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| Author | Message |
| gideonellis | Post subject: Getting to Pallekelle
 Posted: 11:11 on 2nd Sep 2012 |
Joined: 23:53 on 13th Nov 2011 Posts: 11 |
Hi - I'm going to be taking my folding bke to SL for the world cup but would appreciate any advise on how to get to Pallekelle. I've looked on google maps and its supposed to be less than 9 miles but cycling that distance in the dark and especially if it's hilly may be quite hard work. Cheers |
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| blueandy1mac | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 09:10 on 3rd Sep 2012 |
Joined: 11:30 on 14th Jul 2008 Posts: 1810 Location: Preston UK |
This was mooted before the tour earlier this year. I repeat what I said and everyone else was thinking. Biking in SL ????? You need your bumps felt. At night? You should be sectioned, no offence. |
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| Big Harvey | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 23:17 on 3rd Sep 2012 |
Joined: 09:14 on 23rd Apr 2008 Posts: 2220 |
gideonellis Wrote: Hi - I'm going to be taking my folding bke to SL for the world cup but would appreciate any advise on how to get to Pallekelle. I've looked on google maps and its supposed to be less than 9 miles but cycling that distance in the dark and especially if it's hilly may be quite hard work. Cheers Kandy is in The Hill Country, which ought to give you some idea of the kind of terrain to expect! Personally, leaving aside my current health issues, I wouldn't even consider cycling in those parts during the day, let alone at night. Driving in Sri Lanka is much like elsewhere on the subcontinent except with above average levels of aggression, and no shortage of crazy overtaking manouvres. Cyclists are very much at the bottom of the food chain, too. Sri Lankan drivers are more likely to give way to a pedestrian or a wandering animal than a cyclist. To get to Pallekele, see if the owner of your guesthouse will drop you off and pick you up. Alternatively get a tuk-tuk (preferably arranging for the man to pick you up afterwards), or if cost is an issue, get the bus. The area around the coast is pretty flat, and better for cycling, but expect some hair-raising experiences. In all honesty you would need to be a very keen and brave cyclist for bringing a bicycle to Sri Lanka to be worthwhile. If you do, make sure you've got good travel insurance. |
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| mike | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 07:20 on 4th Sep 2012 |
Joined: 08:08 on 23rd Jul 2008 Posts: 49 |
gideonellis Wrote: Hi - I'm going to be taking my folding bke to SL for the world cup but would appreciate any advise on how to get to Pallekelle. I've looked on google maps and its supposed to be less than 9 miles but cycling that distance in the dark and especially if it's hilly may be quite hard work. Cheers Unless you have a penchant for SL hospital food, seriously, have another think about this  |
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| Slightly Chilled | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 05:58 on 24th Sep 2012 |
Joined: 11:12 on 15th Sep 2012 Posts: 8 |
I live in Kandy and cycle out to Pallekella sometimes. It's pretty true about the driving here and I would not drive here at night. But I would not stop riding here.The road going out is downhill to the Earl Regency.After that the road is quite nice and not as bad as what people imagine. However coming back after the Earl Regency is all uphill and rather unpleasant with lots of buses overtaking. What you could do is to fold up your bike and take a tuk tuk back if you feel uneasy. Regards Michael |
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| gideonellis | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 17:01 on 13th Oct 2012 |
Joined: 23:53 on 13th Nov 2011 Posts: 11 |
Bike made all the difference between a good holiday and a fantastic holiday. What I needed to know was that the bus 654 ran from Pallekelle to Kandy or alternatively a tuk tuk was 400 rupees. Really glad I didn't listen to some of the comments. G |
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| blueandy1mac | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 12:50 on 14th Oct 2012 |
Joined: 11:30 on 14th Jul 2008 Posts: 1810 Location: Preston UK |
Strangely I tend to find that if I post on a website asking for advice /information, I get responses some of which I might not appreciate if its not what I wanted or expected to hear. For the most part respondents on here like to give useful advice quite freely and with the best of intentions. If you do'nt want to listen to advice thats completely up to you, but at least be a little grateful that people took the time to try and offer it to you, with YOUR best interests at heart. I am very happy that you are back safe and sound, but I still feel you took an undue risk in a country with very limited medical facilities. |
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| bread | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 18:29 on 14th Oct 2012 |
Joined: 12:04 on 18th Jun 2008 Posts: 182 Location: Mansfield |
We got a lift back in an ambulance after the Sri Lanka game and for about 6 miles on the wrong side of the road, glad you didn't need our services then G |
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| gideonellis | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 20:01 on 14th Oct 2012 |
Joined: 23:53 on 13th Nov 2011 Posts: 11 |
kkkk |
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| gideonellis | Post subject: Re: Getting to Pallekelle
Posted: 20:16 on 14th Oct 2012 |
Joined: 23:53 on 13th Nov 2011 Posts: 11 |
I'm a bit lost about the last reply but certainly two of the earlier replies I received were helpful, a couple of the others I'm not so sure. I did think about writing earlier but felt I would leave it until I was back home. I can write from experience now that the roads in Sri Lanka can potentially be very dangerous and none more so from tuk tuk and bus drivers who appear to resent having to share the roads with other users. What surprised me though is how this was any different to England or at least the part of London where I live and routinely get cut up when cycling. When cycling in both Colombo and Kandy I noticed that there were other cyclists, not many but there were some. These other cyclists are more familiar with the road and riding conditions but were subject to the same dangers as I was. If they can live with those dangers then I don't see why I shouldn't try and do likewise. In summary thanks to those who did provide useful advise and perhaps I can make a suggestion for all Barmy Army members to consider cycling when on tour. |
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