Mountain Biking Trip Report

From time-to-time one of our guests writes a little something about their experience with Flight of the Gibbon.

We are pleased to share the first of these reports with our website visitors!

If you have been to Flight of the Gibbon and would like to share your experience please send an email to us at GibbonsReachingOut TreeTopAsia.com

This trip report comes to us from John, in Melbourne, who took the Gibbon on Wheels™ 2-day tour package in July 2008:
Day 1: Careening Down Jungle Paths Screaming My Head Off

This was my first time really mountain biking – and it was much different than cruising around the city streets on a mountain bike. And I was screaming out of joy, not fear. Really…

I arrived for my first day of the Gibbon on Wheels package at Chiang Mai Mountain Biking where the owner Aiden, greeted me. I was starving because I missed breakfast because of my Thai lesson earlier so I grabbed a a quick bite – lunch would have to wait until after our 5 hour off road bike descent. By the time I got back there were already 12 customers there. Aiden asked the group of us our experience levels and how often or how many times we had been biking. I hesitantly told him none. My embarrassment was eased when two others after me replied the same. However at least 7 of the others were intermediate to very experienced riders which kind of intimidated me until I learned we would be on separate trails. I headed out to grab a helmet and a day pack to carry water and valuables. Aiden also advised us to grab an energy bar so we wouldn’t zonk out mid trip.

We headed off on two song taews (Thai taxi trucks) up the winding road to the very top of the towering Doi Sutthep Mountain. After about 30 minutes and some chatting with the fellow bikers we arrived. We organized into skill level and our guides chose an appropriate trail for us.

He passed out equipment including: gloves, chest plate, elbow pads and knee pads. He then instructed us about the rear and front gears of the mountain bike and when we should be in what gear. We were assigned and bikes and rode around to get feel for them. They tested us on a small downhill section to make sure our technique was right. Our initiation was a fairly easy downhill on pavement for 30 minutes to a coffee shop and plantation. I didn’t try the coffee but others lined up for it. We then separated into groups based on skill level. Finally it was time to get down to business. We cruised quickly down a clay road full of ruts, rocks and roots. As I got more confident all I wanted to do was go faster and faster. Then … we got to our first single track trail. I watched as the more advanced riders sped down the almost vertical trail. With butterflies tingling in my stomach I took an attempt at it and just about crashed. The hill was so steep braking would cause you to fly over the handlebars. I said no thanks and the guide instructed me that I could walk down with the bike or follow him to an easier route. I took the easier route. It continued like this coming to splits where there were easy and hard trails.

We came to one location with a spectacular view overlooking a coffee plantation. It seemed as if we were the only people out there. We would take 5 minute breaks every 30 minutes or so to let all the group members catch up and take a rest. After about the 4th split trail I felt comfortable to head down the advanced route and was eager for the next one. It was difficult but I am so psyched I did it. We also came to some steep uphill parts. One of which was a 3 minute uphill ride. I didn’t manage to bike all the way up and ended up walking the rest. The last single track was the hardest. I was informed the type of track was rock technical. I had know idea what our guide meant but I gave it a shot. I’ll just say that I had no idea bikes could do that.

The final stretch was a 15 minute tarmac ride to our late lunch spot at Huay Thung Thao lake. Food has never tasted so good…
My homestay in the village of Mae Kompong…

One of the best cultural experiences in my life. I was brought here preceding my mountain bike journey. The village was quite small and consisted of about 300 people.I was welcomed by my host family Bpee Nung and his wife Bpee Oi. They showed me my room and where to put my things. Not five star but hey its about the experience right? and had a traditional Thai dinner while enjoying a thai dance show known as Kantoke. My bed was very comfortable and enjoyable as the weather was quite cool. I had plenty of blankets provided by my host family.Participate in the “Bai Sri’ welcoming ceremony that includes dinner, children folk dancing, and folk music. You can learn to dance and/or play local instrument (or two). Optional: Traditional Thai massage before sleeping.
Day 2: Flight of the Gibbon Zip Line Tour

After breakfast in the village we wondered over to the Flight of the Gibbon headquarters. We met our guides for the day Jackie and Champ and got suited up. Helmet, harness and bamboo brake. The harness was a bit tight on the package if you know what I mean, but tight is good when your dangling over 30 meters in the air. We hopped back in the van and headed to the our starting point. Waddling down a set of bamboo stairs in my harness seemed difficult but I managed and we were at our starting point.

Champ explained to us the rules and safety precautions. Only brake when they say brake (as braking was only necessary on some of the ziplines), never unclip yourself from the cable, let the guides do everything for you. I was the first one to go flying across to the next platform. It was great the wind in my hair, the zipping sound as I glided through the forest to the next platform. Zipline after zipline my adrenalin was building as I soared over the valleys, rivers and forest floor below. A few of the platforms were connected by what were called sky bridges. These were quite scary let me you. Don’t laugh until your standing on what suspended high above the forest as it sways back and forth. The best part was the 30 meter rappel at the end for sure. Also to note was the guides as they some of the most entertaining I’ve ever met in Thailand. Definitely made the trip a better experience.