Thread: Thai Bicycling Trips

Here in Phnom Penh hammering myself with an old VN based mate for a few days. But I promise, ST, as soon as I return I will pm you about a meet up for bike purchase purposes.
Am still inspired, although my head hurts right now.

^ Riding right on the ragged edge well done ST.

At least you got the right end of the pineapple, not the rough end.

9 June 2012: 5 of us today on our weekly Saturday morning Ban Chang bicycle ride. GPS called it 44.64 kilo. 50% of the ride was on asphalt country roads with almost non-existent traffic but with some gently rolling hills and 1 “Oh my Gosh” climb. We all made the climb in our saddles but did have the opportunity to exercise our low gears. The benefit was that we got to come down this hill upon our return.

40% of the ride on packed sand and gravel off road surfaces. Again some minor climbs with mostly gently rolling terrain. What made it interesting was the culverts that the rains have created and and sand wash off making soft spots on the downhill. These roads were mostly in the valley with pineapple farms, rubber plantations and tapioca farms. Great scenery.

10% of todays ride was in the jungle blazing trails and looking for the overgrown trails that were there last year. A few places where we had to push our bicycles. While our lead rider was clearing the path of some fallen tree branches, another branch fell and landed on the helmeted head of one of our other riders. No injuries.


Here is some of the scenery we took in on todays ride.


Pineapple Valley.







There was some riding in the valley on some hard sand/gravel improved off road surface. That’s not to say that there weren’t any soft spots or grooves in the road as a result of rain and run off. Had to be careful on the declines. But this road went on for more than 10 kilo with beautiful scenery in this valley.










oh yea, and there was some make your own trails in the jungle riding also. but for the most part, we enjoy riding and not pushing our bicycles so we keep the trail blazing to a minimum or when we have to to get to remote but exclusive riding trails.

Do you ever think of pit vipers when you ride through the undergrowth offroad?
Looks a bit like their kind of country to me.
Otherwise the scenery is great and makes riding a pleasure, hills apart, of course.

actually grasshopper, the potential of a snake crossing or sitting up in the path is a thought always in the front of my mind. Even more so when riding through a tapioca farm or tall saw grass.

if I was in the States I'd be looking for copperheads or rattler snakes. here it is the cobra.

As I understand it, vipers just dont get out of your way unlike most other snakes. You gotta go around them or take your chances. Still, I suppose they are unlikely to camp in the middle of the path or roadway.
Re the cycle purchase - I havent forgotten but have a mate over for 4 weeks so I have to do the travel "guide" thing at the moment. There is another thought at the back of the mind too. My present digs/condo prohibits taking bikes into your apartment? May have to change to get over that security problem. A good bike is a standout target in my view.

23 June 2012:

Bike Ride Saturday. Caught this beautiful blooming tree as I was cruising through Eastern Star to our ride meeting point.




There were 6 of us that showed up this morning. And off we went on the rolling country hills just North of Ban Chang.

As we rode out on some of the hard surface country roads North of Ban Chang, we spotted a marked off road bike course. No idea who cleared the path and layed out the course but it was much appreciated. The course was well layed out with some hairpin turns, technical declines, some close clearance branches and trees to ride between and under, and a tree root or two to work your way around. The course was about 3 kilo in distance and a nice change of pace. It was almost all, about 99% ridable which is always a welcomed site.

Here is a photo of our entry point to the marked off course.




Here is my self indulging photo of myself of course on a section of the marked course...





Our resident Thai rider who is a regular in our riding group and he is the one who keeps the rest of us older timers in line and amused.




And here are some other shots of the course layout.













My camera was stashed away before we got to any of the technical riding areas of the course so what you see here is what you get for now but hopefully the next time out to this area we will have some more time that will allow for some more detailed photos.

Again I would like to extend my and our bicycle riding group a big hand and appreciation to whomever it is that marked and cleared the path. We also will attempt to to clear and to clean up and preserve this riding habitat.

As for the rest of the ride, it was smooth sailing on hard surface county roads without any traffic. After spending time on the off road course, it was important to get some mileage in so we focused on that. It was a beautiful day for a ride and a wonderful ride it was....

here is a panorama shot of the marked off road course:

2 July 2012: Well today was some sort of Buddhist Holiday so I figured it appropriate to stop at the Wat during my solo 50K ride to Sattahip & Samersan ports.





On Samersan there was a dive boat getting ready to go out and I was contemplating taking the boat over to one of the local islands. However, the questionable weather and the unknowing factor of how close to the shore line of the island would the boat be able to get convinced me better wait until I have some translation assistance available...





This photo is at the far end of Samersan peninsula where the Island Museum is located. The island in the background is where I actually would like to take the bike and explore some day.





Perimeter road around the area where the Island Museum is located with islands in the background.




As it turned out, it was a great ride. Flat and quick with some cloud cover allowed for a pleasant ride.

4 August 2012: Today was the weekly Saturday group ride of the Ban Chang Rough Riders. A little change of pace today as we decided to get some distance in so I recommended riding out to Samersan where the terrain in hard surface, rolling, and will provided for a good cardio workout. That's 2 times this week for rides out to Samersan and from the sounds of complements on this route, it may very well become one of the groups regular routes. We ended up putting in about 56 kilo at a pretty good pace but still took time to smell the orchids and take some photos. Here are a few photos of the terrain and views from todays ride.


This first photo is a view of some fishing boats out in the Gulf of Thailand with the photo taken from a Wat at the top of the hill overlooking the Gulf.





We rode through the Fishing Village of Samersan and out onto one of the piers between the docked fishing boats. Just a few shots of the fishing boats.


















From this photo here, one can get a good view of the Samersan port from out on one of the piers.






And there is always time to mix it up with the locals. Here is one of our group
honoring a request to have them take a photo of the Thai family.

Great shots ST, especially like the bow shot with the offerings

Thanks Khun Larvidchr. That was actually my favorite shot of the day as well ans was thinking about positing in the "post a photo a week......" thread but decided otherwise.

fun ride today with the group. looking forward to when you can get out and join us for one of the casual rides.

Just had this link on this thread sent to me by a pal and wow! what great pics.

Just started biking again after 40 years in the Soi Siam Mabrachan lake area of Pattaya and wondered if there are any other aging bikers interested in shortish rides around the lake (Possibly increasing the distances when my aching muscles get acclimatised once more)

The idea of a mirror you can pin to your helmet is also great because if I had had one last Sunday at 6.0am whilst peddling around mabrachan lake it might have stopped the two scumbags who ripped my small bag off my back nicking my iphone and about 80 Baht.

Also interested in buying a second hand light weight bike if anyone knows of a bargain, my height is 5ft 6"

Once again thanks for some great photos and a smashing thread

1 Sept 2012: Ban Chang Rough Riders headed out toward St Andrew’s School and Golf Resort for their weekly Saturday bicycle ride. We had 5 of us in the group that day and logged in 43 kilo with an average riding speed of 18.3 kph. Here is one of the riders taking a break from the cycle ride at a road side fruit stand where a Durian is being held up. We settled for a watermelon to share before we continued on with the ride.





‎‎3 Sept 2012: Solo ride today so decided to head toward the Sattahip Port and Had Nang Ram Beach area. 45 kilo distance, an avg speed of 20.3 kph, and a burn of 674 calories. Here are a few pics during the ride at the beach and at the port.

Great shots, now just eat a chicken tender grilled and sliced thin on a normal piece of bread. I still remember you chicken sandwich with a whole huge breast. You are losing weight though, let me tell ya. Keep up the photos and this thread.

4 Sept 2012: Today's ride was a solo ride again. Took some back country roads from my Villa in Ban Chang, Thailand to the MapTaPut Industrial complex. Ended up being about 38 kilo in distance with an average riding speed of 19.6 kph. The ride was very nice in that it was all no or low traffic country roads through a few small villages and the sea to my left side on the return trip.




New Posts

You are so lucky to be able to set off from your house and do that. We that live in BKK dont have such a wonderful opportunity. Thanks for sharing. Tomorrow I will run up and downstairs to the 7th floor, normally its only 4 floors. I have never ridden the lift in the building I work in. I wish I could not only ride there, but go up by bike. Sadly I cant ride as their are no shower facilities. Down to one old bike in the house as well. Time to make some purchases.

I would like to ride more, but alas there is no air in my tyres.

You do know the British are the only nation that can use their mouths and tongues in conjunction to inflate a tire. Or tyre.

SEA Traveler Thanks for your PM. I tried to send you a PM back but apparently you have to have posted 20 times and I havnt just now because some of my previous posts have been deleted for some reason!

However I will keep checking on the forum for news of when you are coming up to Horseshoe point and look forward to a ride out with you.

When on the public roads how do other roads users treat you?

Originally Posted by OhOh

When on the public roads how do other roads users treat you?

Generally speaking OhOh, one must be careful and have total situational awareness. After all, we are talking about Thai drivers being on the road. If I am not mistaken, you are down in the Ban Chang Area South of Suk somewhere in the Phala or Phyoon area. That being the case, there are many many very nice rural roads with very little traffic.

When we ride, we try and pick the routes that have minimal amounts of traffic.

I am constantly warned by the bride that there are motor cycle riders who are looking for people to rob so that is always something to keep an eye out for.

23 Sep 2012: Ban Chang hosted a car free day Bicycle rally and ride today. Free T Shirts, water, soi milk and fried dough in the morning before the ride. The plan was for 22 kilo but I ended up with 44 kilo as I rode some additional distance with a few local Thai’s I met on the ride.
Here I am with one of my Thai friends with whom I ride regularly with on Saturday mornings.








This was the starting point.









There were probably over 1,000 riders by my estimate on this ride.














After the ride we were served some rice and chicken curry. Well worth the ride to get this kind of free meal afterwards.