Conquering new terrain
Despite the fact that Hua Hin and Cha-am are in different provinces (the first is in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the latter in Phetchaburi) the coastal parts of these two adjacent districts are often considered by holiday makers as one and the same area. I visit these parts several times a year, not to enjoy the famous beaches though but for mountain biking. And now there’s a good reason to go there more often.
In addition to the downhill tracks on Hin Lek Fai Hill just west of Hua Hin downtown, two new bike parks were recently built in the Hua HinCha-am zone, one at the well-known Regent Cha Am Beach Resort and the other at Vana Varin Resort Hua Hin on the south side of its namesake town. They are located in private properties, yet they are open to all cyclists free of charge.
I had merely one single afternoon last week to check out both places, starting from the Regent Bike Park in Cha-am which was on the way before I reached Hua Hin. At Regent Cha Am’s bike rental booth next to the hotel’s mini-mart, the registration point for visiting riders, I was greeted by Nueng and Tor. They are seasoned bikers and trail builders who designed this bike park for the hotel. The two had spent an entire month in Cha-am building the MTB track, and that was their last day there. Of course, they agreed to guide me though the newly finished course.
The hotel has several Specialized hardtails for rent (100 baht per hour, 250 baht for three hours and 600 baht for the day) but I didn’t need one because I had brought my bike with me. After I signed my registration form, Nueng and Tor led me to the trailhead which was a short ride from the mini-mart.
The dirt route begins from a traditional Thai house. Not far down the double track which is bordered on one side by a pond and unharvested coconut trees (Watch your head!) there’s another wooden house. This one has a name. It’s called Ruen Than Chin, after the nobleman who used to own this vast piece of land. The house is well maintained and serves as a museum devoted to the life and work of Than Chin who had an important, yet less known, role in Thai history during World War II. This former residence of his is well worth a visit.
But that day we were there to bike. So after a brief stop at Ruen Than Chin, we resumed our ride, passing a wooden watchtower which during Than Chin’s times, long before the hotels were built, people who climbed to the top could see all the way to the beach and the sea beyond.
Soon we split off the double track onto a single track. Nueng and Tor had made good use of the terrain to create lots of challenging “obstacles” along the way, especially on Line A. Shorter and easier option for newbies are available as Line B.
We did the looped track twice and rushed off to Hua Hin. Nueng and Tor were keen to join me in checking out the new trail there. We started riding soon after we arrived, of course with our rigs, instead of the resort’s Orbea bikes. Vana Varin’s MTB trail is still in its first phase and is mostly double track. I was told that in the future it would be more fun, with single track that runs to, and up, a nearby hill. Of course, when the next phase is completed I’ll go back and keep you, my dear readers, updated.
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 Freewheel Bangkok community page on Facebook.