Bikepacking / Travel by bicycle

mishmax — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 14:22:16 +0800

Ok folks, we live in SE Asia, the world's preferred destination for cheap and not-too-easy cycling trips. Time to get on the bandwagon. Cycling is low in cost and carbon footprint while high in intensity and bragging value and general awesomeness. Also, I'm looking for bikepacking kaki. So:

Anyone want to go on a long tour (at least 1 month) of Indochina by bicycle in 2020? From KL we cycle to Johor, cut to the East Coast, and cycle up to Bangkok, then cut thru Cambodia to HCMC, then coastal route up to Hanoi, then Chiang Mai via Luang Prabang. From Chiang Mai, we have several options. Can try cycling back down to KL thru either Burma or Thailand, this time focusing on West Coast route. If time is short (whole trip in 2 months), can just chill in Chiang Mai for a couple days before flying back to KL. If time is even shorter (whole trip in 1 month), can fly back from HCMC. If you have all the time in the world (and I do, as long as I can spend a couple hours every evening getting work done), then we can take our own sweet time and explore each little town along the way that grabs our fancy.

I'll probably bring a super basic tent and sleeping pad along, but I don't really intend on camping except as a last resort. Cheap stays are available everywhere, and we can do our bit to support the local economy. Travelling light and enjoying some modcons (e.g., flushing loos and daily showers) is important to me.

How much cycling are we talking about? That depends on the precise route and itinerary. But each day (unless we designate it a rest day, in case of sickness or fatigue) will involve 50-120 km on the saddle (that's about 2-5 hours of riding). Also, no cycling once it gets dark, for safety reasons.

I don't have much bikepacking experience (only a few thousand km in Europe and Taiwan), but I like to think I have the right attitude for it. And I'm looking not so much for experienced cyclists (although you'd obviously be welcome) as for those who are eager, who know how to ride a bike in traffic, who won't give up on the trip once they get a blister, who won't hold us up with constant Instagramming, who don't mind the heat and humidity and have the good sense to stay hydrated, who listen to their bodies, and who can roll with the punches and enjoy the journey for what it is. Everything else can be picked up on the road.

All genders, ages (over 18), and races/nationalities welcome. Sexist and racist assholes or creeps not welcome.

As for a budget: RM50 a day strikes me as a reasonable estimate (with enough left over from cheap days to cover more expensive ones). A contingency amount or credit card is obviously a good idea (for flights, accidents, fancy dinners). So is some kind of medical insurance. Please don't let costs stop you though: I'm happy to pay for more than my share, within reason, if it means getting someone to do this ride.

If you don't have a bike, you'll need to get one (beg, borrow, or buy, but please don't steal bikes!). No need for something fancy or new. An old steel frame with rear rack, working brakes, decent tires, and at least two speeds will do superbly. If you want to ride a fixie, you better know what you're doing.

I'll do this ride whenever I find folks to join. I'm flexible (right now, at least) and happy to plan around your schedule. Ideally, we'd do this in January. But any month/s in 2020 could work. Routing will depend on when we ride (e.g., northern Thailand can be hazy hell in March).

Ride's on if I have at least one other person to join me. Ideal group would be 3-5 people.

Anyone with experience cycling through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and/or Burma, please share your tips etc.

Anyone with similar plans, please let me know so I can join!

Looking forward to replies and PMs from eager cyclists. :)

[WTS] Hotlink Credit, Share-A-Top-Up

mishmax — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 14:16:58 +0800

Item(s): Hotlink credit transfer via Share-A-Top-Up

Price: RM300 for RM400 credit (if you want less credit, PM me and we can negotiate price)

Dealing method: COD or online, PM me with preference

Location: Downtown KL

Reason for sale: Too much credit left on a Sim I no longer use

If you want the Sim card, you can have it.

Offering huge discount to get sale done and dusted. So if you want to save RM100 in credit, get in touch asap!

How to use up RM300 credit

mishmax — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 13:24:49 +0800

I'm not much of a mobile user, but I have 300 ringgit on my Hotlink sim that I feel obliged to use up before the end of the year at the latest but the earlier the better. I don't want to keep the number so once I empty out the balance, I can throw the sim away.

The question is, how can I use up the balance besides through the obvious channels of making calls and using data (neither of which I ever do)? I don't even know any phone addicts to whom I can lend my sim :)

Ideas and tips would be most appreciated!

Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by mishmax

Bikepacking / Travel by bicycle

[WTS] Hotlink Credit, Share-A-Top-Up

How to use up RM300 credit