Showing 81 - 90 of 124
Keeping it tight in Pran Buri
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 29/10/2015
» Pran Buri, just south of Hua Hin, is famous for its namesake beach and river, the big fishing community at Paknam Pran (Pran Buri river mouth), mangrove forest and a few other things. However, not many people, not even the locals, know that this district of Prachuap Khiri Khan is home to two downhill mountain bike tracks.
Discovering Khao Dan
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 08/10/2015
» Many years ago I got to know about Khao Dan, thanks to paragliding. Well, sort of.
Racing from the ground up
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 01/10/2015
» Rome wasn't built in a day. Likewise, it took time before Chai Nat, a quiet province in the Central Plains, could become a BMX racing hotspot: three weeks!
Getting lost with my best friend
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 10/09/2015
» Travelling is never boring if you are accompanied by your best friend. That's why I often bring my bike along on road trips. Recently, on the way back from Mukdahan, the northeastern city on the border with Laos, I spared a half-day to explore Phu Mhu, a hill with scenic lookout points in Nikhom Kham Soi, which is just a short drive from the provincial capital, with my two-wheeled buddy.
Biking on the fly
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 03/09/2015
» A reason single tracks are fun to ride is that they're not always the same. Mountain bikers, especially downhillers, are well aware that the character of each trail changes at different times of year. In the dry months, for example, you may have fallen leaves obscuring ruts or rocks along the way, while on any day in the monsoon season you may have fallen branches or even an entire tree blocking your path.
Downhiller full of venom
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 27/08/2015
» On my recent two-day visit to the mountainous area of Chiang Dao district, about 70km north of Chiang Mai city, I got to ride two scenic routes. The first one, which started from Pa Kia and ended at Ban Sop Kai, was featured in this column last Thursday. (In case you missed it and would like to know about it, visit goo.gl/X2pJ80.)
Biking vibes past the hilltribes
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 20/08/2015
» In April, I wrote in this column about a mountain-biking trip to Pa Kia in Chiang Dao district, some 70km north of Chiang Mai city. Last week I got to ride in that beautiful area again.
Hitting the G-spot
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 30/07/2015
» The famous beach resort of Hua Hin is one of my most frequented destinations for mountain biking. With four regularly maintained downhill tracks, Khao Hin Lek Fai which stands just west of the downtown area boasts more DH trails than any other hill of its size in Thailand. On my latest trip there, the local downhillers refused to bring me to our favourite trails. The reason being that there was, again, a brand new one, and they insisted I had to try it. Of course, I readily agreed. Why not?
Mekong's steady flow of tourism
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 09/07/2015
» On a squeaky bicycle, a lean woman spins her way leisurely down the streets of Thakhek, a Lao town by the Mekong River. From the attire and Vietnamese-style conical hat she's wearing, it's likely she's of different descent from many she shares the road with. Lao women, in contrast, tend to wear the pha sin traditional long skirts, even when riding motorcycles.
Off the road, and off the bike
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 02/07/2015
» The beach resort of Hua Hin is one of my favourite destinations for mountain biking. And that's for two good reasons. One, Khao Hin Lek Fai, the hill that stands to the west of the downtown area, is home to several awesome downhill tracks; and two, the local bikers are very friendly and always happy to guide visiting riders around the trails they've built.