True Dirt, The Games played to discriminate against their Competition: Cycling in Korea

• 

  AN DAE GI of Gangneung Bike Mart, Gangwondo, Korea 

  - Official Sponsor of HimalayasX2011 expedition -

  

   2011 - SBS1000 - Korea Randonneur, 1000km/75 hour Brevet Seoul-Busan-Seoul

  

   2007 Cervelo TT, loaned by Karl Mancini my friend in Gangneung

  

   Starting off from the Han River bicycle path in Akpujeong, Seoul, South Korea

  

   Real Korean Randonneurs!

  

   Teamwork is about finding riders that have similar abilities, and helping one another.

  

   I was enjoying the ride, and feeling the pain of maintaining 35km/h for hours and hours

  

   We headed out towards Yeoju. 

  This single day was the most difficult. 

  We completed 375km in 22 hours (lost for 2 hours too!)

  
  

  

  
  

  Anonymous:

  • How friendly are the "randonneurs"? I'm thinking of running my own "pirate" fleche (starting out Friday night for a couple of hours down to Pyeongtaek, bedding down somewhere, continuing Saturday in an all day ride to Cheong-Up, where I would again catch a few hours sleep before cycling into Gwangju on Sunday.....in order to cheer home Brian Perics team....it would be both outside the 24 hour limit and inside the 360 km minimum distance.....but hey!....I am a "pirate".....)....your team might be the only group I'd be cheering for... am starting to become heartily sick of the vanity of a few personalities on HRR.....do you the "randonneurs" would mind, though if I (in some ways) "crashed" their party.....
• 
  

  Wednesday

  Brian Perić

  • I would just plan for it. [Official Randonneur status must be registered within the 24 hour rule, route approved by organizers], a 360km outside the 24 hour rule would be much more civilized, the event last year was complete torture on me, speaking of the HRR group, I was the only non-HRR (and no other HRR was there to speak of, it was the end of season SBS1000km, 75hr) and they had burned themselves out on the closed course in Chuncheon, of course, I wasn't invited. 
    
    
    I was nervous about showing up at all, I had borrowed the Cervelo, didn't have experience like this extreme distance/time...except in 1990/1992, I rode a 240km/10 hour on a Mancini roadbike (and return from the beach parties of Grand Bend, Ontario..in 11 hours/240km). Together with my friend and Maple Leaf Cycling Club member, Ciro Viviano, we tried this again in 1992, similar times, and came 1/2 way back, because we hit thunder showers and hail, and I managed to find a stray dog (black Labrador retriever) running in the countryside on the way back...we posted ads in the Thamesville paper searching for the rightful owners, but the dog was malnourished, unkempt and had heart worms at the time we found him. My parents cared for him for the next 7 years after our other dog had been stolen by neighbors friends (payback for his rummaging in their trash bins with a pack of local pups (along with his house, lead chain, food bowl) only a month earlier.
    
    The HRR group was formed initially by the Han River Endurance Classic, which was planned by myself, Tim Travis and Arden John (the "show boats" in Korea cycling). They stole the event completely, they squabbled over who would lead between them, and Tim got red-hot angry at me because I was an organizer and wanted to participate.
    
    So, with bad seeds planted...nesting the biggest egos in Korea's amateur cycling scene (you can add many other names here), it took off as Han River Riders (Facebook) group, now adding...the Premier Cycling Club in South Korea...amending their title and Closing their group to the public (Admins must approve you now, thanks to me!) because I ride with my friend Chris here in Gangneung, and we formed a two-man club called KERCC, Korea Easy Riders Cycling Club. I chose the title because it captured all of Korea, not just the Han River. On top of the 1.0mil in event surplus $ from the HECC event that Tim and Arden stole (it was intended to help me buy gear for Arctic 2 Argentina, proof in the T-shirts we printed for the endurance, read "In support of A2A").
    
    
    Tim tried to take the $1000 order I made with REI.com, my core equipment kit, which was shipped to William, Tim's secret US embassy contact that handles his smuggling business of Titanium bike parts into Korea, also the receiver of my REI.com goods, he delivered to Tim, Tim didn't deliver to me, instead stalled and then insisted I file an insurance claim, which after pressured, I DID NOT. I relied on every mutual contact, including contacting William Mxxxxxxx III about the delivery, and THEN, Tim finally shipped or should I say, released my gear,  F---
    
    I wrote about the true experience here in my blog, to help vent my frustrations a while ago, it's public and it's the truth about them,
    http://korean-world.blogspot.com/2011/10/attack-expedition-when-expedition-fund.html
    
    I'm sure in the HRR group, you'll hear about Jared Mitchell, who designed their site, I mention him as well in my blog article, another notorious, pompous guy with a natural bicycle touring elitism. Nothing will change these peeps, which is why I am annexed from their group, and nothing will change for the better as long as I know them. They won't accept me, they use social media to block my activity in making connections to other riders in Korea (touring, training, social discussion). I know how it feels to be discriminated against, to be scorned and envied
    
    My friend Chris was also contacted by Tim Travis, mysteriously after forming the Korea Easy Riders Cycling Club -  KERCC group on FB, about posting and inviting HRR riders to join. In their discussions, later Tim wrote and asked if Chris was associated and cycling with me. Tim Travis went on to say that I was banned from the HRR group, any posts would be deleted related to me, etc...Chris offered my apologies and request to bury the hatches, Tim dismissed and said it was impossible to forgive me. Funny how forgiveness works, when they stole everything from me, dashed my hopes of fund-raising, and took every active cyclist in Korea away with them. At least I felt better, I forgave him (for stealing from me, bullying through social media, stealing fund-raising $, sending a vius to my workplace PC, and shipping out my stolen equipment with an open box lid, taped on one side only, a nice touch for the sociopath Tim Travis in Korea.  C'est la vie!
    
    Korea Randonneurs is not about individual competition -it requires teamwork to finish and you meet riders at events with similar strengths to team up, it's everything that the HRR group is not (a social clique!), or isn't supposed to be. But unfortunately, the core are Korean members who speak very little English (as I do Korean), and there's Jan Boonstra, Russell Morris, and Lothar for the main organizers, they are cool, they invited me to the SBS1000, and I rode 400km with Russell, he really helped me, and we formed a 2-man team for 24 hours until I was forced to drop out. They are reliable. Once the HRR members get in, the Korea Randonneur will become a competition of different egos, hopefully this will pass. I am only riding the single Fleche, and I am heading back to the Himalayas for solitude without HRR, they of course, are not invited on my expeditions (: haha, that my friend is choosing life over misery.
    
    Peace, oh and one more...I wrote this story about Eddie Glayzer, it was published in the Busan HAPS paper/print/online. It was deleted in HRR group before it could be read at least twice. Eddie is a honorary HRR member, but I wrote the story,so they wouldn't actually honor his great accomplishment of cycling from Tianjin, China to India!  You get the picture how vile this competition really is...who will win, HRR leaders or the REAL CYCLISTS without BS? hahaa...it is left to be seen. In their minds, they win, and that is what is important to me now.
    
    http://korean-world.blogspot.com/2012/01/eddie-glayzers-journey-across-asia.html
  • 
    

    Brian's Adventures in the world of Cycling & teaching English: Attack the expedition: When expeditio

    korean-world.blogspot.com
    
    Share
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Cycling in Korea with family on a race (David Glashan) had said that having children and being an explorer is a weakness, I think he is dead-wrong about it.
    I love cycling and I love my family. 
• 14 hours ago

  Anonymous wrote:

  • Quite a story!....I'll take your advice and keep my distance!...I've heard several times that those who make it long term in Korea, are those who generally, "assimilate" the worst in Korean culture (shallow elitism, disempowering people by unethically eliminating their access to alternatives, the love of "hierarchies")....they are then no longer "troubled" by the societal values underlying the corruption here....as they've become "corrupted" themselves...
    
    If I was in Gwangju to welcome you and your team....that would make a few people "uncomfortable" then?....sounds like a very good reason to do it, for that reason alone!!
    
    The Incheon team advertised for another rider....(not part of the core team, but another rider for at least part of the way...) I responded, admitting that the distance would be probably beyond me...and got a complete "brush-off" from Jason Ham.... something that has happened several times previously...Jason just lives up the road from me, and I've been to a couple of functions, where he has LOVED to talk at length about his riding exploits (he is considerably more accomplished than me of course)....I've had the feeling for some time (and confirmed now, in my opinion) that I threaten the "fairytale"....I'd be "diminishing" the achievement, were lowly little old me, to repeat it all.... I haven't met anyone else really in "management"....Tim or Arden or whoever....and won't bother going out of my way to do so, by the sounds of it.....birds of a feather flocking together, would explain Jason's attractions to the group, perhaps....
• 
  

  9 hours ago

  Brian Perić

  • Yes, yes, yes. That is the truth and unfortunately (or disastrously) ppl choose their path through their ego-petting, rather than riding with a grain of salt sweat between their lips. I have given up, I even have daily doubts of competing in the 360, because even if we finish, nobody will care, those who already know of me, have deleted me on FB, the trickle down is enormous, Arden, Tim Travis, even others follow suit, I have no contact with them, plus they use blocks to have discussions outside me, or Tim Travis uses aliases to spy in Cycling in Korea, etc...he told me off there a month ago, I googled his alias name and found the importer pseudo name, I called him a sociopath, he called me a homo, well, finally I had to request G (once a friend associated to me, now wearing his HRR jersey and running the show in Cycling in Korea, he bitched me out then finally deleted the posts, which upset my elder sister who used to enjoy keeping tabs on my cycling here through the groups postings, not anymore. The confrontation probably was intended to get me to drop the group admin, I had already had enough already, G had added all the admins, their groups came in, the rest of us eclipsed. No use at all.
    
    Well, I will think it over and over, Chris seems keen, Tim Copeland is our other member training a bit...others dropped out, you can ride legitimately with us, we have room for 5. Chris is ready to finish the 360, he's a stronger rider than me on his own, Tim is training again so I hope his many experiences in road touring help him, we have one other rider joining us this weekend for an icebreaker ride together.  I will be content on finishing, there must be 3 to get recognition, otherwise, we are disqualified completely, it;s the Randonneur way, all in, or try again.
    
    Good news, I am planning the HimalayasX2012, my second expedition across western China, more deserts and extreme ahead, so I don't need to damage my knees for this 360, why not just ride and see where we end up? After 200km on road bikes, we'll be naturally high, I experienced this last fall, it was crazy more intense than most of my daily expedition in China, and took weeks to recover too, I couldn't straighten my legs for about a week.
    • 
      
      
• 8 hours ago

  Anonymous wrote:

  • Congratulations on another trek through....a fascinating country, culturally rich even where betrayed by corruption and the prostitution of so-called "communism".....where are you starting your Fleche ride from? I would likely struggle if there was too much height I'd need to gain along the way...
• 
  

  34 minutes ago

  Brian Perić

  • Wonju-Gwangju, 3340 meters gain in elevation, I don't personally like this route, chances are narrowed. As far as Jason M Ham (we can call him Hamster from now on), he was a mysterious friend on Facebook for the past years, I know when people are watching and not commenting on me. He and the other first Han River Riders came to my first HECC (Han Endurance Cycling Challenge) as Arden, Tim Travis and I called it....I picked up these creeps as friends back then because I was the honoree for cycling and preparing for the Argentina (I am trying different tactics with myself to finally get there, Himalayas is the best to train, and offers cheaper conditions, more cultural intersections, and it's extreme by natural of the environment and geography, if I want to call myself an Explorer, this is a starting place).
    
    Jason M Ham, mysteriously deleted our friendship when I noticed a lot of updates on his GPS updates cling 150.50 km in 6h:11m:49s
    www.endomondo.com
    Was out tracking with Endomondo
    Average Speed: 24.3 km/h
    Calories: 6935 kcal
    Distance: 150.50 km
    Duration: 6h:11m:49s
    
    I think the HRR group is doing justice to creating competition in the membership, eventually the ego-patting will backfire, too many of them to hug one another especially IF one stands out, at this point they are all the same level, and that's what admins at HRR want.
    
    Anyways, they can do as they like, another contact there deleted me recently, Leann Peters, when I sent Eddie Glayzers article and asked for her help to post in HRR group, she responded that she was surprised to hear about the rivalry and would help out Eddie. I contacted a few others that were connected to me, supposedly friendly, and nobody moved on it, Leann said she would help, then deleted me.
    
    It's game over for me Cycling in Korea. Without community and kindness, and some support, my expeditions launch without them. I definitely burn more calories with all the haters, I think about them whilst I am going to get run over by a truck in the Sichuan mountains, when I survived 1000s of uncertain kms and didn't have a freak accident, anything can happen out there, I feel blessed and fortunate nothing serious has to date. If something did, nobosy would care either. Which is disheartening to say, but my death while cycling would be like Whitney Houston, the mockery would be how stupid I really was...according to the Gods of Cycling Korea.
    
    I choose to live and not to lie in misery.
    
    Brian
  • 
    

    Endomondo | Community based on free GPS tracking of sports

    www.endomondo.com
    

    Endomondo is a sports community based on free real-time GPS tracking of running, cycling, etc. Bring your mobile on the track and get a complete training log!
    Share
• 
  

  about a minute ago

  Brian Perić

  • Want more story/gossip to entertain yourself, I wrote details to several HRR members, including Leann Peters who invited me initially to their group. She timidly responded she would help with Eddie;s Korea-India trek article, to post in HRR...then deleted me as a friend.
    
    I feel cornered by the very people that know me, read my blog and conspire against me for what I do to enjoy or rid myself of teaching-related and Korean-centric cultural stress.
    
    A pity, it is.
    
    
    Brian Perić wrote:
    Hi Leann,
    
    We've never met in person. I was an admin at Cycling in Korea group for a few years and left the post. I blog about cycling in Korea on my independent blog, little known Korean-World.
    
    Something I would like to ask an active Han River Rider member, please listen and help us if you can.
    
    Could you help Eddie Glayzer and see that his story is posted to Han River Riders group and not deleted by the administrators (Tim Travis, Arden John, Jared Mitchell, etc...), I think Eddie has been loyal to your group and deserves some respect.
    
    I also wrote the story, which is why my competition blocks me from any participation, postings, involvement, or worse. I do wish you and all the riders well, I have been disregarded long ago, but I am just an ordinary guy, teaching and making ends meet in Korea, and I have the same aspirations, to go on epic tours and share about it.
    
    Little known to some, the competition is fierce and quite the reverse of crazyguyonabike journals inside Korea, for that, I want no part...I want to enjoy the time I have left to live here with now, my wife of 10 years and two children. When I enjoy cycling, I enjoy living in Korea, when I get disrespected or cut down by competitors, it's most disappointing to experience, and time doesn't need to be wasted, it should be enjoyed by all.
    
    Peace,
    
    Brian Perich
    
    Eddie Glayzer's Journey Across Asia
    http://www.busanhaps.com/article/eddie-glayzers-journey-across-asia
    www.busanhaps.com
    GANGNEUNG, South Korea
    
    

    Leann Peters wrote:

    Hey!
    I will be sure to post that link on the HHR site about Eddie soon!
    I didn't realize there was such a dispute between you and Tim/Arden/Jared... sorry to hear that! Good luck on your journey, sounds fun! 

    
    
    Brian Perić wrote:
    
    Leann,
    
    Thanks for deleting me from Cycling in Korea connections. I wrote honestly and sincerely, Eddie and I are real people, and I am being blocked from existence while actively taking part in cycling here. I made a few enemies with the wrong people, whom I trusted and they now use social media against me. I won't lie about it when I write publicly in my blog. Do birds of a feather always flock together?
    
    It's probably useless trying to reach anyone in HRR now. I know what my mission is, to choose life over misery...while teaching, raising a family and trying to enjoy cycling as I always have.
    
    Tell your friends, I am heading to the Himalayas again...my thoughts, pains, challenges and triumphs will overcome everything standing in my way. Social media is a great place to socially isolate, discriminate others because they are doing exactly the same activity, being visible to the public and my cycling has a slight twist, more adventure, the dirty word
    
    Be different.
    
    
    
    
    
     2007 Cervelo TT, Korea SBS1000
    
     Russell Morris, Korean Randonneur rider & noncompetitive winner!
    
     Passing Chuncheonbuk-do on Day 1
    
     I'd be lying if I said my muscles, joints and tendons were not in pain, it was brutal!!!!!
    
    
    
    
     Russell showed me the way to Randonneuring. He is relaxed and happy out there.
    
     I had my wraps on for the cold, but it wasn't enough, the elements will attack on long endurance events
    
     Passed here in 2008 with Jared Mitchell, David Glashan and the Scottsman. 
    All became my competition here in Korea.
    
     Russell Morris, Randonneur. My personal hero in Korea Cycling, overcomes and doesn't brag about it.
    
     For me, at almost 40 years old, this is extreme and I won't be competing for very long. I prefer slow bicycle touring (:
    
     These are bilingual signs in South Korea
    

    This is a Randonneur.

    
    

    Learn to share the road with other cyclists and you become the Guru,

    
    

    The Inspiration for others to follow...not beat!

Randonneur Race Korea, SBS 1000, an introduction to ultrasport cycling. // Microadventure in South Korea //

"It's the ultimate bicycle experience I have seen and experienced to date!" 
-Brian's take on randonneuring


From the adventure touring world to conversational English language classrooms here in South Korea - I am proud to share news of a new discovery in adventure cycling, it's called randonneuring. It's an ultrasport form of bicycle touring where participants are riding against the clock to reach "controls," check points on an entirely new route. Self-sufficient between control stations, riders battle the terrain, elevation gain, through personal and team perseverance. Typical Brevets are 200km and up. My first event was an attempted 1000km Brevet. Here's what I learned about it, and a photo journal of the day's events on two-wheels. I hope you enjoy! Peace!


[Photo: Local sponsor in Ponam-dong, Gangneung City, South Korea.] An Dae Gi -owner/operator and bicycle mechanic has generously supported my mission in Cycling with technical, mechanical and equipment provided for several epic journeys of this year - 


HimalayasX2011 expedition of western China


Korea SBS1000 Randonneur Race 2011




Background on Randonneuring:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randonneuring - A great way to train core (link is a resource to getting started*).


Korea Randonneuring:
Korea Randonneurs Blog (Link to Cycling in Korea as an ultra-sport competitor*)

Randonneur Race Korea, an introduction to ultrasport cycling. I met many amazing athletes that choose bicycles to test their limits...I haven't ridden a road race bicycle in 19 years, borrowed/rented a bicycle from my friend Karl Mancini, the 1000km race was staged in 3 days, I rode 375km in 22 consecutive hours in stage one, I slept 45 minutes in between, stage two I went on to ride 102km with one other member Russ Morris (mentor/guide) (40 started the race, 2 were ultra-Randonneurs ahead of the teams, I started the race solo and didn't know anyone, i survived the first stage and teamed up with Russ, an American Randonneur/USFK, and a Korean race team. I ended earlier than anticipated with knees giving out on climbs, exhaustion, but felt the experience was something to build on (not to destroy myself without climbing gears, I rode a Triathlon bike on South Korea's toughest route (photos to come), so (day 1: 22 hours-375km, day 2: 6 hours-102km, I managed 477km 296 miles in 28 hours. day 3: rest and recovery). It was incredible, glad I gave it a shot.and brutally hard to continue once my legs were all rashed and cramped all the way down them.

FACE YOUR FEARS, LIVE YOUR DREAMS  

Randonneuring (also known as Audax in the UK, Australia and Brazil) is a long-distance cycling sport with its origins in audax cycling. In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined "controls" (checkpoints) every few tens of kilometers. Riders aim to complete the course within specified time limits, and receive equal recognition regardless of their finishing order. Riders may travel in groups or alone as they wish, and are expected to be self-sufficient between controls. A randonneuring event is called a randonée or brevet, and a rider who has completed a 200 km event is called a randonneur. The international governing body for randonneuring is Audax Club Parisien (ACP), which works with other randonneuring organisations worldwide through Les Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM). Randonneuring is popular in France, and has a following in the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Australia, USA and Canada.

Arrive in Seoul, South Korea the night before the 0600 event registration, bicycle inspection, start at 0700.

 Competitors bikes in the 2011 Korea Randonneur - SBS 1000km Brevet (Seoul-Busan-Seoul)

  Jan Boonstra (Holland) is the English-speaking event organizer in Korea. Makes a brief speech before start. Jan is also a pioneer of blogging about the Cycling in Korea phenomenon that many Expats now call home -while living, working and cycling overseas in a foreign country.

 My ride is a 2007 Cevelo TT bicycle, a rental/loaner compliments of my friend Karl Mancini (Canada)

The Randonneurs waste no time, energy in this event. Three stage event (3 days) to complete 1000km.

 Riders of all ages and ability levels enter the SBS1000. Most bicycles are made of Carbon, Aluminum, or steel (probably only one - Russ Morris's Sport Touring bicycle)

 Here we are at the first Brevet check-point. These "Controls" are used to keep riders on schedule en route.

 Employees of convenience stores across Korea cooperated in helping with this years 1000km event.

 Randonneur events are intensive cycling sessions, all day long, and through the nights on longer Brevets.

 It was cold out there. This years 1000km Brevet started October 1, 0700am. I borrowed this red fleece jacket from a friendly Korean university student I just met the night before the event. He has my drivers licence and I still have his wonderfully warm Descent Fleece Warm-up jacket 

.

We leave from metropolitan Seoul, South Korea from Akpujeong/ Hangang River area for Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The First day (stage 1) will wrap across some of the most spectacular autumn scenes in Korea

 Inspiration travels with me. I laminated photos of Matthew (Min Jae) and my daughter Sierra -along with me!

 I love cycling, I love my family, I love my wife (Mi Sung), and I love taking on new adventure challenges!

 Russ Morris was an incredible Randonneur. He helped guide me on my first ultrasport event and inspired me!

 Other riders came too. Some like this fella overcoming a bicycle-car accident four years ago. 

 While Cycling in Korea, watch out for obstacles on the road wherever you go!!!!

 Russ rides a Rivendell bicycle specifically designed for Randonneuring. He purchased from an Ebay auction.

 Excellent photos of this genre of sport bicycle in Google photos.

 Our second "control" where Jan Boonstra (Organizer of Korea Randonneurs) is checking Brevet cards.

 Bicycle touring in Korea. Making new friends and enjoying long-distances snaking through the countryside.

 Russ Morris is rolling like thunder in the SBS (Seoul-Busan-Seoul) 1000km Randonneur Brevet (Race)

 The Cervelo TT bicycle was perfect for this event. However, the Shimano 105 STi group lacked a triple chain ring in the front (hence, no climbing gear for the many mountains we crossed). It was difficult without!

 This rider was fast but failed to follow route maps essential to successful Randonneuring. The race is about navigation, endurance, perseverance, patience, and true grit bicycle adventure touring! Maps are essential. Russ Morris and I later met up with this rider, when a work truck passed us in the night and he was hanging out the window yelling something to us. Never saw him again (hopefully at the next event!) he was a great cyclist!

 Since the Cercelo came with TT aerobars, I used a large plastic bag to carry my extra Goretex jacket, coffee mix, and other pieces of equipment (charger unit for the Java lights) and a camp towel if I needed to wash. Notice the mounting positions of the bicycle computer and the rear mirror, both essential and the little red horn was a bonus, a throw away at my sponsor's shop - AN DAE GI @Kevin Bicycles, Ponam-dong, Gangneung 

 We crossed an interesting section of road construction areas through some mountains. I prefer this type of terrain for riding on expeditions too. More exciting than the continuous pavement throughout the day.

 I was hammering hard on the first stage of the SBS 1000km - Korea Randonneur event, October 1-3, 2011

 With the colder weather this fall, I wore Mavic booties to keep my feet warmer and dry. Essential kit!

 I wish all the roads in Korea could remain in this natural state of development. Most are entirely well paved.

 We ran through this section for about 10km and it was a highlight of the first stage for me, back on a bike!

Later in the day, I caught up with Russ Morris, Randonneur veteran. We made a good team for 2 stages. 

It's amazing to see all this rice drying along the sides of country roads in rural South Korea in October.

 Full grains of rice with their husks still attached. In Korea, we eat white rice without the husks.

 Rice husks and Cyclists seen here in Korea.

Wooden rake used in the sun drying rice husks in a rural area of South Korea.

South Korea has no extensive plains; its lowlands are the product of mountain erosion. Approximately 30 percent of the area of South Korea consists of lowlands, with the rest consisting of uplands and mountains. The great majority of the lowland area lies along the coasts, particularly the west coast, and along the major rivers. The most important lowlands are the Han River plain around Seoul, the Pyeongtaek coastal plain southwest of Seoul, the Geum River basin, the Nakdong River basin, and the Yeongsan and the Honam plains in the southwest. A narrow littoral plain extends along the east coast.

Cycling in Korea: YES!

Russ and his Rivendell sport touring bicycle used extensively in Randonneur cycling in Korea

 Crossing into new provinces in South Korea using the back road networks that are complex to follow on maps

 Rice in the autumn in Korea, here you can see the golden hues of the stalks and husks, soon to be harvested.

I enjoy endurance sport touring in Korea, which is where this blog originated to share the message with others

South Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass. The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with 238 kilometres (148 mi) of border running along the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone). South Korea is mostly surrounded by water and has 2,413 kilometres (1,499 mi) of coast line along three seas (West Sea of China, Pacific Ocean, East Sea/Sea of Japan).

Mountain ranges have traditionally served as natural boundary markers between regions.  Because these natural boundaries inhibited frequent interactions between people living on either side of the range, subtle, and sometimes substantial, regional differences developed in both the spoken language and customs of the people.  These regional distinctions also correspond to the traditional administrative units devised during the Choson Dynasty (1392-1910).

The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.  The contrast between winter and summer is striking.  Winter is bitterly cold and is influenced primarily by the Siberian air mass.  Summer is hot and humid due to the maritime pacific high.  The transitional seasons, spring and autumn are sunny and generally dry.  Temperatures of all season are somewhat lower than those at the corresponding latitudes in other continents, such as North America or Western Europe. 

 Bilingual road signs are helpful while bicycle touring in South Korea. But be forewarned, the numbers on different maps do not always conform. Russ explained that when mapping companies competed in Korea, they often changed the stakes posted to designate the road numbers, this happened many years ago. As a result, you can find versions of different road numbers in Korea, still being published by different companies today. It makes the life of a Randonneur trying to navigate through "control" check-points, a big hassle!!!

 Randonneurs rounding through urban areas to find the next check-point, known as "controls" in this sport.

Facts in brief about South Korea

Capital: Seoul.

Official language: Korean.

Official name: Taehan-min’guk (Republic of Korea).

Area: 38,432 mi2 (99,538 km2), including islands and excluding the 487-mi2 (1,262 km2) demilitarized zone. Greatest distances—north-south, 300 mi (480 km); east-west, 185 mi (298 km). Coastline—819 mi (1,318 km).

Elevation: Highest—Halla-san (Halla Mountain) 6,398 ft (1,950 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level.

Population: Current estimate—48,877,000; density, 1,272 per mi2 (491 per km2); distribution, 81 percent urban, 19 percent rural. 2000 census—46,136,101.

Chief products: Agriculture—apples, barley, cabbage, cattle, chickens, hogs, melons, onions, oranges, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sweet potatoes. Manufacturing—automobiles, chemicals, clothing and textiles, computer equipment, electric appliances, fertilizers, iron and steel, machinery, optical goods, paper, plywood, porcelain, processed foods, rubber tires, ships, telecommunications equipment, television sets. Mining—anthracite (hard coal), gold, graphite, iron ore, lead, limestone, tungsten, zinc. Fishing—filefish, oysters, pollock, squid, tuna.

Flag and coat of arms: South Korea's flag has a white background with a red-and-blue yin-yang symbol in the center. The ancient yin-yang symbol represents the balance in the universe between opposites—such as night and day, and life and death. There are four different I Ching symbols in each corner of the flag. In the coat of arms, yellow flowers encircle the yin-yang symbol.

Money: Basic unit—South Korean won.

Randonneuring is a self-sufficient (between controls) sport version of adventure bicycle touring.

The Korean peninsula has rugged, mountainous terrain, with barely one-fifth of its surface in lowlands or plains. Few of the mountains are high compared to those of some other Asian countries, but they are so extensive that there are few places in South Korea where mountains cannot be seen.

Southward, the mountains continue in the Nangnim range, and then along the east coast of South Korea as the Taebaek Mountains. Another chain, the Sobaek Mountains, stretches across the peninsula to the southwest. The southern mountains are lower than those of the north, reaching about 6,000 feet (1,830 m) at their highest.

Climate in South Korea: There are sharp contrasts between the seasons, with cold winters and warm, humid summers. The climate is strongly affected by seasonal monsoons. In winter, cold dry air flows out of Siberia, dropping average temperatures over most of the peninsula to between 20° and 30° F. (-7° and -1° C.). Only in the extreme south do average temperatures stay above freezing. In summer, warm and moist southerly winds bring frequent rains and temperatures ranging from 70° to 80° F. (21° to 27° C.).

 Navigation is essential on any Randonneur Brevet. Russ is reading maps while Cycling in Korea.

 Randonneuring is definitely an ultra-sport activity for adventure cyclists internationally -check it out yourself!

 Cycling through these large tunnels in Korea is a highlight of rural cycling in Korea. Well lit and relatively safe

Crossing into Gyeongsanbukdo Province from Seoul metropolitan (Akpujeong/Han River) in a single day!

 Russ Morris wears a traditional Randonneur uniform, made of Merino wool -it's comfortable and warm too!

 Randonneurs must wear reflective ankle bracelets, have operating red tail lights and headlights for night riding

 This is 19 hours into the ride and the monster climbing began to finish stage 1 (day 1) at 515am, 375km!

Everyone in the Korea Randonneur SBS1000 was supportive, patient and team-players. 

Local petrol station manager wanted to chat with us. He and many others provided free coffee en route.

My loaned Cervelo TT bicycle, used for the first Randonneur sport tour experience in South Korea

Russ Morris in the next set of photos, his bicycle is a traditional Rivendell design, perfect for sport touring.

Keeping warm in endurance ultrasport activities is essential to completing a single day. It's survival out there!

Bilingual road signs help the Expat cyclists navigate all across South Korea. The country has an extensive network of rural roads, most immaculately paved and ideal for bicycle touring of all types. 

Cervelo was an immaculate bicycle to ride, just needed a third chain ring for climbing mountains on this ride.

Korean farmers ride these utility tractors equipped with trailers in South Korea. 

Randonneur Race Korea, an introduction to ultrasport cycling. I met many amazing athletes that choose bicycles to test their limits...I haven't ridden a road race bicycle in 19 years, borrowed/rented a bicycle from my friend Karl Mancini, the 1000km race was staged in 3 days, I rode 375km in 22 consecutive hours in stage one, I slept 45 minutes in between, stage two I went on to ride 102km with one other member remaining (40 started the race, 2 were ultra-Randonneurs ahead of the teams, I started the race solo and didn't know anyone, i survived the first stage and teamed up with Russ, an American Randonneur/USFK, and a Korean race team. I ended earlier than anticipated with knees giving out on climbs, exhaustion, but felt the experience was something to build on (not to destroy myself without climbing gears, I rode a Triathlon bike on South Korea's toughest route (photos to come), so (day 1: 22 hours-375km, day 2: 8 hours-102km, day 3: rest and recovery). It was incredible, glad I gave it a shot. FACE YOUR FEARS, LIVE YOUR DREAMS 

PEACE ~ BRIAN