Jungle Biking

When heading out for a jungle mountain biking tour, there are a few things you need to consider:

1. Terrain: Biking 34 kilometers in the mountains of Cambodia might be your cup of tea. However, since you’ve landed yourself in this part of the world during the wet season, you might want to think about the condition of the trails. Go ahead and ask the tour operators. They’ll tell you the road is fine, though they’ve never actually been on the trip themselves. You can attempt to ask your guide, but he doesn’t speak English, so good luck.

2. Guide: You need one. Regardless of your skills with a compass or your ability on a bike. Not only is it required by the village-run tour operator, it’s essential as the trails will be washed out and nearly imperceptible. You will not be able to navigate through cow pastures, over sand dunes, up the river, or around the landmines without a guide.

3. Leeches: It’s no secret: Cambodian jungles mean leeches. And plenty of them. Be realistic – long pants, heavy socks, and hiking shoes do not, I repeat do not, hinder these blood-sucking beasts. Frequent stops, particularly after riding through a puddle or lake, are required to rid yourself of any leeches who have attached themselves to you for a free ride.

4. Weather: If it’s raining the morning of your trip, count yourself as lucky. This is ideal weather for mountain biking because you are going to be wet regardless – some of that moisture might as well come from the skies. Besides, if it’s not raining in Cambodia, then it’s hot. And hot is not what you’re going for on an 8-hour biking trip.

5. Footwear: Notice, please, the shoes of your guide. If you guide is wearing flip flops, you might consider this as an appropriate choice. You will likely be wearing a pair of hiking shoes, thinking they offer the best protection from the leeches. But remember that they also offer the best place for water to pool, ensuring veritable puddles in your socks.

6. Brakes: This is an easy one. Your bike won’t have them, so there’s nothing to pay attention to here.

7. Pot holes: Hiding beneath muddy puddles, these obstacles can really derail you from your bike. You will assume that you are riding along at a nice clip until your front wheel suddenly stops as it dips into a pot hole. Grip your handlebars tightly to avoid plunging over the front wheel, and brace yourself with a foot as you throw your weight to the side and fall off the bike. As soon as you have extracted yourself from the puddle, review #3.

8. Water: No, not the water on all sides of you, falling from the sky and coursing beneath your bike tire, but the water you should carry with you for drinking. Yes it’s heavy, but you will down it quickly, particularly if you had one too many beers with the locals last night, leaving yourself a bit dehydrated. If you’re lucky, your guide will offer you some of his water.

9. Clay: It might be ideal for a potter, but it’s not a biker’s best friend. Clay is extremely slippery when wet. Before attempting to ride on it, ensure that there is a nice hedge of tall grass to break your fall. Following any such falls, remember #3.

10. Walking the bike: There is no shame in walking the bike. Instances when this might be required include, but are not limited to the following: clay, riding through sand, when a fallen tree trunk blocks the path, when the water rises over your seat, when the decline is 10% over boulders. Or any time your guide walks his bike. After walking the bike, be sure to review #3.

11. Prayer: It never hurts to utter a few words of supplication for your personal safety, especially when you’ve decided to pay a bunch of money to put yourself in a risky situation as you have so clearly done. It is also a good idea to give thanks for a beautiful countryside, open people who share their home with you, and the glorious waterfall where you will stop for lunch. Oh, and thank God for your safe return.