Bikes to Thailand

[Mid]

Bikes to Thailand
Oct 2, 2010

ThaiCycles is an organization started by students at Brigham Young University to improve childhood education in Thailand, where the dropout rate is more than 25 percent.

Much of this problem is due to the distance of schools from students’ homes.

With no public transportation, many students have to walk two hours to school.

For many, the bicycle is the main form of transportation, and they are too poor to provide them.

The added hours it takes children to walk to and from school places a burden on their families because most children also help parents provide food and shelter.

As a result, parents actually pressure children to drop out, continuing the cycle of poverty.

ThaiCycles’ helps break that cycle by ensuring that children receive their education by providing bikes to the neediest.

To pay for the bikes, we sell T-shirts; for every seventh shirt we sell, we buy and ship a bike to a Thai child.

This October, we’re delivering 20 bikes to the Thai province of Nong Khai.

We work with local Thai charities to place the bikes in the hands of children who most need them.

To buy a shirt or make a donation, go to www.ThaiCycles.com.

sltrib.com

[genghis61]

Brigham Young University - Church of Latter Day Saints/Mormons. Maybe the bikes are 'Mormon specials' road-tested and proven over the years - standard black one-speeds.

Their website lacks info on the cycles, specifications etc. I emailed them asking for details.

I wonder how they compare to the ones from World Bicycle Relief (for Africa) - has given out more than 70,000 bicycles so far.

A 55-pound one-speed bicycle that needed little pampering.
One notorious problem with aid groups is that they introduce new technologies that can't always be sustained; the developing world is full of expensive wells that don't work because the pumps have broken and there is no one to repair them.
So World Bicycle Relief trains one mechanic - equipped with basic spare parts and tools - for every 50 bicycles distributed

A recent thread here (NY Times : a boy and a bicycle for african aid)

[Mid]

Their website lacks info on the cycles, specifications etc. I emailed them asking for details.

fair points , look forward to seeing the reply

[EdjuE]

The first batch of bikes will be delivered to Thailand in the end of October. All of the bikes are brand new and will be purchased from a local bike shop. The bikes have 24" tires (which fit the students they will be given to perfectly, or if the students are younger, some will receive 20" bikes). The bikes also come with a basket. All of the bike will be given to the school and a local NGO/non-profit, in order to ensure that the bikes are being used to travel to and from school. By giving the bikes to the school, more students will be able to be helped and there will be better long-term monitoring for the use of the bikes.

The purpose of ThaiCycles is to promote education through transportation. There are many students in Thailand that have a hard time getting to school because their parents want them to work on the family farm, instead of attending school. In some areas, the pressure to stay home from school is a large problem that ThaiCycles has learned about. By giving bikes to children, young Thai students will be able to continue their education and still come home to their families to help with local businesses. Unfortunately, much of the world does not understand some of these problems, but after living in the area for over a year, I know first-hand how much bike donations can help these students.

[The Fresh Prince]

Hi EdjuE,

Nice stuff. I'm not clear on where you're getting the bikes from though.

The first batch of bikes will be delivered to Thailand in the end of October.

All of the bikes are brand new and will be purchased from a local bike shop.

Are they local or are they shipped in? it's not clear from your post and the website gives the assumption that they are flown in.

I'm sure you don't need to be told how cheap local new bikes are and how much you can save on shipping. Plus there are some awesome second hand bike shops around my area (Bangkok) where re-firb'd bikes in great condition can be picked up for next to nothing.

[genghis61]

I hope they're not local bikes . . . home today from 2 weeks away and more repairs/maintenance to be done

One bike I've kept records of was new in April, 11yr old girl owner rides 3km to school each day plus leisure rising with friends.

• Its second chain is stuffed - all I can get locally, same as it was fitted with originally, are cheap chains that cost 80 baht.
• Tyres are ok, but tubes lose pressure rapidly and need to be pumped up each week. Amazingly she's never had a puncture
• Brake blocks - worn out after 4mths. 40 baht for 2 pair of replacements
• Brake cables - stretched and need replacing - there are simply not enough woven strands in them
• Basket - her words 'kaput' they are made of a hard plastic mesh once one strand breaks it spreads . . my 'Araldite blob' cure lasted a month. Replacement 100 baht
• Pedals - I pay 55 baht a pair, and you get what you pay for. She is one her second set, they are plastic and simply harden/crack/break
• the bell still works and she rings it when she rides past our place

My point, and I think I have one . . . is that local bikes require a lot of ongoing maintenance and expense. 80 baht here and there is ok for me, but for many of the people round here - workers on the farm get 150-200 per day when work is available, nothing when it isn't.

My gf's nephew (12) destroyed a 2000 baht bike in a month, a 'mountain bike' that looks like a mountain bike but was not up to any off road riding, buckled wheels, bent forks, and yes the pedals broke off, 7-speed gears were impossible to keep in correct adjustment. He's back to walking to school.

[DrAndy]

there are local bikes that are not bad, but you get what you pay for....B2000 for a bike!

I suppose if you pay double you should get a better machine

[genghis61]

my own bike cost the equivalent to 70k baht in 2008, probably 60 with current exchange rates; it's a good bike - replacing worn out tyres has been the only expense apart from punctures/replacing tubes. A pair of tyres/tubes cost me 1700b, puts the 2000b bikes into perspective.

The girl's bike I mentioned is fine for her, and was within parents' budget (just) but requires regular check-ups. The boy's mountainbike? well that was case of buying something flashy that was never up to the job of off-road, jumps etc. He walks to school now.

The money to keep them going is a problem, ride with a semi-inflated tyre and the valves rips out of the tube - that may be half Dad's pay for a day; I've put numerous bikes back on the road, stripping and swapping parts, that were abandoned for minor reasons.

Inability to do the simplest of maintenance probably the most common. 'run it into the ground' then dump it.

[EdjuE]

The bicycles were donated about a week ago and they are great bikes! The same type of bike has been donated to children before and they work properly and last a long time. If maintenance problems do occur, the bike shop has promised to repair the bicycles. Another non-profit in Thailand has agreed to periodically check-up on the bikes and make sure they are being used and continue to stay in great working condition.

The children are very grateful for the bicycles. The donation was much needed. Some of the children in the area walk up to 7 km to school each way. It was a great blessing to be able to help these children travel to and from school easier and, ultimately, to help them continue their education.

[dirtydog]

Still not said what sort of bikes, I got a couple of cheap Thai bikes, only thing that wears out or breaks are the peddles, then again I have seen peddles in the UK that cost more than these bikes did.

[genghis61]

^ ahem, yes . . . my Shimano clip-on pedals 4k baht, 5k for the shoes. Local ones for kids bikes 55 baht/pair.

This is a good scheme, something positive, nice if they could provide some photos, more details?

[DrAndy]

Inability to do the simplest of maintenance probably the most common. 'run it into the ground' then dump it.

just not knowing that maintenance is needed is more probable

[dirtydog]

5k for the shoes

You was robbed, I pay around 200baht down the market for my flip flops.....