Cycling in Thailand is an excellent way to keep fit as well as getting around in the fresh air. Generally speaking it is pretty safe form of transport and most other road users tend to give you a wide berth.
There are a good range of cycle shops, supplying both imported and locally made cycles to residents and even in the most remote area you will always find someone who can fix minor mechanical problems or mend a puncture if you don’t have a kit with you. While tourists can avail themselves of some excellent cycling tours to many different parts of Thailand.
Cycle Suppliers in Thailand.
Most of the better suppliers are located in the big cities with Bangkok coming out tops. You can buy several different imported brands who have distributors in Thailand including Trek, Gary Fisher and Klein while LA Bikes are made and distributed in Thailand.
Pro Bike in Bangkok and Hua Hin Bike in Hua Hin are reliable suppliers who I have personally used.
Prices vary greatly and generally speaking are about the same as you might find in the UK or US. For example I bought my Trek 4300 mountain bike(see photo) at Hua Hin Bike for around 13,000 Baht which included some discount. Repairs and locally made spares/accessories are however quite cheap.
Cycling Safety in Thailand.
The Roads.
Most roads have a tarmac or concrete surface while tracks are often made up and dressed with a hardcore surface. However the repair of rural roads is often neglected and large potholes and other surface obstructions are common. Tracks can easily wash out in heavy rain and in the rainy season you can expect to encounter deep ruts.
Other Road Users.
Thai drivers and driving standards in Thailand make the roads dangerous places whatever mode of transport you are using. Most truck and car drivers give you a wide berth but motorcycles can involve an additional hazard particularly when riding towards you on the same side of the road. This is a common practice and the rule of thumb is that the driver/rider heading the “wrong way” travels nearest the verge. You should also be aware that at junctions drivers often enter the main road without looking or conforming to traffic signs.
That said generally speaking away from the main highways, side roads and tracks are safe enough for cyclists and provide a ready made network for getting around your locality providing you are always vigilant.
Animals and Wildlife.
A far bigger danger when out cycling is likely to come from the local fauna both domesticated and wild. Dogs are a particular nuisance and will often chase a cyclist and try to nip their ankles from behind. Personally I have tried various approaches to this problem ranging from throwing stones, carrying a catapult, shouting loudly in Thai or just plain ignoring the animal. The latter two methods seem to work best and I usually find the next time I pass the animal ignores me.
Certainly in the area of rural Thailand where I live cattle can also cause problems since they are often grazed at the side of roads and are prone to just wandering across in front of you. Away from the towns and villages it is not unusual to encounter wildlife on rural tracks, seeing the occasional Cobra slither across the track in front of you can be a little off putting at first although I have never encountered a problem as the snake always seemed intent on exiting quickly.
Climate.
For the most part Thailand is blessed with a very pleasant tropical climate although this varies greatly from North to South and during the different seasons. Generally speaking sun protection and hydration are issues that anyone who goes cycling in Thailand should be aware of. The sun is extremely powerful and recreational cycling is best performed early in the morning or towards sunset when conditions are more favourable. Humidity is often also very high and can be quite strength sapping. Even if you are very bike fit don’t expect to perform to the same level you might do in a more temperate zone.
Cycling Tours in Thailand.
There are a myriad of companies offering cycling in Thailand as a holiday package. Many are well run and will even take cycling tours into the neighbouring countries too. Indeed I personally used one such company to do a cycling tour of Bangkok, which was actually very interesting and provided a good insight into some normally unseen parts of the city. A great way to spend some time in Thailand providing you are reasonably fit.
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