Micro Adventures // Brian Perich Expeditions by Mountain Bike

 Himalayan Blackcat MTB Expedition is back together for 2013.

 Custom rear wheel rim is a DH Jalco DD40. 

Using a 9-speed 36-spoke Shimano SLX rear hub laced with steel spokes to brass nipples.

 South Korean stone carving markers for this village.

 Custom $25 front rack, Thanks for your help AN DAE GI @ Gangneung Bike Mart

Massive Ortlieb Rollerback panniers

Winter is finally here in South Korea. Tomorrow it's time to head outdoors for an annual Snow Bike in the mountains around Pyeongchang-gun. Last year around this time, I camped at -20 and 1000 meters above sea level on drifts and a farm field covered in 5 feet of snow pack. I remember the night ride from Gangneung City, Gangwon Province on the northeast coast to the top using Daegwallyeong road (Highway 35 to Hwy 456). It's a nice course for cycle touring. Actually, that night I routed completely on the Hwy 35 past the Coffee Cupper Museum for a warm, toasty java and a free shot of expresso in my Camelback podium bottle on the refill. Adventure cycling is good in rough weather, cold or hot conditions, preferably dry heat or dry cold with snow as precipitation. Sub-24 Hour Overnight (S24O) Adventures are also known as Micro Adventures. If you are tied to work, family, other tasks at hand - the S24O is often the best solution for planning an intense, albeit short expedition of a day. I've experimented with this a few times in Korea, with a family and work - often I have no other option. These short Micro Adventures have been amazing, great positive experiences for sharing in social media, and just to be outdoors - it's a great reason to travel too. So, with little advanced planning involved, apart from reassembling a winter MTB, I'm using the old, aluminum Blackcat frame again, same components from MongoliaX2012 - to do a little more exploring up in the 1000 meter hills.

Looking back on past tours - These photos are highlights from Sichuan, China where I rode into the Himalayas from Chengdu. Exploring western China was the first and biggest expedition of my life. It was also an excellent change from the Korean peninsula. Sampling pictures, you get to taste the adventure of bicycle touring fully loaded, in a land as vast and empty as it is populated in the East.

So, there are many options for bicycle touring. You can either play if safe and adventure for 24 hours S24O - and still have great experiences in the elements - wind, rain, sun, snow accompanying you. Or you can plan bigger, longer and potentially more wild and vivid journeys through browsing the internet, reading blogs and buying Lonely Planet guidebooks like I did. Fortunately, time is on your side.

Adventure cycling is about going outdoors, experiencing nature first hand, carrying the right equipment to play safe and expedition more. The better planned, balanced and budgeted, the better the memories that will likely last the rest of your natural life on Earth. Our planet is beautiful and should be explored and protected. The natural landscapes, the empty spaces, no quarters, and friendly faces when you finally come across them on the road - are all positive and inspirational moments to keep for a lifetime.