Description

Christopher Byrd

Founder & Managing Director

Adventure Cycling Thailand

https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/christopher-byrd/

A formerly enlisted U.S. Marine that originally came from Maryland, Chris lived in Washington, DC for the last 12 years that he was living in the United States. Chris moved to Bangkok in April of 2002 and resided there until August of 2008 when he moved down to Hua Hin to include day tours and multi-day tours as part of his bicycle touring business. He plans to continue living in Thailand and work on growing the popularity of his Tour de Thailand Charity Rides and his Hua Hin Bike Tours / Royal Coast Bicycle Adventure Tours. Chris has over 25 years experience in the hotel and restaurant business as well as many years working in sales and customer service. His time in the Marine Corps gave him the strength to be a leader and to motivate his staff and fellow riders while understanding the physical limits of individuals. Chris is a caring person that loves to have a good time and help others.

summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins interviews Christopher Byrd, founder of Adventure Cycling Thailand. They discuss Christopher's journey from his early life in Maryland to his passion for cycling and how it led him to establish a bicycle touring business in Thailand. The conversation explores the philosophy behind cycling tours, the impact of hospitality experience on running a business, and the life changes that brought Christopher to Thailand, including the aftermath of 9/11. In this conversation, Christopher Byrd shares his transformative journey from bartending in Washington, D.C. to establishing a life in Thailand. He discusses the challenges he faced during his initial move, the inspiration behind his charity bike rides, and the evolution of his bike tour business. Byrd reflects on the lessons learned from his experiences, including the physical and mental challenges of long-distance cycling, the importance of community support, and the impact of COVID-19 on his business. In this conversation, Christopher Byrd shares the journey of establishing Adventure Cycling Thailand, detailing the challenges faced during the COVID pandemic and the subsequent rebranding of the company. He discusses the importance of safety and security in Thailand, highlighting the welcoming nature of the culture. Additionally, Byrd reveals future plans for community engagement, including charity rides and a Pride event, emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and support for local charities.

takeaways

• Adventure Cycling Thailand focuses on single-day & multi-day bicycle tours.
• Christopher prefers a leisurely cycling style over competitive racing.
• His early experiences with cycling were influenced by his father.
• He transitioned from the Marine Corps to the hospitality industry.
• Customer service skills from hospitality are essential in tourism.
• Christopher's life took a turn after losing his job in tech.
• He sought a fresh start in Thailand after personal losses.
• The kindness of Thai people made him feel welcome during his visit.
• 9/11 had a profound impact on his perspective while abroad.
• Christopher's journey reflects resilience and adaptability. Christopher transitioned from bartending to living in Thailand.
• He was inspired to start a charity bike ride after moving to Thailand.
• The first charity ride was filled with unexpected challenges.
• Byrd learned valuable lessons about cycling and sponsorships.
• He successfully built a bike tour bu

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