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[Skyrunner]

Woah, Meph actually did a cycling stint through Korea o.O

[Meph]

Woah, Meph actually did a cycling stint through Korea o.O

Why not, Korea is pretty awesome.

[Orange Wizard]

Oh hey, I remember this thread! I'm glad Meph didn't freeze, and the pictures look fantastic.

[Skyrunner]

Woah, Meph actually did a cycling stint through Korea o.O

Why not, Korea is pretty awesome.

I want to do a bike trip in Korea (I live there right now)... I just wonder how you did it

[Meph]

Woah, Meph actually did a cycling stint through Korea o.O

Why not, Korea is pretty awesome.

I want to do a bike trip in Korea (I live there right now)... I just wonder how you did it

Ask away, what do you want to know?

S-Korea had about the best cycle infrastructure that I've seen outside of the Netherlands/Danemark. It's pretty amazing and one of the easiest countries in the world to go bike touring.

[Skyrunner]

Did you sleep at motels or in a tent?
I also wonder if the route you took had a bike road--iirc that's a major highway, not a bike road.
Was the way there very hilly? Are cars a threat?

A big part oftof the reason I'm not raring to go is that I don't know my endurance. the longest I've ridden was 4 hours and 60km. I was incredibly exhausted after that but the next day totally fine, no cramps or stuff. X.x

[Tiruin]

I'm wondering why this is in Life Advice. o_o
Either way: Wow at the whole thing. You go, Meph!
You remind me of my dad ._. with all that endurance and willpower and love for adventure.
_{He's 65. And does marathons. And camping in the high(er) mountains than where we live on.}

I love that you decide to bring a magnetic chessboard along.

[Meph]

Did you sleep at motels or in a tent?
I also wonder if the route you took had a bike road--iirc that's a major highway, not a bike road.
Was the way there very hilly? Are cars a threat?

A big part oftof the reason I'm not raring to go is that I don't know my endurance. the longest I've ridden was 4 hours and 60km. I was incredibly exhausted after that but the next day totally fine, no cramps or stuff. X.x

I slept in a hostel in Seoul 5 nights, camped 2 nights on the way to Busan, was invited into a random Koreans home 1 night on the way to Busan, and stayed with a Redditor in Busan 3 nights. On Jeju I camped. Motels... no one uses those on bike trips

You live in Korea and never heard about the 4 river biketrail? It's pretty famous, a complete cross country bike route, 100% bike trail, connecting Incheon (and Seoul) to Busan.  Next to no hills, the trail follows rivers. Even though, Korea has only small hills, the highest summit (Mt Halla, which I climbed) is below 2000m.

Cars are no threat, if you cycle on the bike trail or road... Korean roads have shoulders, so no worries. I even cycled a bit on the highway and through tunnels (my own choice) and there is no problem with that. Illegal yes, but the people are too polite to honk at you

I do ~200km a day on average, took me 3 days for the bike trail. With your 60km it's more like a 10 day tour, which gives you a lot more time for other things. Best to bring something that keeps you busy, like some good books. You speak Korean?

I'm wondering why this is in Life Advice. o_o
Either way: Wow at the whole thing. You go, Meph!
You remind me of my dad ._. with all that endurance and willpower and love for adventure.
_{He's 65. And does marathons. And camping in the high(er) mountains than where we live on.}

I love that you decide to bring a magnetic chessboard along.

It's in advice, because I asked for advice before heading there. And chess is important.

[Skyrunner]

I don't know what a hostel is. :|

The map on your site seemed to imply that you rid up the west coast of Seoul, not from Busan to Incheon. I do know that the trail there is really good and very long, but I probably can't manage the whole thing...

I'm a native Korean so yes I do know Korean

[Meph]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostel, in Korea they are often called guesthouse too. Check hostelworld.com or hostelbookers.com to find them.

Info on the bike trail: http://www.riverguide.go.kr/index.do

The map on my website is very far zoomed out.

The length of a tour is secondary, it doesnt matter if its 100km or 10000km, because you still do it step by step. If you can ride 10km, you can ride 100km in 10 days, or 10000km in 1000days. No problem there. So if you want to ride to Busan, lack of fitness is no concern, it just takes longer.

And since you are Korean, it should be even easier, because it's your home country. I did fine and I cant even communicate verbally with people.

[Skyrunner]

Well, I don't have a thousand days soo

edit: If i want to go on a bike trip, I think now's the chance... but I am very lacking in motivation, hehe.

[Tiruin]

edit: If i want to go on a bike trip, I think now's the chance... but I am very lacking in motivation, hehe.

Bring a chessboard.
Or, rather, think of all the new and exciting things out there! Especially with the travel down or uphill, and the many things you get to see that you wouldn't if you didn't actually go!

I really wonder what influences the path or choice of country there. That's all amazing.

And since you are Korean, it should be even easier, because it's your home country. I did fine and I cant even communicate verbally with people.

English isn't that widely spoken in S.Korea? Or...I think I misunderstood something.

[Meph]

No, English is not spoken, lol. Japan, Korea and China have barely any English speakers... in Japan it should be less than 1 in 10 (not true, far less), in China it's 1 per 640 people (still NOT TRUE, its super hard to find anyone speaking English there)

Path, choice/country... was that directed at me or skyrunner?