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bikes general travel trip reports

luang prabang – the wonder years

The overnight bus was an experience. We’re still too used to being in Australia, and are alarmed when they haul a moped onto the roof of the bus by hand, and tie it on (along with the rest of our luggage). I gain an appreciation of Thai and Laos karaoke, and am enthralled by Thai kung fu movies with tuk-tuk chases. The 5am arrival in Luang Prabang lets us watch the sunrise … if we could be bothered… Most of the first day is spent asleep, and then watching locals play bocce by the side of the road. This is followed up by a careful surveillance of the night market

Night Market, Luang Prabang, Laos

 

Bikes are hired the next day, and we ride around town on our sweet Chinese style single-speeds. I am shocked and apalled when I realise our 1000kip/10min internet (US$0.10/10min) is faster than my internet connection at home.

Cycling around, Luang Prabang, Laos

 

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bikes general

recommendations #34: hit and run

I recommend not colliding with cars. I was riding in a bike lane the other afternoon, heading straight. Then suddenly there was a car in front of me – he had been coming from the opposite direction, and was turning in front of me to go into a side street on my side of the road.

He saw me when he was already at the bike lane, and accelerated to try and make it through in front of me. He almost made it, but even with my braking, I still ran into the side of him, towards the back of the car. I ended up in a heap in the bike lane. He stopped for a moment, then decided to drive away. Fortunately a couple of nice men stopped and checked that I was ok, and volunteered to be witnesses, and urged me to report the incident to the police (which I’ve done). Hopefully I at least dented the side of his car.

Meanwhile, I escaped with no injuries, other than feeling a bit sore for a couple of days.

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bikes general

the mega-bike (10 times more bike than an ordinary bike)

When can you tell if you have a problem? How many bikes is too many?

 
Not four, surely… I mean, they’re all for different things.
 

 
Fixed gear. Reynolds frame. Hillbrick wheels. Zoom stem and handlebars… etc etc.

Categories
bikes general trip reports

gravity 12 hr mountain bike

Good

Riding four laps
Our team coming third
Winning treasure
Nice hard fast course
No mud!

Less good

Dry course = dusty course
Dirt in eyes
Inhaling half the course = speaking with husky voice for the next day

Bad

Putting a tear in the floor of your tent nearly a metre long

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bikes general

new bike

Built from scratch