Starters' orders

The A Day Bike Fest returns to the Airport Rail Link Makkasan City Air Terminal Station next week for its 2014 edition and already Zcongklod Bangyikhan is forecasting success.

“It is bigger and better than the previous years,” confirms the organiser and editor-in-chief of a day magazine. “The concept this year is ‘I Ride a Bicycle’ and it aim to persuade every cyclist to make him or herself known. No one knows the exact number of people who cycle whether for exercise, recreation or as a means of daily transport. According to the data we’ve gathered through IRideBicycle.org, which has seen more than 10,000 people register, mountain bikes appear the most popular, followed by road bikes and folding bikes.

“We’re also expanding and this year will be taking up two floors of the terminal to accommodate more than 200 booths rather than just one.”

This festival, which gets underway on Thursday, features a variety of zones. Among them is the “Shop Zone”, which will be home to some 200 bike and accessory shops, the “Vintage Zone”, which features an exhibition of 30 classic bikes, and the “Vintage Market Zone”.

Visitors can also hang out and chat to technicians at the “Handmade Zone” or listen to talks by bike gurus at the “Forum Zone”. Other areas include the “City of Bike Zone” and the Campus Zone. Not to be missed are the extreme bike shows beings staged by BMX team riders from Us versus Them, in the “Extreme Zone”.

 “This year we are hosting famous road bike brands such as Trek, which will present the lightweight road bike, the Emonda and Pinarello’s Dogma F8, which comes full of praise from claimed Tour de France champion Christopher Froome. Dahon folding bikes has a new collection from Japan as does Brompton. The highlight is the Spaceframe by Alex Moulton, which will present the new TSR frame,” Zcongklod says. 

“For the Active Campus Network, we’re working with 12 universities around the country to promote bike culture.”

The universities in question are Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart, Chiang Mai, Thammasat, Silpakorn, Mahidol, Maha Sarakham, Songkhla Nakarin, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Muban Chom Bueng Rajabhat University, and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lad Krabang.

Those wanting to learn about good bike destinations should make a note not to miss “Human Ride on Stage”, a talk by a team from Human Ride magazine that will cover their recent bike trips around Singapore, Taiwan, the Thai border with Penang, and Portland, Oregon. It’s taking place next Saturday at 5.

Scrubb, Slot Machine, Singto Numchok, Pae Arak & The Pisaj Band, Better Weather, Abuse the Youth, electric.neon.lamp, Fellow featuring Oh, and Shopping Bag will join contestants and coaches from “The Voice” in entertaining the crowds every night from 6 to 8.30pm.

Cyclists are also invited to take part in today’s 100-kilometre trip to promote this bike fest around Bangkok.

To join, head to the city air terminal station tonight at 7pm. The ridge gets underway at 9 and runs through 7am tomorrow. It takes in the Victory Monument, Democracy Monument, Sanam Luang, Phra Pinklao Bridge, Krungthep Bridge, Yaowaraj, the Royal Plaza, Phra Athit Road, Benjasiri Park, Phetchburi Road and back to the start/finish point.

 “The cycling trend in Thailand continues to become more popular with every passing year. Many more people are now commuting to work by bike and some offices are now offering showers and bicycle parking. The newly opened green bike lane of Suvarnabhumi Airport is also proving popular,” Zcongklod concludes.

 

Wheels of joy

_ A Day Bike Fest 2014 will be held at Airport Rail Link Makkasan City Air Terminal Station from Thursday through November 9.

_ It’s open from 10am to 9pm Admission is free of charge.

_ Find out more at Facebook.com/adaymagazine or www.ADayBikeFest.com.