moonoi

Well I just discovered that the owner of Teddys is the friend of my kids best friends mother!

Has anyone heard of, or tried a place call Jims Burgers and Beers around Ari? A couple of my Thai colleagues recommended it and wondering if it's really worth the trek over there to try (I live out by Ram Inthra Rd)

Welcome to Thailand, @Payank212. Since the average Thai buys an S or M frame, that's what bike shops usually stock. There are some L models imported for the occasional "beanpole" but XL is very rare indeed. My size is also 19"-20" for mountain bike frames, so I am facing the same difficulties. Best not to bother with the small shops and ring up the importers/distributors directly. For example, KHCycle for Scott bikes, Sport Bicycles for Specialized, and so on. Ask them what L frames they have in their warehouse and with a bit of luck, you find what you are looking for. I happen to know that there are a couple of midrange Specialized 29er hardtail bikes available at the moment. 2015 models.

Good luck!

Cheers, CM-Expat

Sport Bicycle also have a couple of L size FS bikes in stock and in the showroom too, if the OPs' budget can extend to around 100k (Epic Comp and StumpJumper Evo Comp).

Im looking for a mountain bike. I'm located in Bangkok. Thanks

Merida Matts 40D with 18" frame is around 16k, widely available in BK, or by mail order.

It should fit you (it fits me and I'm 6').

Not a 29er though is it :-)

Cyclesport is the Merida importer, and they do bring in some of there Big Nine 29er models as well. Only problem with Merida is they sell out quick for the more popular models. To order one takes around 6 months to arrive, if not in stock.

Just thought I've also got a 21" Merida Big Nine Lite Team Issue frame and wheels lying around as well!

In Bangkok, I'd suggest ProBike at Lumphini park, they often carry a selection of larger frames in stock.

Or if you don't mind lightly used and 27.5", I happen to be selling my old Commencal Meta AM HT in a size L with SRAM X0/X9, will be posting to Thai MTB this weekend. You can PM me for more details if you're interested.

quote "BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) yesterday assured Bangkok people that the capital will never run out of tap water supply for drinking and consumption.

That must be reassuring for some.

Most of the country is suffering from a drought of varying degrees but Bangkok will be OK.

Thanks a lot pal.

Where I live in rural Thailand we have had NO government water supply since mid January but I am soooo happy that Bangkok won't suffer.

Perhaps it is about time they did and stopped wasting water.

You would have been able to withhold your sarcastic thanks if you bothered to read what was actually said in the report.

He wasn't making an "I'm (we're) all right jack" remark meaning stuff the rest of the country, he was responding to an inaccurate report by Thomson Reuters that was claiming Bangkok's tap water could run out in a month.

Did you choose to live in a rural part of the country or were you forced to do so?

So what exactly was inaccurate about the statement from the Thomson Reuters Foundation (not to be confused with the news agency)?

They said it "may" run out if there are no rains soon, and everything stated in this article and even from the Thai government indicates that this may well be true.

I arrived Thailand with a U.S. drivers license endorsed with motorcycle license. Also came with an international drivers license but can't remember if it had the motorcycle endorsement--it probably did. Got my first Thai drivers and motorcycle licenses with above mentioned documents...no written test...no driving test...only an eye & coordination test...also needed a 100 baht medical certificate to confirm I was still alive. After those two 1 year licenses expired I renewed both licenses for 5 years. By the end of this year l will renew again...have already checked with the Bangkok drivers license office in KhetTalingchan as to renewal requirements...can renew up to 90 days before license expiration, watch an approx one hour safe driving video, no medical certificate required, no written/practical tests per my Thai wife's conversation with the office's customer service.

When I did my 5 year renewal, everyone had to do the reaction tests again, good news if that has changed as it was a waste of time anyway.

I also hope they have redone the "safety" video, as in typical Thai TV drama fashion, they've thought more about the story and not the message. If it's the same one, you'll discover that apparently not wearing a seatbelt means you get out of an accident with minor injuries and wearing one you end up paralyzed. It's one of the most inane hours you'll spend, at least they had English subtitles! :-)

And for the OP, as others have stated WP is fine in lieu of the residence certificate.

Here's the real thing, transferred my X0 and RaceFace kit from the old bike to the new one as well

Not sure, but I seem to remember seeing LA Bicycles selling an electric assist MTB for around the same price as the kit you mention. No idea for its capabilities off road though!

I think you will like it. The Stumpjumper has a well balanced geometry and you will be surprised how far you can get with 140mm suspension. This bike is going to want a bit more than Bangkok flat tracks, though. It won't be happy unless you give it plenty of roots and rocks to eat plus occasional jumps.

Cheers, CM-Expat

I plan to get my skills in order around peppermint and club 11 and once I have more confidence start looking further afield.

I carry baton around all the time as well - but it's only for the ladies.

But is it extendable?

Oh and I cancelled the TCX in favour of the SJ :-)

So while I'll stick with the road, I also just dropped some notes on a Specialized StumpJumper Comp Evo FSR 29 ;-)

Bicycle Thailand just posted an updated review of the bike park http://bicyclethailand.com/peppermint-bike-park/p

Did you try http://www.culturecycliste.com/ I was a few times lucky with them.

Nice guys and pretty convenient to MRT, but their parts inventory wasn't very comprehensive. They were very polite in telling me they didn't have what I was looking for. They were nice enough that I still bought quite a few little bits they did have on display.

Moonoi, Km8 Bicycle and Sport Bicycle, where are they? So many shops have similar sounding names, I'm afraid I'd blow off half a day looking for Sports Bicycles instead of Sport Bicycles.

Sport Bicycle is the Specialized importer/distributor and based in U Chu Liang Building, opposite side of Lumphini Park to Pro Bike and Culture Cycliste.

Km8 is at Km8 RamInthra Road, at the junction with Soi Wat Kubon. In the same area you will find Bike Specials as well, who have taken up residence in WorldBikes old premises. They are quite ok to deal with as well.

Thanks, @moonoi, for the video. I have to be honest and say that it looks a little less exciting than I hoped for, but I'd still like to try it out. The long blue line at the beginning looks a bit boring unless you're on a track bicycle. The bumps starting at 3:21 look like one could get some decent air with gravity-assisted acceleration. The drop at 3:59 is utterly weird and stands out considering the overall level of difficulty, which is probably why they closed it. The "wall ride" at 4:26 also appears like a design error to me, because the angle doesn't lead into the turn, but probably lands you in the grass if you take it at speed. Not sure about it, but that's what it looks like on the video. Likewise the turn at 5:21... the switchback forces you to brake and loose momentum... weird. Why not put a berm there rather than at 4:43? The rollers starting at 6:51 are promising a lot of fun and I am sure you could work up some good speed by pumping, but you probably have to brake again when you reach the end. Anyway, it's an interesting clip, thanks again for uploading.

Cheers, CM-Expat

The blue track is supposed to be for road bikes/track bikes and to use for a bit of recovery between laps of the "MTB" course.

Agree about the "wall ride" no matter how I tried to approach it, I couldn't work out how to use it without crashing, thought it might just be me, as I'm something of a novice to mountain biking.

They told me the drop is there for more advanced riders, but it's closed most of the time. In time they will be running skills courses as well, which was the other reason for it being there.

The rollers are a lot of fun, but you've identified the exact problem with them, they are too close to the turn and should have been installed further back so out can carry the speed instead of having to slam to brakes on to make the turn.

Overall I enjoyed it though, I plan to swap between here and the Club 11 Army MTB track a few kilometers away to keep things interesting in the city ;-)

I wonder how slippery the wooden planks would be when wet?....

Anyway - the video is excellent... the area looks great... something like this could get me into (soft) mountain biking as a form of exercise... (now that damaged disks (spine) prevent me from Wakeboarding)....

If not for the wood planks it would be nice for the road bicycle....

Surprisingly enough there were plenty of people attempting the wooden plank parts of it on road bikes and hybrids, so it is possible.

Probike is ok but when i visit i always have trouble getting anybodies attention. Some staff prefer to avoid eye contact. This is when i am trying to buy something as well, spending cash.

Can be irritating, but I prefer that to the helicopter guys who hover a meter away and won't leave me alone from the time I walk in 'til the time I walk out.

I don't know, they're both as bad, one you potentially don't get any service that you leave empty handed, and the other bothers you so much that you do likewise.

I went to SportBicycle to check on the Specialized StumpJumper Evo Comp 29 FSR yesterday, as my attempt at Probike and a Trek Fuel EX was such a failure last week.

Completely the opposite, nice and friendly, not overbearing....the way it should be. Only problem is they are a bit pricey.........at least I got the info I wanted.

Did you try http://www.culturecycliste.com/ I was a few times lucky with them.

I did, I actually bought my Commencal from them, but there after sales service was on a par with Probike. I also wanted to order a Look 675 from them, but that was nothing but trouble, which is why I ended up with the TCR Advanced SL from Worldbike.

I can only think of 2 places that give consistently good service, Km8 Bicycle, and Sport Bicycle. The rest all seem to be very similar in their lack of care towards customers.

Probike is ok but when i visit i always have trouble getting anybodies attention. Some staff prefer to avoid eye contact. This is when i am trying to buy something as well, spending cash.

Can be irritating, but I prefer that to the helicopter guys who hover a meter away and won't leave me alone from the time I walk in 'til the time I walk out.

I don't know, they're both as bad, one you potentially don't get any service that you leave empty handed, and the other bothers you so much that you do likewise.

I went to SportBicycle to check on the Specialized StumpJumper Evo Comp 29 FSR yesterday, as my attempt at Probike and a Trek Fuel EX was such a failure last week.

Completely the opposite, nice and friendly, not overbearing....the way it should be. Only problem is they are a bit pricey.........at least I got the info I wanted.

Probike is ok but when i visit i always have trouble getting anybodies attention. Some staff prefer to avoid eye contact. This is when i am trying to buy something as well, spending cash.

Indeed was in there this weekend wanting to get a price on a Trek Fuel Ex 9, left 30 min later non the wiser.....felt like the staff were deliberately avoiding me!

It's cos their English isn't very good, and they are too lazy to struggle.

Actually, I disagree, their English is pretty good, I just feel like they can't be bothered. But then my Thai colleagues say they have the same experience, so at least there's no double standards ;-)

The worst place I've experienced is Thaicannasia, I'm surprised how they are still in business with their attitude. Which is on topic, as the OP mentioned they were interested in a Cannondale.

Probike is ok but when i visit i always have trouble getting anybodies attention. Some staff prefer to avoid eye contact. This is when i am trying to buy something as well, spending cash.

Indeed was in there this weekend wanting to get a price on a Trek Fuel Ex 9, left 30 min later non the wiser.....felt like the staff were deliberately avoiding me!

After watching the video i like the pump track parts. The raised bits with the wooden planks would still be better if made from rammed earth. The fence could then be removed allowing the full width of the track to be used. It could be landscaped with some nice plants too. Thanks for uploading the video Moonoi. How long did it take to upload? I just uploaded a 2 min video to youtube. "Hoopoes in Padaet" and it took forever. I was expecting a 2 min vid to upload pretty fast.

About 15-20min, seemed quite fast to me, took longer for you tube to process the video!

And here's the video of the track, where you can also see my lack of skill :-)

Thais love to go to place where they can take lots of photos of themselves. My ex GF and her family have taken me to lots of places that provide photo ops. Last one was Chocolatesomething. A little help guys.

Chocolateville? Out Fashion Island/Promenade way.

Strange name though, no chocolate around at all, same menu as Wine I Love You (as its owned by the same people).

Thats the place, just off the motorway.

Kaset Nuamin I think is the area, nice selection of foreign beers as well.

Drove by that way the other day on the motorway heading north, looks like Promenade is closed now, FI still going strong.

Promenade isn't closed, it's expanding and adding a new cinema complex and a 3rd floor of more shops. Suspect FI will then get some more refurbishment where the cinema is currently located.

Thais love to go to place where they can take lots of photos of themselves. My ex GF and her family have taken me to lots of places that provide photo ops. Last one was Chocolatesomething. A little help guys.

Chocolateville? Out Fashion Island/Promenade way.

Strange name though, no chocolate around at all, same menu as Wine I Love You (as its owned by the same people).

Thats the place, just off the motorway.

Kaset Nuamin I think is the area, nice selection of foreign beers as well.

Drove by that way the other day on the motorway heading north, looks like Promenade is closed now, FI still going strong.

Promenade isn't closed, it's expanding and adding a new cinema complex and a 3rd floor of more shops. Suspect FI will then get some more refurbishment where the cinema is currently located.