Choosing a Bicycle for Long-distance touring // Pavement and the long-haul tours // Cycling in South Korea

• Bicycle touring 101: Choosing a Bicycle for recreational touring on pavement. 
• 

  9:53am
  

  Pamila Jo Florea
  

  
  

  Hi Brian!
  Here's my note. I figure I should give you my long range plan. I'd like to get a bike that can take me from Seoul to Busan this summer - I don't want to ride HARD, I just want to enjoy the weather, enjoy the trip. The pleasure is more important than the fancy ride. I have several injuries, though. I can't be on a bike that requires me to lean in on my hands - I have a wrist and a shoulder injury. On the bike you sold me, I'm able to lean down on my arms some, so I think that is an option. I am still fairly weak with upper body strength (mostly due to the shoulder injury I think), so I like that the frame is lighter weight.
  

  Would it be feasible / better / recommendable to just get stronger / better / more rugged tires for this bike and a new handlebar or is a new bike in order? This is my question... (and by the way - you are working with mountain bikes? Woo hoo! Sounds like you did ask the universe for what you wanted and perhaps got it?)

  Thanks for your help.
  pamila
• 

  10:10am
  

  Brian Perić
  

  
  

  Hi Pam,
  

  I am checking morning mail. I think the cruiser was ideal for most of your urban cycling activities, commuting, shopping, and that frame was aluminum and overall, that bike is quality.

  For touring across Korea, you probably want to purchase a 10,000 won tent on Gmarket.co.kr and one of the light blue sleeping bags 10-12,000 won at Home Plus (Tesco brand, synthetic, basic but warm enough for summer), and a foam mattress used for camping. The tent, sleeping bag and mat allow you to camp about anywhere. The tent can resist rain and wind, it is not waterproof in a downpour, however, you could camp on those Won-du-maks where Koreans picnic, or go to a Motel, Minbak, Jimjilbang sauna in a bigger city too. I mention camping supplies because it helps you go further without concern of stopping early for accommodation - no worries.

  For bicycles that enable you, with these injuries, enjoy cycling long-distances without pain? The cruiser you have is upright, the riser handlebars and big seat, basically you are upright - that is the best configuration. Except, the bike is heavy, heavier than road bikes, but similar to mountain bikes. Mountain bikes have no advantages for you, they require forward positioning, you use your arm strength a lot more, so that's a No - in your situation.

  Better would be a higher quality road bike or Hybrid bicycle. You can take drop handlebars and turn them over, and reverse the brake levers, then you would be upright, the saddle (seat) can be changed as well. Many prefer a Brooks B17 leather touring saddle, or a Selle SMP like what I am using on expeditions. I can spend 8-10 hours in the saddle and still be comfortable, so the Selle SMP is a good choice, available in MTB (mountain bike) shops around Seoul, try Biclo.co.kr for example.

  Here is my old riding friend Murray's Road bike with the handlebars turned up, that is what you need. It's lightweight, skinny tires (there are good ones available on the market), and he has installed a rear rack carrier for these panniers.
  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=187469470461&set=a.187460420461.256283.591590461&type=3&theater

  Specialized makes good bicycles,http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/globe/work
  http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/multi-use

  Hope this helps, let me know.

  
  

  Chunju to Jecheon - 80Km - Two Wheels - South Korea

  Murray's Blackcat, now dubbed CELLO. Was under 400,000Won, now selling on Gmarket as CELLO for 960K.
  

  Cycling with Murray
  

  By: Brian Perić

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Multi-day Canadian Mountain Bike Adventure :: Matt Hunter - The Lone Wolfe.

[Repost: Adventure MTB Rides] - Keep Matt Hunter company on a solo

(except for the grizzly bears) two day ride-adventure through the Canadian wilderness.

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You might also enjoy reading the HimalayasX Journals (Coming soon!!!)

Choosing a touring bicycle for expeditions or multi-day adventures

Riding through torrential rains without the gear, good motivation to get home!

Todd Redding get on the bike to Daebudo Island, Bike: Specialized Stumpjumper

My revolutions for future charity work, start here & won't be stopped till the work is complete!

Choosing which touring bicycle will be right for you will be a decision that takes in account your regional location, riding styles, distances/duration of the expedition or lighter tour, road conditions, and based on the quality and/or design of the build, which bike is the most reliable in contexts where replacements parts or even post offices are virtually non-existent. Other factors to consider are the terrain you will be variably traveling on: will you be touring exclusively on rocky trails, in 24 hour mountain bike racing or elite touring events such as the multi-day, 2745mi/4418km race known as The Tour Divide?

Other cyclist prefer the Slow Bicycle Movement, taking in all the sights, sounds, and spectacular scenery enroute, without concern for getting somewhere in a hurray.

If you want more information about the entire touring equipment that will support your dream journey, consider some advice from Tim & Cindi Travis, who have been continuously touring since 2002. They offer some reliable and proven information on touring equipment they tested personally, and links to purchase the equipment is listed directly on their website (as a means to generate commissions from their sponsors. What is unique about this traveling couple, is the fact that they only endorse the companies that offer the most reliable cycling kit available to them, tested and tried, many other companies products are not recommended by them.

Generally, another main group of touring cyclist aim for target distances and ride 100km days on a 1-4 years on their individually designed Cycling World Tours. Take a look at the current adventures of Nicholi Bangsgaard or another World Cycle Traveller, turned motivational speaker and adventurer Alastair Humphreys for their takes on Adventure Cycling. Another new adventure rider is coming out of English next spring set to complete a Global "Zero-Emissions" Cycling Adventure, so I am pleased to share Kevin Shannon's Expedition...Because it is there, Zero Emissions Odyssey 2011.