Chiang Rai Bikers Day Ride, Oct. 10, a Wednesday

[crsaddlebags]

This mailing goes out to all on our Chiang Rai Bikers Day Ride mailing list. If you would like to receive this mail, just let me know. If you know of someone else who would like to receive this information, please forward this to them and/or have them contact me to be added to the list. Please feel free to post this to any blogs, bulletin boards or websites that you know of where the information may be useful. The Chiang Rai Bikers Day Ride is typically held on the 10th of each month, allowing some folks a weekend to ride and others a weekday to ride throughout the year. We can’t make every ride convenient for all bikers but we try to make sure all bikers can join us for some of the rides each year.

Welcome all to the Chiang Rai Bikers Day Ride. The next monthly ride will be 10 October, a Wednesday.
Map, start point and all- http://goo.gl/maps/Q2GuV

The start and meeting point for the ride is the PTT and Amazon Coffee Café on the Super Highway (Highway 1) near the old bus station in Chiang Rai, just south of the Kawasaki dealer
Meeting time: 08:30
Departure time: 09:00
Coffee, petrol, tire inflation, snacks and restrooms are available at the PTT and Amazon.

The route proposed by the latest volunteer route planner is approximately 250 km. Distance from point to point in the descriptions below were done with a scale on a map and are not exact and do not account for elevation changes. Because of this, the distance listed will not add up to total kilometers for the ride. If someone wants to route this on better mapping software and share it, I will disseminate that info.

A rough description of the route and itinerary is as follows-

Leave the PTT and Amazon Coffee meeting spot and head north for approximately 11 or 12 k, turn right at the traffic lights just past Nang Lae onto 1209

Proceed approximately 18 K and take the obvious highway right.

Proceed a total of 9 k after making this turn. However, after two kilometers you will cross the river bridge. This is your verification that you are on the correct road.

At Dong Maha Wan, you will go left on the unmarked highway and head north-east for approx. 14 K to the intersection with route 1098, near Doi Luang.

Right onto 1098 and proceed approx. 24 k to route 1174.

Right onto 1174 and proceed approximately 4k. You are at San Wiang. Here, you head east again. This one is tricky. As you go around San Wiang, highway 1174 makes a sharp right but there is a straight shot in front of you that will take you across the valley. Stay on that route, heading east.

After travelling approx.18 k, you come to Bun Rueang and here you go right onto the 1120.

Proceed approx.. 12 k and be looking for a left hand turn. Over the entryway onto this turn is a large sign proclaiming the gateway to Pu Chi Fa. This road will take you up and over the mountain, dumping you onto the 1155. Up and over the mountain to 1155 is approx. 8 k.
Note-This is a paved road but it is very steep. Going down the other side is steep as well with very sharp turns. Low gear, slow, don’t get hurt. At the top of the mountain is a large paved turn-out for taking in the views. There are no refreshments up there that I saw but it is worth the stop for the gander and picture taking.

Take the 1155 right/south approx. 23 k to the 1020.

Right/east on the 1020 to Thoeng, approx. 5 k

As you enter Thoeng, you will come upon road construction and the divided highway begins. At that point, where the divided highway begins, make a left to go to the lunch stop. It is approx. 3 k south and on your right. It is a large restaurant area, lots of parking, several style of seating and covered areas.

From the lunch stop, head back to Thoeng and the 1020. Left onto the 1020 and take it back to Chiang Rai.

We scouted this ride a few days ago. Total kilometers on my odometer was around 240. There is nothing for decent coffee stop until we get onto the 1155 and then there are a few. We stopped in different little villages and had cokes for our rest breaks. If anyone knows of a good place about midway in the morning, let us know.
For a look at the route on the Google map, click this link- http://goo.gl/maps/Q2GuV

In the past, there have been a few folks who have wished they could contact me before or during the ride. Here is my phone number for those who wish to enter it into their phones- 087-726-9818. I wear my helmet headset on the rides so you can call any time and expect me to pick up. If you’re lost, I am not sure I can help but if nothing else, maybe I can come find you and we can be lost together.

Woraphat’s number is 089-429-4562 for those who may need a Thai speaker to help them out.

Folks, anyone can plan a ride. If you think you have a good route for us to run in the future, let us know. If you need help sussing it out, I and others are always happy to scout it all out with you and nail it down prior to the ride date. And if you have a route that doesn’t need any scouting or help, let us know that and what month you would like to call it. Woraphat and I will do our best to disseminate the info to all in English and Thai and get the best participation we can for your ride. And by the way, just because this info is in English and Thai doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of participants from non-English speaking countries. We have folks from all over. The English thing means only that I can’t speak or write another language. Feel free to translate this and pass it on.

The Chiang Rai Bikers Day Ride is not a club event, a sponsored event or a closed event. It is open to all who wish to attend and have a way to travel or can hitch a ride. All sizes and styles of bikes are welcome, as are cars, trucks, vans and so on. We always have bikes from around 100 cc’s up to at 1,800 cc’s. Bikers of all skill levels and riding styles are welcome. While we typically leave the start point together, we soon find ourselves riding in small groups of riders who share our riding style and speed. Faster riders arrive at coffee and lunch stops sooner than the slower riders but we all take the time at those stops to meet and enjoy the company of old friends and new acquaintances. This is as much a social gathering as it is a sightseeing outing and to date, it has proven to be an exceptionally friendly gathering where people make new friends, Thai and expat alike, find new riding buddies and share route info, technical tips and all other manner of relevant information. If you do decide to join us, I believe you will find this meeting the highlight of your biking and social month.

While we do generally have planned stops, each rider is free to stop where and when he/she pleases. There is no pressure to stay with the group. Smoke breaks, rest breaks, pee breaks, photo opportunities and even the lunch stop are entirely up to you. You can run ahead, fall behind and even check in a guest house for an overnight stay along the route if you see a place where you think you need to spend some time. It is all about discovering the area, meeting folks and coming away with a more informed view of the land we live in and the people we come in contact with. Bring your camera. There are great photo opportunities.

No egos, no racing and no competitive personalities means this meeting finds all to be on their best and friendliest behavior. Join us to see the best of northern Thailand each month. You won’t find a nicer group of people discovering or re-discovering the scenic routes of Lanna country. We ride all year round and while some find reasons to stay home to avoid environmental discomforts, some of us find that living or visiting in Thailand offers year round riding weather. Again, welcome to join us. Make that leap and be glad you did. You won’t feel out of place at the Chiang Rai Bikers Day Ride. Coming from far away? Contact us for guest house and hotel info prior to arriving. We will try to suggest some lodging that fits your budget and lifestyle.