I have been using my bike (and my feet!) as my sole means of transport now for five weeks. I can say that it is quite feasible to do so. I can get to everywhere I need to, and in a reasonable amount of time. (Chiang Mai is not a large city, and I rarely have to travel more than ten miles). I actually get to work as quickly on a bike as I did on a motorbike. Although that is only 2.5 miles, so not that far.
On the other hand, it is less convenient going my bicycle. I don't get to the big Tesco Lotus supermarket very often simply because it is farther than I want to go, especially if I am tired, or it is the middle of the day. (The heat here can be brutal, even in the so-called cool season). I also cannot carry as much on a bike as I could on a motorbike. I have a pair of saddlebags, but they have limited capacity. I don't get out as much as I used to, and I always have to worry about where I will chain my bike. Will it be there when I get back? It makes a tempting target!
I also continue to ride recreationally. I did a 36 mile ride last week, and I am slowly working my way up Doi Suthep mountain. Although that is going to take a while yet! I have put over 700 miles on my bike in the two months that I have owned it.
This morning I was going to go go for a long ride, but when I got up, I just couldn't seem to get going. Oh well, two steps forward, one step back!
