Dooring is the least of your worries

We love riding bikes.  We have ridden them in Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam & now in Laos.  Safety considerations when riding are very different to those insisted upon in Australia or other first world countries, I imagine.  'Dooring' poses a threat to the cyclist everywhere but dooring from cars is the least of your worries riding bicycles in SE Asia.

In Hoi An we rode bikes for about 10 days & every single ride offered a little excitement of its own. Every time I rode towards Hoi An township, I was accosted by cycling or motorcycling tailors eager to understand my tailoring priorities & to offer a good price.  It was a little disconcerting having to fend off these advances while also keeping an eye out for all of the other potential obstacles.

One welcome obstacle was the afternoon when I was nearly knocked off my bike by a motorcycling farmer/pig-owner/merchant/happy customer who was wielding two enormous baskets in which lay 2 enormous pigs.  The rider wasn't as good at judging distances as he might be which is why he provided a little clip as he revved by.  I have loved taking photos of all kinds of animals on the backs of vehicles so immediately gave chase in a bid to capture what would have been a remarkable photo. Unfortunately, he was too fast & even though I gave it my best-effort-during-spin-class riding, I couldn't catch my prey.

This rider went to the same logistical school as many truck-drivers, van drivers, motorcycle riders, tuk-tuk drivers & bicycle couriers & shoppers all over SE Asia.  They are absolutely hell-bent on testing the laws of physics with their packing style & weight.  We read an hilarious Vientiane Times newspaper article which seemed to be reporting as news, the fact that a recent report has indicated that overpacked & overweight vehicles are having a detrimental impact on roads-stop the presses!!

Loose animals on the road provide a further distraction.  Dogs, cats, cows, chickens, goats, geese have all run across the road with no warning when we have been riding.  In less populated areas we have also had to avoid bullocks and water buffalo.  The animals generally take their time & in general, have been remarkably unperturbed by 3 Australians on bikes.

I have also been 'doored' by a pork bun little van; almost run into a mobile coffee tuk tuk; had ice cream cycle stores open supply cupboards right as I have been trying to overtake & had people & bikes either walk out right in front of me or stop suddenly, using blind faith that the person behind will undertake evasive action.  This would be ok to do if I wasn't certain that there were countless vehicles rushing up behind ready to overtake or overrun.  

We have been unable to ascertain many road rules, except that there is a strict road hierarchy & as Western tourists on funny little rented bicycles, we are definitely at the bottom of the cycling rack! However, we ride on with an ongoing sense of adventure & our hands firmly on the handle-bar breaks, ready for any sudden moves...