– Tell us about your earliest experiences as a cyclist…
I first began riding bikes at age 5. From then on you basically couldn’t get me off a bike. I continued riding all through my schooling and used my bike as my first form of transport for work, ambulance and later rode as part of my job as a police officer in a bike patrol unit. In 2001, decease I watched the final stage of the Tour de France and the next thing I knew, I’d bought a road race bike which kicked off cycling racing for me.
– Tell us what you most enjoy about cycle touring and why you like to see the world by bicycle?
Currently I’ve only ridden in Thailand with SpiceRoads. Although I’ve planned for other countries in the future to ride, I can’t stop booking Thailand cycling trips because they are always so good. I find that cycling tour holidays are always unique and totally different experiences than you would get non cycling.
– How many cycle tours have you been on with SpiceRoads and which has been your favourite?
So far I have completed 4 SpiceRoads tours in Thailand, with my 5th one booked this year for November which I am very excited about. 3 of the tours have been the Bangkok to Phuket tour and also a Chiang Mai to Bangkok tour. All have been excellent tours with great SpiceRoads guides and staff and new friends along the way. It’s now actually become an annual thing with 4 friends and myself to meet up to cycle Thailand.
Although every tour so far has been great, I think for me the most enjoyable tour was back in 2013. Myself, 4 friends completed the Bangkok to Phuket tour along with other cyclists before my wedding in Phuket which was planned at the completion of the tour. For me it was the best of both worlds, being able to cycle through beautiful coastal Thailand and then marrying my beautiful wife in Phuket.
– Where would you like to cycle next?
I next plan to cycle Chiang Mai and the surrounding area, and am hoping to learn to love the hills more 😉
– Do you have any special diets for cycling?
I don’t normally have any special diets or nutrition for my cycling, other than trying to be healthy. When cycling in Thailand, my secret to nutrition is a lot of Boat noodle soup, mango sticky rice and Char nom yen.
– In your opinion, what is the benefit of travelling by bicycle?
I feel like travelling by bike is so much better than a conventional holiday. You get to experience more of the real Thailand and enjoy everything at a slower pace.
