Jamaica - Should I take the Mtn. Bike?

[incstlouis]

I'm heading to Jamaica with the family next week and I am contemplating taking the mtn. bike with me.

Any opinions or good places to ride? I understand that Jamaica has the 3rd worst driving fatality rate in the world (behind Ethiopia & India). I am a little bit reluctant.

Anybody have an experiences to share or insight into cycling in Jamaica? I will be staying in the Discovery Bay area about 1/2 way between Montego Bay & Ocho Rios.

Any information would be appreciated.

JL

[deputyjones]

If you leave the resort areas with your bike you will be lucky if you return with it whether you are riding it the whole time or not.

[Helmet Head]

If you leave the resort areas with your bike you will be lucky if you return with it whether you are riding it the whole time or not.
This advice seems consistent with what other people say.

I dunno. On our honeymoon we stayed in three different areas... including Ocho Rios where we left "the compound" (resort hotel with private beach) on foot, tried to find a place to rent motor scooters, ended up letting a 10 year old boy take us down some spooky alley to a motorcycle repair place that looked like a junkyard. They rented us a 125cc dirt bike and two helmets (the charge never showed up on our Visa bill). We went all over on it, and had a blast. I don't recall the drivers being any different from anywhere else I've driven or ridden.

People thought we were nuts, but that day was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

But I can't tell you about bicycling there, mountain or road, cuz I didn't do it.

[Trek Al]

I take it you are from St. Louis so you should have some street smarts. The road that runs along the coast from the resort area toward Ocho Rios is not too bad. It gets some police patrol due to the tourist area. I doubt you would be riding as far as Montego Bay, but it is a different story. Stay on the main streets during the day. Downtown at night is rough with drug dealers, prostitutes and bad guys. There are some commercial trips in the Blue Mountains. Link to one site: http://www.bmtoursja.com/photos.htm

Al

[Tom Stormcrowe]

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Why not rent instead?
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[Bikepacker67]

From what I remember of Jamaica (13 years ago), anything off "the compound" was damn scary for a whiteboy 'Merkin.

Even if you don't get robbed, you'll certainly get MOBBED by poor folks trying to sell you cheap trinkets and good weed.

[Bikepacker67]

Ohh and HH, what did you think about Ocho Rios? Did you make that hike up the river?
I stayed in Montego Bay, but rented a taxi to O.R. for a day.

[KeatonR]

Jamaica's safe, and the people are friendly. They drive like maniacs, though. It's the only place I've ever seen a double pass -- one guy's passing you, and then another starts passing that guy, all on a blind curve. Absolutely terrifying.