A blog entry by proxy from Alex B, back from a survey trip in Angkor Wat!

Robin,

We found a multitude of great trails, mostly winding through beautiful countryside, and some leading to more remote Temples. We (re)discovered Beng Melea, which 8 years ago was nearly inaccessible. Today a new paved road leads to the place.

Thanks to the slowly developing rural area, we found great dirt trails to reach it.

We managed a few 60km to 70 km loops, which will be part of our programs.

Cycling through rural Cambodia is always a pleasure and at this period, despite some rain, the experience is just awesome. I still think that Angkor Wat and its area is best visited by bicycle!

The Wild Lodge and NorthernTrails team are planning biking tours in Angkor Wat, starting this November, from the Wild Lodge.

Coming soon is our scheduled trips in combination with cycling at Kao Ito, near the Lodge, and in Chiang-Mai.

During our sojourn, we stayed at the comfortable Pavillion Indochine,

(http://www.pavillon-indochine.com) a hotel I can strongly recommend.

On the road again, Alex

We took a few hours out on xmas eve and xmas day to ride the Khao Ito downhill trail with the new mountan bikes that we will be using for rental.

The trail itself (after a shuttle to the top of Khao Ito ( it was xmas !!)) is 90% downhill and consists of a main section complete with jumps ( and thankfully ride arounds) into a short technical loop track, followed by sngle track with a short tech section and a final 2km run on the road back into the lodge.

 

The bikes are Gary Fisher Wahoo 09 Hardtails specced with basic Deore/Acera kit and v brakes and suntour front shocks. We have them in 13.5, 15 and 17" which covers all sizes except XXXL

The bikes were purchased from the Prachinburi bike store in keeping with our policy of local purchase and they will be maintained on site in our own workshop with parts being sourced from the Prancinburi store.

In addtion to the downhill route we rode over xmas there are a number of other potential trails and loops within Khao Ito ranging from easy to full on.

Project for early 2009 is to install a minimal impact North Shore style loop around the imediate perimieter of the Wild Lodge making use of the big bomb holes and single track around the access road to the park. We plan to construct this using sustainable ecalyptus and the reclaimed hardwood off cuts from the construction projects at The Wild Lodge.