Cycling - in Thailand

[prawnograph]

My preferred mode of transport, two wheels with pedals

See also
UK Travel - On My Bike (On my bike)
What bicycles have you had over the years?
Cycling news from around the world (Cycling news from around the world.)
Cycling the Green Lungs - Bangkok (Cycling the Green Lungs)


My latest, 1200km since Songkran

[prawnograph]

Cycling in an electrical storm



Tuesday May 23rd I was 8km from home when, as forecast, rain started, thunder and lightning.

Not to be deterred I continued another 44km, briefly taking shelter along the way by this Catholic church and thinking of the Father Ted mini-golf lightning episode.

The Bolt of Divine Retribution
If I'm really as evil as you say I am, then let God strike me down where I stand (or cycle)



Continuing on my way north-west and taking in the strobe-lighting effect, rain/thunder so loud i couldn't hear my riding music on the phone at #10 (needs an #11) for the record it was Clutch - From Beale St to Oblivion

And as anticipated, that night a lecture on the hazards of riding in such weather. Ever since a man less than 1km from us died, maybe 8 years back) - out clearing a drain with a steel shovel, the legend of lightning strike has grown.

[prawnograph]

And to reinforce the 'I told you so' the very next day this was in the news


Surin: Lightning strikes - 5 cows dead while sheltering under a tree; i did note they were to be butchered and sold at discount - partially cooked?

None of them were confirmed as riding bicycles at the time.

More light reading
Can You Ride A Bike In Lightning?
How Safe is a Bike in a Lightning Storm?
What to Do When a Thunderstorm Hits While You’re Riding


No storms here, cycling by the Mekong from Phnom Penh

[thailazer]

Had some great friends in CM and Mae Taeng and we usually
rode several times a week. One of the riders posted a few videos. Riding into hill tribe villages way up in
the mountains and drinking corn moonshine were some of the highlights. You sure can learn a lot about the country when you get off the pavement, and it is a lot safer as well. I knew two road riders that got killed in the 9 years I lived there, and also was there when the drunk girl hit 20 riders killing a few. Getting off pavement and onto dirt as fast as possible was always a priority.

[Bonecollector]

Excellent Prawn, I shall read the links when I get home tonight!

[S Landreth]

Cycling - in Thailand

Every morning (when at home) while in Thailand, but I do try to stay off the main roadways.

Country Roads are the best.

Safety first.

partially cooked?

Yes and they are already bloating.

[prawnograph]

Roadkill report

Saturday's ride north towards the Rayong border a dull route just a couple of sea glimpses, flat, tents and tables being set up for the following day's Khung Wiman marathon/half/10/5km events - limited to total 5000 entrants we didn't enter while MsP still in Covid recovery

Roadkill - more snakes than usual, related to start of rain season?
Plus an adult ginger cat, a large brown dog, an unidentifiable (squashed) lizard-type creature

Nearly roadkill i nothing should surprise me anymore, but this one did.
On a stretch of open highway I slowed as there was an elderly woman with a walking frame slowly making her way across the road, I went left to ride behind her then spotted a length of rope from her walking frame tied to a 20 litre water container she was dragging behine her, presumably to stop her straying off the property, a dementia restraint? No one to be seen at houses on ether side of the road I wasn't sure if she was a runaway or returning home, waiting till she got across before pedalling off.

Highway between home and the coast

There are signs further along "Beware the Cyclist"

[prawnograph]

Every morning (when at home) while in Thailand, but I do try to stay off the main roadways.

Country Roads are the best.

I choose based on weather and day of the week - eg a sunny Sunday means I won't take the road to the beach at Chao Lao as traffic from multiple roads is funnelled into a last 10km some of which is too narrow and can't compete with the motorbikes undertaking the queued cars and the 3km stretch of town area can be mayhem as car drivers seek that elusive park directly outside their chosen cafe/restaurant.

But plenty of other options, I'll put in an end-point on Google Maps and take the smallest roads away from traffic, no hurry. Enjoy the scenery, after about 12 years of regularly riding the same 21km route to Samet Ngam river port, two weeks ago went on minor roads instead, often roads about 1.5 car widths but with so few vehicles easy to see/hear them approaching.

[Switch]

I cycled so often in and around Kao Sok nature reserves that the posted wardens who charged visitors, let me in for free. Good choice of decent road surfaces.
This was pre Covid of course.
Getting wet wasn’t a big deal. I steam dried like the tarmac once the sun came out!

My only problems In rural areas, was empty properties guarded by dogs. (Owners away working crops). My solution was to pedal faster and carry a big stick.

[thailazer]

Chiang Mai has a nice Sunday cycling group which does tours around the city, with occasional 100 km trips. 95% Thai and a very welcoming group. Met a lot of friends there and got introduced to some good food haunts. Photo here is from about 2006 but they still meet every Sunday at Taepae Gate.

[S Landreth]

My only problems In rural areas, was empty properties guarded by dogs. (Owners away working crops). My solution was to pedal faster and carry a big stick.

I have been bitten. Broken skin and blood.......more than once.

Fvck it. I’m not changing any of my many routes.

I DO NOT recommend this for everyone. It’s cruel,......but works well.

Some easy appropriate ways.

- Glide past the dog or pack. Lift your feet if need be.
- Speed past the dog or pack of.
- Do a quick stop. The pups don’t expect it and “most” will turn around.

The cruel way, which works every time.

I’ll set it up.........

You’re minding your own business on a public road enjoying the wonderful weather/view/breeze in your face and a dog starts the attack.

The dog is either of your left or right (doesn’t matter) and within a foot or two from your feet ready to take a nip. Lift your foot and veer towards that parked vehicle. Keep in mind, you want to be about 6 inches away from the vehicle as you pass it.

The dog has only one thing on its mind and that’s your foot and is not paying attention.

The dog suddenly stops as you pass the vehicle. You might hear it cry out.

A utility pole, trash can, steep slope (about 1:1 in Thailand) along a canal bank will also work well.

[Bonecollector]

Chiang Mai has a nice Sunday cycling group which does tours around the city, with occasional 100 km trips. 95% Thai and a very welcoming group. Met a lot of friends there and got introduced to some good food haunts. Photo here is from about 2006 but they still meet every Sunday at Taepae Gate.

Nice one

[Bonecollector]

The misses and I are looking forward to doing some cycling in Japan over the next some years, I always felt Thailand just wasn't the place for cycling and kept ourselves more to hiking.

[Bonecollector]

Roadkill - more snakes than usual, related to start of rain season?

They've been more desperate during the dry season and have thus ventured out near civilization

[Bonecollector]

Surin: Lightning strikes - 5 cows dead

Mia is Surin, she mentioned this to me. God, Surin people love their cows and buffalo, nearly everyone has one tied up in front of their house. They used to not be tied but then I think the law changed that if you hit one, the owner of the animal pays for the damage.

[helge]

Surin

We had a Rural Surin here

Top poster


(oddly enough from same the city as BTosser)

[Bonecollector]

^ yup he was a good poster and bloke it seems

[S Landreth]

Yes he was such a good poster here at TD his nickname was Fvck Off Jeff

[helge]

Only used by you and a few others.

[S Landreth]

nope. it was/is by most

[helge]

Nope.

But go ahead and prove my dossier wrong

[S Landreth]

^here ya go.........

[Bonecollector]

Any elaboration available? I always thought he was decent, although I do disappear from time to time

[S Landreth]

helge blew your cover

[Bonecollector]

Yea im not Rural Surin, unless I used to talk to myself.