BICYCLE TOURING IN MALAYSIA & THAILAND
Who We Are
Equipe Nomad is the brain child of Greg Lyons, British jazz saxophonist, cyclist, ironman, blogger and mentor to much of the current jazz scene in Southeast Asia which has been his home for the past 25 years. The venture started as a way to share his passion for the joys of cycling in this tropical region with its year-round sunshine, and stunning natural beauty.
Thus the core of the Equipe Nomad experience is also a celebration of the finer things in life. We believe that cycling is also about keeping our eyes and ears open to the world, it's about adventure, community, travel, education, cultural curiosity, and an eclecticism for global fine food and drink.
Our operation centre is in Kuala Lumpur nestling at the foot of the fabulous Titiwangsa mountain range that forms the spine of Peninsular Malaysia and provides us with a wide variety of routes and climbing agendas, including peaks of up to 2000m above sea level. Our satellite base in Chiang Mai opens up even more possibilities with some seriously challenging climbs including the beast of Doi Inthanon which peaks at 2565m.
We believe that Malaysia and Thailand offer some of the best cycling in the world, and that we can rival the Alpine or Pyrenean tours for variety, beauty and challenge (without getting cold!).
Our aim is to create the perfect cycling excursion, tour or holiday through attention to a specifically tailored balance of effort and recovery, along with impeccable rider support and all the details that make it possible to enjoy every minute of your journey with us, both on and off the bike.
TEAM KIT
We are very proud of our awesome, recently redesigned, team kit. Made by the French manufacturer F2P using the latest high-tech Italian fabrics and processes, we've spared no expense in getting the absolute best quality for comfort on long rides in hot places.
At this price they offer excellent value if you're looking for some comfortable and effective hot-weather training and racing gear. Riders on our tours can add a set to the package at a discount, but it represents amazing value for money even at our full price.
Check out the Shop for details.
We are the number one experts on road cycling in Malaysia. We provide complete touring holiday packages catering to all levels of cyclist and ranging in duration and intensity from single day leisurely excursions to epic week-long adventures. We also offer cycling tours and excursions from our satellite bases in Thailand ranging from 4-7 days. The constant is unfaltering rider support and attention to the details that make your adventure with us special. We have an experienced and multi-lingual crew with a wealth of knowledge to share, and we can cater to visitors from anywhere on the planet.
We Love Cycling!
We are passionate about cycling ourselves, which fuels our desire to introduce you to the joys of cycling in this incredible region. As a small, family-run operation, our focus is on the personal touch: the company, personal discovery and challenge, the route quality, entertainment, food, safety, convenience and comfort.
Preparing You To Ride
We are also keen to assist in preparing you physically, mentally and mechanically for your ride with us. We will try to make sure you arrive ready to make the most of your cycling adventure.
We can even offer you structured training programs, designed to get you ready to meet the challenge, whether that means just having the fitness to enjoy the ride, or going for a personal record.
Our coaching and racing experience in over 30 year of competition, sportives and multi-sport endurance events, coupled with our deep understanding of the science of sport and nutrition is available to all who ride with us.
You can also check out related information on our blog Rider's Cafe.
LEVELS OF RIDE DIFFICULTY
Our rides are now colour-coded so that you can select an agenda and challenge level that suits your purposes.
GREEN RIDES
Our basic roster of rides of 1-4 days of duration, with an average daily distance of between 30 and 80 km. The schedule usually offers more options for off-the-bike activities and general tourism. For those who are looking for an outdoor getaway in which cycling is a part of the whole picture.
BLUE RIDES
Our more extensive collection of options from 1-7 days of duration with daily distances of 70 to 120 km. Here the cycling takes a more central role, but leaves energy for other pursuits.
RED RIDES
Our more challenging rides of 1-7 days duration with average daily distances of 90 to 160 km for longer tours, and up to 200 km for shorter ones, with single-day rides going even above that! This is for those who are really looking for a pure cycling focus with a maximum level of challenge, and recovery activities involving mostly sitting or lying down :)
ROAD CYCLING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
The Southeast Asian region is still a well-kept secret in cycling terms. Both Malaysia and Thailand offer all the essential ingredients: an extensive system of good roads, year-round warm weather, an abundance of unspoiled nature and beautiful landscapes, safe road-side food and amenities, and all the infrastructure needed for a stimulating but safe cycling experience.
Equipe Nomad offers a chance for road cyclists to investigate the back-roads into the hills and valleys of this picturesque tropical region. Discover the jungle clad climbs of the Malaysian highlands: Cameron, Genting and Fraser's Hill; the severe gradients of Northern Thailand; or the wide-open landscapes of the padi fields and palm-fringed coastal routes. Always surrounded by breathtaking views, hills, jungles, rivers, lakes; cycling through friendly villages, up and down every type of gradient into the morning mist on jungle covered mountains.....then discover the food!
We offer several ready-made packages of 1 to 7 days of cycling ranging from the moderately challenging to the delightfully brutal. The shorter rides are designed mainly as weekend pressure-valves for the growing numbers of city-bound lycra-junkies in the region, while the longer ones cater also to those from further afield looking for cycling challenges in a new and culturally diverse environment.
We have many more routes up our sleeves and are happy to put together variations on our routes or other rides if we have groups (minimum 6 persons) looking for longer/harder/alternative outings.
On an Equipe Nomad adventure you will get:
Basically, this is the pro touring experience for the amateur.
We look after everything.
You ride your bike!
BLOG: RIDER'S CAFE
A place where we share ideas on bicycle-related topics from equipment to nutrition to training etc.
Visit our facebook page