thaigecko

Anyone know anyplace to rent a halfway decent road bike? Looking to do a bicycle race in November, within an already planned trip, and don't want to lug my bike on the airlines, just bring my kit. Thanks

Thanks, but tried spice roads, didn't respond. What about anyone know of a place in Bangkok that can rent a road bike? Will be there anyhow.

I was looking to do the Masters Tour of Chiang Mai in November, since it coincides with a trip I already have planned to Thailand. I've never been to Chiang Mai, and wondering if anyone knows of a store that rents decent road bikes. I'm thinking of just bringing my kit, and renting a bike for the race. I'm an avid racer, not looking for the best top of the line bike, but something decent for racing. Any ideas or points of contact? Thanks

http://forum.bamboo-lake-village.com/

check out this fellows link, i ran into him at a race or two around thailand, he's got a forum on his site for many things cycling in thailand/SE asia. also about hill climbs as well, and noticed there's a race up doi suthep as well..

Longball, I'd have to partly disagree with you on Mae Phim as far as the crowds go, Saturdays and Sundays can be pretty dam_n crowded with the thais coming down on the weekend, but I've found on the weekdays there's almost no one. But yeah, a good mix of various thai and western restaurants.

I like Chao Lao beach/cape area and a couple of the other areas around there, before you get to the town of Chanthaburi. Has a good mix of restaurants/resorts/beaches with some scenic hillsides scattered along the coast.

Right, I'm "one of those guys" living over here on tourist visas, so had to go through NVC as well.

Thanks for the info! My wifes CR-1 just got approved at NVC yesterday, so waiting for her interview date now. Agree that the whole process seems overwelming at first, but by using resources on the net, in particular visajourney.com, it is easy and quick doing everything yourself. USCIS and NVC are making good times this year it seems compaired to previous years. Maybe I should reconsider, but I was under the impression that for this type of visa it'd be better to have the husband there. We have a co-sponsor for ours because I haven't really worked for two years, and not sure if they'd really care about that since I do have a co-sponsor. Was the representative thai or american and speak thai with her or english. I know my wife will be nervous and need support since her english vocab is still not great, not sure if that'd be a hinderance. Do you remember any more specific questions they asked that you can share? Cheers

Hey, I live Rayong, so can't give too much advice for HH except that I was there last year for the Kings Cup, which is normally around the kings b-day. Last year if my mem serves me correctly, the race was at the end of Nov. Not sure if you'll be racing or already know about that race, but if not, I thought it was well put on with a lot of good competition. I remember there were a couple of bike shops around the area. When I lived in Phuket and now in Rayong, got hooked up both times with groups of riders by talking to the local shops. Normally pretty friendly to farangs and for me there always seemed to be one or two guys in the groups that can speak enough english to get by with the basics.

thanks for the reply, never really paid attention on the way down there and at the border for places to stay, but khlong yai will probly work good.

Doing a visa run soon and might not get to the border till late in the evening and then just stay on the thai side for the night. Any places to stay in that area right by the border within walking distance? Thanks

Checking to see if anyone knows any car rental places in Chanthaburi or Rayong with locations and/or contact #. Cheers

Not sure if you were only looking for the Hua Hin area, but in Phuket, the couple of times I've been to the beach by the airport there(got a mind blank for the name) there was always a good steady wind and a mass of kiteboarders. A nice long stretch of beach for going out and coming in. Also in between Chalong and Rawai, seen some riders there when the tide has been right.

Thanks, i did manage to find the below link that someone set up for racing in Thailand with some info in english, looks like he's up in Chiang Mai as well. Unfortunately most of the races he has posted are bigger and longer ones, think they might be a bit too big of a bite for me as well.. I might just have to dust off the ole mt bike I think..

http://forum.bamboo-lake-village.com/

el jefe, thanks for the past post. don't suppose you're in the know about any other races the next couple months?

Anyone know any thai-english translation services around the Rayong area?

Go on wikipedia(I know, I know, take it for what it's worth..) here's a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand_passport , what they say about Thai passports, and lists the countries and durations Thai passport holders can go to.

my buddy(thai bud speaks reasonable enlish) is a rock climber, lives in phuket city. if you shoot him an email i'm sure he can tell you where he gets his chalk, he always had quite a bit around. his website with his email is geckoextreme.com , i'm not sure if i can post emails on here..

I live in east of Rayong, was looking to start teaching again and saw an ad on the thaivisa's classifieds from a big well known school in Rayong, forget the name, but still in the classifieds though. When I talked to them right before the new term they still had a spot open, but coudn't end up following up with them due to other obligations.. anywho, looks like they had a huge english staff, and if you're qualified, probly wouldn't be too hard to work there. On Ajarn.com, I also saw a couple other positions out east, Trat, Chanthaburi..

Just drove up through Chonburi from Klaeng, had several big posters for a festival with buffalo races, more towards Klaeng however, and from what my girlfriend said, this festival went from the 19th to the 28th, with races on several of the days in different areas of rayong here it looked like. There were several different posters along route 344. Sorry don't have more details, might be able to get them next time on the road in a few days.

Anyone know any used book stores in Rayong or Chanthburi? I thought I read somewhere in the past someone found a small used book store in Ban Phe, but can't find that discussion now. Pattaya and Bangkok a bit to far just for a book run unless I'm over there for something else...

thanks for the info!

hey, i've since moved out of phuket a few months ago, but used to ride with a bunch of thai guys all the time, most associated with beach boys in kata. everyone usually met up at nai harn lake at about 1630/1700, then just bike wherever and finish at sunset at the lake. a couple speak a little english, mostly mtb but a couple guys on road bikes, but some of the mtb guys can keep a good pace on the road anyway. i think they'd have no problem anyone comin out to join them

Ok, i've googled the hel_l out of these webpages so far and didn't really get a straight answer from the bkk embassy, and still need a little help from anyone that has some good knowledge of the I-134 and I-864 paperwork that pertains to my little wall I'm running into.

The fiance and I will get married next year, tbd where to do the paperwork etc, but the issue is I want to bring her to the states, but not perminently, because we have a store that we just opened here in Thailand, so we'd end up coming back here. Already tried the tourist visa route, got shot down, so looking to the K-1/K-3. But I haven't had a "real" job since middle of 2007, so for the affidavid of support, seem's like I'd be out of luck. But the I-864 says if I don't have the income, "Income from the intending immigrant, if that income willcontinue from the same source after immigration, and if theintending immigrant is currently living in your residence. Ifthe intending immigrant is your spouse, his or her incomecan be counted regardless of current residence, but it mustcontinue from the same source after he or she becomes alawful permanent resident.". So can we submit this I-864 for a K-1 or K-3? I didn't see the bkk embassy website talk about the I-864 at all and they didn't mention it in their email. We also don't have any tax paperwork yet for the store, only receipts, but by the time we had our interview we would probly have that paperwork if we could go that route. Oh yeah, also, don't want to go the co-sponsor route, for personal reasons.

Maybe I'm a bit off on all this, any thoughts or experiences with financial issues with these visas?

thanks a ton

my girlfriend just happened to mention a guy who was selling some of his land(rubber/nok/durian trees), 60rai in klaeng for 6mil. don't really know if thats good or not, but supposidly he does real well on it. anyway, had to tell the girlfriend unfortunately we're about 6mil short to go in on that investment..

Anyone know of any road bike races for 2008/09? I've tried the hel_l out of searching for em on the net but no luck. I know thaimtb.com has a thread for races, but only see them in thai, unfortunately not at the thai reading stage yet.. and I think they are mostly mtb races anyway. I saw the cup in Hua Hin (november/decemer?)looks like it has a road race as well, but again, couldn't read the details though. Anyone have any info?

Also, a long shot, but if anyone is in the chanthburi/klaeng/rayong area and wants to join up for a ride let me know.