Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 87
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: Salsa Beargrease XX1, Trek Eqnuinox 9.9 SSL, Trek Madone 6.9 ,Trek District Carbon, Trek Boone7, Trek Fuel EX9.0,Trek Fuel 9.5, Trek Rumblefish Pro, Trek Remedy 9.9, Trek Equinox7, Trek District Belt
Originally Posted by
axolotl
I flew to Sri Lanka with my bike a few years ago for touring. However, I own a Bike Friday which packs into a suitcase. I had no problems even though I had to fly on 3 different airlines to get there from the USA. BTW, I left the empty suitcase at a guesthouse in Negombo (just north of the airport) while I was touring. There are companies which will ship your luggage ahead of time, including FedEx, however they charge a fortune. Luggageforward.com is another outfit.
As for Sri Lanka, I loved the country. It's a great place to visit. However, the cycling varied enormously. In some areas, the roads and touring were great. Elsewhere, the roads were awful. In one region (area north of Negombo), the bus drivers were homicidal, and cyclists were expected to go off the road when a bus coming in the other direction was passing another vehicle. Buses were always passing other vehicles.
Make sure you visit Sigiriya, and biking in that area was very nice.
The descent from Ella Gap to the south coast was fantastic. Biking in the mountains was very nice, but not the road from Kandy south into the mountains. The train is useful to get into the mountains from near Kandy.
I avoided biking between Galle & Colombo because of heavy traffic. I took the train, and it was easy to put my bike on the train.
Hi there and great hearing about your trip. I have been going to Sri Lanka since 1975 when I was a Marine Guard at the American Embassy in Colombo. My wife of 38 years is from Sri Lanka as i met her there when i was a young marine. I have been going there every year for over 35 years and if it wasnt for family here, i would be living there. You are so DEAD ON about those suicidal CTB Bus Drivers. They are brutal. Even tho with all these years in Sri Lanka i keep swearing iam going to take a bike the following trip..WELL this time I am and its a first. I just did call Delta and they did tell me its a $150.00 fee for a bike if its packed in a bike box or i could ship it as my 2nd bag. I need my 2nd bag for other goodies so i need to pay. I was just asking here and was looking for positive feedback like several of you have given me.
As far as my riding goes, i plan on riding very early in the am about 0430 to 0500 am in and around Mt lavinia to Colombo before the heavy traffic starts. I will be intimidated i think at first when i go out because of what you mentioned..From Matara to Colombo is my favorite are with Hickaduwa my all time favorite. Wife and I have climbed Sigiriya a few times and plan on doing that again this year. We stay about 10 weeks every year starting right after christmas...
this is what i am planning on taking with me
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