Bike Bible Travels: September 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Cycling in Korea: Repairing/upgrading existing tires on your ride: touring!

Hey Pam,

How did everything workout with the Cruiser tube-repair/replacement. I know the problem with those Korean-esque tubes, they have a valve stem with a rubber hose over eyelets (internal). When you pump air into them, they sometimes fall off into the tube itself, all the air escapes, thus you need extras to replace them. I always had extras with my repair/puncture kit.

That aside, the replacement of the tubes would be sufficient if you switched to "presta style" those are the small, twist top valve seal, European kind that are used on everything today, mountain or roadbikes, highly recommended.

If you plan to do more cycling, there is also SCHWALBE MARATHON tires, you can find them for just under 30,000won each @ http://item.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=152988279&pos_shop_cd=SH&pos_class_cd=111111111&pos_class_kind=T&keyword_order=schwalbe+marathon&search_keyword=schwalbe%20marathon

If you decide on Schwalbe Marathon tires, be SURE to order either 26* 1.5, or 26*1.75 tires. Those are standard 26 inch tires, and the other number is the width of them, the 1.5 is narrow like you have now (exact size I believe) and the second is bigger like on my Blackcat MTB. The 26*1.5 hold higher air pressure, are lighter too.

Finally, I am still studying away and have applied for sponsorship to a few companies so far (major players in expeditions, sports...just a few though, need more PR work on my sponsorship proposal*) and received one reply today (a start!) no freebies, but they offered a discount on product. Will have to see next in correspondence. It's a tough industry, everyone wants something for free, especially for the first time...I stand to be rejected from everyone (albeit offered a discount, since I will be advertising for them).

Hope all is well, Peace from Gangneung

Brian P

Cycling in Gangneung - Seongsan area

Hwy 35, Gangneung to Imgye, Taebaek

Matthew riding hard tires

Autumn in South Korea, red peppers drying out in the sun

Visiting locals in the Korean markets

Matthew & Sierra on the roll

Autumn cosmos in Korea

Local family riders in Gangneung

Bike-friendly pathways

Korean farmer on the move - Gangneung

Kids sleeping from the effects of Cycling rhythms

Stopping for a picnic

MTB converter for touring & trailer use too

http://korean-world.blogspot.com

Monday, September 27, 2010

Railbiking Korea: Auraji, Gangwondo. from Gangneung , Hwy 35 South, Hwy 415 West, Hwy 410 Get's there!

by Brian 브라이안 Perich on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 9:11pm

Hello all! We had a great time Railbiking this weekend in Korea. What is railbiking? Well, some smart folks at Korail decided to take 7.4km sections of their unused tracks in Gangwon Province and turn them into railbike connections. It isn't touring, it isn't difficult, it isn't challenging, however, it is loads of fun for the family (or friends). We camped overnight to buy our tickets. At 3:30am a group was already lined up, so Brian the Bear emerged from the happy tent pitched on the lawn (great camping spot for overnight bikelite camping)* and left my family warm and toasty inside. While lined up, I spoke to some really friendly Koreans, namely a family we met. Over the course of the next few hours I told them stories of traveling across the USA and Western and Central Canada (five) times by motorcycle, as well as the touring in Korea that I have been promoting since 2007. We had some good conversation, hope they understood all I was saying to them (: Here's the photo memories of our great mini adventure. - Brian & family in Gangneung, Korea. (:

Auruji Railbiking, YES!

Nice HDR blend, I stiched composite photos in Photostitch shareware (:

Nature abound along the tracks..humans and the wild interact

Around Hwy 415, Cycling is definitely going to happen again here (:

Railbiking Korea, September 2010

Railbiking Korea, Auraji, Gangwondo

Boarding the train to Auraji

Family adventure weekend (:

(: caption in photo set..

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Cycling in Korea (Cycling International):: Routes, Rides, Riders United...join our group (Cycling in Korea) on Facebook!

Mi Sung - even my wife is now addicted to Cycling, how about you? Give it a chance, you won't turn back. (:

Cycling in Korea, it's the best restoration activity for EFL teachers, try it today!

Inspiration...I made it myself. (:

Launching from Gangneung, can you tell...I like bikes?

Cycling up (South) on Hwy 35 from Gangneung to Imgye (Taebaek) after a storm

Luke Cape September 15 at 10:42am
Hi Brian,

I saw your message sent from the Cycling in Korea group and see you are cycling from Gangneung up through Imgye to Taebaek and on to Andong. That'll be a nice ride! A lot of climbing, but route 35 from gangneung to taebaek is a beautiful valley. i've biked in the opposite direction a couple of times (Taebaek - Gangneung) and it's really nice. 2 places to visit along the way if you have time:

Yesuwon ('jesus abbey'). Doesn't matter if you're religious or not - they're nice people. it's an amazing architectural genius in a tiny valley in the mountains. Sort of like Rivendell, but in Korea .. and you can have lunch there.

I'd also recommend Geomryeongso, the 'source of the han river', on the road from Imgye to Taebaek. It's a nice 7km detour from the main road, up a lovely valley with an excellent raw fish restaurant if you can find it.

Anyway...

the reason i'm messaging you is because i'm looking for advice on a trip. Me and a couple of friends want to bike up along the very north of gangwon-do on tuesday/wednesday/thursday next week. I have a friend who lives in Wasu-ri (Cheorwon county), but it's a little far from the coast and we'd probably like some beach-ee time, so i was wondering if you've biked in the area and could recommend any places to go. Can you bike inside Seoraksan NP? Are there any nice back roads in the area that we could camp/min-bak along the way? We'd be looking for easy enough rides, because the 3 girls will only have mountain bikes, while the 3 guys have road bikes.

Cheers man!

Luke

(Yesuwon - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=37.304884%2C128.998203&spn=0.013859%2C0.033088&z=15&lci=com.panoramio.all)

(Geomryeongso - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=37.233267%2C128.945332&spn=0.027745%2C0.066175&z=14&lci=com.panoramio.all)

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Brian 브라이안 Perich September 15 at 8:19pm

Hey Luke,
Awesome message, I must THANK YOU for sending & contacting me!

Yes, definitely dig the Hwy 35 route, I attacked from Gangneung up to Imgye at the end of the summer, looking for the alternative route to Hwy 456, the epic 20km Daegwalyeong route to Pyeongchang-gun (830 meter climb in 20km!), yet, still far off from the actual Pyeongchang-si, but the wind turbines are on top, it's a great place to be (restaurant at the end of the tourist stalls is awesome too, take some corn in there (summer) and order a pitcher of beer with friends, before bombing back into Gangneung, or better, cycling WEST to Jinbu. I camped under the Hwy 50 interprovince connecting Wonju-Seoul, a little noisy (ear plugs helped) but the river bank was cool, had a small fire, next day cycled Hwy 59 along the inner passage (valleys, a river and mostly descents running parallel to Hey 35, except at a higher altitude) you'll reach the junction between choosing East (Imgye, Donghae) or West to Jeonseong (Railbiking yeah!) and Taebaek.

Riding north, amazing place is in Yang Yang, it's the Naksansa Buddhist Temple, amazing place - spiritual and the geography is pleasing too. After a tour around (free) look down from the peak with the giant stone buddihist (female) statue, there is an amazing beach just North of you, Naksan Beach! Definitely the place to dip!

Further north, you'll ride through Sokcho, 70km or 3 hours directly riding from Gangneung. Further small towns and the Unification Observatory in Goeseong, near the end of the cycling line. You might need to lock up the bikes to see this location, might be fun too.

http://www.tongiltour.co.kr/english/about/about_06.html

Seoraksan National Park is an excellent cycling destination (the entrance to the park) but you can't cycle through it. The backcountry is filled with rice field plantations, camping would need to be relocated, with high-military maneuvers in the area, perhaps camping in the farming area is a good idea, coastal area is patrolled, no recommended after 12am. However, I have heard of friends camping out in Donghae, Gangwon for the New Years Day celebrations, so there are always exceptions (incl. just stealth camping in the reeds/bush, not being seen, no open fires)*.

There are inner passages up to the DMZ, I recommend taking them, the Hwy 7 route North is fine, some GREEN BIKE PATHS to Sokcho, but South you'll experience the blow-back from the traffic, not a great experience for me, although I motored back (single day trip), 148km, including a little delirious lost in Gangneung for +8km, I thought about hitting 200km for the day though, wish I had rode all the way to Donghae, maybe next time! (:

Thanks for the ride information exchange, you know some amazing routes as well, give me a shout when you're passing through town (Gangneung), we can cycle with your crew, my wife, the kids and trailers can follow you out of town on the northbound way.

Peace & thanks for contact, keep it moving!!!!

Brian P 010.3037.5126
http://korean-world.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 10, 2010

Cycling in Korea :: Essential touring, & where to ride?

Choose the roads where nobody goes. Off the beaten-path should be emphasized more on this blog. Even in a densely populated country (as this is) you can utilize the offroads (rice fields, can you see them from your window in Korea?) or any tributary (river walks) in Korea are usually bike accessible. For longer tours on the East or West coast, you will experience traffic along "route 1 -Western, route 7 -Eastern" however, there are numerous other secondary roads snaking North-South that most people just never explore. Along the East Coast, I have discovered route 456 (East-West) from Gangneung. From North to South (Gangneung to Taebaek (route 35) or Jeongseon-railbiking! and back to the East coast to either Samcheok or Donghae, it's epic cycling in the mountains and along the rivers through the coastal mountain passes. Both route 35 and route 59 cut along rivers flowing between the coastal and Eastern (Pyeongchang-gun) ranges dividing the countries Gangwon-do Province to the East and Gyeonggi-do Province to the West (at Wonju). I hope to compile a comprehensive guide to the Best Tours in South Korea (while I am at it myself, and others here -please email your routes, I'll gladly share/post to other riders/readers in Cycling in Korea group on Facebook, or here in blog. Meet other riders and share ideas!

Be sure the crew is well hydrated, bring snacks too. As a group, we enjoy pasta prepared the same-day, grapes, apples, or raisins when seasonal fruit isn't available (or too expensive). Use reusable rubbermaid containers. While cycling solo, I usually pack an emergency 300g of sun-dried raisins, a few apples and at least 3L of water (1L per hour).

Mega-Korea Touring Route 2012 (Click link to see locations)

View Larger Map

For starters, find the best location to meet up. I tend to text message a few riders and hope that one is available to ride. We meet in Gangneung at the Lotte Soju Factory (aka Barf Factory), they offer spring/distilled water to the public on tap.

Trek Go-Bug. Definitely essential to add "family" into your next adventure cycling epic. We opted to have a local "cover manufacturer" help us design a durable rain cover (60K won), it'll be featured on the road this fall while we're out riding in the rain. Be sure to vent the rain cover if it's designed in vinyl or other non-breathable fabrics, kids need fresh air! We opted to customize the rear into a flap/roller-clip, it adds some ventilation.

We salvaged a late model (2003) Lespo mountain bike from a local friend in Gangneung. This was destined for the recycle scrapyard, it was rusty (solid brown chain...like stone!) and all the cables were ceased/rusted out. Do some business with your local shop before expecting anything to happen that's just great service without a negotiation. We repacked the original bearings (bb-spindle in excellent shape, regreased and ready to fly), and replaced the chain and cables, 25,000won. We brought it to a local shop (a place I bought a used Trek Go-Bug trailer, and the Trek tag-a-long trailer for Matthew.
Happy trails since then. Riding a luggy 19kg bike might be beneficial to the rider too, it mimics the weight on expeditions.

Sometimes you want the "good stuff" as I have over the past 4 years stationed/working/marooned in South Korea. I have settled with the cheaper line of bikes (200-500K range) and purchased in bicycle shops locally (once, a 2006 Lespo Tracker MTB, heavy-bone bike! I cycling the length of the Eastern/Western South Korean coasts, replaced 3 bottom bracket bearing sets, 1 headset, brake pads, fixed numerous flats, but it remained a steady ride for 220,000 KRW and 1000s of Kilometers on the road/offroad light XC.

The kids needed a trailer to roll with Mi Sung and I. First opted for a brand-new steel frame/steel wheel trailer in the effect/copied design of a Schwinn, rode a few times - it was solid, but a little heavy. We paid 175K on Gmarket.co.kr. Next, our used/like new Trek Go-Bug, if you find one (used on eBay.com) definitely buy it. We paid 300,000 KRW used.

Remember, it's the motor under the hood that counts. Cycling in Korea starts with the initiative to see more outdoors, the vigor to pedal, and a bike that fits your budget, while it's important to source the right gear, here's a few tips that might help:

Search - Gmarket.co.kr and search for "Blackcat" That's a good start to Cycling in Korea. The branded bicycle is basically an imported, unpopularized frame from either Taiwan (higher end) or China (lower end), frames in aluminum (grade unknown) and components differ considerably between a 200,000KRW and 600,000KRW model. These are great bikes, with a few tweaks, upgrades to the tires (Schwalbe Marathon 26x1.5-2.0), you'll be singing.

There is a local scene for (GARMIN CONNECT, SEE GPS ROUTE!) intense off-road XC MTB riding (Daegwallyeong, Gangwon-do), but plan to bring your bike into Korea

(QUALITY MTB'S ARE EXPENSIVE HERE IN SOUTH KOREA, BUY IT IN THE USA!!!)

Another option, if your looking for Touring/light XC trail riding around your city, farming fields or similar, then the Blackcat mentioned above, will fit the bill. Always, consider the specifications that are available (forks -Suntour XCM V2 come with many Blackcats, it's a road shock only-as tested, derailler system (Shimano components? Most have model marking, Alvio, Deore, SLX, XT, XTR...from the bottom to the top of the line), the wheelsets are always solid builds in Korea, from Lespo, Alton, ProCorex, up to Blackcat, Cello and the international makers (Merida is popular here, then there's the best of the bikes (specific by model and/or components, don't be fooled by the Branding): Specialized, Cannondale, Trek, Mongoose, Yeti, Kona, Jamis, Surly, Look (expensive!), Santa Cruz, Ellsworth, Ibis, Norco, Giant, and many more...the source for reviews is MTBR

More suggestions - Where to ride in Korea?

Han River Cycling throughout Seoul Metropolitan Area.
DMZ Mountain biking routes north of Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do
Daegwallyeong Mountain, 25km west of Gangneung City, Gangwondo (XC and DH)
Muju Resort, Awesome Mountain Biking DH routes for experienced riders.

Next are Cycle Touring Routes for South Korea areas

Jeju Island Loop, Free camping and enough smooth pavement to tour for weeks.
Southern Korean coast, Busan, Gyeongsannamdo to Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. 7-10 days.
Sokcho, Gangwon-do and Busan, Gyeongsannam-do, 4-6 days.
(distance: 475km, Time: 5 days, Route: Hwy 7, Ride Diff: High)
Seoul (Seongnam-si), Gyeonggi-do -> Suam, Andong, Daegu (distance: 355km, Time: 3 days, Diff: Medium), 3-5 days
Seoul, Gyeonggi-do -> Seoraksan National Park, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do (distance 315km, 2 days, Diff: High) 2-4 days
Gangneung, Gangwon-do -> Busan, Gyeongsannam-do (distance 415km, 4 days, Diff: High)***
Incheon/Siheung/Ansan, Gyeonggi-do -> Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Cheonan (Hwy 1 to Daejeon*) West to Boryeong/Daecheon Beach, South to Byeongsanbando National Park (or Mokpo*) (distance 355km, 415km to Daejeon, 460km to Mokpo*, Days 3-5, Diff: High)
Gangneung, Gangwon-do -&gt Daegwaelleong, Pyeongchang-gun, Jinbu, Taebaek, Imgye, Donghae, Gangneung return (Start Hwy 35...Hwy 456 from Gangneung-downtown..Hwy 35 to Taebaek, West to Donghae*) (distance 257km, time 2-3 days, Diff: High)
Seongnam/Bundang/Seoul river trails to metro Seoul (South of the Han River)
+ others (send updates: tesol2000@gmail.com if you can help list)

[ Notes: *** best route for cycling, camping, sight-seeing, adventure cycling. I personally like all routes (: ]

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Arctic2Argentina 2012 - Interview with Bob Stewart.

Perich to pedal from the Arctic to Argentina in IBD awareness ride

by Brian 브라이안 Perich on Monday, September 6, 2010 at 12:04am

LaSalle adventurer set to trek for IBD

MARATHON RIDER: Brian Perich takes a self-portrait while on a recent training ride in South Korea. Perich, a LaSalle native, currently lives in Seoul, South Korea, but will be returning toCanada for a massive Arctic Circle to South America ride for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada in 2013.

By Bob Stewart

Brian Perich’s adventures have seen him crisscross North America on a motorcycle, accumulating 24,000 km in 60 days; lead groups of teens and adults on 10-day canoe trips through Quetico Provincial Park near Atikokan, Ont.; and fully restore a Jeep in 22 days and drive it from Windsor to Victoria, BC, and eventually San Diego, Calif., before taking up surfing and mediation.

Following a 1998 motorcycle accident in Vancouver, in which he crashed broadside into a car that slid into his lane, causing extensive damage to his sciatic nerve, Perich, 36, a LaSalle native and graduate of St. Anne’s Secondary in Tecumseh, was described by paramedics at the scene as a “wandering nomad.” But his biggest adventure is yet to come.

In 2013, Perich will cycle northeast from Anchorage, Alaska, towards Inuvik, NWT, before turning southwest and traversing Canada from the Arctic Circle through the Yukon and British Columbia before cutting down through Texas and into Mexico, through Cental and South America before ending in Argentina.The globe-pedalling tour is all part of raising money and awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation via the IDEAS Foundation of Canada.

See Cycle, page 12.

Perich is calling his Arctic leg of the race, simply, One—Arctic to Argentina A2A.

IBD is a group of disorders that cause the sections of the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed and ulcerated through an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. There are two main forms of IBD: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). “It’s all about raising social awareness for those suffering with IBD and living to their fullest with a chronic illness for which there is no cure,” said Perich from his current home in his wife’s native South Korea, where he teaches English when not cycling throughout the country with the informal cycling group he founded, Cycling International.

“They need our support, so I am riding for them, and asking for community or charity donations to fund research for a cure, supporting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundations of Canada and America, to continue their research to help improve the quality of life for those suffering from IBD.”

Currently, there are approximately 200,000 Canadians and 1.4 million Americans suffering from IBD-related illnesses. Although there is currently no cure for IBD, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is a not-for-profit organization that believes a cure can be found.

Cycling chroniclesPerich’s cycling adventures across the Korean peninsula have become something of an Internet sensation through his blog and on the social networking site Facebook, where the almost daily updates and photo essays of his site-seeing, training and good will-spreading. Perich’s One adventure has received media coverage for his cycling endeavors on he Korean Broadcasting System’s KBS radio, and in the Korean Times national newspaper.

“Anyone joining this ride can support another charity of their choosing and we can ride supporting each other,” Perich explained. “Also, anyone that is interested is welcome to join segments of this bicycle expedition for fun, adventure and a load of cycling on the road. There’s no barriers or attitudes. It’s about moving in a new direction."

You can follow Perich’s cycling adventures through his blog at http://korean-world.blogspot.com/INTERNATIONAL PEDALLER: Brian Perich in South Korea, following a cycling trip from Gangneung, Gangwondo province to Busan, Gyeongsannamdo Province on the Korean peninsula’s east coast earlier in 2009.

[Since this article was written: I have teamed with Education Through Expeditions, ETE founder, Polar Explorer - Antony Jinman. Since the new launch of this non-profit, global green educational programme, there will be regular updates from the expedition directly linked to school educational programs in the UK and other participating countries. It's truly rewarding working with Antony's non-profit organization raising environmental, cultural and health awareness while pursuing the dreams on a 32,000km marathon.]*

Other Media collections on Brian Perich:

Early days of Adventure cycling & MTB touring around Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Cycling in Korea, Bicycle Adventure Touring

Get fit, Ride. 830m peak ahead. Gangneung -Pyeongchang-gun-Jinbu to Jeonseong to Donghae and Gangneung again! 257km loop with 7+ 700m mountains to ascend. Good training ground for global rides.