*tikit TALES* A Chili tikit in Pai
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Testing the tikit in a ride paddy near you
Pai, Northern Thailand--
by Alvin Lee, Singapore
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Alvin Lee takes the tikit where no man has taken it before ... around the potholed block in Asia
THOSE OF US familiar with Asia will no doubt be acquainted with the ubiquitous little red chili, a small but potent spice found in Asian food.
I was quite amused during my recent trip to Northern Thailand when Chris, my MTB buddy placed one of these little suckers beside my parked Tikit. Similar to the chili, the Tikit is understated in size but punches way above its weight in performance.
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We brought our folding bikes to explore the many hilly roads around Pai, a small rural town situated in a lush green fertile valley where rice fields and orchards abound. With its surrounding hills, Pai is considered the Switzerland of Thailand due to its beauty and cool weather in the winter months. Add a slow lazy river and its truly a place to chill out.
A former hippie hangout due to its close proximity to the Burmese border and opium fields (read getting stone on the cheap), Pai is now attracting a different crowd. Its eclectic mix of retired professors, IT geeks, musicians, Bob Marley wannabes, yoga, vegetarians as well as rich Bangkok yuppies, Pai offers the peace and space to all seeking to find their piece of Nirvana.
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This area is also truly a cyclist’s paradise with so many little trips to explore. Hot springs, elephant camps, waterfalls, temples and even a small Chinese village whose people descended from Chiang Kai Shek’s 93rd army (Taiwanese).
Due to its light-weight, high pressure tires and decent gearing, my Tikit could climb those long hills with ease, outperforming even a brand new rental MTB that Chris rode. It flew down the hills swiftly and confidently too.
But more impressive was its ability to handle off-road. I was surprised on a trip to the waterfall at how well the Tikit took to the beaten tracks paved with stones, sand and the occasional mud. It was almost like using a Honda Civic to cross the Amazon jungle only to discover that this city car is actually a Hummer in disguise. My Tikit also attempted a small river crossing!
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Once again, the tikit surpasses my expectations. What a fantastic piece of engineering this bicycle is. And of course when it was time to go home, a quick 10-minute job was all it took to pack it back into the Samsonite.
More than just “Performance that Packs”, my "chili" tikit delivers performance that truly whacks!
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