We are contemplating a trip to this area, and we want to bike for 3 or 4 days. My LP guidebook of course says that bikes are available everywhere and that it is easy to bike the area on your own. But, I've fallen for that kind of guidebook info before and been misled. We speak no Chinese dialects at all, it would be our first trip to the area, and our only other Asian trip has been to Vietnam where for our time in the countryside when we wanted to bike and hike we hired a private guide. So, what is the reality here?
We also want to have good, really rideable bikes rather than pieces of junk. While we don't like to throw money away, we are middle-aged and can afford to spend money if it will make a trip of only two weeks run more smoothly and ensure that we will have a better experience. I've been looking at bicycle tours of the area, and they are pricey. That is why I want to know if it really is as easy as the guidebook states to do this on your own. I feel that often guidebook authors, who speak the language and are familiar with the area/culture/ habits etc. tend to minimize the difficulty those who do not have that comfort level and experience will have. Are there some "nice" and comfortable guesthouses in the area that might be able to provide these services at a lower cost than signing up for a full fledged tour of the area? Thanks for yhour insights.
We also want to have good, really rideable bikes rather than pieces of junk. While we don't like to throw money away, we are middle-aged and can afford to spend money if it will make a trip of only two weeks run more smoothly and ensure that we will have a better experience. I've been looking at bicycle tours of the area, and they are pricey. That is why I want to know if it really is as easy as the guidebook states to do this on your own. I feel that often guidebook authors, who speak the language and are familiar with the area/culture/ habits etc. tend to minimize the difficulty those who do not have that comfort level and experience will have. Are there some "nice" and comfortable guesthouses in the area that might be able to provide these services at a lower cost than signing up for a full fledged tour of the area? Thanks for yhour insights.