Sunday 04 Oct Ride

[dave_boo]

Planning a ride for 04 October from Bangkok to Wat Tham Khao Wong (see picture below) in Ban Rai district Uthai Thani. The route loops up through Kanchanburi, over to Uthai Thani and down the winding 311 back to Bangkok. I reckon that it should take us about 3 (and half?) hours to get up to Wat Tham Khao Wong. Figure it will take us another ~4 hours to get back to BKK after we eat lunch...and that's being conservative on all my time estimations. I.E., as long as we leave no later than 08:00, we should be back in the Big Mango at approximately 16:00'ish. However, at the wat, there are some pretty nice caves that aren't terribly far from the temple itself that IMHO are worth exploring. That will add an hour to our time.

As the feedback I've received has indicated that, similar to me, there will be a family ride-a-long quality to this, I will be making stops on the hour. Planning on 15 minute stops to let the pillion stretch her legs and go to the toilet (or whatever). I'm not adverse to smaller bikes coming along (I am only on a 500...so smaller than my little one) as long as they can maintain a steady 110-120 km/hr moving average or be prepared to miss stops that us faster movers make...wouldn't be fair to us to have to wait an inordinate amount of time for someone trying to tag along. There is also going to be about an 8 km stretch of graded road; you've been forwarned!

I will also need to know the fuel range of riders. Right now the shortest that I've gotten feedback about is ~250km. I'll plan fuel stops according to the needs of the riders; or I can just make sure that every ~120 km, where I've envisioned taking a break, is at a fuel station.

[JohnPark]

I'm game, where you guys meeting in Bangkok?

I'm coming from Pattaya.

[dave_boo]

I'm game, where you guys meeting in Bangkok?

I'm coming from Pattaya.

Thanks. We will be meeting at the intersection of 31's feeder road (Kamphaeng Phet 6) and 304 (Chaeng Watthana). Are you going to be trying to make the 08:00 departure time from Pattaya?

Also, are you going to be solo or 2 up? What fuel range are you looking at?

[DualSportBiker]

Looks like fun. I doubt my clutch will be ready though. See if I can borrow a ride...

[JohnPark]

I'll be solo, my bike will do 260km if im not pushing too hard. Yeah, i can make an early start, just need to leave around 5am, love going out in the early morning anyway.

[dave_boo]

Looks like fun. I doubt my clutch will be ready though. See if I can borrow a ride...

Would be good to have you.

I'll be solo, my bike will do 260km if im not pushing too hard. Yeah, i can make an early start, just need to leave around 5am, love going out in the early morning anyway.

Thanks. I don't think we'll be zipping along too fast...much more than ~125 km/hr and I get punched in my kidneys.

[ll2]

Sunday is 5th of October dave.

i ll inform you when it gets closer to the date.

nice route as always from you!

[dave_boo]

Thanks ll2...I had looked at a wrong calendar and got mixed up. But it is sure 05 October.

[Nebula]

I would like to join too. With the speed you mention i can keep up with the big boys. The meeting point you mention that seems to be the IT Laksi mall?

[Gweiloman]

I'm up for it if I am back in Bangkok by Saturday. My fuel range is about 350 km so should be fine.

[dave_boo]

I would like to join too. With the speed you mention i can keep up with the big boys. The meeting point you mention that seems to be the IT Laksi mall?

Thanks for the heads up. And yes, that is the meeting point. Will look forward to the ride.

[dave_boo]

I'm up for it if I am back in Bangkok by Saturday. My fuel range is about 350 km so should be fine.

Thanks for the interest....will add you to the list.

[bramds]

This looks like a great ride.

I will let you know later if I am available.

FYI, I get about 350 km on my 500F.

[dave_boo]

So here is the final map. I am not sure how long it will take us to get to Ring Road (Hwy [9] or AH2), but I assume even travelling at 120 km/h on the way to point "B" (a fuel station 100 km beyond the meet-up where I'll recommend all the 250 km range folks refuell at as I can't find "good" stations after that) it will take us an hour. Will be good place to make sure all the riders are accounted for and plan our next leg.

Point "C" is simply there to force the route I want; but point "D" will be another rest stop. This is the longest planned leg; perhaps we will come across a point a bit sooner to break at as it will take about 1 1/2 hours.

As yet another place to regroup, we can figure out who will be in the lead (really only one way to go) and how we'll set up for photo ops, etc. BTW, I'll have both my handlebar cam and my Nikon dslr along to capture plenty of snaps. As the way between "D" and "E" is quite picturesque, I think that it will take up most of an hour to get to the Wat.

Assuming breaks of 15 minutes at both "B" and "D", we should be at the Wat no later than 12:00. An hour there and we'll nip up to the restaurant in Ban Rai ("F"). Decent, cheap grub, we'll refuel either there or at the PTT (my preference) just around the corner. Should be hitting the road at no later than 14:30.

"G" and "H" are just placeholders; other than the fact that at "H" we'll be taking a ferry and can write that off as one of the stops and thus skip "I". Assuming that we use "H" as one of the breaks, we'll have to use the toilets located on the other side of the river. We wouldn't want people to think we're animals by urinating over the side of the ferry. It's nice looking country we'll be riding through, just not terribly outstanding as the starting legs. Should be at point "I" no later than 16:00.

Once again, "J" and "K" are placeholders. Point "L" is a refuel and will be our last stop before the push back into Bangkok. Should be arriving there at 17:00.

At least another hour into Bangkok and we'll be at the meetup at 18:15 or so.

Confirmed riders:

Me (CB500X)

JohnPark (Z800?)

Tenative riders:

DualSportBiker (F650? if lucky)

ll2 (CBR650)

Nebula (CBR250)

Gweiloman (ER-6 or Ninja 1000)

Bramds (CB500F)

If the big boy bikers want to come along...they're welcome. But I'd like to reiterate that this is in no way a race or a dick waving contest. Leave that out and enjoy the ride and the companionship! I'll have a pillion and would be interested in knowing who else will. If I end up being the only one that looks like they're going to bring one, she'll get left at home base.

**edit**

Forgot map linkie thing.

Edited September 22, 2014 by dave_boo

[DualSportBiker]

Good route selection. Point 16 is where my clutch died - be sure to your bikes as you go by for a good omen, or not...

October 5 is just around the corner, and the torx keys have only touched my bike's clutch assembly as I type... unlikely, but I'll try. See if I can borrow my mates spare KTM 1290?? would be nice.

I rode the 3282 in error returning from somewhere last year in the rain. My fuel light came on when still near the pond and it was dark under the storm clouds, the rain was so heavy that the run-off from the fields on the east side of the road was 40cm deep. If I had slowed down much more I don't think I would have had enough weight on the front wheel to hold against the force of water. They were pretty shocked when I pulled into the fuel station at the Ban Suan resort!! I was a tad wet.

Some of my favourite parts of Thailand up there... Enjoy!

[rambling]

Looks like a great route. I would have loved to join but I'm concerned I'm not experienced enough for such a long day in the saddle, have only done about 700 Km on the bike so far. Will try to join next time.

[dave_boo]

Looks like a great route. I would have loved to join but I'm concerned I'm not experienced enough for such a long day in the saddle, have only done about 700 Km on the bike so far. Will try to join next time.

Sorry to hear that. I had planned it out so that there's plenty of breaks and there won't be any warp speed riding.

[H1w4yR1da]

If the big boy bikers want to come along...they're welcome. But I'd like to reiterate that this is in no way a race or a dick waving contest. Leave that out and enjoy the ride and the companionship!

I'd like to join but don't fancy being accused of waving my dick around if I happen go faster than 125 kph.

Have a good one!

[dave_boo]

If the big boy bikers want to come along...they're welcome. But I'd like to reiterate that this is in no way a race or a dick waving contest. Leave that out and enjoy the ride and the companionship!

I'd like to join but don't fancy being accused of waving my dick around if I happen go faster than 125 kph.

Have a good one!

Missed the point completely. The 125 kph figure was what I can safely reach without being assaulted by my pillion. I can comfortably exceed that solo as can even the 250.

The dick waving comment is separate; I've been on other rides where the guys on the big bikes (who don't frequent this forum too much recently) have been total asses after the ride. For everyone who knows they have such tendencies....this probably isn't the ride for you. Not excluding big bikes, just those ridden by clowns as this is a friendly ride for all.

[H1w4yR1da]

Of course some riders are asses, regardless of the engine size of the bike but I guess the previous bad experience left a bad taste, which is understandable but from your post I do detect a dislike for big bike riders which other posters here also seem to have.

Ok the group I ride with, can travel quite rapidly but there is no racing and thankfully, the only dick waving is done in private.

One can ride at higher speeds AND enjoy the ride and companionship. Though I would add, I find slower speeds on the highway to be more dangerous as one needs to be more constantly aware of vehicles coming up from the rear so now I tend to believe a ride is more enjoyable if the group is of similar ability and on similarly sized machines. No one gets left behind and no one hares off ahead. I see your group are mainly on similar middleweight bikes which is good.

No hard feelings!

Edited September 23, 2014 by H1w4yR1da

[ll2]

please dont fight with each other guys, you are fellow riders. there are not many long term riders in Thailand like us and yet we break each others' heart!

dave, going with 110 - 125 kph all the time might be slow. i for one sometime would like to get my speed and roll on fix too!

last group we ride with terry was slow at times and there was a leader. we thought we would die but after a while leader got some speed and some parts, of the route, it was OK to pass the leader and get a speed burst and you wait for the rest of the group at the first intersection 5 - 10 km later.

[dave_boo]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Of course some riders are asses, regardless of the engine size of the bike but I guess the previous bad experience left a bad taste, which is understandable but from your post I do detect a dislike for big bike riders which other posters here also seem to have.

Ok the group I ride with, can travel quite rapidly but there is no racing and thankfully, the only dick waving is done in private.

One can ride at higher speeds AND enjoy the ride and companionship. Though I would add, I find slower speeds on the highway to be more dangerous as one needs to be more constantly aware of vehicles coming up from the rear so now I tend to believe a ride is more enjoyable if the group is of similar ability and on similarly sized machines. No one gets left behind and no one hares off ahead. I see your group are mainly on similar middleweight bikes which is good.
No hard feelings!

Glad you understand.

please dont fight with each other guys, you are fellow riders. there are not many long term riders in Thailand like us and yet we break each others' heart!

dave, going with 110 - 125 kph all the time might be slow. i for one sometime would like to get my speed and roll on fix too!

last group we ride with terry was slow at times and there was a leader. we thought we would die but after a while leader got some speed and some parts, of the route, it was OK to pass the leader and get a speed burst and you wait for the rest of the group at the first intersection 5 - 10 km later.

There isn't much of a problem if someone wants to jump out and 'clean out the carbon'...they just can't expect the group to follow suit and should realise that the group will make their waypoints and depart together. If the quick ones are ok with that they are welcome. If they want to come and incite slower riders to go beyond their abilities, than they're not welcome. This is a pleasant ride open to all; anybody that doesn't want to be part of the group can utilise my planning and form another group or ride out ahead of us and wait (or not). Just don't ruin it for others.

[ll2]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Of course some riders are asses, regardless of the engine size of the bike but I guess the previous bad experience left a bad taste, which is understandable but from your post I do detect a dislike for big bike riders which other posters here also seem to have.

Ok the group I ride with, can travel quite rapidly but there is no racing and thankfully, the only dick waving is done in private.

One can ride at higher speeds AND enjoy the ride and companionship. Though I would add, I find slower speeds on the highway to be more dangerous as one needs to be more constantly aware of vehicles coming up from the rear so now I tend to believe a ride is more enjoyable if the group is of similar ability and on similarly sized machines. No one gets left behind and no one hares off ahead. I see your group are mainly on similar middleweight bikes which is good.

No hard feelings!

Glad you understand.

please dont fight with each other guys, you are fellow riders. there are not many long term riders in Thailand like us and yet we break each others' heart!

dave, going with 110 - 125 kph all the time might be slow. i for one sometime would like to get my speed and roll on fix too!

last group we ride with terry was slow at times and there was a leader. we thought we would die but after a while leader got some speed and some parts, of the route, it was OK to pass the leader and get a speed burst and you wait for the rest of the group at the first intersection 5 - 10 km later.

There isn't much of a problem if someone wants to jump out and 'clean out the carbon'...they just can't expect the group to follow suit and should realise that the group will make their waypoints and depart together. If the quick ones are ok with that they are welcome. If they want to come and incite slower riders to go beyond their abilities, than they're not welcome. This is a pleasant ride open to all; anybody that doesn't want to be part of the group can utilise my planning and form another group or ride out ahead of us and wait (or not). Just don't ruin it for others.

of course we all depart and go through waypoints together dave! no problems with that.

Fast riders must have the right to go fast at times and of course i dont expect others follow me if they dont want. it is never about inciting others.

I just want my speed fix and it is totally doable in a group ride.

[Gweiloman]

It's very difficult to strike a balance between all the riders in a group, particularly where most are unknown to each other.

I have ridden with H1w4yR1da and his group and yes, we travel rapidly but only when the situation allowed - ie highways, very little traffic. Absolutely no racing, overtaking when requested by rider in front, no reckless riding or weaving in and out of trafflc.

I have also ridden in groups where most if not all riders are known to each other. In this case, the group naturally splits into two - faster riders in front, slower riders bringing up the rear. There is no incitement of slower riders to go beyond their comfort zone. Rendezvous points are known in advance, no rider is left behind. This works very well too as the faster riders accept a longer wait at rendezvous points.

Dave boo, I wouldn't worry too much if any one decides to ride on ahead for a bit, to 'clean out the carbon' as you said. These are experienced riders who knows what they are doing. The only thing is that if one decides to ride on ahead, he/she cannot complain later if they lose the group. Contrary to what some posters think, I have not, to date, met a big bike rider who "shows off". Yes, there are idiot bikers who undertake or overtake dangerously - I don't ride with them anymore. Forming a regular group takes time and is a process of elimination - eliminating the idiots from the group, slowly but surely.

[taninthai]

guys just use the cornerman system i put up the video to show how it works in another thread,you obviously want quite a quick experienced safe rider at the front ,you never get lost don't all have to wait at intersections and still get your speed fix from when you have had to mark a corner you get to race back behind the leader it really is a great system and the more bikes there are the better it seems to work...have fun wish i could join you...

p.s plan one in december /jan and i will join you

[DualSportBiker]

Gents, I can't make it. Although my clutch is fixed and awaiting collection, I have been booked on a flight south for a wedding.

FYI, there is a Thai Adventure Bikers trip to Tee Lor Su that weekend, so had the weeding been another time I would have been traumatised by deciding to retake the hills I lost last weekend, or ride with people I don't know and might also enjoy company thereof.

Hope y'aal have fun and return safe. Cheers.

[ll2]

guys just use the cornerman system i put up the video to show how it works in another thread,you obviously want quite a quick experienced safe rider at the front ,you never get lost don't all have to wait at intersections and still get your speed fix from when you have had to mark a corner you get to race back behind the leader it really is a great system and the more bikes there are the better it seems to work...have fun wish i could join you...

p.s plan one in december /jan and i will join you

yeah i know that tanin.

but, I believe, a sweeper is enough riding back and forth and keep the coordination between slow and fast rider. When sweeper sees slow riders very behind, he runs fast, reach the fast riders in the front and inform them to slow down and wait for others.

or if sweeper sees slow riders too slow, inform them to be fast a bit.

and anyway, if all riders in the group ride does their homework in advance and study the route and plan regarding intersections, turning points, markers, stops, fast sections, slow sections, curvy areas etc. nobody gets lost. All needed is fast riders needs to wait at the next turns or intersections. if no intersection or turns, fast riders slow a bit or wait for others 5 - 10 km later for courtesy.

actually an intercom system also do wonders on big group rides.

Edited September 25, 2014 by ll2

[dave_boo]

guys just use the cornerman system i put up the video to show how it works in another thread,you obviously want quite a quick experienced safe rider at the front ,you never get lost don't all have to wait at intersections and still get your speed fix from when you have had to mark a corner you get to race back behind the leader it really is a great system and the more bikes there are the better it seems to work...have fun wish i could join you...

p.s plan one in december /jan and i will join you

yeah i know that tanin.

but, I believe, a sweeper is enough riding back and forth and keep the coordination between slow and fast rider. When sweeper sees slow riders very behind, he runs fast, reach the fast riders in the front and inform them to slow down and wait for others.

or if sweeper sees slow riders too slow, inform them to be fast a bit.

and anyway, if all riders in the group ride does their homework in advance and study the route and plan regarding intersections, turning points, markers, stops, fast sections, slow sections, curvy areas etc. nobody gets lost. All needed is fast riders needs to wait at the next turns or intersections. if no intersection or turns, fast riders slow a bit or wait for others 5 - 10 km later for courtesy.

actually an intercom system also do wonders on big group rides.

If someone is riding along who is fast has a GPS, I don't mind being the last person in the group to make sure the trailing people don't get lost. After the wat, I don't even need a GPS as I know the area quite well. I and my pillion both have Cardo Scala intercom, don't mind pairing up with others either.

I am pushing hard to get a feel of how many will join so I know how many routes/waypoints/turns to print up. Going to make them nice and big so easily legible. Would also be a good idea to gather phone numbers for those I've never ridden with before so that we can sort out any lost sheep along the way.

[ll2]

guys just use the cornerman system i put up the video to show how it works in another thread,you obviously want quite a quick experienced safe rider at the front ,you never get lost don't all have to wait at intersections and still get your speed fix from when you have had to mark a corner you get to race back behind the leader it really is a great system and the more bikes there are the better it seems to work...have fun wish i could join you...

p.s plan one in december /jan and i will join you

yeah i know that tanin.

but, I believe, a sweeper is enough riding back and forth and keep the coordination between slow and fast rider. When sweeper sees slow riders very behind, he runs fast, reach the fast riders in the front and inform them to slow down and wait for others.

or if sweeper sees slow riders too slow, inform them to be fast a bit.

and anyway, if all riders in the group ride does their homework in advance and study the route and plan regarding intersections, turning points, markers, stops, fast sections, slow sections, curvy areas etc. nobody gets lost. All needed is fast riders needs to wait at the next turns or intersections. if no intersection or turns, fast riders slow a bit or wait for others 5 - 10 km later for courtesy.

actually an intercom system also do wonders on big group rides.

If someone is riding along who is fast has a GPS, I don't mind being the last person in the group to make sure the trailing people don't get lost. After the wat, I don't even need a GPS as I know the area quite well. I and my pillion both have Cardo Scala intercom, don't mind pairing up with others either.

I am pushing hard to get a feel of how many will join so I know how many routes/waypoints/turns to print up. Going to make them nice and big so easily legible. Would also be a good idea to gather phone numbers for those I've never ridden with before so that we can sort out any lost sheep along the way.

i can be the sweeper going back and forth. I am good at it.

but dave, please arrange the ride starting very early and ending early as i have a lot of business on that sunday and next day will be like hell for me with a couple of presentations. just keep in mind.

[dave_boo]

i can be the sweeper going back and forth. I am good at it.

but dave, please arrange the ride starting very early and ending early as i have a lot of business on that sunday and next day will be like hell for me with a couple of presentations. just keep in mind.

The 0800 departure time has to stand as only John Park has confirmed. As he's coming up from Pattaya, it wouldn't be right to demand him to get there earlier.

The times I suggested in my earlier post definitely erred on the side of too much. Unless someone is really pokey, or too much time is spent at the breaks, we'll comfortably beat the projected time back to Bangkok.