Preparing for by bikepacking journey in Thailand and Southeast Asia
Finding and Buying a Bike to Cycle Across Thailand
Day 1 of my cycling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai adventure began not by weaving amongst cars in the streets of Bangkok, but instead on Facebook Marketplace searching for a bicycle. I decided to embark on this trip two days before, but I hadn’t prepared anything! No bicycle, pannier bags, lights, helmet, nothing!
I spent the previous day scouring Decathlon and other cycling shops in Bangkok, but it was proving hard to find a second-hand bike for a 6ft 1” male in a country where the average height of men is 5ft 5”.
After a morning scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, I found a second-hand bike priced at 4500 Thai Baht (£100) with a 27.5” wheel size—just about suitable for me
Excited, I set off via the MRT from Chinatown to Nonthaburi in the outskirts of Bangkok to see the bike. The bike had an aluminium frame, Shimano brakes, and a sturdy build with a rack attached to the rear to support my pannier bags and backpack.
The man selling the bike was a friendly fellow from the US. He seemed trustworthy and genuine. He was selling the bike as his arms were too long, and he needed a larger bike.
Once I rode it, I felt it was slightly small, but I overlooked this as I was impatient to start my journey. The man also sweetened the deal by throwing in a helmet, a bottle, a pair of cycling gloves, and a light, so I purchased the bike!
In retrospect, I shouldn’t have bought this bike. Instead, I should’ve taken more time in Bangkok to find a bike that was a better fit. But, at the time, I didn’t want to delay starting the trip any longer.
I test-rode my new bicycle with a 10km cycle to my hostel in Chinatown. Riding amongst the hectic Bangkok traffic wasn’t as scary as I had imagined, and the Thai drivers were extremely attentive, constantly manoeuvring around me. This was also my first taste of cycling in the intense midday heat, and I arrived in Chinatown a drenched, sweaty mess.
Kitting Out the Bike- Essential Bikepacking Gear
Once arriving at my hostel, I faced a new challenge: how to carry all my belongings on the bicycle. Typically, people will set out to cycle across a country with minimal belongings. However, in my infinite wisdom, I was backpacking and now I decided to bikepack.
I was carrying a backpack weighing 18kg, with many unnecessary items for a cycling trip, such as a laptop, speaker, heaps of clothes, shoes, and gifts. I lightened the load slightly by donating some clothes and removing junk, but still, I had far too much.
In the afternoon, I took an Uber with my bike to Decathlon. I needed to buy pannier bags to carry my belongings, a light so I don’t get hit whilst cycling at night, and a mosquito-proof hammock for wild camping!
I bought everything for around 4000 Thai Baht, bringing the total cost of my bike and gear to 8500 Thai Baht (£180).
Once I’d attached the gear and wrapped bungee cords to secure my backpack, the weight on the bike was momentous. I attempted cycling around the car park, and I was completely unable to control the bike. I could now tell that the bike was far too small. The small frame and low handlebars made controlling the bike seriously challenging.
Leaving Bangkok to Ayutthaya
I’d read that cycling out of Bangkok is a death wish, so I opted instead to take the train to Ayutthaya, 80 km North of Bangkok, to start my journey there.
Sitting in a taxi on the way to the station, I felt incredibly apprehensive about my decision to undertake this journey.
I hadn’t trained at all, my bike was too heavy, feeling unstable and bordering on dangerous to ride. I had no clear idea of my route or what I was to encounter.
Questions flooded my mind: Could I physically do this? Where’s my passport? Am I thinking logically? Am I making a serious mistake?
However, to embark on this spontaneous and unusual journey and not second-guess my choices would be strange.
When you make choices that lead you into an unknown future, there are always going to be both extreme upsides and downsides. But the unknown is where you’ll reap the most unique and memorable experiences, and where you can live a life that is full, individualistic, and worthy of living.
I contemplated this during the hour-long train ride, and soon, I arrived in Ayutthaya. I pedalled to my guesthouse, ate a huge meal, and prepared for my first day of cycling.
Check out my previous blog post Why I began My cycling journey in Thailand and eventually Southeast Asia, or check out my next blog post to read about my journey cycling from Ayutthaya to Sing Buri.
