How is Pattaya for cycling?

[bobfish]

On a different note, I've not tried the Garmin Varia. I think it would be more useful to alert me on less busy roads when I may be getting tired/complacent or unable to hear because of wind noise above [sorry!] 30kph.

I've been using a Fly6 [camera/light combo] but that of course does not provide me with active awareness. 

[moonoi]

On a different note, I've not tried the Garmin Varia. I think it would be more useful to alert me on less busy roads when I may be getting tired/complacent or unable to hear because of wind noise above [sorry!] 30kph.
I've been using a Fly6 [camera/light combo] but that of course does not provide me with active awareness. 

At first I thought the same, but because it can track multiple vehicles and their speed of approach, it's actually really useful in busy traffic as well. Along with changing the intensity of the rear light and the flash pattern to make you as visible as possible to approaching vehicles.

It's only problem is a short run time of just 4 hours between charges.

[bobfish]

4 hours ago, balo said:

In my home country Norway you can not ride a bicycle on public roads without mirrors.

I found that statement interesting, because I'd love to  cycle in Norway. So I did a quick search. Norway certainly has minimum bicycle equipment rules, but I couldn't find any reference to mirrors.

Plenty of other information on visitnorway.com as well. Stunning cycling photos, but not a mirror 'in sight'. Surely all these people depicted can't be breaking the law??

[moonoi]

In my home country Norway you can not ride a bicycle on public roads without mirrors. Thats the law. Off road is a different matter of course.

I could find only the following on the visit Norway page, which heavily promotes Norway as a cycling holiday destination:

Your bike must have:

A red reflector in the rear.
White or yellow reflectors on the pedals.
Two brakes that work independently of each other.
A bicycle bell.
White or yellow light in the front, and a red light in the back, in darkness or poor visibility.

https://www.visitnorway.com/things-to-do/great-outdoors/cycling/road-cycling/

No mention of mirrors at all, and not one picture of a bicycle with mirrors either.

Also given that Thor Hushovd is probably one of the most famous cyclists to come out of Norway and a big cycling safety advocate, nothing about mirrors is mentioned by him either (also he is featured on the visit Norway site)

Sorry Balo, can you provide evidence to support your statement that in Norway, you cannot ride a bicycle on public roads without mirrors?

[el jefe]

10 hours ago, balo said:

Maybe we have a different discussion here , that you have to separate a group of riders and solo riders like myself . I never ride fast , I do it to get some exercise. And I would not dare to ride on Thai roads without mirrors. Just like any motorbike are sold with mirrors I believe it is a very important part of the bicycle. Unfortunately most bicycles are sold witbout mirrors in Thailand.

In my home country Norway you can not ride a bicycle on public roads without mirrors. Thats the law. Off road is a different matter of course.

 

TIT and it would be crazy and stupid to ride a bicycle here without mirrors on busy roads.

 

 

it's been 20 years since I spent any time on Norwegian roads. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2000 km trip. I didn't realize that it had become so dangerous there.

I still spend 2-3 months each year in the US and afaik, nowhere in the US requires mirrors on bikes and I've never seen a bike sold with them. I'm sure if I searched hard enough I could find one but none of the major manufacturers include mirrors on their road bikes. Of the 1000+/- cyclists I know in the US, a few have a mirror attached to their glasses. I don't know of anyone with mirrors mounted to their bike.

 

And like bobfish, I don't appreciate the insults.

[StreetCowboy]

I've never seen a bike sold with mirrors, that I can recall.

I do find it difficult to keep track of traffic approaching, when I am trying to move out to the third lane approaching some junctions.

But it's probably easier and safer to pull over, and walk across the junction

 

SC

 

 

[oxo1947]

Quote

How is Pattaya for cycling?

Oh just great---its a much better option than leaping from the balcony IMO.........

[balo]

5 hours ago, moonoi said:

Your bike must have:

A red reflector in the rear.
White or yellow reflectors on the pedals.
Two brakes that work independently of each other.
A bicycle bell.
White or yellow light in the front, and a red light in the back, in darkness or poor visibility.

Yes you are actually right,  I just checked the information from the traffic department here .  http://www.vegvesen.no/trafikkinformasjon/Syklist/Krav+til+sykkelen

 

But added below is this text : "Du kan også ha god bruk for speil på sykkelen i trafikken. Speil kan blant annet hjelpe deg til å unngå farlige situasjoner i forhold til trafikken bak."

 

Which translates to : "You could also have good use for mirrors on the bicycle in the traffic. Mirrors can help you to avoid dangerous situations with traffic coming from behind."

 

Now I have only been riding city bikes , I used to live in Oslo and all I can say is that my bicycle came with a mirror on the left side and many bicycles do have mirrors.

 

So at least it is recommended, sorry that I was wrong about the law .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2017 by balo

[balo]

Bottom line is I still think its unsafe to ride a bicycle on the crazy roads here  without mirrors.  A bike is a bike , if it's a bicycle or motorbike , it comes with 2 wheels and you're the one responsible for having a safe trip on the roads.  

 

That's just my point . I have seen to many accidents here.   However it's your life, I can only wish you a safe trip . 

 

[Scooby and Puppy]

On 13/04/2017 at 3:46 PM, balo said:

Nice bike but no mirrors ?   Be careful , first thing you should do is to get mirrors on both sides. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mirrors are far too heavy...i don't even have dustcaps on my valves...gotta keep the weight down..?

[theoldgit]

Unhelpful post removed

[CNXBKKMAN]

Mirrors are normally a sign of someone who has done a lot of miles on the bike and knows what they are doing. Most bike shops will stock them and any shop that specialising in touring bikes will normally have the best ones. There is a pretty cool one that goes on the end of the drop handlebar of a road bike. You can see what the other riders are doing behind you in race or bunch. 

    This mirror is supposed to be the best out there EVT safe zone mirror.

https://www.efficientvelo.com/home/safezone/

 

[bobfish]

2 hours ago, CNXBKKMAN said:

Mirrors are normally a sign of someone who has done a lot of miles on the bike and knows what they are doing.

Thanks for that, I'd better get out and put some more miles in then!  

Question, well two actually: How will I know when I've done enough to qualify for mirror mounting? And, how will I know that I know what I'm doing?  

Apologies, but some of these statements are just getting silly.

What's the riding in Pattaya like?

Edited April 17, 2017 by bobfish

[CNXBKKMAN]

26 minutes ago, bobfish said:

Thanks for that, I'd better get out and put some more miles in then!  

Question, well two actually: How will I know when I've done enough to qualify for mirror mounting? And, how will I know that I know what I'm doing?  

Apologies, but some of these statements are just getting silly.

What's the riding in Pattaya like?

I am Chiang Mai so I don't know anything about the Pattaya cycling scene. The only people I have seen with mirrors were round-the-world cyclists, hard core roadies and the like. The are not mainstream on bicycles but I would say it's valid that only experienced cyclists seem to have them. I don't have any fitted to my bikes though, I have not got to that stage yet either!

[Destiny1990]

Maybe makes pattaya city a walking and biking zone only?.with exception of song teaws and ambulances

[moonoi]

I am Chiang Mai so I don't know anything about the Pattaya cycling scene. The only people I have seen with mirrors were round-the-world cyclists, hard core roadies and the like. The are not mainstream on bicycles but I would say it's valid that only experienced cyclists seem to have them. I don't have any fitted to my bikes though, I have not got to that stage yet either!

 

Hardcore roadies have mirrors? You're having a laugh, may I point you in the direction of rule #66 which clearly states:

 

Rule #66 // No mirrors

 

Mirrors are allowed on your (aptly named) Surly Big Dummy or your Surly Long Haul Trucker. Not on your road steed. Not on your Mountain bike. Not on your helmet. If someone familiar with The Rules has sold you such an abomination, return the mirror and demand a refund, plus interest and damages.

 

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#66

 

On a more serious note, I know no serious roadie that would use mirrors on their bike, and these are people that ride a minimum of 10k km and some as much as 40k km a year.

 

I think you'll find most experienced road cyclists do not use them and when asked why will tongue in cheek respond that it is a violation of the above rule [emoji6]

 

On the other hand plenty of touring/audax riders do, I suspect these may be the people you're referring to.

 

Anyway back to the topic, I find cycling in Pattaya to be safer than Bangkok, but a little more dangerous than Cha-am/Hua Hin and Rayong/Chantaburi.

[balo]

29 minutes ago, moonoi said:

 

I think you'll find most experienced road cyclists do not use them and when asked why will tongue in cheek respond that it is a violation of the above rule

 

On the other hand plenty of touring/audax riders do, I suspect these may be the people you're referring to.

Well , they are doing it in Thailand. You know there is a difference here. Look at the statistics on the roads. Thailand are number 1 in the world for deadly accidents involving bikes, and that also includes bicycles. 

 

I have no problems with off road bikes , but if you want to ride a bicycle on the main roads here you know my answer.   In the end it's your decision .  Mirrors are available in all the bike shops, and very easy to attach .

 

Again I want to compare motorbikes with bicycles, why do we need mirrors on a motorbike and not a bicycle when we share the same roads ?  We're both on 2 wheels , we're both unprotected if something happens . In heavy traffic mirrors will give you a warning and you have time to adjust. 

 

I have already avoided big trucks and speeding cars coming from behind thanks to my mirrors. 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2017 by balo

[moonoi]

Well , they are doing it in Thailand. You know there is a difference here. Look at the statistics on the roads. Thailand are number 1 in the world for deadly accidents involving bikes, and that also includes bicycles. 
 
I have no problems with off road bikes , but if you want to ride a bicycle on the main roads here you know my answer.   In the end it's your decision .  Mirrors are available in all the bike shops, and very easy to attach .
 
Again I want to compare motorbikes with bicycles, why do we need mirrors on a motorbike and not a bicycle when we share the same roads ?  We're both on 2 wheels , we're both unprotected if something happens . In heavy traffic mirrors will give you a warning and you have time to adjust. 
 
I have already avoided big trucks and speeding cars coming from behind thanks to my mirrors. 
 
 

If you extract the accident data, you'll find that deaths of cyclists on Thailand's roads is around the same as the U.K.

The vast majority of road deaths are motorcycles/scooters, if these are excluded, Thailands roads actually come out not so badly in the global rankings.

And to your point about mirrors, I find it just as quick to glance over my shoulder, than look in the mirror. If I'm riding somewhere where I feel I need more, as I stated earlier, I use a Garmin Varia Radar, which is far superior to any mirror.

Anyway you're beating a dead horse, some people want to use mirrors, some people don't. It is their choice and neither choice indicates someone as being more intelligent or stupid.

That's the last I'll say on this, as it's borne talking in circles with nothing new being added to the discussion.

[el jefe]

8 hours ago, CNXBKKMAN said:

Mirrors are normally a sign of someone who has done a lot of miles on the bike and knows what they are doing. Most bike shops will stock them and any shop that specialising in touring bikes will normally have the best ones. There is a pretty cool one that goes on the end of the drop handlebar of a road bike. You can see what the other riders are doing behind you in race or bunch. 

    This mirror is supposed to be the best out there EVT safe zone mirror.

https://www.efficientvelo.com/home/safezone/

 

My experience is the exact opposite. Most of the riders I know with mirrors are not confident in their abilities. Secondly, mirrors are not allowed in any sanctioned race. But for anyone who thinks they need mirrors, they should please go ahead and use them. as I've said before, the more cyclists on the road the better.

But back to the subject, from my limited experience riding in Pattaya (about 700 kms of group rides a year ago), once you get far enough out of the city, it's fine. But cycling around Chiang Mai is far better. imho.

[CNXBKKMAN]

Just to keep the great mirror debate going. I think we can all agree they they are not common on bikes or popular but here is an example of some pretty hardcore riders who use them. It's the Indian Pacific Wheel Race. 5000km plus,  Perth to Sydney. The big hitters want to do 400 km a day. This is not a sportive! The video is not about mirrors but if you look carefully you will see a few mirrors on right hand side drops. About 1:30 there are two mirror equipped bikes. Could we all be using them one day? Maybe. It's not too long ago the Tour de France riders, Paris Roubaix winners wouldn't be seen dead wearing a helmet. Now everyone is wearing them.

 

 

[bobfish]

Just when I hoped this thread had shuffled off its mortal coil....

Please don't quote Durian Rider.

Please.

Please . Please. etc

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2017 by bobfish
Shakespearian correction

[moonoi]

Just to keep the great mirror debate going. I think we can all agree they they are not common on bikes or popular but here is an example of some pretty hardcore riders who use them. It's the Indian Pacific Wheel Race. 5000km plus,  Perth to Sydney. The big hitters want to do 400 km a day. This is not a sportive! The video is not about mirrors but if you look carefully you will see a few mirrors on right hand side drops. About 1:30 there are two mirror equipped bikes. Could we all be using them one day? Maybe. It's not too long ago the Tour de France riders, Paris Roubaix winners wouldn't be seen dead wearing a helmet. Now everyone is wearing them.
 
 

That was the race during which Mike Hall was killed whilst leading. I was following it live when his tracking beacon stopped moving at an unusual place. He just mentioned in an interview the night before that he couldn't see properly at nighttime...RIP

[balo]

6 hours ago, CNXBKKMAN said:

It's the Indian Pacific Wheel Race. 5000km plus,  Perth to Sydney. The big hitters want to do 400 km a day.

 

Yes  if you  are going on big bike tours around the world I am pretty sure some riders prefer to use mirrors.  It's practical , instead of turning your head around every time you hear noise from behind  from a truck .  

We will never agree with some of the members here, but I think it's a good discussion about safety on the roads.