Are there any single track trails? Double track? How technical are they? Is most mountain biking simply dirt roads? Do you ride to the trailheads from the city?
I recently moved to Kunming and am planning to buy a bike. I only want to buy one. If there's technical mountain biking out there, I'll get a mountain bike. If everything can be ridden on a 700cc hybrid, I'd rather get that and have a little more speed and range on the pavement.
I'm just suspicious because on a previous visit to Kunming I was taken on a "mountain biking" trip that consisted of riding mountain bikes up a paved road. Maybe that was just my bad luck, and I don't mean to be derogatory, but I'd like to know what's out there before I buy a mountain bike.
Thanks for your help
For the mountain-biking, there's not really much infrastructure out there. The biking I've done has consisted of riding up a mountain on a paved road, and then basically picking out a nice-looking place to go offroad, usually goat paths and the like.
The province overall is great for cycling. You can get anywhere in the province along the old road network, which is nice, but just a bit rough in places for a racing bike. Also, there are plenty of places to go offroad, and some fantastic mountains and scenery.
So if you don't mind going blind and making your own trails, definitely get a mountain bike. Otherwise, get a hybrid for some good Sunday driving.
I like cycling very much, and I do a lot off-road riding outside the city, most trails have difficult sections, every time we go up near to the top of the mountains, then choose another way back to the city, I have to use a MTB.
Well, the cycling tracks around kunming are quite a lot, for both of road racing and off-road. I know most of the them. Most trails are outside the city, always need to climb up a few KMs and then get throught mountains, the roads condition are all mixed, so it really need to be off-road tires, In my opinion, to get a MTB is better, for longer distance paved road cycling, just change the tires.
It really depends, I hope I can help you more. If you need, send me an e-mail! Ciao
looking forward to hopefully living in kunming, bringing my specialized mtb and doing some single tracking.
If any cycling group wants to get a ride out to the trails by jeep and then back to the city center after your ride.
We can also rendezvous at another location lower on the mountain trails..
I also have 5 watt radios for good comunication besides mobile phones.
I know lots of areas that would amaze you..some roads some single track, but all away from the trucks and noise of the city..
