Notes to self: The pedal pushers

I have the attention span of a fruit fly, which is why I'm always looking for a new adventure. Even when I'm super happy living somewhere, I still daydream about what it would be like to pack up and move elsewhere. When I was living in Dubai, I felt as though I had become a socio-economic expert on Asia because I spent hours, days and months Googling where the best places to live were.

Now I'm fairly settled in Bangkok, but that doesn't stop me thinking about where my next holiday will be, or what I might do this weekend to spice up my life a bit.

So maybe that will go some reason to explain my latest endeavour.

A few weeks ago, my friend Brock clicked through a local website here and found a story about a guy who rode his bicycle from Bangkok to Singapore in 17 days. We'd already had chats about how much we love cycling, so we chatted about how much that seemed like a fun thing to do.

A couple of weeks later, Brock found out he had to leave Bangkok. So, on impulse, we bought some bikes and set a date (March 19) for when we're going to sit on the saddle and set off for Singapore, about 2,400km away. We think it will take us longer than 17 days because: a) Neither of us has really done long-distance rides before (I had to ask Brock how to adjust my gears yesterday — I'd been riding in 1st for 15 kilometres).

b) We're both a little bit easily distracted by beaches, restaurants, etc.

c) The weather is ridiculously hot this time of year.

d) We're not really that prepared.

I've posted about it a bit on Facebook and told a few friends, too. The general reaction is that we're insane and that perhaps we are unclear about how much 2,000+ km on the saddle will hurt. I think it's fair to say we are a bit unclear about that. But I also think it's best not to know. If I'd known how much a marathon would hurt my feet, I'd never have done it. But now I'm so glad I have and, subsequently, I tell everyone about it.

Riding to Singapore will be so much more of a feat, but I'll do pretty much anything if it gives me a good story to tell. But as well as giving us a story to tell, it will give us a chance to spend time together before he leaves Thailand, and for me to see more of the country I live in, as well as seeing Malaysia and Singapore for the first time. It will also be a huge fitness challenge, which is something I always convince myself I want. The reality will probably have me crying into my pillow every couple of nights, but at least I'll have proven something to myself — I'll have got my body to do something I would have never thought possible when I was a falafel-eating fatty in Dubai.

A friend of ours told us: "I think you may have already mentally converted your bike trip into a montage culminating in the buff-body shot. But I think the actual trip might take more than 48 seconds."

I think he might be right. I am certainly not dwelling too much on the agony of saddle sores or coughing up pollution and am instead imagining the excitement of seeing new people and places; stretching out our aching bodies on the beach and reaching Singapore and feeling so proud of our achievement. We'll deal with the realities when we face them. Right now, I'm just so glad to have another distraction in life.