NewsArticleBody
I WANT to thank the Bike Friday crew for helping me have my most glorious bike tour yet - and that's saying something because I've been on some real winners in my 22 years of bicycle touring.
The trip took us from Chumphon to Ranong and then down to Ao Nang, all along the Andaman sea coast. If you look at a map of Thailand, you can favorably compare the shape of its boundaries to a human brain, and Chumphon to Ao Nang means we essentially travelled down its medulla oblongata.
We ended up doing about 550 km in 7 days - a short trip due to my own time constraints, and nothing major or spectacular for the mile-counters, but we did a lot more than just ride bikes, so it's understandable.
I've seen magnificent beaches and jungles and some of the loveliest people in the world. Thais are incredibly sweet as a general rule, and it deserves its name as the "Land of Smiles." They went ape-s*** about us riding by on the whole trip, with kids running out shouting "helloooo" at us the whole way. I think I must have heard 'hello' shouted at me - no lie - in excess of 1000 times. It's a funny contrast to riding here in the US, where it is completely common that people pass each other with no acknowledgement at all.
Anyway, about that bike: It was amazing. It is my best-fitting and most comfortable bicycle to date, and its ride characteristics are excellent, considering my initial reservations about that. I was able to stay in the saddle all day long - even on our longer rides - without a single complaint. It folded into its suitcase easily with room to spare for all sorts of other junk, and I just took my panniers and handlebar bag as my carry-on luggage, with no issues from anyone at the airport.
Absolutely none of the rural Thais I met had seen anything like it, and they were all fascinated by my strange bicycle with little wheels.
Hell, I'm still fascinated by it. I've been ignoring my Bianchi ever since I got back from the tour, just to ride the New World Tourist around town, because it's twice as fun to be on.
Once I build my Mercian/Rohloff custom dream tourer up, it will no doubt usurp that fascination, but I can't very easily take it anywhere in the world, and it remains to be seen if it's going to fit as well.
I was worried that the Bike Friday wouldn't be able to take a touring load, because I chose to leave the suitcase/travel trailer behind at my friend's apartment for the whole trip - bicycling through Bangkok is scary enough with its "every man for himself" rules, without having to worry about weaving in and out of traffic with a big Samsonite suitcase on wheels behind you. [Note: the standard TravelTrailer is rated at 75 lbs = Ed]
Again, it handled my panniers and light camping gear just fine and with no appreciable detriment to the ride characteristics. I'm thrilled to own it. No technical issues whatsoever so far.
Actually, I'll be moving to Thailand to teach English there in 2007. I'm still entranced by that place. When I do, I'll be bringing this bicycle with me for sure, and I don't ever intend to part with it.
Thanks again for all your help, and tell everyone at GreenGear that I love my bicycle completely.
-Matt Cline