Rapha Festive 500
In 2016, I had a chance to try to complete Rapha Festive 500 challenge. I never had a chance to try before because I usually travel without bike during the last two weeks. I planned to complete this challenge in 4 days But I done in 5 days. I was so happy that I tried this challenge. I got many unexpected things. I wrote what I have done day by day.
Day 1: Wang Yang (24/12/2016)
Wang Yang (วังยาง) is in Nakornpranom (นครพนม) province. It is one of the most undeveloped district in Thailand. The road in this area is rough. Glassy road is rare. There are a lot of pot holes. Road in this area was made long time ago. I heard that once. HMK Bhumibol Adulyadej drove his car by himself lonely to this remote area. After that the road was made for his people. Today, road is better than two years ago, but it is still bad. Wang Yang likes many area in Thailand. The economic is driven by agricultural. HMK Bhumi Adulyadej’s vision that Thai people happiness depends on agricultural. The road gives opportunities to the people.
I planned to see the sightseeing, how people live, what they do and how do they do with my girlfriend. It is just an easy ride. I planned to ride 40 km to Nong Sang market (ตลาดหนองสังข์) But I made a wrong course which lead to Wang Yang’s Roubaix. Weather was quite hot because it was sunny.
Day 2: Phu Phan (25/12/2016)
Phu Phan (ภูพาน) is the birthplace of many Thailand national cycling team members. I had questions for long time. Why this place is the birthplace for many national cycling team members? Why this place is good for training for a mountain stage? Because Phu Phan is not the most highest mountain. Maximum elevation is just 600 meters. Maximum gradient is just 8% which is rarely found. Normal gradient is just 4%. Phu Phan has two peaks. Phu Phan Noi (ภูพานน้อย) is in Sakonnakorn (สกลนคร), elev. 400 meters. Another one, Phu Phan Yai (ภูพานใหญ่) is in Kalasin (กาฬสินธุ์). Phu Phan has many interesting places.
- Phu Phan Ratchaniwet Palace (พระตำหนักภูพานราชนิเวศน์)
- Khong Ping Ngu (โค้งปิ้งงู)
- Nam Phung Dam (เขื่อนน้ำพุง)
- Seree Thai Cave (ถ้ำเสรีไทย)
- Pha Saweo View Point (จุดชมวิวผาเสวย)
Two years ago, in 2014, I tried this mountain but I failed. I started from Sakonnakorn to Kalasin and then rode back to Sakonnakorn. This course is 136 km. Road was too rough. I rode with Bianchi Intenso 2014. I decided to head back when I was in Sang Kor (สร้างค้อ). I had neck pain, back pain and saddle sore after this ride.
I had a chance to try this course again. But this time was another bike. It was Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 2016. I started at the Phu Phan’s closest PTT gas station in Sakonnakorn. There is a bike lane to Phu Phan but it is a bit scary. It is suitable for mountain bike more than road bike. There is gravel, broken glasses, motorcycles and parking cars :(
I have to pass HMK Bhumibol Adulyadej’s palace. It is in Phu Phan. I felt sad. It was a different feeling when I was here last time. Although, his body has not been with us any more, but his soul is still with us by many projects that he initiated to improve our life.
Canyon is a great bike. I felt like flying to the top. I climbed with easy pace. On top of Phu Phan, terrain is rolling and rough road. On that time, there was still not much traffic because it was still in the morning. The road on Phu Phan is an important road from Kalasin to Sakonnakorn, Nakornpanom even Laos. When I was the junction to Nam Phung Dam, I decided to go to Nam Phung Dam when I rode back from Kalasin to Sakonnakorn because I have never been there. It should have something interesting.
Next to Sang Kor, it is Phu Phan Yai, I realized that many national team members could improve their VO2Max when training here because air is more fresh than Khao Yai (เขาใหญ่), the famous bike training site in Thailand, gradient is also not to steep just 4%, I could use high cadence when go down, it is also not too fast. I was just around 40–50 km/h.
I wanted to go to stop at the first gas station when I was on the other side of Phu Phan in Kalasin. When I asked villager that is it far? he told me that it is far. I decided to head back to climb Phu Phan to Sakonnakorn. Weather was hot.
I stopped to take some photos at Pha Saweoi view point because I though it is interesting. I also stopped at PTT Sang Kor again to refill water.
When I stopped at Nam Phung Dam, I found that Canyon’s Garmin mount was broken by rough road :( I had to ride without Garmin, it was in the Jersey’s back pocket, and also no POWER METER. I felt uncomfortable without power meter. The weather is so hot at the finish time, it was around 34 degree celcius. This epic ride is 141 km.
Day 3: Nakornpanom (26/12/2016)
I have planned to ride a loop from Wang Yang to Nakornpanom long time ago. Distance is not to far it should be around 200 km (excluding VAT), VAT is a joke for a group when I make a new course that I have never ridden, distance could be more or less but 99% is more because I made wrong route. In this year, I had a chance to ride to Nakornpanom. I planned to go Nong Han Lake (ทะเลสาปหนองหาร) in Sakonnakorn. I had to ride to Tha Rae (ท่าแร่) Tha Rae is the biggest catholic community in Thailand (I think). I have not seen any Buddhist’s temple in this area.
Road to Nong Han is good. On that time, I saw villagers’ daily life. Many people go to their farm, take their cows or bulls to fields, are waiting for Rod Song Thaw (รถสองแถว) to go to school or go to work at Sakonnakorn city.
Nong Han is not in the path from Wang Yang to Nakornpanom. To go to Nong Han, I have to ride more 10 km. I though about this last night. Is it worth to go there? First, I wanted to skipped this, I would rather to drink Latte at Klong riverside but I changed my mind. I went Nong Han. Tha Rae is also famous about meat noodle. I wanted to try one but it was salty, people in Sakonnakorn eat more salty that other area. I found that Nong Han is worth to go. It is very beautiful and peaceful. Summer will be to hot for this place. Winter is the best time. In my mind, this place is the best place in Sakonnakorn. Scenic is great. No one came here because you need to walk around one or two km when you go by car or motorbike. I had a bike. I don’t need to walk but I had to carry my bike three times to go inside and three times to go outside.
I went outside from Nong Han lake. I had to go Nakornpanom. I was late already. I took too much time in Nong Han. Latte was gone already. I had no time for it :( Because I had to go to have lunch a Pen Pla Penn restaurent (เป๋นปลาเป็น). It was around 80 km. I had 2 hours to be there. I though that I have to ride 60 km to be there. This was the first VAT for this ride. I drove this rode long time ago. I though that this road is flat road, no hilly, just flat and head wind but I was totally wrong. The road is hilly, head wind and very hot. But road is good. I was late around 20 minutes and completely exhausted. I had ridden for 120 km. But good thing is food already there. I did not have to wait :)
After had lunch, I had to ride back to Wang Yang along Klong river. It is around 100km. My girlfriend also rode back with me. The weather is very hot. It was around 34 degree Celsius at 1.30 pm. I have calculated ETA to Wang Yang. It should be around 6pm which it is dark already, Sunset is around 5.30 pm. In rural area, it will very dangerous and the road of the last 20 km to Wang Yang is very bad (It is the same road on the first day). So we went quicker than usual, it was tailwind also. We took a short break after we ride 50 km in Renu Nakhon (เรณูนคร) We are ahead of schedule a lot more. When we want to go on, I have found that my rear tire was flat by stapel. So I had to change an inner tube. We lost more than 15 minutes. At the last 10 km, it was 6 pm. It was getting dark. Good luck that I took spare strong front light also. I always have small front and rear lights in case of something happens like this. My girlfriend’s rear tire was flat by pot hole. We decided to make a phone call to go back by car for safety reason. While we was waiting, I changed an inner tube. The last one :) This ride, I made 216 km.
Day 4: Chung Hua Man (30/12/2016)
We went to Cha-am, so I planned to ride from Hub Kra Pong (หุบกระพง) pass through Chung Hua Man (ชั่งหัวมัน), official name as “The Matter Initiative” to Kaeng Kra Chan Dam (เขื่อนแก่งกระจาน) This course is small hilly. Distance is around 140 km. This course is the same as Audax 200 Chung Hua Man’s Testrun. I removed part that I don’t like :)
Hub Kra Pong is HMK Bhumibol Adulyadej’s royal project. When he stayed at Wang Klai Kangwong palace (วังไกลกังวล), Hua-Hin (หัวหิน) He visited Cha-am and found that farmers in Cha-am have no initial budget to start their business. Moreover, they had no land. He tried to find place at Hub Kra Pong for the farmers and created co-op to lend money for them to start their business. He also made irrigation system for them. Almost people in Hub Kra Pongare farmer or do livestock, especially cattle. They are looked very happy.
Chung Hua Man, or the Matter Initiative, is HMK Bhumibol Adulyadej’s royal project. He wanted this place to be agricultural demonstration farm for farmer or people. I have just been their in August 2016. Because there was Audax 200 Chung Hua Man’s Testrun. This place was desolated area. Due to, poor condition rode, far away from Petchakasem road. Nowadays, road is great now. many people come here to see his project. I think this project is one of the last of many projects of his late life.
On that day, when I was at Hun Kra Pong, there was monster strong wind. I wanted to complete the challenge today. I need to ride around 104 km. I had a feeling about we could only ride to Chung Hua Man. On the previous day, my girlfriend’s bike was changed driver train from Campagnolo Veloce to Campagnolo Chorus with 32 teeth cassette. Saddle was changed also. When we have ridden for 10 km, she felt uncomfortable due to different configuration. She was exhausted by strong side wind and small hilly. The road from Hub Kra Pong to Chung Hua Man has bike lane some part. We decided to avoid this dangerous bike lane. Because there is gravel, broken glasses, cattle, parked car, motorbike, especially gangster dogs!!! Four dogs in bike lane were waiting to attack bikes. I had flat tire in this ride by thorn (หนามกระสุน) also. After I have changed my inner tube, we decided to try this epic bike lane. After we had ridden for 500 m, we decided to ride on the road again.
After we were in Chung Hua Man, we decided to go back Hub Kra Pong because my girlfriend was very exhausted. We have made 70 km on this day. I will have to ride on the new year eve.
Day 5: Chung Hua Man (31/12/2016)
I had to made more 40 km to complete the challenge. I wanted to go to Kaeng Kra Chan dam again, same course as yesterday, but I want to go alone. When I woke up at 5am, I was lazy. I started at 8am but I had to check-out from hotel before at noon, so I had no time made this course. I have to ride to Chung Hua Man to complete this challenge. The wind was stronger than yesterday. Luckily, I have no flat tire on this day. But I was attacked by the same gangster dogs as yesterday and I expected this already. I spayed water them from my bidon :)
It is like a destiny that this Rapha Festive 500 challenge, lead me to see many things of HMK Bhumibol Adulyadej. His works improve our life so much. Thankfully that I was born in his reign.
In remembrance of HMK Bhumibol Adulyadej
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