The Perth cyclist group did cycling in Bali from  21st  until 29th June, 2010. They are visited  Lovina beach, hot spring water Banjar  village, Medue Pura Karang (Cycling Temple), Munduk, Bedugul, Tanah Lot, Amazing, the last village of losses and biking  along the Lake and Mount Batur. They really enjoy Indonesian food, friendly,culture and panoramic of Bali.

Bali Triathlon Camp

The  Tribob group did triathlon camp in  Bali island on 25th  until 27th June 2010.  Cycling program from Cemagi to Pemuteran and from Pemuteran via Munduk  to Cemagi.  The second day camp starting  7 morning  with swimming on the Pemuteran beach and continuous cycling 130 km with 1300 m sea level.

]]> http://balicycling.com/tribob-triathlon-camp-in-bali.html/feed 0 http://balicycling.com/road-bike-in-bali.html http://balicycling.com/road-bike-in-bali.html#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:59:08 +0000 admin http://balicycling.com/?p=1036

Road Bike in Bali

Ketika mengetahui kalau harus mengikuti training di Bali dan melewati weekend disana, saya langsung terpikir untuk sedikit berpetualang.  Kalau selama ini waktu yang dihabiskan hanya untuk wisata kuliner dan belanja oleh-oleh Bali, kali ini saya langsung browsing untuk menyewa sepeda untuk sekedar fun biking. Dan ketika menelusuri website baliaudax.com saya langsung chatting dengan Pak Wayan I Kertayasa yang kebetulan sedang online. Saya ditawari berbagai rute2 yang menarik dan sangat menantang, namun dikarenakan skill yang hanya “so, so” maka saya memutuskan untuk memilih area yang datar2 saja. Rute yang dipilih adalah bersepeda di area persawahan dekat Tanah Lot. Pas hari H nya saya janjian dengan Pak Wayan untuk dijemput dihotel pukul 5:30 pagi dengan harapan mau melihat sunrise, tapi sayangnya cuaca pagi itu mendung namun tidakmelunturkan niat bersepeda ria yang sudah ditunggu sejak keberangkatan dari Jakarta. Akhirnya kita tiba di tengah jalan kecil tepatnya di desa (…? Pak wayan silahkan dilengkapi ya…..) setelah mobil diparkir, Pak Wayan langsung merakit sepeda dengan cekatan. Waah saya jadi tau banyak nih tip and tricks knock down sepeda yang selama ini taunya cuma langsung tancap gowes. Pak Wayan juga banyak mengajarkan cara-cara bersepeda dengan benar dan baik supaya kita bisa bersepeda secara efisien (gak ngabis2in tenaga gitu loh) dan yang paling penting nih (yang saya ingat karena takut kejadian) yaitu bersepeda yang salah bisa menimbulkan varises. Tidak percuma ditemenin mantan atlet PON. Well, saya mendapatkan pengalaman yang sangat menyenangkan bersepeda melewati pematang sawah, tepi pantai serta desa-desa yang sedang mempersiapkan acara galungan dengan latar belakang gunung Batur dan Kintamani, what a luxury moments (for me). Thank you Pak Wayan, surely enjoyed my fun biking with you on Sunday morning and look forward to treasure your other unique routes (promise my skill would get better next time). Write by Tina D.

Mountain biking

New year of  2010 begins with a memorable experience, which is cycling while enjoying the scenery at the foot of Mount and Lake Batur.

This previous experience was not entirely unexpected, although cycling in Bali plans prepared well in advance. In the last month I was looking for information that can guide me with cycling in Bali through an unusual track, until finally I found the right person, namely Mr. Wayan Kertayasa. He is the owner of Bali Cycling Operator  http://www.balicycling.com . Bali to host Audax, a program of bicycle touring around the island of Bali along 410 km in 2 days!  http://www.baliaudax.com . By email agreed time and location will be discussed cycling my arrival in Bali.

In Bali family tour schedule dense enough to bag the bike had not moved and the new date of December 30, 2009 I call again Pak Wayan. Given Mr. Wayan to guide guests to triathlon training, then I got a chance with her bicycle on January 1, 2010. Pak Wayan will accompany me along the foot of Mount Batur, through the black lava and Lake Batur. It is perfect way to start new year.

So on January 1, 2010 at 6 AM, though still felt sleepy the rest of the year renewal last night, I immediately get ready for hours of 7 am Pak Wayan arrived to pick up. Then we go to Kintamani to stop for a moment at his home in Bangli. Throughout the trip were treated to a typical rural landscape, traditional Balinese home among the rice fields. Arriving at the top of Kintamani, straight down + / – 5 km to the parking lot of Pura Jati, where we started cycling.

After unloading the bike and stop by the booth to eat rice wrapped in banana leaves mixed (Jenggo rice / rice cat), we start the journey at 10 am through the cool hills of asphalt. Think of it as foreplay. Entering the area of black lava, began off-road track conditions, we were cycling between the rocky black lava. We must be careful because the slightest risk of injury fell a sharp stone. Rise and fall repose lava rock with the background of Mount Batur be an interesting challenge to be enjoyed. Until we arrived at a single location we called  ”Believe it or not”. That is a historic place at Mount Batur erupted on 21 September 1926, one of  Batur Temple not burn by lava fire. The lava  stone  surrounds the temple and stopped 2 meters before the building with  15 meter height. You can imagine how the event of a hot lava flow, it still shows the greatness of God to protect the temple. Until now, at this location there are many temples and two large trees that are still green, surrounded by black lava rock. Mount Batur has erupted many times. Activities eruption G. Batur is recorded in history began in 1804 and the last eruption occurred in 2000. Since 1804 until 2005,

The journey continues into the asphalt road where the left cliff of Mount Batur and the right of black lava. Nice view!! The streets remained up and down made me start to catch her breath as she posed pictures. On our trip through the temples and villages, the atmosphere reminds me of the valley in the hills Dieng Central of Java.

Upon arrival at the plantation, we were interested in seeing a mother who was sort of mango fruit. It’s time for a break while enjoying the typical egg mango Mount Batur, mango for yellow egg and fresh taste … After enjoying 5 fruits and 2 kg of mango wrap, travel resumed through the village streets up and down the asphalt damaged. Taste delicious mountain biking in the cool and fresh air.

We’ve passed half way to arrive at Temple Hulun Danu on the Lake Batur. We continued walking through the streets but has a smooth rise and fall more steeply, with a splendid view of Lake Batur. Remaining energy used to enjoy the path until we reached the finish point where we parked the vehicle.

The total distance of 30 km with a travel time of about 3 hours. A cycling experience that is very impressive on the island of Bali … After the break, and loading the bike into the car, on the way home we stopped at the diner to enjoy the hot rice with lake fish (mujair yellow & spicy flavor).  Ahhhhhhhhhhh………………………

Write by: Prama Nugraha

Bali cycling

Tahun 2010 diawali dengan pengalaman yang mengesankan, yaitu bersepeda sambil menikmati pemandangan di kaki Gunung dan Danau Batur.

Pengalaman ini sebelumnya tidak terduga sama sekali, meskipun rencana bersepeda di Bali sudah dipersiapkan jauh-jauh hari. Dalam sebulan terakhir saya mencari informasi pemandu yang dapat menemani saya bersepeda di Bali melalui trek yang tidak biasa, hingga akhirnya saya menemukan orang yang tepat, yaitu Bapak Wayan Kertayasa. Beliau adalah pemilik http://www.balicycling.com yang juga menjadi penyelenggara Bali Audax, yaitu program touring bersepeda keliling pulau Bali sepanjang 410 km dalam 2 hari !!! (info selengkapnya bisa dilihat di www.baliaudax.com).  Melalui email disepakati waktu dan lokasi bersepeda akan dibahas setibanya saya di Bali.

Di Bali jadwal family tour cukup padat hingga tas sepeda sempat tidak tersentuh dan baru tanggal 30 Desember 2009 saya hubungi kembali Pak Wayan. Mengingat Pak Wayan harus memandu para tamunya untuk latihan triathlon,  maka saya mendapat kesempatan bersepeda bersamanya pada tanggal 1 Januari 2010. Pak Wayan akan menemani saya menyusuri kaki Gunung Batur, melewati lava hitam dan Danau Batur. Yes, it’s perfect way to start new year!!

Maka pada 1 Januari 2010 jam 6 pagi, meski masih terasa ngantuk sisa tahun baruan semalam, saya segera bersiap-siap karena jam 7 pagi Pak Wayan datang menjemput. Lalu kami menuju Kintamani dengan  mampir sejenak di rumahnya di Bangli. Sepanjang perjalanan disuguhi pemandangan khas pedesaan, rumah adat Bali diantara persawahan. Setiba di puncak Kintamani, langsung turun +/- 5 km menuju tempat parkir kendaraan Pura Jati , tempat kami mulai bersepeda.

Setelah unloading sepeda dan mampir ke warung untuk makan nasi campur dibungkus daun pisang (nasi jenggo / nasi kucing), kami memulai perjalanan jam 10 pagi melalui perbukitan sejuk beraspal. Anggap saja sebagai pemanasan. Memasuki daerah lava hitam, kondisi trek mulai offroad, kami bersepeda diantara berbatuan lava hitam. Kami harus berhati-hati karena sedikit saja terjatuh resiko luka terkena batu tajam. Tanjakan dan turunan beralaskan batuan lava dengan latar belakang Gunung Batur menjadi tantangan yang menarik untuk dinikmati. Hingga kami tiba di satu lokasi yang diberin nama ”Believe it or not”. Yaitu sebuah tempat yang bersejarah pada saat Gunung Batur meletus  tanggal 21 September 1926 dimana  salah satu banguan Pura Batur tidak tebakar oleh api lahar. Api lahar  itu mengelilingi Pura Batur tersebut dan berhenti 2 meter  sebelum bangunan tersebut dengan ketinggian lebih dari 15 meter. Bisa dibayangkan betapa saat terjadi aliran lahar panas, ternyata Tuhan masih menunjukkan kebesaranNya untuk melindungi Pura tersebut. Hingga saat ini, di lokasi tersebut masih terdapat sebagian Pura dan dua pohon besar yang masih hijau, dikelilingi oleh batuan lava hitam. Gunung Batur telah berkali-kali meletus. Kegiatan letusan G. Batur yang tercatat dalam sejarah dimulai sejak tahun 1804 dan letusan terakhir terjadi tahun 2000. Sejak tahun 1804 hingga 2005,

Perjalanan dilanjutkan menuju jalan aspal dimana sebelah kirinya tebing Gunung Batur dan sebelah kanannya lava hitam. Nice view!! Jalanan tetap naik-turun membuat saya mulai mengatur napas sambil berfoto-foto.  Di perjalanan kami melewati Pura dan desa, suasananya mengingatkan saya dengan lembah Perbukitan Dieng di Jawa Tengah.

Di perjalanan Pak Wayan bercerita pengalamannya melaksanakan Bali Audax I di bulan November lalu. Bagi yang ingin mencoba touring bersepeda mengelilingi Pulau Bali bisa mengikuti Bali Audax II yang akan dilaksanakan tanggal 6-7 November 2010.

Saat tiba di perkebunan, kami tertarik melihat seorang ibu yang sedang menyortir buah mangga. Ini waktunya istirahat sambil menikmati mangga telor khas Gunung Batur, mangga sebesar telor berwarna kuning dan segar rasanya… Setelah menikmati 5 buah dan membungkus 2 kg mangga, perjalanan dilanjutkan kembali melalui jalan desa naik-turun yang aspalnya rusak.  Nikmat rasanya bersepeda di pengunungan yang udaranya sejuk dan bersih..

Kami telah melewati setengah perjalanan hingga tiba di Pura Hulundanu di sisi Danau Batur. Kami melanjutkan perjalanan melalui jalan mulus namun memiliki tanjakan dan turunan yang lebih curam, dengan pemandangan indah Danau Batur. Tenaga tersisa dimanfaatkan untuk menikmati jalur tersebut hingga kami tiba di titik finish tempat kami parkir kendaraan.

Total jarak 30 km dengan waktu tempuh sekitar 3 jam. Sebuah pengalaman bersepeda yang sangat  mengesankan di Pulau Bali… Setelah istirahat dan loading sepeda ke mobil, di perjalanan pulang  kami mampir di warung makan untuk menikmati nasi panas dengan ikan mujair bumbu kuning & pedas. Mantapp…

Di puncak Kintamani kami berpisah karena Pak Wayan ada acara keluarga. Bagi yang mau mencoba trek tersebut atau trek lainnya di Bali bisa kontak Pak Wayan Kertayasa.

Thanks Pak Wayan, sampe ketemu lagi..

Write by: Prama Nugraha

Bali Audax 410 km In the southern part of Singapore, is an island with a size of approx. 120km by 80km. Over the next two days five Joyriders would be sweating and burning calories in this beautiful island. The first Bali Audax 410km was schedule from 28‐ 29th Nov 2009; it was also the first Audax for most of the participants. The JoyRider contingent to the first Bali Audax was lead by 46 years old CMH (Chief Mother Han) Anne Chua; Otto Rusil; Hadisan Sridjaja; Jamie Lim and Nicky Ting made out the rest of the team.
We arrived on Friday, a day before the actual start of the Audax. This was to allow time to put the
bikes together and test it before the actual adventure around Bali. It was also for the body to get
used to the soaring heat in Bali with heat wave blowing from Australia summer season. Puri Bambu
hotel www.puribambu.com is located 10 minutes away from the Airport in the south of Bali, a town
called Kuta was our first hotel for this trip. The traditional Balinese architectural surrounding
comprises mainly natural stone/ rock; lot of greenery and sun ray reflected away from the crystal
clear pool; lifted the holiday mood instantly when we check‐in to the hotel.
Our host for the next couples of days Mr. Wayan Kertayasa, 42 years old , owner of Bali cycling
operator http://balicycling.com/ was once the best Climbers in Indonesia who still hold on to his UCI
coaching license. He offers different riding packages in Bali and also cycling clinic for the elite cyclist
wannabe. We have learned many techniques and gained good knowledge from him throughout the
entire trip especially over meals, our CMH never failed to make sure all meal sessions became a
cycling clinic for all.
The Roosters around the village near the hotel crowed in the early morning, while still half awake
and half in the dream land, the sound from the rooster brought back the good old days memory of
the village life where most people lived close to the nature. The only problem this time round was
that the roosters crowed much earlier than they should normally do, Jamie told us later, the
28th‐ 29th Bali Audax 2009
2
rooster’s internal bio‐clock probably needs some calibration. They are out of synchronies with the
Garmin that many have brought with them.
Next morning, the inaugurate Bali Audax was kick off with high spirit and light mood from all the
riders. Rolling on Bali road was the first experience to many of us, the life in Bali started early in the
morning, even on a Saturday at 630 am. People and cars were everywhere on the road. Joining us
were 3 other participants, Cheng Jing Hean from Singapore‐ the younger and stronger rider for this
trip who has another 70 days to go before ORD. He took official leave to ride with us; Peter a British
who works in Jakarta and his pretty niece, he rides with JoyRider whenever he is in Singapore.
Together with the two lead riders from Bali, total 10 of us started our journey in Bali took the
westbound route towards our designation 210 km away in the north of Bali.
We had quite a few stops in between (every 50km) for drinks and hot coffee at the road side stores
and also for comfort breaks. (Some guys’ actions were captured in digital form while doing their
business). Jamie broke the record of having 3 flats within hours after we rolled off from the hotel.
The nuisance only lifted after he gave his Orbea a few good hugs and being gentled and stopped
complaining about her. Peter; Cheng and Hadisan were three of our stronger riders who led the pack
all the time. Hadisan happen to be our banker for the trip, he provides best currency exchange rate
and cash in advance 7x 24, we felt so secure riding with a mobile ATM with us, and you will never be
alone!
Riding behind Cheng was particularly enjoyable as his big body provided a good refuge sweet spot to
escape the head on resistance. However, Nicky could not catch up with them on one of the slops,
within second he had lost sight the three lead riders, while cycling alone for the next hours Nicky
missed a critical turn and did some extra mile.
The last 50 km route on day 1 was scenic and cool as the sun was getting ready to take a break for
the night to spare us from any further ultraviolet ray that we had been subjected to for the last nine
hours before. The body supposed to be tired and wear off, in contrary, the group sudden surge of
energy started attacking from nowhere on the mainly rolling route. Without power gel; disposable
syringes and whatever energy boosters; Nicky could only look afar at the pack getting further and
further away from him while running low on fuel; with no more energy left in his legs; liver; stomach
and muscle except some will power ….that would see him through to the end of the first day ride.
Aditya Beach Resort http://adityabeachlovina.com located at Lovina beach, north of Bali was our
second night resting point. The beach was just a stone throw away from the hotel rooms. The guys
could not take the temptation any further and headed straight to the beach and surrounded
themselves with the uncontaminated clear sea water. Meantime, Anne and Nicky decided that they
should go back to their respective room to give the tired iron horses a good rub down. On the dining
table, we understood that the beach boys, instead of cleaning their bike, they actually having great
fun rubbing each other with the black fine sand in the sea, out of politeness we did not pursuit
further which hands did they use to rub each other and which parts did they rub. But from their
faces, it seem a happy ending….Pascal Pong famous phase.
After a good night rest, we gathered at the hotel front yard for the 2nd day briefing by Wayan, the
hill climber before we took on the last 200 km back to Kuta town‐ Puri Bambu Hotel, the same hotel
we stayed on the first night. “Flat for the first 80km follow by two short climbs then typical rolling
28th‐ 29th Bali Audax 2009
3
hill” he said with his usual low husky voice. With the first day experience we had with him, then he
mentioned the road was flat but it end out with lot of rolling. So this time, when he said “short
climbs and typical rolling hill” did not give any comfort at all.
However, the cycling operator was honest this time round, for at least the first part of the ride. It
was surprisingly pleasant ride with good road, cool ambient and sea breeze coming from our left.
We were all smiling inside us that what a good start and looking forward for the same for the rest of
the journey. A funeral procession took place at a main road junction just after the 80km mark and
the entire traffic abruptly came to a complete halt including the cyclists. The 15 minutes break gave
a good breather for all and also for the slower riders to catch up with the main pack.
After attending our first funeral in Bali, we speed off to catch up the lost time. “LEFT TURN”, shouted
the lead rider, after the uneventful left turn, what greeted immediately before us was this 100 meter
11% climb…… shift gears…… shift up some more, no more gears…stand up…rock the bike from left to
right and from right to left….phew!!…..close shave…..
After recovered from the shocking true, the actual climb started merciless for the next 5 km. Along
the extremely winding road to the plateau, that stand 300m above sea level, made it much steeper
than what we experienced in Cameron Highlands. What we just went through spiced up the entire
experience for our Bali Audax and was the talking point over our lunch break. After lunch we had an
easy descend that brought us all the way to south‐eastern of Bali, at this point we were within 50 km
to our final designation.
Knowing we were almost there, we rode into the city in a single file cruising just below 40 km/ hr all
the way to Kuta. The policemen on duty stopped the traffic for us. Along town of Bali, the peloton
was attracted by this big sign board on top a building “Cheery Bunger, Avatar Hand bunger”…wow…I
wanted one of that….shouted our baby boy Otto and start snapping away with his mobile camera.
What for dinner was then the discussion for the rest of the journey back to the hotel.
High five and handshake were the order of the day. We were finally backed to where we started two
days ago and the feeling was great and memorable. The first Bali Audax was successful conducted
with no incidents; by itself it already a success. Everyone safely backed to the hotel. We were
grateful and thankful for that.
It was a great holiday cum biking tour, a good starting point to engage in long distance noncompetitive
cycling that test the rider’s endurance; courage and spirit. Many of the participants
would want to go back for the 2010 Aduax Bali, be prepare as our nagging queen second Anne Chua
will be coming your way soon.

By Nicky

Bali Audax 2009: Two days cycling around Bali island – 410km.

Armed with enthusiasm and the passion to push the daily limit above 200km, 8 roadies arrived Bali on 27th Nov with their bike cases, electrolytes and energy bars.

At 6pm on 28th Nov, we were ready to roll, kicking off the first ever Audax Bali! 10 riders, 4 support vehicles, 410 kilometers! (2 of the riders were from the organizer, Ketut and Yong).

We left Jimbaran at 6AM, just at the break of dawn but the hard working Balinese people had already begun their day…setting up their stores,cleaning the roads, waiting patiently for public buses…

Going clockwise around the island, we passed the yuppy tourist villages of Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu before we arrived at Tanah Lot village where we regrouped just after a 10 deg climb up a hillock. As we pedal towards Negara

township, we passed paddy fields packed with lush golden paddy ready for harvest. Working in the fields were farmers going about their daily chores before the heat of the day arrived.

Just before arriving our 100km mark at Negara for lunch, we were treated with refreshing young coconuts – specially arranged by Cheng (our young Spore National Triathletes driver). Priceless thirst quenchers! Thanks,Cheng and Ngurah!!

The 100km we have cycled so far have been made easy by the continuously changing & fascinating landscapes, scenes and occasional roadkills we have witnessed along the journey.

After lunch, we continued cycling towards Gilimanuk at the NW tip of Bali,during which we encountered stunning eaches, huge swathes of rice fields & terraces. As met regrouped under an attap warong at the T junction of Singaraja and Gilimanuk, we realised we lost Negotiator Spare Ribs Nicky

Ting who over-shot toward Gilimanuk. A support vehicle was quickly deployed to guide Nicky back and it did. Good news is, he will end up with an additional 10km under his Audax belt!

After washing down our throats with refreshingly chilled coke and teh botol,

we got back on our bikes to make the 80km journey to Lovina beach, cutting through the National Park forest of West Bali, where we were greeted by monkeys sitting by the edge of the road. Much like spectators watching an F1race! Fortunately for us, the weather turned to our favor &  throughout the ride, we were greeted by friendly locals and kids along the road, cheering,whistling, and waving us on as we raced past. At 6pm, after 12 hours since we left Jimbaran, we finally reached our destination…Aditya Beach Resort in Lovina. Bike computer told me that we completed 213km, ave speed of 25km/h, burned 6000+ Cal. Great! All we have to do is repeat the same tomorrow!

Up at 6am the next morning, we left for Tianyar, 50km from Lovina. The scenery was no less spectacular than the day before, with mountains hugging the northern Bali coast, plunging into the blue Bali sea lined with black sandy beaches. The good road condition allowed us to reach the village of Tirtagangga after a steep 11 deg climb over 5km. Then we were treated with a long downhill ride lined with more great views across the hills & the rice terraces before reaching Pondok Mina for ikan bakar (grilled fish).

We regrouped at Padangbai, headed toward Sanur before the big finish into Jimbaran. From Sanur, we merely had 25km before we successfully completed the FIRST Bali Audax. Wayan, the organisor reiterated that it was important

for us to ride together as we enter the busy town area, and yes, it had to be completed before 6pm before darkness start to set in. Tho exhausted, we were filled with a sudden sense of pride and triumphant feeling as we rode

toward the finishing line. A feeling that only the 8 participating riders of the first ever Bali Audax could experience…much like Napoleon marching toward the Arc de Triomphe after a victorious battle!

What better way is there to see and experience Bali than being on a bike!

What an amazing trip!

Big thanks to Wayan and his super strong, super accommodating crew for organising Bali’s first Audax, certainly an event which is unforgettable and momentous to the 8 Joyriders who participated.

1. Thirst for Speed Anne Chua

2. Negotiator Spare Ribs Nicky Ting

3. Otto-matically Fast

4. Double Handsome Hadisan

5. Jamie Penangite

6. Mystery Rider “Water Buffalo” Cheng

7. Peter Lunt

8. Ms. Ade Ratnayu

By: Jamie Penangite!

Our recent 5-day tour with Wayan has convinced me that the best way to see Bali is by bicycle. Wayan took us off the beaten path to show us the real Bali, for which I am very grateful. On our tour, I met amazing people, ate some of the best food I have ever had, and was fortunate to learn about Balinese culture and some Balinese language.

One thing that struck me about Wayan is that he is not only the sole Bali bicycle tour licensed by Bali Tourism, the state agency, but he is also a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Coach licensed through Indonesian Cycling Federation. Wayan is a true supporter of local cycle racing and cycle touring, both coaching the Bali Cycling Team and arranging cycle tour events around the island. In fact, later in our trip after we had completed our tour with Wayan, I talked with a mountain bike racer who turned out to be coached by Wayan.

Our tour went from Ubud to Candidasa to Amed to Lovina to Singaraja to Batur to Ubud. Wayan and Agus, Wayan’s cousin and the sag-wagon man, did a great job ensuring we were hydrated, fed, and ready to go. Moreover, we were impressed by their on-time arrivals and departures.
I look forward to our next tour. I hope for a longer tour that goes further into the mountains in the Sidemen area. And when we go on our next tour, we’ll go with Wayan and Bali Cycling!

Bart Pestarino
Seattle Area
America

Two days cycling around Bali island

We left from Jimbaran at 05.30 AM, with the streets still quite, although we must be careful because the road is still dark. We pass through the villages of Kuta, Seminyak before we arrive at Tanah Lot village to be greeted by the sun rise. As we pedal towards the village of Kerambitan, past rice fields coloured gold by the morning sun, we see plenty of activity as farmers work in their fields before the heat of the day arrives.

Once in Kerambitan, we encounter local residents making, taking or selling all kinds of breakfast foods, all washed down with coffee. Following their example, we stop to enjoy breakfast, and witness the beautiful scene of farmers harvesting rice in a nearby rice field. The 38 km we have cycled so far have been made easy by the continuously changing & fascinating scenes we have witnessed along the route.

After breakfast, we hitch the bikes onto the bike rack & continue by car towards Gilimanuk, a 2 hour road trip, during which we encounter more stunning scenery with untouched beaches & huge swathes of rice fields & terraces. This whole journey passes through small, quiet villages, until we reach Gilimanuk, or more precisely the village of Cekik. At this point, we get back on the bikes to make the 80km trip to Lovina beach, cutting through the protected forest of West Bali, where we see monkeys living by the edge of a road. Fortunately for us, this part of the trip is not so sunny & throughout the ride, we are greeted by friendly locals, some waving our own Bali flag, with prayer offerings being made along the way. Having filled up with bananas and other snacks at the roadside, we then skip lunch and make the Sunari hotel by 3o’clock in the afternoon, staying & relaxing following a well earned massage.

Up at 6 the next morning, we leave for Amed, a distance of 80 km. The scenery is no less beautiful than the day before, with mountains hugging the northern Bali coast, plunging into the blue Bali sea. The scenery has changed now, with the mountain scenery & coastal rock cliffs, are all dominated by Agung mountain, the highest volcano on Bali. The good road condition allows us to reach the village of Amed in under 5 hours, finishing with a steep climb, from where we can see the beautiful scenery that surrounds the Amed with its unspoilt, clear waters, perfect for snorkeling. From here, we load the bikes in the van again, passing through Tirta Ganga Village, with more great views across the hills & the rice terraces, arriving at Perasi beach an hour later, well known for its white sand and clear blue ocean. Here, we stop for lunch & swim to refresh the body after our two-day cycling trip. After a couple of hours spent on the beach, taking in the relaxing beach atmosphere, we head back to Jimbaran in the late afternoon.

By: Jh 4 S