Letters w/ Nicoli Bangsgaard - 52.200 km on his cycling WT 2006-2010

2009/8/12 Brian [writes...] Featured: 2009 Koga-Miyata World Traveller. Will be used on the next expedition through the Arctic Circle of Canada to the southern tip of Patagonia, Argentina.

Nic,
It's great to see you, [whom] I would dub, "the quintessential world cyclist" out on the road, when I read about good fortunes with Canadians in Montreal, I wanted to add to it, being a Canadian, who once traveled around the US in the 75'Jeep with DK stickers pasted on the back. I have setup a new blog for my Arctic to Argentina charity ride in 2012, and I have been printed in The Korean Times, interviewed on KBS World Radio did a a live KBS World Radio interview (30 minutes!) and TBS eFM 101.3 in Seoul, South Korea. Some local Canadian papers are running a story this week. I am riding supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundations of Canada and America through tertiary non-profit groups like IDEAS -Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society of Canada. IDEAS founder and CCFC activist
Robert Hill, a "Triathlete, adventure racer, climber, mountaineer, ostomate and Crohn’s sufferer" founded IDEAS - Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society and his non-profit foundation will be instrumental in coordinating my mission with the people/activists across Canada. IBD Adventures, led by Robert Hill, learn more about how you can get involved and donate now!, their team of dedicated IBD-activists are currently campaigning through expedition to summit Kilimanjaro in September 2009, work that supports raising awareness about Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) and efforts for funding the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada to continue community outreach and research to discover the solution to these incurable, painful and debilitating gastrointestinal diseases that affect 200,000 people in Canada alone. My partnership with IDEAS will be instrumental for fund-raising activities, as well as, many of the 80 local chapters of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. I will do everything to coordinate my mission with activists across Canada. I am reaching further to help efforts in the United States with a synchronized ride enroute from the Arctic Circle at one venue in New York State, the GYGIG-Get Your Guts in Gear 210-mile charity cycling event. Given the commitments I will be making to all sponsorship, non-profit organizations, I will be riding in early spring 2012 from Whitehorse to the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories of Canada before turning south to the Yukon and British Columbia landing in Vancouver/Victoria to commence the Cross-Canada portion of the expedition. Then cycling across Canada to St. John's, Newfoundland and finally crossing the Canadian/American border to New York. From the U.S. Eastern coast following an undetermined route to Brownsville, Texas...tracing your steps back to Mexico and Central and South America. I mentioned Alastair Humphreys and Tim and Cindie Travis in my interview, you were the next in my credit to real world WT travellers, but I won't miss the chance next time. HELP NICOLI CYCLE AROUND THE WORLD, HIS DAYS ARE FOR SALE HERE! I want to be your friend and fellow ultra-marathoner cyclist long after your mission has ended, you have helped me find the strength to push past my financial, family, *(academic pursuit-hello ALGC classmates ^^!) and job commitments and see a new vision for WT 2012, even if it's only part of the world, I'd be happy with that (: Thanks for your courage, determination, and inspiration, it's actually quite priceless to me!!! Warm Regards from Korea

[Nicoli writes...]
Brian, my man...
What a great, great surprise, Mr. Perich. Seriously, I'm dumbfounded in a very positive way to see this huge encouragement from South Korea. In line with my surprise is, that I just got back from that same bike dealer here in Montreal with a brand new rear wheel on my bike (this time I had to pay myself, and it was exactly 112.88 CAN dollar). It's that funny. So, Brian, I'm proud to announce you my new (old) bike sponsor. I wasn't sure which days you wanted, but I've put you on the Hall of Fame, end of the list, in a total of 6 days. Thank you so much for the moral and Hall of Fame support. We have to meet up somewhere someday, Brian, and the beers will be on me, for sure...Best regards, Nicolai


2009/8/12 Brian [writes...]
HELP NICOLI CYCLE AROUND THE WORLD, DAYS FOR SALE HERE!

Fresh watermelon. A cyclists dream! Thanks Murray DP!
Thanks to my long-time friend and supporter Mr. Brian Sullivan for taking this photograph on our recent ride on South Korea's Eastern Coast (Hwy 7, Dubbed...The Asian Highway...or otherwise known as road through mountains. Brute training grounds with soft spots, and challenging ascents, lovely decents and bends, or sneak onto the new Hwy 7, solid stone...we did that and had a police escort to find our way back to the old Hwy 7 and the beautiful coast lay beneath us, thanks God, we enjoyed it all!

[Nicholi writes:]
Hi Brian... Thanks for the update! It seems like long-distance cycling is in your blood, and once that's a fact, there no cure but go riding! Am excited on your behalf for your upcoming 2012-adventures.
Nicolai (Quebec)

WT: KBS WORLD RADIO INTERVIEW - BACKGROUND IN MY ADVENTURE TOURING

KBS WORLD RADIO INTERVIEW - ADVENTURE TOURING, CANOEING, CYCLING, MOTORCYCLING & THE MAMMOTH 25,000KM EXPEDITION IN 2012. -Click this link to listen in for more on the story!!!
KBS WORLD RADIO INTERVIEW THROUGH VIDEO STUDIO STREAM, ADVENTURE CYCLING, MOTORCYCLING, TOUR GUIDING, LISTEN IN HERE...[LINK]

CYCLING KOREA, TRAINING 2009 - KBS WORLD RADIO INTERVIEW

Hey Bob,

That's great news!! I just finished interviewing at KBS (Korea Broadcast System) for the World Radio Program (: I was nervous once the "on air" lights went on, it was filmed using 5 cameras in a studio, we didn't wear headsets (like @CJAM), so I felt a little rough on the edges, but pulled through with my notes prepared from 430am today, LOL! I promoted my roots in Windsor, Caboto and Maple Leaf Cycling Clubs for my origins in Cycling and the spark that start touring for me (Grand Bend, 1990,1992), those 480Km and 360Km (1/2 way return, hail stormed out) [has] fueled my hunger for two-wheel traveling.

In 1993, I Canoe Guided for Voyageur Wilderness Program http://www.vwp.ca -leaving Windsor on a Greyhound bus from the downtown terminal, my father packed a full hockey-bag-sized duffel [full] of rations that would last the summer up north in Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario (near Atikokan/Thunder Bay) on boundary waters with northern Minnesota. I paddled open-waters, navigated using conventional maps, carried 60 pound backs, canoes on my shoulders, and guided groups of 18 students and 3 adults (some twice my age) on 70-90Km canoeing/portaging and camping expeditions, 10 days at a time. Tough adventure, great experience. I returned there again in 1999 as an accompanying Counselor and followed a guide, much easier trip!!!

I motorcycle toured the US (between 1994-1998) on five cross-country whirlwinds covering or crossing 24,000Km in a total of 60 days. On one return trip to Windsor in 1996, I rode one stretch of highway for 36 consecutive hours before taking a rest (4-hour powernap), riding from tank-to-tank, and hydrating with water and strong coffee. The States/Provinces I visited were (Windsor to Ohio, Pennsylvania as far east, to Arizona, California, Washington State, Oregon, and every state between across the northern, middle US States (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakiota, South Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Ontario, and Western Canadian Rockies, Banff Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia and Vancouver Island. On my last tour in 1998, I crashed broadside into a car that crossed into my right-of-way. I damaged my left cyatic nerve and took 4 months to reach full recovery. I had just completed a successful tour south to Phoenix, Arizona and north via California to Vancouver, B.C. The medics at the scene of this accident described me as "a wandering nomad."

After the motorcycle crash, I returned to Windsor on crutches in the summer (July/August, 1998) and restored a 1975 Jeep CJ-5 to full-restoration in 22 days (straight, often 10 hours on the build). Drove back to Vancouver, then Vancouver Island, and finally south to San Diego, California. Took up surfing, meditation, mountain biking, and Tour Guiding the Southwest US States as a Guide for a Camping tour company, example: 21 days, driving/camping/coordinating daily itinerary while managing to cover 5000 miles of driving myself, with paper maps for navigation. I changed to 2500 mile tours after my first burn across California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, to save energy, touring jobs generally pay little, but the rewards are tremendous for character-building, teamwork, and expedition preparation, even if was only just driving a 12-passenger van with roof racks for camping gear and suit cases, it was an expedition and nothing less...^^

In late 2006, I returned to my wife's native South Korea, and in spring 2007 I began cycling again, purchasing a mountain bike for about $200 Canadian dollars, I pushed the bike to it's limits on and offroad, starting with small rides locally in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province (southwest of Seoul, the Capitol) and these rides became more frequent, daily and distances steadily increased, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120Km...rides began happening by summer 2007. In the fall of 2007, I rode 455Km down the mountainous East Coast, dubbed "The Asian Highway 7" perhaps one day, post-Communist North Korea, linking South Korea with China and Russia to the North and west. I rode the entire 2007/08 winter season, which is relatively dry in Korea, with little precipitation and average temperatures hovering just below zero, it's ideal for cycling in Korea. In 2008, I continued to ride and tour the country, completing more ofthe East Coast again, from Gangneung to Busan, and Seoul to Daegu, and a lot of local pedaling on bike paths and along the rice fields surrounding many cities. This year, I pulled some heavy rides starting out on the East Coastal city of Gangneung, Gangwondo Province, and pedaling for 3 days across the mountainous regions into Gyeongsanbukdo (Uljin area) and Gyeongsannamdo Province where the second largest coastal city Busan lies. At the end of the summer I completed about 700Km of riding in 7 days of touring through central and southwestern Korea. I'm now exploring the northwest coast around Daebudo Island (recent Fb album for photos, plenty in all my albums Bob, take your pick, or I can send some high-res photos instead).

I'm active in several groups on Facebook: Cycling in Korea, Cycling International, Adventurers of the World. Everyone interested in cycling is welcome to join those groups!! My cycling expedition in 2012 has a Facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/brian.perich#/group.php?gid=49155647250&ref=ts dubbed,

ONE - Cycle, One Man (+Riders), One Charity, Global Bike from the Arctic

Until a new website is operational, these are my contact points and of course Email: tesol2000@gmail.com

Hope these notes help!! Let me know if you need more information.

WT: Ride the Transamerican, w/ MA to complete.

Hi John,

This might create enough gap with Rubberside Down returning to an original route planned http://www.poweredbycommunity.org/cms/ [never been attempted in this direction Arctic-Vancouver-St.Johns-New York-Texas-Mexico-Central/South America]; link to the New York HTTP://WWW.GYGIG.ORG and continue the ride to Central and South America. From 2012 to completion. I have 24 months to complete my MA in Adult Education [online], train consistently [300Km weekends as I have been doing], and saving a heap for commitment to fully engage tour, charity drives, and [WT] World Tour by bike. In Korea, I've got one of the best training grounds in the world [though I have to cycle around it a few times to make the distance!]. Keep in touch, Greg or Vin are welcome to join!

[This is the updated route/departure time. 2012-20XX]

ONE. The route will begin at the Arctic Circle and traverse Canada from the Arctic Circle (Inuvit, Northwest Territories, Canada) south towards the Yukon and British Columbia (Victoria, Vancouver), cross over the Canadian Rockies towards Banff, Lake Louise, down to Calgary (Stampede) and across the Prairies (Saskatoon, Regina), Winnepeg, MB to settle into Ontario from Thunder Bay up to the St. Laurence River Valley and out to St. Johns, Canada. From there the course turns South to New York (210 mile ride joining up with 1000's of riders at GYGIG 2012), Southwest towards Texas and into Mexico and Central & South America (generalization, fill in the places between) I will be supporting the Crohns and Colitis Foundation that's searching for ways to help the community living with IBD (intestinal bowel disease) which there is treatment available, but still no cure. It affects millions of people globally and they need our support to raise awareness & fund research or events leading to a cure! Anyone wishing to join this ride can do so, even supporting another charity! We can share the ride supporting different causes that need change. Therefore, anyone healthy enough to ride 100km/day whom is interested in joining "day/week segments" of this bicycle expedition for fun, adventure and a load of cycling on the road are welcome! No barriers or attitudes, it's all about moving life in a new direction. Bored with life, need a new drug, try WT touring!

Contact Info: Brian @ tesol2000@gmail.com
Office: Seoul, South Korea
Tour Location: North/Central/South America
Date: 2012 - 20XX.
Web: http://korean-world.blogspot.com

313kms, 2.5 days, Weekend Training Camp, My Pain/Joy in Cycling

313kms, 2.5 days, Mountainous terrain & fresh pavement
Nowhere to sleep, so park-camping with clothes on back

Got a few winks of sleep tonight, can't complain about it.

Rob,

Great to hear from you finally! Your training schedule must be tremendous preparing for those two peaks www.nogutsknowglory.com, both well beyond my imagination as a cyclist...I climbed Mt. Rundle in Banff National Park years ago, a great recreational hike to reach some peaks above the tree line, but no risks or dangers you must prepare for, so that must be incredible to accomplish! I've spoken with John C. Scott recently and he suggested I develop a concrete plan/goal to accomplish to present to potential sponsors or charities like CCFC or CCFA.

I'm interested in the Arctic to Argentina Pan-American route to raise awareness...with John Scott's recent work with Rubberside Down with Vin and Greg http://www.rubbersidedown.org

he's been extremely busy and the movie has been a success for the charity. Speaking to John earlier, I thought he suggested that I visit all the local chapters across Canada to complete my ride. Essentially, at that point my ride shifted from Artic to NFLD, Canada to accomodate the chapter charity fund-raising activities. However, the plan was in flux and I changed the route per John's suggestions.

There was a lag for several months, finally, I emailed John again...and he is extremely busy with the Rubberside Down promotion and work back at Chrysler. He did respond that my route across Canada wouldn't stir much attention since Greg and Vin did the same route (from Victoria, BC) to St. John's. He did suggest that my original route to Argentina would be more unique, and CCFC would take at least a slight interest in it. I was confused because the Crohns and Colitis Foundation President of GYGIG (Get Your Guts In Gear) http://www.ibdride.org/ responded positively IF I could link up with their summer Charity touring events across a few States. The problem is they are not everywhere...just a few select States, and how would I get to all the Canadian chapters and those US rides in one summer on the way to Patagonia, seemed impossible. In that "Loop" the ride took a dive and John didn't take interest in my cycle trip [evident in a recent email response a few days ago, will forward]. I'm an amateur when it comes to promotion and planning [all I can do is ride long-distance without complaint, cycling is strong, training is great in Korea] but promoting the idea into action riding requires a second or third party, for that part, I am not up to the task. I've even considered riding in sections of the route, over several years. Like http://www.ride-earth.org.uk/ which is continuous mountain biking with breaks back in the UK. Better yet, the already successful Nicholi Bangsgaard from Denmark is currently rolling into Year 4 of his WT...a model for all intrepid cyclists eagar to WT in the common age of Eco-travel, save the petrol/pollution...it's all wind (sailing) and 99% cycling, definitely check him out @ http://www.worldtravellers.dk - He's accepting PayPal to support his current ride, check the Days for Sale link, I'm in there!!! ^^.

All for now, Rob: I wish you a strong training in advance of these tremendous expeditions, anything crosses your mind about my cycle that would support the Crohns and Colitis Foundations, I'm all ears about it. I like to make a correction I've had [a close relative] experiencing Colitis for 9 years now, we talk about it often now...since talking to John C. Scott.

Warm Regards, Brian