Another tip: I have a hybrid bike with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and have yet to have my first flat in 15,000 km. At 50 dollars a piece they are expensive but well worth the investment.

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all your advice. I am riding a custom built bright orange Bob Jackson fixey with obv very thin tyres. If it was stolen I would spot it a mile off even with a new paint job but not sure I want to risk it. Can't imagine the theft is worse than London(?!) but as yet I am not sure if I would be able to keep it indoors safe at night. Also riding around with mental traffic clipped into a fixey might be slightly daunting. London traffic isn't great but at least it all goes in the right direction! The road conditions don't sound too promising however, so might be forced into looking at getting something that looks cheap with fatter tyres for when I'm there.
Look forward to going for a ride with anyone when i'm out there.
Thanks for all the comments.
Sandy

There are lots of cheap mountain bikes here for less than 200quid. Used bikes even less. You can then flog these on when you leave.

BUT WHO IS THIS SANDY LENNOX

Seems Sandy1 and Sandy2 both like to have their bikes stolen :0

Never had my bike stolen to date!

are you feeling older now than then?

Bicycling a very good idea in Kunming, as elsewhere.

Im on my 4th bike now. The first 3 were all stolen because i locked them up in random places with a crappy lock. However this bike ive now had for a long time because i only will park it in a designated bike park with a guard. These are literally everywhere and you only pay 1 rmb. As long as you only park in these places it 99.999% wont get nicked.

Riding in km is way better than London because cities in china all have designated bike lanes separated from the main road. You just have to keep your wits about you because people come from every direction. As mentioned though cars arent a big danger. It's because the law is quite strict against car drivers. If you hit a car even if its your fault they have to pay you. The biggest danger is pedestrians who walk out onto a busy street without looking (happens all the time) or electric bikes who turn suddenly without indicating or looking

Sandy, are you related to Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics?