Sirinud “Bo” Kitikan, 33, carefully put a green bicycle frame on a stand. She started installing a seat and two wheels with professional ease. After some tinkering, she and her buddy-on-wheels were ready for the streets. She carried the freshly-assembled bicycle outside Bo Velo Bangkok Bike Shop — a place dedicated to selling customisable bicycle parts and accessories — for a quick spin.
The shop has been running for a year-and-a-half — a period that also marked a great change in Sirinud’s life.
After a decade of working at an embassy, Sirinud decided to quit her job as an office lady. She already had a great plan. She wanted to pursue her passion in cycling, as well as her love for bicycles and all their pretty custom parts.
“It took very little time to make the decision. I didn’t even think much about it. I wanted to do something of my own,” said Sirinud.
“My family did ask if I had thought it through,” she continued. “They didn’t stop me from doing anything. They said I had the right to make my own decision.”
Her shop, Bo Velo, is in a good location on Vibhavadi Road. Sirinud has acquired a loyal customer base of fellow bike lovers after less than two years in the business. Since she lives above the shop, she doesn’t have to deal with traffic any more.
“I didn’t think I would ever reach this point. I already had a stable career, but I didn’t regret the change,” she said. “If you’re willing to put an effort into what you’re passionate about, you can do it, too.”
Sirinud grew up in Kanchanaburi province. She has been travelling — and speeding — on two wheels ever since primary school. There was much more space to ride in her rural neighbourhood and she made a habit of touring the area with her young cycling friends.
But Sirinud left her bicycle behind after she learnt how to drive a car. “I just like the air-conditioning. It’s cool and comfortable,” she said.
It took around 10 years for Sirinud to return to her childhood love. Her interest in bicycles was rekindled after she saw her friend’s bike. She thought it was very pretty. And, not before long, she started to borrow her friend’s bicycle for a spin. Soon, she got her own.
Sirinud has been cycling for the past five years. She cycles everywhere within a kilometre-radius from the shop, and once a month, gathers a group of friends on a city cycling tour at night.
Once, she rode from her shop to the Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn. The trip was 10km, both ways. “I closed my shop at 9pm and came back around 1am,” she remembered. “We did stop a lot. We just went along, enjoying the scenery at our own pace.”
Outside Bangkok, anywhere with a long, straight path and lots of trees is an ideal spot for leisure cycling, said Sirinud. She likes to start cycling from the gate of Khao Yai National Park, travelling for 30-50km up and down the hill.
“When there are no cars, you can only hear the chain spinning. You can hear everything, even the monkeys and rustling of leaves.”
“If you don’t worry about speed, cycling can be very relaxing and pleasant. And it’s also a fun way to spend time with your friends,” she said.
But it’s not just cycling that she likes. Sirinud loves pretty bikes. She enjoys customising bicycle parts and pairing their different colours together. As she sells bicycle parts, she has learned to assemble and tinker with these small vehicles. Her friend taught her the basics. She went on to look for tips and techniques on YouTube. But, mostly, her education was through trial and error.
“To really learn how, you just need to have one bike you’re willing to wreck. You have to take all the parts out, then try to put them back together. If it turns out a complete mess, consider it a lesson. Keep on going and you’ll eventually get it,” said Sirinud.
People would say a toolbox is best left with men. But seeing Sirinud working on her bicycle, perhaps we need an attitude adjustment.
“I’m just doing what I like, and I don’t think I’m the only woman doing this.”
Some customers were initially sceptical to see Sirinud around the shop. What would a woman know when it came to mechanical things? Gaining their trust is all about showing that she knows what she’s talking about.
“If you just talk and no one believes you, it’s not strange. But here in the shop, they can see me as I work on the bikes, that’s how they accept me,” she said.
Still, Sirinud admits some tasks that require more strength are better left to men. When it comes to actual fixing, she hands it to the shop’s mechanic. Her main task is to help customers choose their bicycles or pair different accessories and parts together.
“We’re not 100% about fixing. I think we’re more into customisation of bicycles.”
From the recent success of Bike For Mom, and the hype for the upcoming Bike For Dad, Sirinud said various shops have benefited from cyclists looking for safety gear, like helmets and gloves. There are more cyclists on the street now, and people are becoming more familiar with them, which is good for the cyclists’ visibility and safety.
“Cyclists are now more out there. Before, I was like a freak on the street. There was no one else on a bicycle. I was even teased for wearing full safety gear,” said Sirinud. While life on the road can be dangerous, she still thinks it’s not too bad. All commuters just have to watch out for one another.
Although the cycling trend is on the rise, Sirinud said she has no plan to expand her business. Seeking profit from the growing industry is not her main goal. She prefers meeting people who have the same passion as her.
“I think this is quite enough for me. The shop’s at the right size. Anything bigger and I will feel pressured. I better just stay in one place and make the best of it.”
