Hill climbing in Thailand around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

[Arlberg]

Has anyone ridden the hills around Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai in Thailand?

I'm planning a weeks holiday in either Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. I want hire a bicycle and do some day trips (not touring) into the hills in either or both of these areas.

Just wondering if anyone has been to either place and can recommend firstly, a good place to hire a bicycle, and secondly, some good hilly paved roads to train on while I'm there.

[TimW]

Just found this on a google search, we did a bike trip in phuket in 2011 and loved it.Tim
http://www.spiceroads.com/destinations/ ... pgod8xkAmg
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attractio ... g_Mai.html
http://www.activethailand.com/cycling

[redrover3]

I did a day trip up to one of the hilltribe villages from Chiangrai a couple of years ago. Organised it through Fat Free bike shop in the middle of town. They gave me one of their bike mechanics (a keen rider and from the village that we rode up to) for the day for a very reasonable cost and also a good trek mtb. We rode out along the river then up some steepish mountain roads, had local lunch and then back down singletrack to the river and back up the other side of the river to CR. First time that I have cramped on a bike. Great day out.
Tony