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Posted on 09 February 2012 by admin

FREEWHEEL

Unless you’re a keen cyclist, you may find it strange when highly complimentary adjectives like these are used to describe what to you is a mere push bike.

PHOTOS: CHANWIT POLPAKDEE

You can find out for yourself why people get so enthusiastic by joining the faithful at a big event that’s scheduled to take place on March 11: The 1st Bangkok Bicycle Show and the 3rd Bangkok Vintage Bicycle Show.

The venue is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Rama I Road (opposite MBK shopping mall) and the hundreds of sexy two-wheelers to be seen at this combined event will doubtless make many bike enthusiasts drool with excitement.

Nope, this isn’t a trade fair like the Taipei Cycle Show or the Interbike International Trade Expo, both of which focus on the latest models and related technologies. Far from being commercial, the upcoming show in Bangkok, which is organised by the Thai Cycling for Health Association, is intended to raise fund for charity.

The idea is simple. Anybody wishing to put his/her most treasured bicycle(s) on display at this show, pays a registration fee of 200 baht per bike and gives the organiser a short explanation in writing as to why the machine is so special. At the end of the day, the revenue, after all expenses have been deducted, will go to a fund set up to buy 84 bicycles for needy schoolchildren across the country.

And what do the bike owners get apart from the chance to help poor kids?

Well, the warm glow of having one’s bike chosen by vote-casting show-goers as this year’s favourite _ for one thing. The chance to meet and make friends with like-minded people _ and view their precious bike collections _ is another benefit.

So far over 300 bikes have been registered and it is hoped to reach the target figure of 500 by the end of this month.

So, if you own a bicycle and think this sounds like fun, why not take part? It doesn’t matter how cheap or expensive your two-wheeler is _ all types and models are acceptable _ as long as you are able to explain why it means so much to you.

The telephone numbers of the Thai Cycling for Health Association are 02-611-6267 and 02-611-혿. Its website also has an English-language version: visit www.thaicycling.com/en.

And for those of you who aren’t yet passionate about push bikes, this should be a great opportunity to mix with a really, really crazy bunch of people and see the objects of their obsession. Just bear in mind, though, that this mania can be highly contagious!

Well, see you here again next Thursday. Until then, if you have questions, news or biking insights you wish to share, please feel free to send an email to pongpetm@bangkokpost.co.th or go to the “Freewheel Bangkok” community page on Facebook.

Pongpet Mekloy is the Bangkok Post’s travel editor and a mountain bike freak.

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