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Siem Reap tomorrow:

This is a now a general cycling thread, so if any cycling enthusiasts have tips for beginners, or good plans for places to go cycling, anything at all to discuss about bicycles and bike rides, please feel free to post here.

A Cycling Guide in Phnom Penh
November 8, 2019
Are you a cycling enthusiast who values health and exploration at the same time? In this modern age, defined by stressful work and high-calorie food, it is more important than ever to get physical and travel to ease your tensions. Cycling is even more strategic to get away from a crowded, bustling city like Phnom Penh. Taing Rinith comes up with tips for a nice bicycle trip around Phnom Penh.

Getting a bicycle
FIRST, what kind of a bike and for what kind of a journey. A road bike is the choice to ride for exercise and stay on the pavement while a cruiser bike is ideal for short, casual rides. In the meantime, an adventurer who doesn’t mind cycling up a mountain or riding on bumpy roads should get a mountain bike. At the end of the day, the bike depends on your budget.

In Phnom Penh, many shops abound selling new bikes, including AEON Mall, which can cost up from a few hundreds to thousands of dollars. Yet, if you prefer travelling on budget, find cheaper second-hand bikes from a line of shops on Street 107 (near Orussey Market).
They sell imported bikes from Japan, up from around $40, and give free accessories such as baskets and locks.
More here: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50658387/a ... hnom-penh/
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50658387/a ... hnom-penh/

For people doing a lot of cycling, I recommend a mountain bike. If you are going to stay in the large towns, and cycle in places with reasonably good roads, a regular mountain bike is all you need.

For those cycling out to the villages, and travelling on a lot of dirt tracks, I recommend a fat bike. These have 100mm or 4" wide tyres, and are better when you come across mud and sand. You can buy them at Scott, near Orussey Market, among other places.

Having done thousands and thousands of KMs thru various countries, DONT BUY a cheap bike, (ie new under $300)
Unless ur going to race, dont buy a road bike for SE asia
Get a 26" tire Mtn bike, make sure its the right size frame and spend as much as you can. A cheap bike is heavy, wont preform well, those cheap shitty components will break and you wont use it cause its a pain... Get at least a 21 speed, (triple front sprocket, 7 on the rear). New ones are coming with only 2 front sprockets and 10+ on the rear
Make sure it has good front shocks ,( most $300 + bikes will), you do NOT Need full suspension
and forget those ones with FAT tires!!!
Many from $350 ++will have Shimano components which are fine. More ya spend...better components an lighter/stronger frame you will get.

Also invest in a good pair of cycling shorts ( dont need the tight lycra ones)

are great for around town and the padded insert will save those ass hurts.

a good bike will cost ya, but will last years. My current 20 year old Scott has done 10,000++kms and still is fine
Only have replaced the brakes pads, shifters, tires, cables and of course tubes

Get at least a 21 speed, (triple front sprocket, 7 on the rear). New ones are coming with only 2 front sprockets and 10+ on the rear

If you're just cycling around the capital it's so flat there's not much use in all those gears. I only ever use about 4 out of 21.

I bought a giant road bike here with a shimao claris for 320$ and it was a good investment.
The most important thing is that you have fun while riding it and that bike is the absolute minimum that is acceptable for me.
Went to Vietnam and down to Kampot with it and it's a good ride.
My favorite training rides are up to that bridge to road number 8 and back on the other side of the mekong. Then back with the ferry.
Also nice is road number 21 past Takmao along the bassak. Both rides beetween 45 and 50 km.
The number of serious cyclist is constantly growing but still very small.

This is my preference. I normally stay in smaller towns, and cycle to and around the villages, sometimes on dirt tracks, sometimes through mud.

I was just in PP last week buying a bike. A brand new bike. The lowest cost decent one was a GT at flying bikes for $399. mechanical disc brakes 27.5" wheels. But my current bike is a GT and I want to try another brand this time.

Next up would the a Giant at Aeon for $390. I got a Giant at the Giant shop block brakes 7 speed mountain (7 rear/3front rings) bike it suits my needs prefectly $460. At Scott Bike they have one for just under $500 with disc brake and 10 speed.
You can buy brand new non-brand bikes for £250 the quailty wont be great but unless your sure you are going to use it a lot worth considering. Those seem the only ones now with 26" wheels.

My 7 speed mountain bike is enough gears for me I can ride along in top gear no problem and the lowest gear does me when I go off road and ride in mud... or ride a little bit up Bokor mountain. It has 1.95 wide tires which are a good choice for varied riding wider mountain bike tires making road cycling harder!

And yes get cycling shorts for rides londer than an hour the padding should be the type designed to take mosisutre away it keeps your under carriage dry which can prevent fungus/ rashes etc......

I'm selling my endurance road bike.
Specialized Roubaix Elite.
https://imggmi.com/full/2019/11/12/4d01 ... l.jpg.html

Rama wrote: ↑Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:35 pm I'm selling my endurance road bike.
Specialized Roubaix Elite.
https://imggmi.com/full/2019/11/12/4d01 ... l.jpg.html

nice bike
but
"Perfect for Cambodian roads"?