BicycleThailand.com has produced this article in an effort to highlight the increase in printed media detailing the many aspects of cycling in Thailand, and also to inform its English language audience of the sources of cycling information which are currently available in the country. We applaud any and all efforts that report and strengthen the cycling community in Thailand and highly encourage our readers and sponsors to support these endeavors.
Bilingual (Thai & English) cycling magazines
Bicycles United (No longer in print as of Jan. 2015)
Bicycles United is a bilingual magazine produced by Griffin PDB Company, a passionate group of people who enjoy cycling.
Issues per year: 10
Available at: Bike shops in the Bangkok area and directly from the creators themselves. If you can’t find a copy at your local bike shop simply mail a self-addressed stamped (9 Baht stamp required) envelope (A5 Size) to the following address and the Bicycles United staff will send you a FREE copy.
Bicycles United Magazine
Griffin PDB Limited
72/387 Park Gallery, Rattanathibet Soi 28
Bang-kasor, Amphur Muang Nonthaburi
Nonthaburi 11000
NOT available at: SE-ED Book Center, Asia Books, Bookazine, convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11), and Kinokuniya shops.
Contents: Cycling history, events, Thai cycling personalities, lifestyle locations (hotels, shops, etc.,), bike products, local merchants, trip stories, calendar, and bicycle shop listing.
Feel of the mag: Bicycles United magazine is a lifestyle cycling publication for bicyclists of all types and nature and is aimed to open up conversations on what’s happening in the world of cycling in Thailand and internationally. The overall feel of the magazine is that it is targeted to cycling lifestyle enthusiasts, city riders/commuters, and bike advocates.
Cost: Free!
Language: English & Thai
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bicycles-United-Magazine
Website – http://bicyclesunited.com/
Director/Publisher: Kris H.M. Gomeze
BIKE STYLE
BIKE STYLE is a bilingual magazine, started in January of 2014. The magazine is about 80% Thai language with 2-3 English articles featured (20%) in every issue.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: Limited circulation. We’ve seen this magazine at bike shows and at a few bike shops in Bangkok.
Have the magazine delivered to you by calling 081-915-9399.
Contents: Popular bike riding destinations, design focus, fashion on bike, health, hangout locations.
Feel of the mag: Bike and related Lifestyle articles for everyone. Many of the magazine ads are for boutique resorts and hotels in popular Thailand destinations.
Cost: Free!
Language: Thai & English
FaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/Bikestylefreemag
Instagram – bikestylefreemag
Email – bikestylefreemag@gmail.com
Crank (No longer in print as of Jan. 2015)
Crank is a monthly bilingual magazine produced by Crank You Company, an artistic group of Thai photographers, writers, and cyclists.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: SE-ED Book Center, local Thai magazine/book shops, and newsstand kiosks like those on BTS walkways. You can also subscribe to this magazine by contacting their subscriptions department at:
88/35 Private Nirvana Through Village
Soi Rarmintra 58, Junction 3, Rarmintra Road
Rarmintra, Kannayao, Bangkok 10230
Tel: 02-509-8619
Fax: 02-509-8619
Email: crankmagazine@gmail.com
NOT available at: Bike shops, Asia Books, Bookazine, convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11), and Kinokuniya shops.
Contents: International cycling culture, Thai cycling personalities, bike products, local merchants, trip stories, classic style photo spread, and refreshment recipes.
Feel of the mag: The overall feel of the magazine is that it is targeted to cycling lifestyle enthusiasts, city riders/commuters, tourers, and fixed-gear riders.
Cost: 90 THB
Language: Thai & English
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crank-Magazine
Editorial Chief: Kridsada Lothong
Editor: Pirak Anurakyawachon
English language cycling newspaper columns
Bangkok Post – Freewheel Bangkok
In every Thursday edition of the Bangkok Post newspaper you’ll find Freewheel Bangkok (LIFE section).
Available at: Bangkok Post is available at newsstands across the country.
Feel of the articles: The writer is a self-proclaimed Mountain Bike freak so many of the articles focus on MTB (cross-country and Downhill) trips and locations throughout Thailand.
Language: English.
FaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freewheel-Bangkok
Travel Editor/Writer: Pongpet Mekloy
Thai language cycling magazines
Cycling Plus
Cycling Plus is a monthly Thai language publication from the Siri Wattana International printing company.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: SE-ED Book Center, local Thai magazine/book shops, and newsstand kiosks like those on BTS walkways. All major Thai book and periodical retailers in Thailand.
NOT available at: Asia Books, Bookazine, convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11), and Kinokuniya shops.
Contents: Product reviews, Thailand bicycle brand distributor advertisements, step-by-step ‘How To’ articles on bicycle maintenance, cycling nutrition, and riding skills. International cycling news (translated into Thai language), and stories about Thai cycling personalities and celebrities (every front cover is adorned by Thai actor/actress). Trip information and cycling destinations in Thailand and abroad (50/50 mix).
Feel of the mag: It is a franchise of a popular UK-based cycling magazine, albeit all content of this Thailand edition is written solely in Thai language, so it has all of the flash and fanfare associated with the level of professional media that most international readers are familiar with.
Cost: 150 THB
Language: Thai
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/CyclingPlusThailand
San Saawng Laaw
San Saawng Laaw (Two Wheel News) is a Thai language magazine produced by the Thailand Cycling for Health Association, or TCHA.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: Some bicycle shops carry this magazine and offer it to regular customers, but a majority of readers receive their monthly issue via mail because they are TCHA members. It’s easy to become a member of TCHA and purchasing a subscription to the clubs monthly magazine is a great way to support them in their efforts. You can subscribe to this magazine by contacting the TCHA at their main office in Bangkok:
2100/33 Soi Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra 22 (at the intersection of Sathu Pradit 14 and 15), Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Road
Khwaeng Chong Nonsi, Khet Yan Nawa
Bangkok 10120
Tel: 02-678-5470
Fax: 02-678-8589
Email: tchathaicycling@gmail.com
NOT available at: Major and minor Thai and foreign book and periodical retailers across Thailand.
Contents: Cycling news, Bangkok cycling advocacy projects and their progress/updates, schedule for all TCHA cycling trips, reports on TCHA events, bike products and advertisements, local merchants, and follow-up trip stories from TCHA members.
Feel of the mag: San Saawng Laaw is a club-based magazine that reports predominantly on its own events and trips, which is certainly a good selection of useful information for all cyclists in the Bangkok and surrounding area. Even if you are not a member of TCHA you will find something useful in this small magazine.
Cost: 100-200 THB/year depending upon membership in TCHA
Language: Thai
Online digital edition of this magazine available here – http://issuu.com/tcha
TCHA Website – http://thaicycling.com/tcha/
FaceBook – http://ww.facebook.com/TCHAthaicycling
Sports Street
Sports Street is a monthly Thai language publication from the Animate Group publishing company.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: SE-ED Book Center, local Thai magazine/book shops, and newsstand kiosks like those on BTS walkways. Some bike shops (those with paid advertisements in the magazine) have old and new issues of Sports Street on hand for review and purchase by customers.
NOT available at: Asia Books, Bookazine, convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11), and Kinokuniya shops.
Contents: Product reviews, Thailand bicycle brand distributor advertisements, Thailand cycling event articles, step-by-step ‘How To’ articles on bicycle maintenance and riding skills, local cycling club features, international cycling news (translated into Thai language), stories about Thai cycling personalities, and cycling trip (touring and other) reports.
Feel of the mag: Even though there are different types of featured content every month in Sports Street, the overall feel of the magazine is that it is targeted to Road cycling enthusiasts.
Cost: 55 THB
Language: Thai
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/sports.street
Race Bicycle
Race Bicycle is a monthly Thai language publication from the Sabaijai Studio publishing company.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: SE-ED Book Center and local Thai magazine/book shops. Some bike shops (those with paid advertisements in the magazine) have old and new issues of Race Bicycle on hand for review and purchase by customers.
NOT available at: Asia Books, Bookazine, convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11), and Kinokuniya shops.
Contents: Activity calendar, past race results, product reviews, Thailand bicycle brand distributor advertisements, Thailand cycling event articles, step-by-step ‘How To’ articles on bicycle maintenance and riding skills, local cycling club features, international cycling news (translated into Thai language), stories about Thai cycling personalities, and cycling trip (touring and other) reports.
Feel of the mag: Even though there are different types of featured content every month in Race Bicycle, the overall feel of the magazine is that it is targeted to Mountain Bike and BMX cycling enthusiasts.
Cost: 60 THB
Language: Thai
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/RaceBicycleMagazine
Thai language non-cycling specific magazines
A Day
A Day magazine is a monthly Thai language publication from the Day Poets Company.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: SE-ED book shops, local Thai magazine/book shops and newsstand kiosks like those on BTS walkways.
NOT available at: Bike shops, Asia Books, Bookazine, and convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11).
Contents: While A Day magazine is not a publication specifically dedicated to cycling, several past issues have featured articles about cycle touring in Thailand, popular Thai bicycle advocacy projects, and community stories that give a good look into the riding culture that is sweeping the country.
Feel of the mag: If you attended the ‘A Day Bike Fest’ last year (22-25 November, 2012) you had the chance to see how this magazine was successfully able to gather members of the Thai bicycle industry, local personalities, corporate sponsors, and riders of all types to put on Thailand’s best (to date) bicycle event. The diverse collection of material covered by A Day magazine is informative, inclusive, and interesting.
Cost: 80 THB
Language: Thai
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/adaymagazine
Website – http://www.daypoets.com
Sarakadee
Sarakadee magazine is a monthly Thai language publication from the Wiriya Thurakit Company.
Issues per year: 12
Available at: SE-ED book shops, local Thai magazine/book shops and newsstand kiosks like those on BTS walkways.
NOT available at: Bike shops, Asia Books, Bookazine, convenience store magazine racks (like 7-11), and Kinokuniya shops.
Contents: Sarakadee magazine is not a publication specifically dedicated to cycling. However, it has featured interesting articles in past issues about the healthy lifestyle of riding a bike, bicycle manufacturing in Thailand, and incorporating the use of bicycles to alleviate the traffic woes of Bangkok’s streets.
Feel of the mag: Sarakadee can be loosely translated as stories of a beneficial, useful, and informative nature. Sarakadee presents stories of health, wellness, travel, and life in a National Geographic like style.
Cost: 120 THB
Language: Thai
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/sarakadeemag
Website – http://www.sarakadee.com/
Leave a Reply