hong Kong Green laning

[fishtail]

here's a link to a local road - actually there are a bunch of tracks off here that do end on dirt/ mud - but since I was testign my camera mount on my hornet I didnt bother..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hvZtA3DW20



anyway the single track stuff starts about a 2 min in...

the view from the peak which is amazing - is about min in - this is twisty one way up to the peak and down...


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/move_lachine/4826622488/" title="Hong Kong #58 -drumscan by Thomas Birke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/4826 ... 904de7.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="Hong Kong #58 -drumscan"></a>


I get my CRM on monday - so if any other honker's are around and want to show me some better routes please get in touch!

[fishtail]

my local beach - there's actually a lot of greenery and hikes in HK

the missus on her TW

[fallenmikethebike]

Excellent.
Mike

[back off road]

a forum outing could be on the cards

[fishtail]

haha - yep hop over!

Hong Kong rocks! its as cold as it gets this time of year - ( usually above 10 degrees - never really freezes at all) and april - november is beach weather..

sounds great until you gear up! ( mostly wear mesh/textile gear - its ok as long as u keep moving! )

thats Clear Water Bay in Sai Kung above - a great 10 min ride from my place.. some nice twisties around too!

there's a particularly awesome road a bit further away - its bizzarely called route Twisk! ( check it out on google maps )

I just need to find some more off road places to go....

[njhardy]

I'm wondering where to work next after 'Nam. Maybe HK could be a good destination?? Plenty of trails....

[fishtail]

yeah but no..

not legal to ride on - and you cant chuck the cops a back hander like you can in Nam.

plus sides some ok road rides/ beachs and walks to to do - / the police arent as on to it regarding speeding like the UK - they tend to work the same spots - so if u know the spots......

- and the place is tiny,, so wont take u long to explore but then you will hanker for more.. I've seen some trials - that are borderline to go on - but then they look quite technical - so would want to go with someone in case of problems..

probably got more of an expat scene than Vietnam - what line of work are you in?

reckon you should have a visit first... missus has a TW 200 which is better than a kick in the teeth - I got some air on that a few times on a building site near me,,,

I was thinking about coming over to see you actually! haha

[njhardy]

The missus and I are both teachers and lucky enough to be able get work pretty much anywhere in the world where there are international/private schools or colleges- HK has a few pretty fine institutions (I turned down 2 jobs there a few years ago at Kellett School and United World College). My contract is up for renewal next year, so just keeping my finger on the pulse... 'Nam is a great package for me and the wife- one of the best paying places we have worked for in 20 years and cost of living is cheap, but it just isn't set-up like other places (HK, Singapore or Thailand)- its 3rd world. Its also MASSIVE with a terrible road network and virtually no fast B roads or motorways, so getting anywhere is a real pain!! Friends have taken 3 weeks to drive end to end- something I want to do when I get a chance, but man, its hard work, slow and tiring. The locals have virtually no road sense and definately no training, insurance or licence!!
There are a fair few expats and even more locals that ride trails at least once a month and even an MX track on the coast. About 20- 30 of us meet up for each trail. However, its stinking hot, humid and often rainy. Trails are technical and fast. Medical cover (if you hurt yourself) is problematic....Roads are generally awful, decent mechanics rare, police are gangsters and road accidents are a common.
I was planning on doing a long weekend visit to HK later in the year (to pick up some 'hookey' golf clubs!). Maybe we could meet up for a beer???

[fishtail]

yeah I saw someone on a moped get literally turned into partly flat road kill when I was over there... not a pretty sight!

HK has some well paying teaching jobs - thats my wife's gig as well! but the cost of living??!!! in the top 10 of worlds most expensive cities..

yet - u can eat cheaply - and if u dont do the expat thing and live in the square mile or so that is central you can get more reasonably priced places..

the trails sound good - here is a bit like a chicken coup sometimes- seems like no where new to go sometimes.. ( 17 years here! )

a friend of mine also wants to go back to 'nam and do 2-3 weeks riding - I'm sort of considering it.. altho having been thru saigon not that keen to ride much in the city's - altho maybe its ok when u get going..

crossing the road was mental - we literally used a granny as a shield the first few goes!


beer? yes please!

[njhardy]

17 years in one spot is a looooong time- well done for that fishy; I suppose you must like it? We did 12 years in Dubai and in the end it just got too much inflation, traffic, building etc so we came to 'Nam- the difference was amazing- the Asian mentality is so different and refreshing. Defo want to stay in Asia, but where, not sure...will see what jobs come up. I know the cost of rental is high in HK, but really need the opportunity to get out and about- even if the place isn't huge. 'Nam strangely cannot really offer that and yes the traffic is bonkers- not enjoyable. Seen a few really terrible accidents here that have made me feel very sick and vunerable on the bike. Its not a matter of 'if' you have a crash, just 'when' and how bad....

[fishtail]

well I say that you can get out and about pretty much anywhere u live here..

I live on the outskirts of sai kung - and I can get into central in around 25 mins Max on bike. even with the worst traffic - altho I might get the odd wing mirror

it would cost about HK$ 120 in a taxi each way - and rent for a 700 sq Foot place around here starst as low 9000

they rise exponentially as u go towards the centers...

If you get a NET teacher scheme they even pay your accommodation, sounds like with your experience you could land those type of deals...

I lived in walking distance of "my life " for 12 years - didnt drive or ride in that duration - didnt need to! ( central/ sheung wan/ kennedy town or northpoint the other way - anywhere near the MTR is good! )

cabs are cheap!
bikes are way more fun!

and make me want to explore more!

got chased by dogs again today - was trying to find this track over a mountain,, found another cool way up Fei Ngo Shan and a winding road to some kind of weather/ satellite dome..