra pants!

At the beginning of the ride we all had the option of wearing shin and elbow pads, which we all declined given their uncomfort and how hot it was in northern thailand, I guess we were asking for it not wearing protection!

The price you pay for more comfort

The biking was the most exhausting thing I've done for a while physically. While I am a regular runner, tennis player and gym goer, the legs needed for the hill parts of our trail was way beyond my pay grade. Half the time I had to get off my bike and walk it up the ascents. I guess many have done sharper ascents on their bike but for a none biker the endurance and power required in your legs was on another level.

It's the sort of strength you can't gain in the gym, only on the bike doing these hills regularly. Insult to injury was certainly paid by the hills not just being steep but really uneven, gravelly, dusty, bumpy trails.

We did a great forest trail down the mountains

The bikes we rented from the guide shop were cheap Chinese manufactured ones made to look professional. They had redicilously poor suspension which meant going down hill constantly sent a vibration through your arms.

I'll definately be back on the bike again but might just go a little steadier next time and look to hire better bikes. Or perhaps I'll just head down south for some more dirt biking which is a lot of fun without needing tree trunk legs on rocket fuel to finish the trail.

Anyone who is travelling to Thailand and looking for a different activity to do I'd recommend checking out mountain biking in chiang mai if you like the adrenaline style sports and have the fitness, while it's pretty exhausting it's a memorable time with your friends and means those one or ten beers on the nighttime can be enjoyed totally guilt free!

I'll be posting some footage on sportstube once it's edited.