Thread: Cycling - in Thailand

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by prawnograph

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.

Originally Posted by prawnograph

partially cooked?

Yes and they are already bloating.

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"

Originally Posted by S Landreth

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.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

I do try to avoid a routine. You might want to consider it. I have at least 10 different routes I take.

I have around 15 base routes 30-60km all of which can vary, overlap or merge with others, yesterday's 55km became 67 when i decided to add a 6+6km pedal along each side of a canal. I'd aimed for 1000km this month and reached that yesterday (and I had six days off). Biked in to the city this morning for first/free service at ZienBike - owner was surprised at how much I've covered since buying at Songkran, cheeky - even asked 'have you got a job?'

For several years I rode with two cycling groups here, both connected to cycle shops but that stopped with Covid and I haven't gone back, they were Wednesday/Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings none of which really suit me now but still stay in touch with a few of them.

Chalerm Burapha Chonlathit Coast Highway - with cycle lanes each side for almost 100km - but not all as well kept as in the second pic

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

Originally Posted by Switch

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.

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.

Originally Posted by prawnograph

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

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.

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

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

Nice one

Originally Posted by Bonecollector

Surin

We had a Rural Surin here

Top poster


(oddly enough from same the city as BTosser)

Originally Posted by helge

We had a Rural Surin here

Top poster


(oddly enough from same the city as BTosser)

He now posts on AseanNow.

^ yup he was a good poster and bloke it seems

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