Cycling near Punta Cana - how is it?

[YuriL]

Hi,

I am going to Punta Cana for a week, and I don't know what bicycle to bring: Road, or Mountain? I like both, but would prefer to ride the road bike if the roads are reasonably good. Can anyone comment, which is the better activity for this area?

Thanks,

Yuri in Calgary, Canada

[KateP]

Originally Posted by YuriL

Hi,

I am going to Punta Cana for a week, and I don't know what bicycle to bring: Road, or Mountain? I like both, but would prefer to ride the road bike if the roads are reasonably good. Can anyone comment, which is the better activity for this area?

Thanks,

Yuri in Calgary, Canada

Exactly in which area will you be? There aren't any hills or mountains but some holes are the size of small craters...

[Budson]

Not that cycling is any more dangerous than any other activity here, but if you choose to cycle here consider the following:

The conditions of the road here do not lend themselves to road bikes. You will need a mountain bike to ride just about anywhere here.

I occasionally seen serious bicyclist here but they tend to stay on the autopistes. Driving on them is dangerous enough, riding a bike takes that up a notch.

As is also the case with driving here, roads are poorly marked. Make sure you drop breadcrumbs along the way. Going out armed with a map and looking for roadsigns/directions may not get you where you want to be. Backtracking and seaching for roads is a little more exhausting on a bike than it is in a car.

There are roads and locations here that really attract mountain bikers. If that is what you want to do consider finding a resort that offers biking as one of their activities. I would contact Rancho Yajuate in Jarabacoa for starts.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you are with someone else. The Buddy System is always a good idea and here, it is mandatory. An employee of mine was recently hurt on his moto and the first responders stole his bike and his money. You need to bring any assistance with you before you set off.

[Berzin]

I would not recommend road cycling by yourself. The roads are not great but that should be the least of your worries.

Out on your own you will be an all-too-easy target for someone to knock you over and steal your bike. I am telling you this as a fellow road cyclist myself.

If you want to cycle in the DR, you will need to get in touch with guys who ride and get together with them. I have laid the groundwork for this myself, but in the capital, not out in Punta Cana.

If you bring a set of strong 32 spoke clincher wheels and some decent training tires(23mm, don't get cute with 19s, not on those roads) you should be set. A lightweight set of wheels will get abused quickly, and definitely forget about carbon rims and tubulars.

By the way, how is your spanish? If its' not great, contact the good people at Iguana Mama - Mountain Biking, Hiking & Ecological Adventures They do some great organized off-road rides and they are very well-respected.

Whatever you wind up doing, let us know how it went and best of luck.

[YuriL]

Sounds like I should stick to the MTB and to smaller roads and trails! Hopefully I won't get robbed. But if I do, hell, they can keep the bike, it's insured :-) ! My Spanish is OK. Unfortunately I'll be too far away from the place where that Iguana Mama outfit is based.

[Berzin]

Originally Posted by YuriL

Sounds like I should stick to the MTB and to smaller roads and trails! Hopefully I won't get robbed. But if I do, hell, they can keep the bike, it's insured :-) ! My Spanish is OK. Unfortunately I'll be too far away from the place where that Iguana Mama outfit is based.

They are based in Cabarete but they do tours all over the place. contact them and see what they offer in your area.

If not, I'm sure some of the hotels in the Punta Cana area offer off-road bike tours.