It might not be that obvious to people who’ve just landed in Thailand and are immediately blinded by shopping malls, temples and chaotic traffic, but actually there’s a very strong community of bicycle riders not only in Bangkok, but throughout the entire Kingdom too. Among these velo fans, many have chosen to purchase a mountain bike so that they can ride it not only in the capital city, but also out-and-about in nature, where jungle trails and green vegetation provide a much needed escape from a polluted urban environment.
Among the most committed Bangkok-based mountain bike riders is Fausto Jose Izquiel, a 52 year old Venezuelan, who has been living and raising a family in Thailand for the last 25 years. And he’s been riding his mountain bike ever since: “As soon as I arrived in Bangkok, I basically used my mountain bike to commute from home to work and back again. This was in the late 80s and I might have well been the only farang on a bicycle on the streets of Bangkok at that time. Years went by and I was never apart from my bike wherever I went in Thailand and I made like-minded friends with whom I started exploring the Thai countryside and discovered great places for mountain biking.”
Fausto’s love for exercising and passion for mountain bikes led him to the decision, six years ago, to open a bicycle shop and spend 100% of his time promoting cycling in Thailand. He is now the proud director of Bike Zone, a shop specialized in selling and disseminating information about mountain bikes, road bikes, street bikes and bikes for children.
Fausto recalls that when he was a kid, there were no specific bikes for children, only “all purpose” bikes so, at the age of six, he started riding the vintage banana seat bicycle, then the road bike and, as soon as the mountain bike came along by the end of the 70s, he was immediately hooked by the experience it offered. “It was fantastic and they where the perfect bikes for the hilly terrain in the neighbourhood where I grew up. I’ve never been apart from one since then!”
Believe it or not, there are fantastic places to ride a mountain in (or within the close vicinity of) Bangkok, not to mention the rest of Thailand. You can reach wonderful locations to ride a mountain bike within a two-hour car trip, in any direction, from the capital city. The most popular destinations for Bangkok cyclists are Khao Yai National Park in the northeast (where you can find the Khao Itho bike park), Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi in the north, the hilly areas of Pattaya and Rayong on the eastern cost, Kachanaburi in the west, and Hua Hin further south of Bangkok.
Mountain biking in Thailand is relatively safe if you take the right precautions and know your bike. Apart from the basic tools and equipment that you must have on you at all times while you are biking (such as a mini pump, a tire-pressure gauge, and a multi-tool set with chain breaker), a helmet is a must, while gloves will give you a better grip because sweat can make hands rather slippery, especially when riding in the sun. If you don’t mind the tan, then wearing shorts is also preferable as long trousers may tangle in the wheel chain. If you’re riding at nighttime, a set of lights is also necessary, not so much for you but for others to see you, with a white light set for the front and a red one for the rear.
There’s no limit to the number of people who can join a mountain biking tour, but “there’s only one rule that people riding a mountain bike should never ever break: never ride alone,” strongly advises Fausto. “Having a friend or a riding partner with you on a trip will always help in case of an emergency, as they can assist or look for help if anything goes wrong. Apart from that, big groups do make the trip slower, but much more fun!
There are literally tens of mountain biking tours you can choose from. They have different levels of difficulty so it is necessary to check each level before you commit to any trip. However, bike touring companies usually tend to categorize the level of skills necessary for each specific tour so this should be very straight forward. “Most bike touring trips organized in Thailand are set to attract foreigners, both residents and people on vacations, but they provide good opportunities to have a close encounter with real Thai culture, food and the local people you get to meet on the way,” said Fausto.
As a mountain bike is suitable for all terrains, it is an ideal activity for people living in Thailand where one can find both rolling hills and death-defying paths down steep mountain passes. “You can go mountain biking in Thailand all year round and this is a tremendous advantage compared to many other countries,” said the director of Bike Zone. “Unfortunately there are no proper track marks set in place for the locations where mountain biking is the most popular. If in the future this situation will change, I believe it will encourage people to go out more on their bikes and explore the marvelous trails that Thailand has to offer.”
As mountain biking is a tough, physically challenging activity, the more fit you are, the far better your performance on the terrain will be. “Mountain biking is always a challenge,” warns Fausto. “Remember that no matter how many times you have been on one particular trail, it will always be different the next time – so always exercise great caution.”
For detailed information about clubs, events, shops, tours by region, maps, and cycling communities in Thailand, visit bicyclethailand.com, an excellent English-language web portal dedicated to promoting everything that has to do with cycling in Thailand. Alternatively, for a Thai-language forum about mountain biking, visit www.thaimtb.com.
Bike Zone is located in the heart of Bangkok, on the second floor of Amarin Plaza. The shop can be reached via Chidlom BTS station (exit E1). From there you can take the skywalk straight to the entrance of the shop. It’s only a 100m walk and the guys at Bike Zone would love to have a look at your bicycle – so take it along with you (you can take your bicycle on the BTS for no additional cost). Bike Zone is open daily from 10am to 7pm and their team of experienced mechanics will promise to provide all repairs and services to all types of bikes to the highest level of standards. So, just get out there to cycle and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thailand!
