Thread: Cycling - in Thailand

Today's horror story, from Kamphaeng Phet



A pickup driver has been detained following a harrowing incident where he fatally struck a cyclist and then discarded the body roadside. The suspect claimed the accident was unintentional and cited poor road lighting as a contributing factor.

The horrific incident occurred when 47 year old amateur cyclist Samnao (surname withheld) was struck by a vehicle while he was returning from his regular workout. The impact was so strong that it tore his bicycle into two pieces and caused him to be lodged in the front of the vehicle.

The driver, later identified as Jirapong (surname withheld), then transported the deceased victim nearly 5 kilometres before discarding the body along the Kamphaeng Phet – Tha Ma Khue road.

He insisted he had no intention of running over the cyclist, and that his actions after the accident were borne out of fear rather than malice. His lack of decision to remain at the scene or take the victim to the hospital was a knee-jerk reaction, which he now regretted.

^ Happens way too often in Thailand. Stay safe everyone.

Originally Posted by prawnograph

The driver, later identified as Jirapong (surname withheld), then transported the deceased victim nearly 5 kilometres before discarding the body along the Kamphaeng Phet – Tha Ma Khue road.

What's the betting he was under the influence?

Originally Posted by prawnograph

cited poor road lighting as a contributing factor.

I read your post early this morning. Just awful news.

For the most part I will not leave the house while on a bike when it’s dark out. However, I will leave very early in the morning. By the time I’m out of the neighborhood the sun is rising.

Today and in the future, I’ll be waiting for the sun to rise.

The hairpin bend on highway 4002, at Paknam Khaem Nu on the Chanthaburi coast highway (Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Rd).
Road has been widened, new asphalt and now painted like a section of racetrack. Was ok dry yesterday - steeper than it looks - but unsure how non-slip that paint will be in rain, it's a sharp turn going downhill.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

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

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

The gliding technique worked yesterday; just barely, when an escapee (5 meters of rope still attached to its collar) and his cohort started the chase.

Had to alter my route back.

On Wednesday I headed up the coast from Chanthaburi into Rayong province and to Paknam Prasae. 90km highway riding, not my favourite, but a ride I'd wanted to do. Follow the cycle lanes.

The bridge at the border, Phang Rat River separates Chanthaburi/Rayong


Bridge over the Prasae River. A few years back we came here on the motorbike, no evident signs and rode onto the bridge to find it didn't dross the river yet, just stopped above he last support pillar on land. Must have run out of danger warning tape, or even tree branches, that day.


Now!!! You are here Paknam Prasae


A long walk to the sea at low tide. The three islands in the distance, one a government/state sea turtle sanctuary Man Nai, the other two privately owned/leased, Man Nork and the middle one Mantakiri has a resort

And apart from the view, the one attraction at Paknam Prasae:

HTMS Prasae (formerly US Navy USS Gallup PF-47, Soviet Navy EK-22), at Paknam Prasae
USS Gallup is a Tacoma-class frigate, built in California and launched 17 September 1943, saw duty with US Navy in the Pacific until 26 August 1945. Transferred to Soviet Navy as EK-22 under a lend-lease agreement, and returned to US Navy on 14 November 1949 at Yokohama, Japan.
Recommissioned 18 October 1950 for duty in the Korean conflict.
Decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Thai Navy 19 October 1951 as HTMS Prasae.
Decommissioned and struck from the Royal Thai Navy register 22 June 2000.
Preserved as a memorial at Sattahip Naval Base then towed to Prasae 23 December 2003 as The HTMS Prasae Memorial.



I took a slightly longer route home, energised my by secret mix from my one stop at 7-11 - water, Fanta and M150, a bread bun with black bean filling and an iceblock.

I'd seen Tung Prong Thong on the map but Golden Meadow was a less interesting translation for my imagination.

Delaying new tyres/tires till I reach 3000km next service later this month, time for something more road-suitable / hybrid than the noisy off-road ones it was fitted with new. And changing the front chainring up a few teeth.

^ Plenty of scenery on that ride!

Originally Posted by prawnograph

On Wednesday I headed up the coast from Chanthaburi into Rayong province and to Paknam Prasae. 90km.....

That is an incredible amount of bike riding for a day. Great pictures

Originally Posted by S Landreth

That is an incredible amount of bike riding for a day. Great pictures

I'll admit it was a little too far for me that day; I extended the return ride for a change of scenery, heat off the road was intense and twice took shelter in 7-11s for a burst of cool air

Yesterday a more relaxed 40km, pic with the pandas near Tung Benja on Sukhumvit #3

Originally Posted by prawnograph

heat off the road was intense and twice took shelter in 7-11s for a burst of cool air

Great idea and could be helpful information for others.

When arriving home most every morning last week, I had to remove my t-shirt and wash it to remove the smell of sweat.

I should change some of my routes during the warmer mornings to include some convenience stores.

Originally Posted by prawnograph

twice took shelter in 7-11s for a burst of cool air

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Great idea and could be helpful information for others.

When arriving home most every morning last week, I had to remove my t-shirt and wash it to remove the smell of sweat.

We keep a bowl of face towels soaked in water with a good few dashes of eucalyptus oil in a fridge.




Inspired by a local spa that places a moist cold eucy oil face towel over one's eye during our spa treatments.


Tiz lovely when hot or just after a cycle or gym sesh.

Wring one out, leaving around 10% of the icy cold eucy oil water, wipe all over your face and neck, then lay on the sofa with it over your face for 5 or 10 minutes.

Lubby-jubbly and possibly the world's most refreshing home experience.

There is some rampant gayness on the forum today.

^ I'll reply to that after my chilled scented essential oil eyemask session.

Back to cycling

Chao Lao town on the Chanthaburi coast had a new widened road built in 2010-11 as part of the new coast road (Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Road), some nice forward thinking including a separated cycle lane through the town and continuing a further 3km to Laem Sadet, total 8km.

^ That is indeed inspired thinking for Thailand. Hopefully more of that in the future.

Originally Posted by thailazer

^ That is indeed inspired thinking for Thailand. Hopefully more of that in the future.

After the town, sparated cycle lanes on to Laem Sadet on both sides


Not separated from traffic, but this stretch of the same coast road is a favourite

again,.....another nice set of pictures

A first for me, this Sunday morning.

Rained last night and I knew the rural roads I usually bike on would be wet, so I decide to cycle on some major roadways. Pity there are not any designated bike lines in this part of the city.

The first: Thai cyclists - It was still early morning when I saw a group of (maybe 15) Thai cyclists (men and women) do a U-turn in front of me. They were all decked out with their jerseys and flashing lights. You couldn’t miss them.

I stayed with them for a while but moved passed them after a few city blocks. It seemed more of a joyride for them and not an exercise routine I’ll do in the morning.

Moving towards the city center are some restaurants and bars will stay open till early morning, I noticed groups of beautiful Thai women walking out these clubs. Focusing to keep an eye on the road became difficult.

Biking back to the neighborhood I notice a tractor trailer/lowboy turning into a narrow street carrying a huge Banyan tree that would not clear the overhead telephone cables. The root system had been pruned but was still a good 15 feet (5 meters) from the road surface to the top of the root system. Two guys were lifting/pushing the cables over the root as the tractor trailer moved slowly (sometimes stopping) under the cables.

Someone wanted to start with a large tree or it might be a Thai superstitious thing.

Past couple of morning have been nice and cool out, because of the very early morning rains.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

There is some rampant gayness on the forum today.

indeed, i'm not reading further in case cucumbers come into the equation.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

cycle paths should only exist (in pedestrian areas) when their is clear and separate pedestrian space.

I don’t think city planners took into account how popular cycling would become. Property (right of way) and construction costs can be expensive. Two examples below.....

On Manhattan (property is very expensive), you stay on a bike path when riding or you might be scolded, as I have been. You can also receive a ticket for parking a vehicle on a bike path but it is
hardly enforced. They seem to be strict and maybe for good reason. A lot of tourists in the area will rent bikes.

During one of our longer stays in Manhattan we purchased two bikes (from a bike rental shop) to get around. It really was nice way to explore the city. When we left, we gave the bikes to a friend of the girlfriend who lived there.

We also have bike paths in Miami and I used to ride the one on Rickenbacker. But I stopped. It has become dangerous. City planners never expected the traffic from cycling. There’s a narrow concrete barrier that separates walking pedestrians (only) from the vehicle traffic over the bridge.

Bike paths in Miami: ttps://www.miamidade.gov/global/recreation/parksmasterplan/bike-trail-maps.page