Thailand Laos Trip: Post 5

Feb 10, 2010
by Rob Dunnet  
Riding Adventure through Northern Thailand and Laos.

After being in Luang Pra Bang for a couple of days it was time to start riding to Vientiane. James decided that he would take the bus to the border and then head south to a beach in Thailand. Morgan and I were then going to meet him in Bangkok before flying back to Taiwan.

Part 5 inside,
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While discussing our plan James suggested that we all take the bus half way to Vang Vien and hang out together for a couple of more days. It sounded like a good idea so the next morning the three of us headed to the Southern Bus Station. When we got there we were surprised to find that the ticket for Vang Vien was the same price as the ticket for Vientiane. Not wanting to have to pay for two bus tickets James purchased a ticket to Vientiane. It did not take long before Morgan and I changed our tickets for Vientiane. The urge to be on a sandy beach was greater than the urge to pedal four hundred kilometers through one of the most mountainous regions in Laos.

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We got on the bus at 2pm and we did not arrive in Vientiane until two or three in the morning. That is twelve hours to travel four hundred kilometers. I have driven from Calgary to Vancouver in under twelve hours. We were pretty tired and hungry when we got to Vientiane so we started riding in search of a place to stay or a place to sleep.

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We could not find a place to sleep or anything to eat so we started the thirty kilometer ride to the border. On the way to the border we found a noodle shop that was open and got something to eat.

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The border does not open until 6am and when we finally got there it was only five. We tried to sleep on the side of the road, but at that point we were too tired to sleep. We went through border control, rode to the train station in Nong Khai, bought tickets for the night train to Bangkok and headed into town. We found a cheap hotel, showered and tried to get some sleep.

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Another all night ride on a train and we were in Bangkok. And another all night train ride and a couple hour boat ride we were at the beach.

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For the next week or so we are trading in our lycra and helmets for speedos and snorkels. James has a flight out of Bangkok on the 14th and Morgan and I have to make a visa run. There has been talk of doing some downhill riding in Malaysia. It looks like the bike adventure is coming to a close. If I find anything worth riding and writing about I will post something.

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There has been some talk about doing something similar to this in Taiwan when I get back. So I do not think I will be gone for long.

I would like to thank:

Pinkbike for giving bikers a place to post stories like this one.

Jay from Banshee Bikes for setting us up with the Viento frames. Some will argue that mountain bikes are not touring bike, but I would not have wanted to ride through the mountains in Laos on anything but a mountain bike.

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Gavin and Mike from Spank Industries. When they hooked me up with a set of Vomax rims I thought they would explode after hitting the first big rock in the road. I am now a believer in light and strong and will have to buy a scale to start weighing my parts.

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Fritz from Kail Protectives for proving that a dirt jump helmet can be as light and cool as a cross country one, my brother Morgan for being on camera duty for most of the trip, the guys from Xtracycle and Thai Customs for holding my bikes in Bangkok for a week. Never ship your bike to Bangkok, the hassle is not worth it.

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Bye from the beach in Thailand. If you have any comments or questions you can email me robertdunnet@hotmail.com.

For more pictures:home-team.pinkbike.com/album/Thailand-and-Laos
For more words: www.bansheebikes.blogspot.com

Author Info:
home-team avatar

Member since Nov 17, 2007
40 articles

13 Comments
  • 11 2
 If there was a Blog-of-the-Day and/or Month you'd probably win. Great trip/photos/commentary.
  • 9 0
 thanks for the compliment ...
  • 1 0
 It has been awesome reading about your adventure. My wife and I did a very similar trip for our honeymoon, without bikes, and I often thought about how different it might have been if we had brought them. The crazy bus schedules made me think it might have been better to ride some of the places. I love the comment "It did not take long before Morgan and I changed our tickets for Vientiane. The urge to be on a sandy beach was greater than the urge to pedal four hundred kilometers through one of the most mountainous regions in Laos." To me that sums alot of it up.
  • 1 0
 Followed your trip all the way. Just 1 word: Amazing!! Would love to do the same Wink
Respect for taking such an incredible trip!!!!
  • 1 0
 Cool trip. I remember the bus ride from Luang Prabang. It was slow, curvy, and nauseating. Which beach did you end up at?
  • 1 0
 What an amazing adventure!
Thanks for sharing and keep us posted Smile
  • 1 0
 looks wiked fun. nice write up ladz
  • 1 0
 looks like such fun, and such a nice place too. great write up Smile
  • 1 0
 why is the back wheel extended?
  • 1 0
 its only done on the one pic where he has the luggage on, so he can carry more
  • 1 0
 oh ok, makes sence
  • 1 0
 maybe someday you can come to china,you're welcome!
  • 1 0
 Where's FOGEL?







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