catwho

80-100 km !!!

I only bought the bike less than 2 weeks ago...

Did take the advice though and managed my 1st 2hr ride this morning, just under 50km.

Felt pretty good on the bike comfort wise, butt was screaming after an hour though seemed to ease off with some shifting around.

Not sure that the knobby tires are much good on the tarmac, good for a leg burn but could do with some suggestions as to what to put on for mixed riding ? Bit limited in choice at my local shop but they do have Schawble Sammy Slicks, bit pricey though..

Anyway, back to the grind... Looking fwd to the 8th

Just do the race with what u have on the bike,losing weight through longer ride's will do more for u than the tires at this stage of your career,slicks will give u a smooter ride,but wont win a race for u,fill em up to 50psi,[knobbys]at least for the road,i ride 40 to 45 off rd,

as a good old coach said to me,after i asked him how do i get better on the bike,do the miles son do the miles,confidance and power and winning come later.

and if you havent ridden in a bunch before,its scary.

good luck...cat

First of all make sure that you are comfortable on your bike and that it is setup right for you.

Eat plenty of high carb food the night before your ride and take at least a couple of decent sized drinking bottles with you on the day.

I would try at get at least one 2-3 hour ride per week in to see how that sort of distance feels and to build up some endurance.

If you are looking for a quick time try a little interval training or a shorter but quicker ride than normal once or twice a week.

Allow yourself some recovery time if you feel that you have put in a hard ride.

Hope you have a great time.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

GOOD advice,as thats whats i am doing,you must get at least 1, 80 to 100k ride in a week,you have to do interval work and hill sprints,otherwise they will leave you behind on the small or bigger rises as they always take off on them, to get rid of the unfit,dont stay at the back of the pack,middle to front,if you are confident,otherwise,do it for the fun and experience.

I am doing the other road race at SAMUT PRAKAN,bang na,july 8,same day.

MTB 40KS,FIXED GEAR,40KS,ROAD 60KS,DONT KNOW HOW TO PUT THE SITE ON ,goggle bicycle thailand events.

i am doing the MTB event,they say entry form must be in by june 30,hope they have over 60s but will proberly be over 50s.

last road race i did like this was 5yrs ago and the bloke who beat me looked 35 and was 35 and so was his girlfriend,i coped it ,this is thailand.

cat

As for your second point, I doubt anyone from VFS would call with that information as they're basically a courier service.

In all likelihood, it was your case officer from DIAC.

All the best.

Regards

Will

Correct and it will be on file

the lady we talked to at cc tower VFS ended up being our case officer,and a nice lady to boot.and yes she was thai,thats why she can talk to your lady,they get the facts,oz makes the decsion.and too far gone means have done your balls.

Thank you all for your replies, I have been going through the checklist and I think we have it all sorted, just waiting for the police report ( due on June 13 Apparently ) and then my fiancee will organise all the translations, Meanwhile I am sorting photos andcopying my documents, The plan is to submitt it all on the 27th.

Catwho, the reason for the tourist visa was to break the long waiting period during processing, I can not get back to Thailand this year due to work and 8 months is way too long to be apart, I know it is a small period compared to the rest of our lives, but still very hard to take. Hoping to get aTV and leave straight away so that my Fiancee would be back in Thailand when the file finally gets looked at , and then she would be available for any questions, interveiws etc.

Cheers Wazzi

again as i said before ,very hard for thais to understand questions on the form ,before u submit,get your lady to take the time out to go to bkk on the thursday from 1pm to cc tower,to take what u have and see the lady who will tell you what u need or what is missing she is from the embassy.it saved me time [her advice] that is..unless you are having it done by agent.

the check list is criticul.but you must also read,as i did the front of the form

[many times for it to sink in].

When all was said and done my case officer after about 2.1/2 months sent it off to oz for consideration,its been a month and am waiting for result.

your not that far gone are you where you carnt wait to have things done properly.

which may save you time in the end.

cat

Yes I know,

However I am under the impression that as well as a couple of 888 decs I need a few other supporting statements from friends and family, Is this correct or do I only need the 888s

Thanks Wazzi

You only need the 888 forms, to be filled in by family and friends,along with copys of their passports and filled in by someone on the list,at least 2 as said,you can as i did also give them,letters from friends translated,,thai or ouzzie,just make sure they give a copy of their ID,or passport,you and your ladys letter to confirm time together.just signed and dated by you both,we did ours by hand.

we gave them 4, 888 forms plus letters to support FOR another matter..

CAT

On the matter of going to oz on the tourist visa,if they contact you for something that they or you miss placed,and they want it and its in thailand and she is in oz,what would you do.

mine was more complicated than yours,ME id wait till it comes through,buts thats me.

The police check you can get prior to submission without any request by the embassy. You do however need to go to vfs and get a letter to take with you when you apply at police hq. The medical can only be done once the embassy tells you to go for one as you need your case number.

correct,when you go to cc tower [vfs]for the letter tell the s.guard what u need,take the letter and photos,passport, to police hq,very helpfull there,takes 10days ,dont lose recipt, you need report to if u have lived in thailand 2yrs or more,BNH hospital near embassy do the medicals online,u dont need forms only letter from case officer,[1 day] when they tell you to go.

you can do the letter and police report same day if you go early.

cat

When we registered for marriage we chose to change name. I assume that visa passport and marriage certificate should all match. Was not sure if maiden name was ok for other evidence such as bank statements and other forms of evidence to prove relationship. From what i have read so far I should change passport and id card only and certify a copy of proof of her maiden name whcih should cover the rest.

My wife and kids passport [thai passprots norm is 5 yrs] still had 2 yrs to go on them,i got them new ones before i put the app in,incase it took 12 mts for visa

and so the 2 yr temp visa would stay in th same passport,to save having any probs later on,took 10 days for new passport you can pay for express.[extra].

we have been married 5yrs,If your wife changes her name to yours on anything at the amphur,get her as said to get a name change down as well, and of course have it translated,this will cover anything you give to them in her maiden name,i carnt remember if wife did it at amphur or foriegn affairs.

cat

go to my thread 29/2/2012,last post 2/5/2012,my wife changed all her ID'S and her and kids passports to my surname,got new passports,so we had a good 5 yrs in them and didnt have to change numbers,the marriage rego on the back,NO 6 [0N MINE] refers to new family,this was enough for my app,but would'nt hurt to get name changed done at amphur,if you or mrs have to go to BKK for police report,try and do it thursday morning,then in arvo 1pm to 3.30pm see the lady [thai]from the embassy at CC TOWER and go over the check list,as said VERY IMPORTANT,ALSO you can only ring the OZ embassy in bkk after 2.30pm for advice,till 4pm.

i gave myself 3 months to have the app ready so i would not stress,your wife will need a lot of help as they dont understand the questions in thai much lest english.

the boys here on thai/v are a big help,good luck.

cat

Thanks all,for the plain english INFO,even i can understand it.cat.

post race ,and i think my last race,here.

ONLY 6 TURN UP FOR OVER 60S ,NORM 12,...2 laps of 6.1/2 ks,was hoping 1 lap,NO flat parts inrace all up and down,carry bike or push up stairs,and up hills ,,steep drops and dangerous and slippery on roots as it rained,dirt in chain kept slipping ,chain sliped off 4 times,i started of slow and got slower.thats what i get for only having a week to get ready for the hardest race in thailand.finnished last ,always been in the money,thats life..i am sore and VERY TIRED.but i will keep enjoying my m/bike as it keeps the heart going.

cat

Nice work foggy,looks like a nice course,, keep on MTBing.

The starting point is now opp royal cliff entrance, not at the the play ground as in other yrs,turn down the arch opp the outside gym on top of pratamak,start 9am.NO DOWMHILL

cat

Hi ‘foggy1’ what to say if anything mate……….You are obviously training and are well aware of the problems the heat can give you and understand the need to hydrate.

There is only one thing I can think of to say that may be of use, and that is don’t over train. It’s very easy, (with a race coming up) to overdo it, with the race next Sunday, you should be ready, (fitness wise) for the race by now.

Personally I would now not ride any more than another 2 or 3 times before the race, get lots of rest and keep drinking water, (maintain a clear urine stream) and have two days off before the race……

Good luck….Come back and post how you got on…a?

Now............Go get em tiger!

I have to agree with you tonto,the beer too...the only things i can add,drink before its too late during a race,or you will die in the arse,and i presume you have gone over the course many times,if not,, go over at this late stage as slowly as you can,any hard sections get off the bike and do them over till you get them right

,if you are not use to racing MTB,they go hard early,dont fall for that if you are not experienced,go steady,when you get tired you will make mistakes.

we race here in pattaya same day[6th] excample ,i had a week off last week,got back on the bike fri,sat,,,,sunday i went over the course,i couldnt finnish one lap,[no recovery in the heat] 2 weeks ago i did 2 laps easy,had tuesday off,, did course today,felt better,i will go again thurs,,then spin or nothing till sunday,and i hope they have plenty of medics here as its very very tough,i am not as fit as i should be ,but i wil give it a go.and i hope you have a good race too FOGGY,MY 1ST RACE I FELL OFF 6 times.GOOD LUCK.

CAT

Went in yesterday for wife and nephews interview[no traffic hoilday],interviewed wife first 25 minites,then wife and nephew together,nephew 18yrs old,asked same questions as my wifes,everyone came out laughing,about 50 min all up,case officer very nice lady,we had meet her before at the tower when asking for help,didnt know it was the same person.

they just wanted to check that we were responisble for him and has been in our care for 4 years,

i hope all goes well.

cat

Recived, email today for wife and nephew to go for interview..1/5/2012, which i thought was a holiday,but i'll check,they wanted 6 things we had already given to them on application day.[birth cert,etc] but hey i'll give them to them again,no prob,daughter needs xray [only] as she was 10 yrs old a month ago,when we did medical, [now 11 last week] she needs one, again ,no prob,

APP put in on the 23/2/2012,so... so far its moving along well.

cat

went over the course dismorning,AGAIN VERY HARD ,start is at the dino playground,behind the new buildings going up..,entrance at top of budda hill,course is NOT properly marked yet,but they have cleard it,if you are a novice dont try it,best time to go is after 4pm and you will bump into others going over course,TIP lower your seat or u will go arse over tit,i've done it the last 7yrs,and over 50 races,this is still the hardest,koh larn a close 2nd,and it dose'nt get any easier at 63,ANOTHER TIP if not sure if you can go down a steep drop,GET OFF.,lots of gravel and tree roots as usual.

good luck cat,

ps .if anyone wants a go a it let me know i'll take you over the course, but at 7AM,i could go at 4 pm but like the morn if no hangover.

you have another week to get fit ,race has been put back till 6th may.

cat

good onya elwood,good luck.for me, i would like an early decison as i want to sell of our assets,and have the kids i school by first term 2013,but if it dose'nt happen, i'll wait.

cat

went over the course dismorning,AGAIN VERY HARD ,start is at the dino playground,behind the new buildings going up..,entrance at top of budda hill,course is NOT properly marked yet,but they have cleard it,if you are a novice dont try it,best time to go is after 4pm and you will bump into others going over course,TIP lower your seat or u will go arse over tit,i've done it the last 7yrs,and over 50 races,this is still the hardest,koh larn a close 2nd,and it dose'nt get any easier at 63,ANOTHER TIP if not sure if you can go down a steep drop,GET OFF.,lots of gravel and tree roots as usual.

good luck cat,

ps .if anyone wants a go a it let me know i'll take you over the course, but at 7AM,i could go at 4 pm but like the morn if no hangover.

DOWN HILL 28TH,CROSS COUNTRY 29TH,AT PATTAYA BUDDA HILL [PRATAMAK].

usual hard hilly,tech course,FROM 10yrs to over 60 age groups,course not set yet,

the down hillers are mad,coming down the stairs full pelt..cat

Did medicals thurs, at BNH hospital [opp oz embassy]filled in forms [160,26,]with photos,took letter from embassy,cost 3,000 each adult,, 1500bt child under 16,forms and photos and letter given back after medicals,and xray's ...as unbeknown to me,all is done on line,they take photo, fill in online form,sign.,pay money,all 3 took less than 2 hrs,and they send to embassy,ALL 3 given ALL CLEAR by doctors,the wife asked.

That was this hospital others may do it the old way.

cat

If anyone is interested to know my wife got her visa approved yesterday! (permanent residence visa) all up it took 6 months which is good im happy . it seems if you put together a good application you dont have to do an interview or wait the 12months which they state ..so if you dont have your interview at the 3 month mark it probally means you wont need to do one.. so dont freak out like me!

Nice one getsome... good on ya,now to organize trip home.

cat

catwho has there been any change for you ?

No.. we had to wait for schools exams to finnish,now the mrs has her period and it says on the form not to have urin test when have period,so i have to wait till next week to gets medicals,they did say in the email not to sell property,etc till visa comes through,but things take time to sell here,and thais dont like to pay in one go,always pay off,pay off,lucky i have time ,I HOPE

cat

I have a pair of the sidi dominators i paid just over 4000bt at S and v BIKE SHOP PATTAYA i am a 43 but had to get a size 45 to be comfortable.that was a year ago,i have the same prob with runners .

hope that helps.their ok, i just have to leave them on the last 2 runners or my feet get numb or hot,but i go hard and dont stop.they wear well. cat

Put visa in 22/2/2012 got email today to go and get medicals for for mrs,daughter,nephew,and have been appointed case officer,they did say that i will recive contact from case officer,within 12 weeks and visa could take 12 months,not sure if this is the norm, but i think its quick.

cat

Yeah have we put the visa in,cost for visa this month was 65,000bt plus 1800bt, for their service charge.

that was for the wife, step daughter of 10yrs and nephew,seemed to have everything will know in 6 weeks when we are suppose to get a call from case officer.

I wil give updates on probs and time frame,we have been together for 10yrs plus we have a 4yr old son ,thai/oz ..nephew has been with us for 4yrs we have proof and stat decks,he maybe a factor for a slower procedure.

cat