dominican republic

rozi258

Anybody biked around the Dominican Republic - is it safe!

durhamwasp

the roads are the worst roads i have ever seen in certain places. Forgetting about that, if you don't stop i reckon you would be ok.

FJS

Lived there for a while. There's a bit of a cycling scene (these guys in the capital Santo Domingo are a driving force: http://www.planetbike.com.do/), but in the end it is a developing country with bad roads (although not loads worse than the UK to be honest), and mosty bad and dangerous driving, drink-driving common, and traffic rules 'negotiable'. Local competitive road riders train on the motorway, simply because t's safer than on the roads - wouldn't recommend that for a nice tour though,

That being said, there's some great riding, especially mtb-ing. I've done some loops around Cabarete in the North and Bani in the south. Amazing scenery, big mountains, and very quiet away from the roads. In the north there's Iguana Mama renting mtbs http://www.iguanamama.com/, and in the mountains in the southwest there's an Austrian guy renting bikes from his eco-lodge (can be gard to get to) http://www.ranchocascada.com/mountainbike/index.html. He was also involved in the organization of a Dominican transalp a couple of years ago.

I know some people have toured the country on bike, so it's possible, and if you take care of traffic I'm sure you'd have a great time.

Where will you be based? or plan on touring?

rozi258

thanks for this - i think i will stick to the MTb - i am in the south of the Island,

FJS

rozi258 wrote:

thanks for this - i think i will stick to the MTb - i am in the south of the Island,

If that's the South-East (Punta Cana area for example), that's pretty flat, hot, and I'm not sure whether there's much mtb-ing there.
The South-West is remote, but mountainous, and should have some great riding - not many facilities though. Check Rancho Cascada.
Santo Domingo is South too, but I wouldn't ride there