MESmith

OK, I've been looking online at cheaper road bikes available in Thailand. The Infinite brand look good value, but how do they compare with the Merida Ride 100 (claris8 spd, sora rear derailler) @18,900 bt or say, Masi Alare (sora 9spd) @ 20,90. Are the Infinite frames similar quality? Components are comparable.

Eventually, I'll get around to looking at some bike shops in CM (I live out of town)

More hot air, dirt 'n'all

29" MTB slicks are hard to find, especially in Thailand, whereas for some reason 26" slicks are not so hard to find. You might have to order them online. But.... while these tyres make you roll faster on asphalt, they definitely put an end to any sort fun you can have offroad.

Cheers, CM-Expat

Yep, I think swapping tyres around will be a pain in the a$$. Not wanting to give up my offroading. No hurry on this project. Air quality is already going downhill here in the north.

As for environmental friendly, such people stay at home, and don't damage virgin jungle.

Trucking tourists into a jungle is damaging to the environment by definition.

If they weren't there, then there wouldn't be any damage.

Mae Kamphong used to be really nice until fotg arrived. Do they still have their oversized "safety signs"with their name on, of course, all the way up the waterfall. Eco tourism, my a$$

Very smokey in rural villages. cold nights means more burning & cool air above traps all the smoke. Try visiting Mae On early morning

I don't think the environment has anything to do with the protests, they just don't want a road through their villages and who can blame them.

Unless there are any special areas of interest on that route? Unique breeding grounds for flora or fauna?

Large areas of rice paddy & rural villages need preserving. Without them a good deal of the attraction & charm of the valley go.

Hwy1317 past San Kamphaeng has been widened recently. Can't see large areas of paddy fields lasting long that way now.

Thailand needs a financial crash asap!

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like a cheap road bike wont be much improvement on my 29er. Do they sell slicks for 29" wheels in Thailand? Hopefully Chiang Mai. I think the lack of improvement with slicks on my 26" mtb was that I was pedalling flat out with offroad tyres & couldn't physically pedal any faster with the slicks. With my 29er top gear is a bit of a struggle to maintain top speed with the big tyres on. Maybe slicks should make top gear easier?

Or I could always put one of the kids in local village school for one term to free up the cash for a better road bike. Now which kid? Eenie, meenie, miney moe....

Take a look at Cyclocross bikes, They are road bikes with fatter tires, some design features to make them a little better for off road if needed and with the fatter tires are better suited to the roads here,

Not looking for a road bike that can go offroad. I have an offroad bike. If I buy a new bike it'll be 100% road bike.

For a short term fix, try pumping up your tires to the max and locking out your suspension. It will give you a little better idea what a road bike may feel like. Make sure you really want one before you make the move. I am 60 and still getting used to the drop bars but is not that bad. Hands on top of the bar doesn't feel that much different but it is a long ways down to the lower hold. The only time I notice any real difference is at speed because it does get you out of the wind, reducing drag.

I do have my tyres pumped up & lock out my front forks on tarmac, even on smooth dirt roads. But the fat tyres make it feel like I'm cycling in treacle at times. On my old 26" mtb I tried slicks but not much improvement. Hoping that a lighter bike on skinny slicks will be different. I seem to max out at 60 km over 3 hrs on my 29er. Hope to do more hill road climbs & longer distances.

A bit more info for you. I'm the wrong side of 50 yrs, not sure if drop handle bars will suit me.

Thanks Dave, but Cherry is not my favourite shop. When I say "under 20,000", the more under the merrier, though don't mind paying a bit extra if really worth it.

Don't really know much about road bikes, yet...

Recommendations please for a budget road bike.

I ride a 29er Trek hardtail which is great for cross country rides, climbing dirt, rocky trails, moderate downhills. Would like something more suitable for road rides.

Under 20,000bt.

I'd be very wary of booking an appointment where there is a single day between a holiday & a weekend

This "govt" is holiday happy....

What are CM "netizens" saying about all this? Or are they only concerned with "inappropriate" behaviour by "whiteys"?

Anyone follow the thai forums?

And for those not on farcebook?

Used it as far as the Mae Wang turnoff. Guess it joins the 108 south of Sanpatong somewhere, avoiding the congestion on that road.

Went to Cherry this morning, sold out of almost everything my size,

Merida Matts 40D ...... only in 16" (need 18")

Merida Matts 5D ........ had 18" but only in black.

Giant Talon ....... only in 14.5" (need 19")

New stock next month.

Try another shop.

Mae Kamphong to NE of CM is a coffee growing area. All small scale farms I think. Plenty of coffee shops now, probably overpriced as it seems to have developed since Flight of the gibbon arrived in the area

NEVER buy USB thumb drives from markets. They're cheap enough at Big C, Tesco....

no way id go for a 29er without decent skills

I was thinking more for his cross country, dirt, rocky trails, rutted tracks.

Best to keep off the steep downhills unless you have the right kit & skills.

How about Trek Marlin 7 with lockable front forks & 29" wheels? Might be more suited to the type of rides you want to do. Price is about 15,000 bt.

I have no technique at all, but happy to ride down at walking pace.

I think you're right about the Merida, Shimano Alivio 9 speed groupset too.

Be very careful AOA. Slopes that don't look so steep when you're hiking, look VERY VERY different when you are on a hardtail mtb. I'm speaking from experience. My base level mtb just slides with brakes on if it's steep. And we're not talking about descents the downhillers do.....