Cycling in Phnom Penh
Photo: Flying Bike
Though often dismissed as a children’s pastime, cycling in the capital does have a number of great advantages. Phnom Penh is relatively easy to navigate around on a bike due to its flat layout and easy to understand street numbering system. Not a single gear change is necessary at any time. It’s still quite common to see people cycling as a means of transportation.
The roads are of generally of good quality, especially around Norodom Boulevard. The streets are swept regularly which means your chances of a tyre puncture are quite low. And best of all your heart and leg muscles will both improve dramatically.
Safety First and Handy Hints.
If you follow the usual rules of cycling then you should be O.K. This means of course you should always wear a helmet. Phnom Penh is a bustling city by day but after about 10 PM you’ll have a lot less company on the streets.
Make sure to lock up your bicycle and if possible behind a secure gate. The security guards who are quite prevalent in the richer parts of the city do a good job of keeping an eye on your bicycle, especially if you park near them and then say smile and say hello to them!
If you buy a 1.5 L water bottle you’ll find that it fits snugly into a standard water bottle frame. This will be your best friend if you intend to ride during the day when it becomes hot.
During rainy season it’s wise to pack a rain coat just in case.
About 6 years ago Phnom Penh introduced a numbering system which makes navigation easier. You can also use major landmarks such as religious sites and statues as reference points. Tall buildings with a unique design also fulfill this function such as the Wing Bank Building on Monivong Boulevard.
The best type of bicycle to use is a mountain bike. Its fat tyres produces a far more comfortable ride and the slower pace compared to a racing bike gives you more time to brake.
Cycling Shops
Phnom Penh is blessed with many cycling shops with highly competent mechanics. If you’re looking for a cheap but workable bicycle then the best area for you to go to are 108th and 107th streets. These are between Orussey Market and Monivong Boulevard and this where you’ll find hundreds of different bicycles for sale in a variety of shops. A new mountain bike here will set you back $120 while the second hand bikes will start from $40.
At the higher end of the market Sophy Bicycle Shop on 19th Street about 100 m before Preah Suramit Boulevard. Here you’ll find all the technology that the modern cyclist desires such as GPS units, carbon-fibre frames and cycling shirts. There is always someone in the shop who can speak English.
Renting
There are plenty of good bicycles for rent on Silk Island which is on the eastern side of the Mekong River which outside Phnom Penh’s city limits. Both Rent Bike and Vicious Cycle Bike Shop cater to tourists going for day rides after taking a cheap ride on the Areyksat ferry. Bicycles can be rented for as low as $7 USD and they speak fluent English as well.
Flying Bikes 2 on the corner of streets 51 and 200 has a range of good quality mountain bicycle both for sale and rent. Renting a bicycle starts at $8 USD per day and this includes a lock and a helmet. Bring your passport and be aware that the rental shop is closed on Sundays.
Day Tours
There are a number of excellent touring companies that provide day tours both in Phnom Penh and over on Silk Island. This can be a great way to spend a day, especially with a local tour guide who can show you the all the tight places and knows when you need a break.
Starting at $39 USD per person you can take a half-day tour with Siem Reaper Travel-Phnom Travel Tours. They leave at 7.30 and and complete the tour by 2.30 PM. This tour is only moderately difficult and you will see the countryside in all its beauty right next to Phnom Penh.
From $89 per per person you go on the Oudong Mountain Floating Village Cycle Tour. This takes you to the villages and temples of Tonle Sap and a chance to see how most Cambodians still live. You can also take bike tours to the countryside on the western bank of the Mekong as well as visiting the infamous Killing Fields of Choeung Ek.
Cycling Clubs
Phnom Penh is blessed to have two cycling clubs. Phnom Penh Easy Riders ride every Saturday morning starting at 6.30 am for a half-day ride. This means riding into the surrounding countryside with a food and drink break half way through the morning. Rides are usually 35 to 60 km and they change the route every week.
P2BH3 full name is Phnom Penh Bike Hash and they bring the Hash House Harriers’ ethos of outdoor exercise, food, a lively sense of humour and of course plenty of beer drinking in combination with cycling. They ride on the first Saturday of each month.
Both groups can be found on Facebook.
Conclusion
Phnom Penh is a great place for cycling. It’s the best way to travel around and you get to see so much more of the city by travelling at a slower pace. It’s also a lot cheaper and a lot more convenient when it comes to parking. There’s also an opportunity to connect socially and see the many great attractions of Phnom Penh and the surrounding countryside.
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Author: Nick Hanlon
Nick Hanlon is a former humanitarian worker, sports tour operator, teacher, writer and singer who has lived in four different countries. His main love is showing you the many features of Cambodian culture while connecting you with the local community.
