Struggling to find a decent bike.

[SteveK]

I live in a fairly remote Isaan village, and have been trying to find a decent bike now for pottering around the local paths and lakes in the morning to get some exercise, without spending a fortune. Turns out this is an almost impossible mission to do on a budget. Fishing seems to have been more or less banned around here now so cycling would give me something else to focus on.

 

We have a local shop that sells bikes, they go up to 3500 baht and weigh an absolute ton. I don't really care about brand name etc but weight is important to me. These bikes are obviously ultra cheap made in China garbage with most things made from black plastic. I don't mind if it's a mountain bike, hybrid or road bike, but really prefer no suspension to save weight so I suppose MTBs are out.

 

Went to Ubon, and found a few shops selling the same Chinese bikes, like this one below:

 

 

 

As well as that, there was a "proper" bike shop selling brand name bikes with decent ones starting at about 30k. I don't really mind second hand, actually I would prefer it, and only want to spend half of that, even less if possible. The wife almost had an epileptic fit when she saw bikes for 30-40k.

 

So my options are:

 

- Order from Lazada, which has some good deals, but I can't see the size of the bike so would have to gamble, plus there are lots of reports of bikes arriving with broken parts, gouged frames, etc and in the UK that wouldn't bother me because I would just arrange a return, but I know this would give me a migraine in Thailand. This one for 8500 baht looks ideal, with proper Shimano Claris groupset:

 

 

 

- Try to find a second hand bike locally. This won't work, they only ride the 3k bike here in the village. Some joker in the village has got a bicycle with a for sale sign on it, but the bike looks much like this one:

 

 

- Order from eBay UK, which has everything I could possibly need and cheap, and build up my own bike for not very much money. Only issue is getting the frameset through customs without getting extorted. Has anyone tried this?

 

The only other option is to keep an eye on Bahtsold, which I have been doing, but good bikes are few and far between, plus would involve a several hundred km journey without overnight stay. If I went for the Optima bike above, what size should I go for? I am 5 foot 11. Has anyone had any luck returning things from Lazada that arrive damaged?

[malathione]

Where size is concerned, for a road bike 54 or 56. For a mountain bike, 19. Of course, a precise size depends on your exact build. 

Bike shops by province: https://bicyclethailand.com/information/bike-stores/

[SteveK]

Am I right in thinking that the handlebar stem length is not adjustable? So the only adjustment for size is moving the seat back or forwards a few inches along the rails underneath?

 

Also, if you remove some of the spacers between the headset and handlebars, surely there will be a chunk of the steering tube poking out the top? What can you do about that?

Edited April 1, 2020 by SteveK

[ChouDoufu]

20 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Am I right in thinking that the handlebar stem length is not adjustable? So the only adjustment for size is moving the seat back or forwards a few inches along the rails underneath?

 

Also, if you remove some of the spacers between the headset and handlebars, surely there will be a chunk of the steering tube poking out the top? What can you do about that?

most stems have a fixed length.  they are cheap and easy to change.  any bike shop should have a bin full of used ones you can switch easily and cheaply.  there are some adjustable stems available, check the shops and lazada.

 

you can simply move the spacers from below the stem to above and then tighten the stem bolts and topcap correctly.

 

a little tube sticking out the top not a problem.   if you find you have the right height and don't like the visuals, a shop can cut off the excess.

 

why not check out youtube?  you'll find thousands of DIY videos for setting up and maintaining your bike.

 

bike shop at terminal 21 in korat had a decent selection, reasonable prices last time i visited.  but reasonable is relative....50k baht for a quality bike isn't excessive for dedicated cyclists.  i believe they had some in the 15k lower end that were adequate for casual riding.

 

before you buy, decide what the purpose is.  will you mount racks so you can go shopping?  you want fast and comfortable and utilitarian?  an mtb or hybrid will accept racks, can have rigid forks, and you can switch tire widths and profiles depending on terrain.

Edited April 1, 2020 by ChouDoufu

[sezze]

There are some decent bikes on the market . Check brand names like Java , Twitter for road bikes , Trinx for mtb . If you live remote i would certainly choose lazada for ordering , plenty of choice . I got a road bike in Thailand , 1 of the cheaper things , and i find 1 major problem . Even on the good roads for riding , theres a lot of small metal lying on the road , leading to punctured tires a lot .  For mountain bikes , i got no experience but i've seen a few , and Trinx seem to be a pretty big Chinese manufacturer , having multiple models , in different price brackets . You still get what you pay for , Shimano is not free , and the price of the bike certainly is related to the parts fitted on it .

[MJKT2014]

They had some OK looking Trek mountain bikes from 17,000THB in Bangkok last month. I think MTBike in Ubon was selling a limited supply of them last time I went, 8 years ago now! I've got a similar priced Specialized. Would like a lighter bike but I haven't the budget. Wouldn't like to go cheaper than about 17,000THB tho, as quality drops off.

Edited April 1, 2020 by MJKT2014

[MJKT2014]

double post sorry

Edited April 1, 2020 by MJKT2014

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, SteveK said:

The wife almost had an epileptic fit when she saw bikes for 30-40k.

Plenty of decent bikes around for 10-15K

Merida, Bianchi, Trek, Giant ........ mountain bike, hybrids or road bikes all widely available new in that price range.

Edited April 1, 2020 by BritManToo

[RAZZELL]

Look on Facebook Marketplace.

 

 

[baansgr]

About 10 years ago I bought a Japanese mountain bike from the market at Chom Chom?border town....bargain..had hundreds for sale 2nd hand...if your near and the market is still open take a look

Edited April 1, 2020 by baansgr
Or Kap Chong...whatever crossing is near Surin

[frequentatore]

A MTB could be nice if you live in the country side. I bought a new Trek a few years ago (MTB 29er in BKK) and I changed a few parts over the years to make it lighter.

Check this page on Facebook: Buy & Sell - Cycling, Triathlon and Trail Running Items

[SteveK]

Thanks for the help with sizing, but the guy who owns the shop selling those Optima bikes reckons I need a size 50, so now I am between a rock and a hard place. I either need to go to the shop and try the bikes but he's a 6 hour drive away, or gamble on a size 52. If it helps, all the branded mountain bikes I have bought in my life, cannondale, trek, marin et have been mediums or 17-18 inch. 

 

He only had the above bike in pink so looking at this one now, let me know if you think it would be ok for casual riding:

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/optima-corsa-2400-2017-i316536035-s702224662.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.29.65734118zua9Sz&search=1

 

I will just be pottering around the village in an attempt to build up my fitness over a few months, then maybe attempt some longer rides (on the road).

Edited April 2, 2020 by SteveK

[BritManToo]

17 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Thanks for the help with sizing, but the guy who owns the shop selling those Optima bikes reckons I need a size 50, so now I am between a rock and a hard place. I either need to go to the shop and try the bikes but he's a 6 hour drive away, or gamble on a size 52. If it helps, all the branded mountain bikes I have bought in my life, cannondale, trek, marin et have been mediums or 17-18 inch. 

 

He only had the above bike in pink so looking at this one now, let me know if you think it would be ok for casual riding:

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/optima-corsa-2400-2017-i316536035-s702224662.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.29.65734118zua9Sz&search=1

 

I will just be pottering around the village in an attempt to build up my fitness over a few months, then maybe attempt some longer rides (on the road).

Hope you've got good smooth tarmac roads, the bumps will kill your privates on that road bike.

 

Can't see where you've stated your height, if you're 6' you'll need a 56cm road bike.

At 50-52cm you must be a real shortarse, 5'8" (ish).

 

A lot of Thai cycle shops deliberately sell small bikes to tall foreigners, because that's all they keep in stock for the very short Thai market. They don't care if it fits you or not.

Edited April 2, 2020 by BritManToo

[SteveK]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Hope you've got good smooth tarmac roads, the bumps will kill your privates on that road bike.

 

Can't say where you've stated your height, if you're 6' you'll need a 56cm road bike.

At 50-52cm you must be a real shortarse, 5'8" (ish).

 

A lot of Thai cycle shops deliberately sell small bikes, because that's all they keep in stock for the very short Thai market. They don't care if it fits you or not.

I'm about 5'11" but would prefer the bike frame to be too small rather than too big.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, SteveK said:

I'm about 5'11" but would prefer the bike frame to be too small rather than too big.

You need 56cm, if you buy smaller it'll be too uncomfortable (usually backache) and you'll never use it.

I'm 6' and I use 56cm or 58cm road bikes.

 

Road bike sizing is not as forgiving as MTB sizing.

Edited April 2, 2020 by BritManToo

[SteveK]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You need 56cm, if you buy smaller it'll be too uncomfortable and you'll never use it.

I'm 6' and I use 56cm or 58cm road bikes.

Not much on Lazada at those sizes at all. Will have to keep watching the classifieds with fingers crossed.

[ChouDoufu]

keep an eye on craigslist.   you'll often see larger frame bikes on offer.

 

https://bangkok.craigslist.org/d/bicycles/search/bia

[SteveK]

Can the experts take a look at this? I know Giant road bike sizes mean an M is perfect for me, just worried that an M in Thailand is not the same as an M in the UK:

 

http://www.thaimtb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1847272

 

Seems I am 5'10" height. 

Edited April 3, 2020 by SteveK

[StreetCowboy]

1 hour ago, SteveK said:

Can the experts take a look at this? I know Giant road bike sizes mean an M is perfect for me, just worried that an M in Thailand is not the same as an M in the UK:

 

http://www.thaimtb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1847272

 

Seems I am 5'10" height. 

I think a 52 cm frame might be a bit small for you - you'd probably want a 54 or 56.
But you can always crank the seat post all the way out.

 

SC

[Assurancetourix]

22 hours ago, SteveK said:

Not much on Lazada at those sizes at all. Will have to keep watching the classifieds with fingers crossed.

You don't buy a road bicycle or an MTBike on the internet; it is an heresy.
You have to try it personally;
and then the bicycles sold at most of the sellers in Thailand are anvils made in mainland China for a ridiculous price.
and you will get your money's worth, that is to say that at the slightest hole or bump, a rim will bend.
You must already know what you plan to do:
on the road or any way?
or a mix of both ..
and also if you plan to do 8 km per day or 50 or even more ...

A frame is bought according to the size of its crotch;
will discover on the internet specialized forums; there are lots of them, in your language of course;
if you are french, there is a very good one called Cyclos-cyclotes
if you are from another country, Google is your friend and you will find many.

 

https://www.cyclos-cyclotes.org/forum/index.php

[GarryP]

On 4/2/2020 at 8:08 PM, BritManToo said:

Hope you've got good smooth tarmac roads, the bumps will kill your privates on that road bike.

 

Can't see where you've stated your height, if you're 6' you'll need a 56cm road bike.

At 50-52cm you must be a real shortarse, 5'8" (ish).

 

A lot of Thai cycle shops deliberately sell small bikes to tall foreigners, because that's all they keep in stock for the very short Thai market. They don't care if it fits you or not.

When I bought my hybrid Giant about 7 years ago, the Thailand distributor did not have any L size frames at all and tried to push an M on me. I told them I could wait and so they ordered from Taiwan. They did agree that I had made the right choice when it was finally delivered three weeks later. They told me they did not keep L's in stock because they ended up gathering dust. I am 181 cm tall. 

 

Don't forget that when suggesting appropriate frame size for height, such suggestions are based on averages. As a result it is always best to try out a bike in person first. For example, my son is slightly taller than me but has great difficulty in using my bike without adjusting the saddle and handlebars. And the simple reason for that is that our bodies are very different. He has a very long body but relatively short legs whereas I have a shorter body but much longer legs. As such. the Giant M/L frame would be best for him while L is best for me even though he is a little bit taller than me.  

Edited May 7, 2020 by GarryP

[StreetCowboy]

9 minutes ago, GarryP said:

When I bought my hybrid Giant about 7 years ago, the Thailand distributor did not have any L size frames at all and tried to push an M on me. I told them I could wait and so they ordered from Taiwan. The did agree that I had made the right choice when it was finally delivered three weeks later. They told me they did not keep L's in stock because they ended up gathering dust. I am 181 cm tall. 

One problem is that when you take the bike for a test ride, you are a bit timid, and a lower saddle height is OK for round the block, but maybe not for fanging it down the highway.  I've substantially extended the seat post on my shopping bike, and correspndingly swapped the handlebar mount from -7% to +7%.

 

[Dale75]

It's finally time to retire my old Peugeot, it's nearly as old as me. I expected to be able to walk into a bike shop and easily pick up a new one. But not so.

They are all tiny frames. I'm 6"1' / 185cm so I need a 58cm frame.

None of the shops have anything that size in stock. They say they can order one in but if they do that and I don't like it when I ride it, they'll probably try to charge me for their trouble. I'll try a few more places but I expect I'll have to take a chance and get one of them to order me one.

 

[bobfish]

There's a nice Trek AL Emonda with 105, size 58, for sale on Faceboook Bicycle Thailand: Buy & Sell. At THB39.9K probably worth a look!

[impulse]

I bought my 2 MTB's and my recumbent off Craigslist for 1/3-1/5 of the new price.    All 3 were in excellent condition, though I had to replace the chain on the recumbent (which took 3 normal length chains).  Still, around 40K for an Aussie brand recumbent that lists for 3-4x that in Oz.  My MTBs cost 4K and 7K without negotiating.

 

There's always an expat headed back home that needs to sell his beloved, pampered bicycle.  There were more beginning in 2014 when the screws started tightening up...

 

Edited August 19, 2020 by impulse