November 13, 2011 at 6:30 AM, Sankampaeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Registration fees differ (please see website)
BABSEA CLE is excited to announce that the 3rd Annual Trio for Justice Half-Marathon/10KM Run/5KM Fun Walk/Duathlon will be held on Sunday, November 13, 2011 in Sankampeang, Thailand, approximately 30 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai. As a special addition to this year’s Trio, there is the extra option to participate in a duathlon with a group of duathletes from the Chiang Mai area, where you will run 5K, bike the half-marathon route twice, and finish off with another 5K run.

BABSEA CLE began the Trio for Justice to take place annually in order to raise money to implement and support university-based CLE programs throughout Southeast Asia. The monetary funds will then further support social justice causes in the region, such as migrant worker rights, the rights of people living with HIV, prisoner rights, juvenile justice, discrimination, the rights of stateless persons, access to health care, and the rights of transgendered persons and sex worker rights. More specifically, this year the first $5,000 USD raised by the Trio will go to support the development of an In-House Legal Consultation Clinic at the National University of Laos Faculty of Law and Political Science which will provide free legal services to the poor.
To learn more about the event or to register, please visit http://www.trioforjustice.org

The Tour of Friendship cycle road race (road bikes) was held from 30 April to 4 May. Categories included, juniors, ladies and men up to and including the over sixties.

Click here to see a video from this years race

The top three results in each category were as follows…….

Junior: 1. Muhd Afiq Huznie Othman (Pico Bike Labz) 11 hrs 52 minutes 3 seconds; 2. Ryan Zhiming (Pico) @ 9:26; 3. Yaya Smiat (Infinite) @ 28:58 (7 finishers)

Women: 1. Serene Lee (Pico Bike Labz) 12:14:31; 2. Christina Liew-Gin @ 9 secs; 3. Tina Haugbro (ANZA Cycling Chix) @ 49:56 (7 finishers)

30-39 Age Group: 1. Tum Wishut (SpinBike) 13:15:24; 2. Mark Cook @ 1:38; 3. Damian Barrett @ 1:41 (42 finshers)

40-49: 1. Alan Grant (Optima Capital ANXA Mavericks) 13:57:46; 2. Jon Malnick (Cuore Suisse) @ 47 secs; 3. Stephen Ames (Optima) @ 56 secs (38 finishers)

50-59: 1. Martin Brot (Siam Bike Tours) 11:27:48; 2. Rolando Pagnanawon @ 1 second; 3. Somchai Prajaksud (Corat) @ 2:25 (14 finishers)

Masters: 1. Tony Aspell (Excellent Noodles) 12:40:51; 2. Sanit (Infinite) @ 49:31; 3. Wanchai Srioon (Infinite) @ 49:58

Open: 1. Sean Smith (Neil Pryde Bikes) 12:56:15; 2. Tim Wilkins (Cannasia Cannondale) @2:52; 3. Chau Wai Man (CS Racing) @ 3:39 (32 finishers)

The Tour of Friendship this year suffered a stormy day so Stage 2 was cancelled and riders were all given the same time (except for one lucky rider); There was a time trial prologue for the 50-59 group this year, but inexplicably not one for the Masters. Come on ToF – masters like to time trial too! Neil Pryde, well known in the sailing (?) world has ventured into bikes, building beautiful carbon frames. They sponsored this year’s event. This event has been running since 1998.

We recently launched a new Thai cycling forum as part of the CycleChiangmai.com website. You can access it by clicking on the Forum in the main navigation or by using the link below.

http://www.cyclechiangmai.com/forum/

We hope this will grow to become the central focus for everything cycling related in Thailand. It is free to join so grab your preferred username whilst it is still available.

When you ask cyclists in Chiang Mai about cycling in Thailand they will probably tell you that Chiang Mai is the centre of cycling in Thailand. And they would be right.  When I moved to Thailand I bought all my bikes with me: track, road and mountain bikes. I was lucky that I moved to Chiang Mai because it really does live up to its cycling reputation. We’ve had visitors here from cycling clubs all over Europe and the USA. Some come to ride for 6 months of the year and then use their fitness gained to race back home through the season. Personally I’ve had riders stay with me from the Banbury Star CC and other clubs in the UK and they’ve all absolutely loved it!

This blog/website was created to bring all the information relating to cycling in Chiang Mai together into one place. Road riding, mountain biking, track riding, cycle shops, great rides, cycle groups  - you get the picture. Enjoy!

For a few mad days each April the Thais celebrate Songkran which is the new year or also known as the Water Festival.At this time of the year expect to be splashed with water no matter where you are. In Chiang Mai the centre of the action is around the moat in town so if you are up for some fun that is the place to be. Extra water has been allowed into the moat so that people can easily stock up their water buckets to throw over passers by. Plenty of people are jumping in and swimming in the moat as well although the water is not very clean.

Cyclists should take care as a friendly bucket of water can (and has) bought down a group of cyclists and passing trucks splashing water can be especially dangerous to those on two wheels. Rural areas are no exception: kids and adults in the village see passing motor cyclists and cyclists as legitimate targets and water is everywhere. Expect these fun and games to last at least a week but be aware that it can be a bit dangerous on two wheels. Best to go out early morning before the water splashers wake up.

The authorities are trying to encourage a ‘no alcohol’ Songkran but don’t expect anyone to take any notice of that.  Happy New Year.

There are quite a few groups that go riding on a regular basis in Chiang Mai.  Check out our Rides page for more information on some of the regular group rides. All of the groups always welcome new riders and you can always find someone who is interested in an easier ride if the group ride is too fast or vice versa. There is also a Yahoo group called Road Rider Chiang Mai which you can access here where you will find the latest news regarding upcoming rides. If you need any more information then please contact CycleChiangmai by leaving a comment on this or any other post.

Route 1269 starts close to the Caffe del Cassa where the regular morning rides start and slowly winds its way up, down and round towards Samoeng. The scenery on this ride is spectacular at any time of year so it’s worth stopping at the viewpoints to take it all in and take some photos. After about 10 kms the first climbs start and slowly get harder and harder. Fast descents help to cool you off before the next challenge.  Once you get to the first sign for Samoeng the hardest part is out of the way and soon you will be turning right at the police box onto the 1096 to start the final climb which takes you above Mae Rim. There’s a viewpoint just before the start of the descent into Mae Rim which is popular with tourists and you might be able to get a coffee from a mobile vendor depending on the time of year. As you descend down another good coffee stop is at the Mae Sa elephant camp:  just look out for lots of cars and minibuses on the right. On a bicycle this is without doubt a very tough 90 km ride no matter what you compare it with. It’s not only popular with cyclists as motorcyclists have it top of their list and call it “The best 100 kms loop in Northern Thailand”.  The route is often ridden counter clockwise – when you get towards the end you have to climb the switchbacks (about 7 hairpin bends) which is a tough call. A great training route for those riders into racing/hard training; a great leisure ride for the tourist.

The best time to ride the loop is early in the morning: in the hot season, well it gets too hot; during the rainy season you’ll get away with it most mornings and then during the cool season you’ve got all day. If you run out of water, or need to top up, the police in the police box at the right hand turn are very helpful! Take an energy bar or banana with you as there are no shops at the highest points of the ride. A wind jacket in your back pocket may be useful for the big descents.

Below: Enjoying a coffee before the descent into Mae Rim

Interactive Map
View The Samoeng Loop in a larger map

Thailand remains one of the top countries people consider when looking to move or retire overseas according to a recent survey by Shelter Offshore.

Expats find “Thailand one of the easiest places to integrate and even find love.  It is also now ranking exceptionally well with retirees looking for a more affordable cost of living, as well as a decent quality of life balance. Thailand is considered a lifetime move by a high proportion of expats surveyed, i.e., it seems that once you make a home in Thailand you really don’t want to leave. For those marrying a local or legitimately relocating to Thailand for work, the visa issues aren’t so complex, and the quality of life on offer can really make any bureaucratic issues less significant anyway! You have an almost perfect climate year round, exceptionally beautiful scenery including idyllic beaches”

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/top-5-countries-best-quality-life-10917

How about living in Chiang Mai and cycling everyday? Many cyclists retire at say age 60 or  65 in Europe, America and so on; The winter months are cruel for cycling and the roads are increasingly crowded out. Here in Chiang Mai you can cycle all the year round, have cycling companions every day and enjoy a low cost healthy life style. The roads are great for cycling and the traffic is reasonably well behaved (but there are idiots like everywhere else in the world!). Expat cyclists here include Americans, Brits, the Dutch, Belgian, Australian and even Polish riders. We see visitors from many parts of the world and they are all impressed by the cycling oportunities we have here. On road, off road – the choice is yours!

The Velodrome is located inside the 700 Year Sports Stadium off the canal road ( road number 121) at the Mae Rim end of Chiang Mai. Re-opened after persistant efforts by a local cyclist this concrete velodrome is a joy to ride and there is a program of training. See the entry for Velodrome in the posts on this site.

The 700 Year Sports Stadium is a sports complex with facilities that include an olympic sized pool and diving boards, gym, chip and putt golf area, basketball court, weight lifting, badminton, shooting range, volleyball, football and running track. With these facilities its a great place for triathletes to train. Membership of the complex is just 500 baht a year (compare that to the average gym!!) and once you become a member you can use everything at reduced cost. Non-members are welcomed to all the facilities. The membership office is located near the swimming pool and next to the shop. For membership you need a small passport photograph and your ID (passport, etc).

See Google Map below.
View Chiang Mai Velodrome in a larger map