Cycling in Udon Thani
When I first came to Thailand, I had already pretty much resigned myself to not driving a car again, for a number of reasons, but the main one being that cars in Thailand are subject to 200% VAT - so are very expensive to buy both new and used. I therefore felt I could not justify the outlay, and if we ever really needed a car, the rental option could always be relied on.
For the first couple of years though I did find myself reliant on the wife taking me out on the back of the motorbike, or getting a tuk tuk in to the city, this is while we lived in the city, and once we moved out in to a nearby village, away from the bulk of the traffic, I decided the time was right to get a bicycle and explore the area at my leisure.
We had a look around the city to find something that was not too expensive (and there is plenty to choose from), but also to find something that looked like it was reasonably strong and would take some serious leisure riding from a guy in the region of 94 kgs in weight! We eventually settled for the the bike shown below, which we found in Tesco Lotus, on the western ring road for 3500 baht (about £70).
Despite its low price tag, it is actually quite decent, although is pretty basic. It comes with a 6 speed gear system, good brakes and a water bottle. The one thing I have noticed in Thailand though is that they do not come with a pump! Perhaps the most important item, along with a puncture repair kit of course - but I have not seen a single bike that has a pump fitted or the little 'widgets' on the bike to attached a small hand pump.
All the fittings, as few as there is, are all Shimano, so at least it's a reputable name for the parts, which may end up lasting longer than the frame.
The seat could be better, and after about 30 minutes of cycling, does create a little pain in the groin region so that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. There are loads of bike shops in Udon Thani, so finding a decent seat will hopefully be quite easy.
For the first couple of years though I did find myself reliant on the wife taking me out on the back of the motorbike, or getting a tuk tuk in to the city, this is while we lived in the city, and once we moved out in to a nearby village, away from the bulk of the traffic, I decided the time was right to get a bicycle and explore the area at my leisure.
We had a look around the city to find something that was not too expensive (and there is plenty to choose from), but also to find something that looked like it was reasonably strong and would take some serious leisure riding from a guy in the region of 94 kgs in weight! We eventually settled for the the bike shown below, which we found in Tesco Lotus, on the western ring road for 3500 baht (about £70).
Despite its low price tag, it is actually quite decent, although is pretty basic. It comes with a 6 speed gear system, good brakes and a water bottle. The one thing I have noticed in Thailand though is that they do not come with a pump! Perhaps the most important item, along with a puncture repair kit of course - but I have not seen a single bike that has a pump fitted or the little 'widgets' on the bike to attached a small hand pump.
All the fittings, as few as there is, are all Shimano, so at least it's a reputable name for the parts, which may end up lasting longer than the frame.
The seat could be better, and after about 30 minutes of cycling, does create a little pain in the groin region so that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. There are loads of bike shops in Udon Thani, so finding a decent seat will hopefully be quite easy.
It has been some 36 years since I last used peddle power to get me about, but as they say - you never forget as it's just like, well.....riding a bike! One of the bonuses of cycling around Udon Thani and the Issan region is that there are not many serious inclines to face, with most of the region being reasonably flat, although even the slightest incline is fare more noticeable when you are cycling of course. I dare say as I explore more, the more gradients I will find, gradients I did not even realise existed when travelling by motorbike, and my thighs are going to pay a heavy price.
The only note of caution I would place on cycling here is all the traffic in the city and on the main roads. In fairness, the main roads are wide, with lots of space for large vehicles to give you a wide berth but in the city, and feels chaotic, and at times quite scary.
The other factor you must consider, is the constant heat and especially the direct sunlight. While it is great for generating sweat, and hopefully shedding some weight, just remember to not get dehydrated, something that can easily be overlooked.
If you are reasonably fit, you can easily cycle for miles and miles, and while the scenery is not anything like spectacular, you will see the odd thing of interest on your travels so it's useful to have a camera to hand. So far, I am just building up the leg muscles so I can embark on a good long ride of about 20 miles (long for a non cycling enthusiast) or so, perhaps as far as half way to Nong Khai sometime, but the heat might make that hard work. For now I am happy to ride for about 4 or 5 miles around the village and up to a local fishing lake. It has given me at least a little independence that has been missed for some time.
Bike maintenance in Thailand is a little different too, especially if you keep your bicycle outdoors. The air is constantly humid here, so to keep the chain rust free, you need to apply a silicone based spray to act as a water repellent, otherwise your lovely new black chain will turn brown in a matter of months.