NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 2004

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Thailand End-to-end Cycle Marathon 2004
In aid of the Pattaya Orphanage Trust�s Home for Street Kids

Departure Date from Mae Sai: Monday 25 October 2004
Arrive at Sa dao border pass (Thailand/Malaysia): Wed 3 November 2004

Background
Ian Franklin, a lifelong cyclist, has wanted to complete a meaningful cycle challenge for some years and in doing so to benefit a worthwhile charity. Most charity cycle rides are challenges for the participants who are usually not experienced or club cyclists. As such they succeed because the distances and conditions are suitable for the non-experienced bike rider and they encourage people to travel by bicycle.

There appears to be few opportunities for experienced racing cyclists and club riders to participate in such rides so this challenge was devised for precisely these types of riders. We would hope that this could become an annual or bi-annual event. It is not a race. The challenge is to follow a set route from Thailand�s northern border with Myanmar to its southernmost border with Malaysia in 10 days. This will be a major venture, even for the experienced cyclist as the distances to be covered in the heat of Thailand are relentless with no rest days in which to recover. 1900 kilometres (1187 miles) is a long way in 10 days and this ride is therefore a true marathon challenge.

All cyclists are invited to join in this ride which allows participants to cover as little or as much of the route as they wish. Participants also have the option of riding fewer kilometres each day and travelling to that day�s destination by van if necessary.

The logistics
The Thai end of this challenge is being organised by Khun Tanin Rittavirun and Lek Rittavirun, cyclists and proprietors of Bike & Travel as follows:
Bike & Travel
802/756 River Park
Moo 12
Kookot
Lamlookka
Prathunthani 12130
Thailand
TAT. No 11/1239
Telephone: (662) 990-0274
Fax: (662) 990-0900
Email: mdbike@cyclingthailand.com
www.cyclingthailand.com

Bike & Travel are fully accredited by the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) and have won national awards in Thailand.

The number of following vehicles and motorbike escorts will depend on the number of riders . Bike & Travel are experienced in providing mechanical support (a full-time mechanic from Pro-bike in Bangkok is envisaged), masseurs and first aid facilities. All food and drink (except personal alcohol etc) is included in the price as is accommodation, insurance and internal flights. The hotels are of a good standard. Riders will be responsible for getting themselves to Bangkok airport.

The cost is as follows:
Group of 4-5 people: 90,000 Thai Baht per person (approx �UK 1267; $US 2337)
6-9 people: 85,000 Thai Baht
10 or more people: 80,000 Thai Baht
Single room supplement: 12,000 Baht
Deposits should be paid direct to Bike & Travel by credit card, money transfer or traveller�s cheques.

Cycling in Thailand
I have cycled many times in Thailand and have found that away from the main cities the roads are safe. We will be riding on major highways where there is a two to three meter smooth tarmac strip which runs besides most roads. These are ideal for cycling on. Because of the consistently warmer weather, the riding tends to be 2-3 mph (3.5 to 4.8kph) faster than in the UK. The ride expects to follow the wind and the road gradients are more down than up. Quite high average speeds are therefore expected. I have always found motorists curious, and generally careful and people are very friendly towards cyclists.

Charity fundraising
Most charity rides insist on a minimum amount that the riders must raise in order to participate. In this case we are not setting a base amount � it is more important at this stage that we have as many riders as possible on the ride. We are hoping to subsidise the entry cost to reflect the amount of sponsorship raised by each individual participant but this has not yet been organised. It is my personal goal to raise �30,000 UK for the Street Kids� Home (or $US54,000, Thai Baht 2 million).

THE PROGRAMME
Saturday 23 October: Pick up riders from Bangkok International Airport. Stay overnight at Asia Hotel, Bangkok.

Sunday 24: Bangkok � Chiang Rai � Mae Sai
Transfer to Bangkok Domestic Airport and fly to Chiang Rai by TG132 (time 10.45-12.05) and then travel to Mae Sai (hotel) by van. Build and prepare bikes for an optional short warm-up ride to the Golden Triangle � the meeting point of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Stay overnight in Wang Thong Hotel, Mae Sai. 65km

Day 1 + Monday 25: Mae Sai � Chiang Rai � Phayao. 164km First day of the ride proper from Mae Sai on the main road number 1. Stay overnight at hotel in Phayao.

Day 2 + Tuesday 26: Phayao � Lampang � Thoen. 221km (385km) Continue on same road to the Thoen Nakhon Hotel.

Day 3 + Wednesday 27: Thoen � Tak � Kamphaeng Phet. 170km (555km) Continue on same route to the Phet Hotel.

Day 4 + Thursday 28: Kamphaeng Phet � Nakhon Sawan � Suphan Buri. 256km (811km) Ride on main road to Chainat then change to road no. 3039. Overnight at the Thai village of Bann Kwai at the Thai Water Buffalo House.

Day 5 + Friday 29: Suphan Buri � Nakhon Pathom � Petchaburi � Hua Hin. 245km (1056km) Continue on road number 4 to the Grand Hotel in Hua Hin. Wonderful seaside town for a bit of rest!

Day 6 + Saturday 30: Hua Hin � Prachuap Khiri Khan � Chumphon. 250km (1306km) Continue on same route to the Chumphon Cabana Resort, situated on the beach.

Day 7 + Sunday 31: Chumphon � Surat Thani. 210km (1516km) Ride on the secondary road no 401 to the Roi Koh Hotel

Day 8 + Monday 1 November: Surat Thani � Nakorn Si Thammarat. 134km (1650km) Continue on secondary road number 401 to the Twin Lotus Hotel.

Day 9 + Tuesday 2: Nakorn Si Thammarat � Songkla. 168km (1818km) Continue on secondary road number 408 to Songkla.

Day 10 + Wednesday 3: Songkla � Hat Yai � Sa dao border pass (Thailand � Malaysia. 82km (1900km) Continue on secondary road number 408 to the border and the end of the ride.

Thursday 4 November: Hat Yai � Bangkok � Pattaya Fly from Hat Yai to Bangkok on TG232 (10.50-12.20) then transfer by road to Pattaya. Gala dinner in Pattaya with members of the Pattaya Orphanage Trust and the media. Overnight hotel in Pattaya.

Friday 5 November: Rest and recovery day in Pattaya.

Saturday 6 November: Pattaya to Bangkok and your flight home.