Hi all! I'm considering a tour from Vietnam to Myanmar, either zigzagging through Cambodia and Laos or through Thailand. I need new tires... my Marathon Plus' are well worn from a few previous trips. Looking at the Marathon Mondial.... not too sure if those would be suitable for the roads in these regions though. Any advice would be much appreciated! Oh, and I ride a cyclocross bike (specialized tricross) with disc brakes so i've got quite a lot of clearance to go fairly wide.
SE Asia - recommendations for tires?
金, 2017-08-04 22:58
#1
WS Member
SE Asia - recommendations for tires?
Hey Erica! I just spent 7 months through countries you've mentioned. Started Vietnam and criss crossed to Myanmar and now I'm in Malaysia. Worst roads I found were in Myanmar and I wish I had much wider tyres. Maybe 45-50. Especially if you take minor roads. Thailand roads are amazing. Cambodia ok and Laos little worse especially if you take mountains. Anyway road aren't as bad as you probably picture them. I'd also say in dry season you can get away with skinnier tyres like I did. Wet season different story and I'd go wider.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the advice!! Sounds like quite the adventure, where do you head to next? In terms of finding replacement tires (say if I get to myanmar and need wider ones ) is that something you can find over there for 700c? I suppose you can order just about anything to just about anywhere these days too. Safe pedalling!!
Oooh, not sure I can recommend Myanmar postal system to you! I ordered a couple of things from UK to Yangon and I believe they're on an airport tarmac still. Not sure if there's many bike shops in Yangon either. Cycling and motorbikes are illegal in the city though they don't seem to care if foreigners do it. It's a strange strange place! Otherwise I got tyres ordered to Bangkok no problem. When are you going?
I'm heading for ferry to take me to Sumatra, Indonesia now and heading for Bali and then maybe Borneo? Just bought a hammock so maybe this part of the trip will be a slow one! Haha
Try Bike World in Yangon run by Jeff and his crew;
http://www.cyclingmyanmar.com/trek-bike-shop/
We use the marathon plus all the times and the 26"X35mm is plenty wide.
Did Calcutta to Bangkok last year, and even 15000km through the stans with other bikes that had 700 x 35mm
A good value bullett proof tyre.