It was such an epic ride for me mainly because I was a lot less experienced, didn't have much info, was completely on my own, and it was at the level of difficulty where I was just able to do it. If you've prepared better and know what you're talking on it's probably not as hard as I made it sound.
Looking at the climbing it's similar to the hardest UK audaxes like the Pendle, maybe a few more metres but some is 'easier' climbing like a 1000m at 5-6%, rather than all being brutal up/down like the pennines (although there is a bit of that). I'm sure rides in the Alps or other mountain regions will have more climbing.
The weather is definitely better, the roads are lovely and smooth and the food is wonderful. I particularly remember the teak forests, massive trees with their leaves just starting to fall (in December), the fried rice and noodle soup available from stalls almost everywhere (apart from up that steep climb!) and the really sweet fun-size bananas...
I'd love to do it again, of all the rides I've done it's probably my all time favourite.
It was such an epic ride for me mainly because I was a lot less experienced, didn't have much info, was completely on my own, and it was at the level of difficulty where I was just able to do it. If you've prepared better and know what you're talking on it's probably not as hard as I made it sound.
Looking at the climbing it's similar to the hardest UK audaxes like the Pendle, maybe a few more metres but some is 'easier' climbing like a 1000m at 5-6%, rather than all being brutal up/down like the pennines (although there is a bit of that). I'm sure rides in the Alps or other mountain regions will have more climbing.
The weather is definitely better, the roads are lovely and smooth and the food is wonderful. I particularly remember the teak forests, massive trees with their leaves just starting to fall (in December), the fried rice and noodle soup available from stalls almost everywhere (apart from up that steep climb!) and the really sweet fun-size bananas...
I'd love to do it again, of all the rides I've done it's probably my all time favourite.