Cycling in Bangkok + New Foldie

I had a couple of extra days in Bangkok during a casual trip there. Researching cycling in Bangkok, I found an interesting place: Happy and Healthy Bike Lane, a 25km track exclusively for cyclists, right next to Suvarnabhumi Airport. I'd booked a hotel near the airport specifically to spend some time cycling there.

For a while now, I've been thinking about getting a folding bike that's easy to fly with. The reason's simple: the hardest part about bicycle touring isn't the cycling itself, it's getting the bike to the starting point or renting one there. While a normal cycle is much more comfortable with larger tires, a folding bike usually has 20-inch wheels and isn't quite as smooth. But, a folding bike offers the flexibility to fold it, pack it in a suitcase, fly anywhere, and just start exploring. I've planned so many tours in my mind, and most of the time, packing the cycle to reach the destination was the only thing stopping me. A folding bike solves this.

I already own a 20-inch folding bike. While it folds, it still takes up a lot of space, and I wasn't comfortable carrying it on a bus or train. So, I wanted a 16-inch bike, and Bangkok has plenty of them. I went to one of the shops and gifted myself a new 16-inch trifold bike. I wanted to test it on the track, so I reached the place around 2:30 PM.

Once you get there, you have to register at the desk. The staff were really helpful. They have rental options, and they kindly provided me with shoes and a helmet since I didn't bring mine. You get a small wrist strap with an RFID chip that you need to scan for entrance. You also have to recharge the strap with money to buy things inside the track, as you can't use cash there. I withdrew some money from an ATM and added it to the strap.

Next, you scan the strap at the start point, and you're in. First impressions: the cycling lane is super smooth, well-maintained, and beautiful. I almost had the entire lane to myself; there was hardly anyone there at that time.

You can watch planes taking off and landing right from the track. The sky-blue track next to a canal, with the sunset, made for a beautiful scene. I was genuinely surprised by this world-class infrastructure, made available to everyone for free.

I was tired from the long days of my trip and felt a bit of a niggle at the start. But, as always, cycling brings out my happiest self. I remembered this was the first time I was cycling outside of India. So far, alone, but feeling accomplished. That happiness didn't last long, though, as I got a flat tire after about 15km. A kind gentleman tried to help and shared the contact details for the pickup service. I called them and asked them to pick me up.

I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to do this loop twice and finish a 50km ride. I had an extra tube but no tools to change it. I would have carried them if this was a dedicated cycling trip. The support vehicle picked me up and dropped me off at the start point. I really enjoyed cycling here. Who knows, I might even come back at some point!

I ended my ride with a protein shake. As I was leaving, I saw an influx of cyclists warming up. I've never seen so many cyclists in Bangkok, with bikes ranging from normal hybrids to lightweight carbon frames. That's the beauty of cycling: you can choose your sport and what you want to do. You can train to be the fastest, geek out on bike parts, or make them lightweight. Or you can be like me: a sightseeing cyclist, slow, and not caring much about what bike you're riding! Everyone is welcome to try it.

I packed the cycle back into the same IKEA Dimpa bag and checked it as luggage. I flew back to India with the bike safely. I've done a couple of test rides in India, and everything seems to be working fine.