Cycling in Thailand, Yay or nay?

[chassamui]

Did he have to take it apart and pack it all up? and was it counted as part of his luggage? I have a nice Trek 4500 I want to bring over and wondered the best way

Air India claim that they will take a bicycle as is with no packing. (Claim not tested).
Virgin used to allow you one free cycle per trip on international flights. Bike shops will usually have used boxes if you don't want to shell out for a purpose built bike box.

[chassamui]

Border run by MTB Ranong.

Ranong Mountain Bike Visa Run

[PAG]

His observation is that he feels much safer riding here in Phuket/Thailand than he does in the UK.

I don't know if that has any basis!

A friend of mine, UK Yorkshire cyclist, is here at the moment, and has brought his bike with him

Did he have to take it apart and pack it all up? and was it counted as part of his luggage?

I have a nice Trek 4500 I want to bring over and wondered the best way

Re the packing, yes, he brought it (Pinnarello) in a purpose bought bag type carrier that needed the bike stripped down. There was no charge for 'sporting goods' on his airline carrier. Re-assembling was done by a local bike shop at the outrageous price of 200 baht (4 pounds).

Any activity on roads in Thailand has to be viewed with caution, but the point I'm making is that 2 wheel vehicles are in the majority, and in the main other drivers acknowledge and accommodate that. How many 2 wheel vehicles do you see on the roads in the UK, as a ratio compared to 4 wheeled? Likewise, most roads here have specific 2 wheel traffic lanes, so not often you need to wander into the 'main stream'.

[Chittychangchang]

Just come back from a 3 hour mountain bike ride.
Off topic....can anyone recommend a large framed road bike for under a $1000 as i've exhausted all the local trail's in a 20 mile radius and i'm ready to tear up the road's.

I intend a cycle around los at some point in the future.

Great thread.

CCC

[Chittychangchang]

Border run by MTB Ranong.

Ranong Mountain Bike Visa Run

^worth a look, cheer's for posting.
CCC

[Drainpipe]

Did he have to take it apart and pack it all up? and was it counted as part of his luggage? I have a nice Trek 4500 I want to bring over and wondered the best way

Air India claim that they will take a bicycle as is with no packing. (Claim not tested).
Virgin used to allow you one free cycle per trip on international flights. Bike shops will usually have used boxes if you don't want to shell out for a purpose built bike box.

thanks for that; as thought, each airline has their own rules...

So rather than trying to get the best value ticket, I now have to examine each airlines regs. Good fun

[Phuketrichard]

in asia u can often just roll it up to the checkin counter, deflate the tires an off it goes

Great trip? yep except for raising my duaghter the best time i have ever had :-)

[prawnograph]

thanks for that; as thought, each airline has their own rules...

So rather than trying to get the best value ticket, I now have to examine each airlines regs. Good fun

I've taken bikes with me twice on Thai Airways - emailed them first to ask and was sent a page with options, both times i went the bubble-wrap way - wheels off and each side of frame, handlebars turned in-line with frame, seat at its lowest, pedals off. Wrapped in metres of bubble wrap. They didn't charge as it was included in my personal baggage limit (of 20 or 22kg?). Handed it over, they stuck 'fragile stickers all over' and told me it would be among last-on/first-off to avoid any damage. It was, no problems.

I've seen a bike being wrapped on one of the clear plastic wrapping machines at Suvarnabhumi - but don't know what airline that was going with.

Tried same with Air Asia and got 'no - either proper cycle bag or boxed'
___________

The Bicycle Thailand site has an article: Bicycles on Airplanes in Thailand (note - it is as at 31 March 2012 - pays to check for updated info)

[Breny]

Many thanks for all the info. Im probably going to travel with China airlines from Amsterdam airport, which means its a straight flight from Amsterdam to Swampy. And i get to have a few days cycling from the hook of Holland to Amsterdam, im getting the ferry from Harwich, just to have a bit more of a sight see.

China airlines have always been spot on with extra baggage ( tool box and airtools ) for when i was contracting out in Swampy have always been undamaged.

Im getting a bit of a touch on with all of the fantastic route suggestions. Cheers fellas.

[zygote1]

I had my mountain bike with me in Phuket in the mid 90's. Some of the happiest times exploring and riding the roads. By the early 2000's it became difficult to do. Speeding, traffic and the idiot cement truck and lorry drivers. Where the road from Patong to Kathu was once safe, it quickly became a corridor of death.. When I was last up in Udon Thani, I wished I had my bike. The drivers were far more considerate and the traffic less hectic on some roads. There are many places around Ubon town where one can go without fear of death. In Hua Hin, it is possible too, if one avoids the main drag. The secondary roads all around the mountain are fairly quiet. At the risk of offending the urban people, I find that once I get out of the city, the land of smiles reappears and folks are usually considerate of farangs on a bike, provided one avoids "rush hours".

[Rainfall]

Just come back from a 3 hour mountain bike ride.
Off topic....can anyone recommend a large framed road bike for under a $1000 as i've exhausted all the local trail's in a 20 mile radius and i'm ready to tear up the road's.

I intend a cycle around los at some point in the future.

Great thread.

CCC

I'll leave my 28" wheel roadbike, frame 61 cm in Thailand because I can't take it back home. It's a German-made Centurion that I imported 9 years ago. Girlfriend wants to take it to Isaan, what purpose this could serve I don't know, it's way too large for Thais. I'm sure she'd be happy to sell it below 10K Baht, though. PM pls if you're interested, and give me an email for some pics. I'll fly out in two days from now, so it's not much time left. The bike is currently in Pattaya.