Mountain Bike Tour--Advice Sought

[Blackberry]

I am an avid cyclist and have ridden on my own and with organized tours in many parts of the US and Europe. I've never been to Asia, but after seeing a photo essay many years ago, I've wanted to visit Bali very much.

An outfitter called Spice Roads offers an 11-day, 10-night tour described in the link below. It Does anyone have any thoughts or reactions to the destinations and price or to the outfitter? I'm not worried about the cycling-difficulty-unless, of course, there's traffic. Thanks!

http://www.spiceroads.com/indonesia/bali

[Bert Vierstra]

Sounds like a nice ride, not too much traffic on-route, and IMHO also not too expensive.

Traffic in a city (Singaraja) (and on a bike) looks like this: (but usually doesn't sound like that)

[youtube:b322swzu]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR04BfuGn3g[/youtube:b322swzu]

[tintin]

Hi Blackberry,

Several of the days' ride will be a little tough, like going up Mt. Batur or Bedugul, that is for an old, out of shape, lazy guy like me, but not for an experienced biker like you. The tour looks interesting, and the price, about US$140/day, is fine.

Have a nice ride.

PS. Day 4. The Water Palace to be visited is no longer in ruins: it has finally been refurbished (a huge and expensive enterprise) and is re-opened to the public, since several years ago. :)

[Blackberry]

Thanks for the info, tintin and Bert. Much appreciated. If I may delve a little deeper, I've been clicking around other threads on this forum, and having read the "Bali Is Suffocating" thread, I'm beginning to wonder are there all sorts of problems I need to know about? It almost made me want to stay home and do a bike tour of the corn fields of Indiana.

[Bert Vierstra]

Well, The US is breathing freely? :)

People who live here, or come here often have a different perspective on Bali than the "average tourist", forgive for generalizing here, there is more than "The Island of the Gods", its thousands of temples, and the smiling people...

If you are interested read this:

http://balipod.com/read-1st-f36/expa...orums-t88.html

Bali is a "strange" island, it can engulf people, make them care and disagree about it all, and this sometimes results in posts like you mentioned.

I bike myself regularly, and its than that you see a more of the island, it can be very enjoyable.

No worries but the sunburn...

[JohnnyCool]

11 Day and 10 nights to do all of what the itinerary suggests, on a bicycle? I can only presume that there are several pickup points and some transfers by motorized vehicles along the way.

For example, "Day 3" intrigued me as I am very familiar with the Batur caldera.

After a ride inside the interior of the Batur Crater, a climb up to a mountain pass, an exhilarating descent down dry river beds takes to the east coast.

I'm not positive about which "mountain pass" they're referring to, but if it's the one at the end of the lake (past Songan village), I hope you're not expected to carry your own bike up it.

The amount of territory this package covers in so short a time would make me think twice doing it on a motorbike! Each to his own and I wish you a fascinating adventure.

:wink: