Mr Conrad

Nothing daunting at all about travelling with a bicycle.

I travelled with my road bicycle from North East Scotland to my house in Nakhon Phanom, trip was Aberdeen-Heathrow-Doha-Bangkok-Don Mueang-Nakhon Phanom, total cost 600 odd baht that Air Asia charged from Don Mueang to Nakhon Phanom as sporting equipment. The road bike I travelled with is probably worth around 100,000 Baht, I travelled with it in a hard shell bicycle box.

I checked it in at Aberdeen Airport picked it up in Bangkok, then put it into left luggage there (100 baht approx), stayed in a cheap hotel overnight close to Swampy, returned to Swampy in the morning picked up bike box, onto the free shuttle bus over to Don Mueang, checked it in, job done. Did the reverse with the empty bike box as will be taking 1-2 of my other road bikes across this or next year.

It is surprising how many bike boxes that are left in Swampy left luggage areas, it is more common than you think travelling here with a bicycle. No I wasn't stopped at customs either on my way into Thailand.

Quote - "I offered to pay 2,500 bht for a bike (marked price tag) if I could sell it back for 1,000 baht after a week’s use – not successful.

Is this common? "

"Have you ever tried getting 1000 baht back of a Thai 5555."

Best Regards

Just a quick update on this topic.

I just spent a few days in Khon Kaen and visited for the second time Carbontex Intertrade Co bike shop. The shop caters for very high end road bikes, Greg the owner is very very knowledgeable about road bikes and road scene he also speaks excellent English. He is willing to mail order around Thailand, and will use EMS for delivery for any purchases.

First time I visited a few years ago I wasn't looking for a co2 inflator and cartridges, this visit I was. I purchased from Greg a Lezyne twin co2 kit, which consists of the inflator, two co2 cartridges and two resin tyre levers, price was 500 baht. He also had spare co2 cartridges in the shop (birzman brand) for 60 baht each.

The shop is located at 88/6 Srijan Road, Muang, Khon Kaen. It is really close to the rear entrance to Tukcom if anybody knows Khon Kaen at all. If anybody requires his email or phone number PM myself and I will provide it.

I have no commercial interest in his business at all, just trying to pass on some hopefully usefull information.

Regards

Sure you're in the right forum ???

Regards

Ye, would love to know also where in Thailand I could buy these, I asked at my local bike shop in Nakhon Phanom but just got 'no have'.

Anybody know if some of the bigger bike shops in Bangkok have them ?

Regards

Is Emirates still using the same immigration fast track cards as last year or the year before. ( No name or date on the card )

The last time i used Emirates is about 10 Months ago and they where given the cards in the airplane.

I still have about 10 of them as the immigration counter almost never took the card. :-)

I used the old style Emirates fast track card in November last year as I still have 5-6 in my bag, had to hand it to the immigration officer as he asked, no problem at all. Will keep trying to off load all my old ones before using the new style. i have not flown Emirates for maybe two years now.

Regards

I just did a similar trip in November from Aberdeen to Nakhon Phanom. I took my Giant TCR carbon road bike (see what road bike do you ride in Thailand thread), I used a hard shell bike suitcase which I purchased a few years back.

I fly regularly with Qatar Airways and have gold status with them so have an extra 20kg on top of my 23 kg for my economy ticket. My extra allowance didn't transfer for the domestic leg, Aberdeen to Heathrow with British Airways, so was expecting to pay their £40.00 for an extra bag fee and to have to switch terminals in Heathrow with all my luggage. I phoned Qatar about a week before I left as my extra baggage allowance wasn't showing on the e-ticket and explained that I was travelling with a bicycle. Anyway checked in at Aberdeen and there was no extra charge and they booked all my luggage (bike included) through to Bangkok, so a great result. I went through the green customs channel on arrival and they didn't give me a second look.

I even took my bike box and luggage on the free shuttle bus between Swampy and Don Muang, no problem. I had pre-booked the bicycle with Air Asia from Don Muang to Nakhon Phanom for around £16.00. So that was my total charge for my journey, can't complain about that. Really couldn't have been easier and will have no hesitation taking my road Specialized Tarmac over in a couple of years.

Do you have any frequent flyer status with any airlines ?

Regards

i have a BMC Carbon Road bike and a Gary Fisher MTB ... both excellent bikes to ride ...

Nice road bike cdmtdm, is that 10 speed 'dura ace ' on it, also carbon wheels as well ?

Regards

I've ordered from Chain Reaction before but it will take a couple of weeks to get here.

I believe delivery can be made in a day or two by Express Mail Service (EMS) which is normally very good here in Thailand.

Not a problem, I'm actually back in the UK at present, I travel back out to Nakhon Phanom in early February.

Not quite full expat status just yet, travel back and forth 5 times a year until I stop working in 2015.

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated.

Regards

Go to Bicycle Thailand www.bicyclethailand.com Click on "Shop". They have a number of very good lightweight cycling jerseys perfect for this c;limate. I have purcahsed 6 of these and use them exclusively. Lots of ventilation and an added pocket on each sleeve along with the 3 in back. These sizes run slightly small for us westerners so I would advise ordering 1 size larger than you would normally wear. I'm 5'10" 200lbs and ordered a size XXL .

I hope this helps.

Thanks for the link fdimike will try and order one of their jerseys and see how they are. Is their delivery service any good ?

I also came across this jersey on Chain Reaction Cycles website whilst browsing last night, says it's good for temperatures greater than 28.0 C

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=89225

Regards

Just recently flew in with this one after going to take it for years.

Regards

Well I finally bit the bullet and transported my road bike (Giant TCR) over to Nakhon Phanom from Aberdeen.

This was my first time riding in temperatures like this, can anybody recommend a light weight (really breathable) brand of cycling jerseys. I took three short sleeve tops with me, two are Midas brand and I think a bit heavy for over here, the other one is a Lusso top and seems slightly better. Is it just a case of sticking with the more quality brands ?

Any input much appreciated.

Regards

Hi sorry for the late reply, I don't check-in here very often these days.

The Trek 2100 model was my first road bike, bought in 1991 in Scotland. Not sure if they were made before then or how long after that they stopped making them. My one came equipped Shimano 105 groupset, forgotten what wheels and finishing kit it had.

I had a free replacement and upgrade from Trek in 1995, being one of the earlier models the bottle bosses on the downtube and seat tube were glued on, they came adrift and also the seat clamp split, when I took it back to Trek they gave me a 2300 model in return. I still use it today as a winter hack and turbo bike. So they certainly last well.

Hope it helps you some.

Regards

Has anybody made the switch on their Vigo 4x4 from the Michelin Cross Terrain to the Michelin Latitudes. If so did you notice any difference with road noise, steering etc etc. I currently have the Cross Terrains fitted which the our Vigo came supplied with in 2007.

Been looking at both and am swayed towards the Latitudes, seems to be more tread across more of the tyre, but I'm no expert for sure, 99% of my time is spent on road. We are a low mileage family, just pottering along between 90-100 kph normally. Prices I have been quoted are 6000 for Cross Terrain and 6500 for Latitudes both include fitting.

Is it worth paying the slight difference in price.

Best Regards

Really depends on your interests, as the list could be endless.

Me, I travel alot so have apps from Air Asia, Nok Air, Etihad, British Airways, BMI, Agoda, Uk Flights and various other Airport Apps, but if you don't travel no use to you at all.

Must have generic ones, Dropbox, Skype, Around Me, Bangkok Post, E-Bay, Google Translate and Tune-in Radio.

Regards

Not quite, Cavendish first brit to win the Green Jersey for sure, and first ever person to win the final stage in Paris three times in a row.

Robert Millar won the Polka Dot Climbers Jersey at the 1984 tour.

Still a great tour and congratulations to Cadel Evans a worthy winner in the end.

Regards

Great tour overall, with a fantastic stage today.

This has to be Evans best chance ever to win the tour.

Think Frank will go on the attack tomorrow, and once evans has dragged everyone up to him Andy will go again, that's my best guest anyway. Both the Schlecks need more time over Evans before the Time Trial on Saturday.

Great viewing, hope tomorrow is as good.

Regards

Good news that they have increased the speed, always like using Firefox but some of the other browsers are considerably faster. Will wait for the official release shortly to download, good news indeed.

Hi, just back from a weekend in Khon Kaen and came across this shop whilst there. It is on the main road just outside the Kosa Shopping Centre if that helps

Bike Station,

88/6-7 Srijan Road

Muang

Khon Kaen

Tel No 043-321489

Mobile 081-4423512

He just sells road bikes and has some top end stuff in the shop. Although I didn't buy anything I had a good natter with the owner, really nice guy named Greg with good English and he knows his road bikes, really knowledgeable.

I read a review that said their internet was crazy expensive. What did you pay? Also - did you go to the close by shopping mall and if so what is it like and how far to walk?

Ye, I think the internet was quite expensive, something like 50-70 baht for 20-30 minutes but can't remember exactly.

Did not venture outside at all, I arrived quite late at night and had an early morning departure next day, so a quick bite to eat then off to bed.

Sorry can't be of more help, all these Airport hotels are much the same really.

Regards

Just upgraded from 8MB to 9MB at the 3BB office in Nakhon Phanom when paying our bill today. For an extra 13 baht a month I thought why not. Told to switch the router off and then on again after going home, did so, then run a speed test on speedtest.net and it showed 9.45 MB download and about .7 MB upload. So pretty happy with that, if it's correct, although I'm certainly no internet expert.

On another note, the net here seems to be much quicker than my connection that I have in the UK, I am supposed to be on 8MB in the UK with orange, if I get 3MB download and .3MB up, it's a good day. I use the same speedtest.net for comparison.

Regards

No idea if this is any good or not.

http://www.thecottagebangkokairport.com/contact.html

Stayed there at the beginning of April this year. It is fairly new and was okay for price paid, restaurant was reasonable as well, they had slight problems with their internet access but sorted it quickly. The free transportation to and from swampy worked efficiently. Would stay again.

Regards

Sorry to hear of your loss real bummer, hope you have some success in getting it back but doubtfull at best. They will probably break it down and sell the pieces, as it would not fit many Thais.

Regards

Anyone departed on the early morning flights recently? Got a friend departing tomorrow morning on DELTA's 0555 hrs flight.

Three hours enough time??

Mac

Departed early morning at the begining of April, three hours more than enough at that time of day.

Regards

It's all very nice to getthrough quickly but how fast will your luggage be available at the carousel?

Arrived 26th May at 12.30 in the afternoon on Emirates A380. About two-three people in each queue at immigration, about eight-nine desks open. Was through in about five minutes, baggage arrived in about another ten minutes. Superb, wish it was like this all the time.

Even the immigration officer put my entry stamp where I wanted it in my passport, as I'm trying to save pages before it fills too quickly.

Regards

My sincere condolences also.