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Tribal
Joined: 27 Dec 2008
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 Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject: Mountain Biking |
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So from doing a little searching, it seems as though the ROK has some good mountain biking. If you have a personal favorite, please share.
Also, I'm debating whether to bring my bike over, or buy there and forgo the pain of lugging it over. How are the bikes there? Same models as here? Price? Cheers... |
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Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:25 am Post subject: |
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Here is a ling to the main English speaking MTB groups. There are several associated with this link. Snoop around. The main Seoul group meets every Saturday at various places and is VERY well coordinated and includes beers, Western snacks and dry humor. Most riders are cross country rides with an occasional day at Jisan, a downhill resort.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/mtbk/
Riding IS very good but nothing like I ever experienced in the US. It takes MANY times to learn the trails since they are pieced together section of singltrack 1-5 km long with some interesting trailheads to say the least.
If you are over 5'11", bring a bike. If you like to ride a more upper end steed, bring a bike. In both cases you will be reamed so severely you'll swear you'd had a boyfriend named Thick-Mick while doing time in San Quentin. Nice MTBs are a way to show status here and they are proud to get ripped off at the shop. Also, there is no such thing as test riding. No rolling until the green is on the other side of the counter. If you like nice bikes, bring one with you.
If you do buy here there are some familiar brands like Trek, Cannondale, Specialized and Giant. For the most part there is a premium on these brands due to import tariffs and prestige. I don�t have prices but I understand they are "more". Merida and titania are local companies but made in Taiwan like most others.
Good luck and I hope we see you soon |
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nosmallplans
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: noksapyeong
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| Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| FS is also recommended. HT is possible but its rough on the body with all the steps (natural & unnatural), rocks and roots. Going downhill tends to be really rough as the Koreans like to 'build' trails going straight up avoiding having to build switchbacks so a FS is needed for a smoother descent. That does mean the uphill will be significantly shittier - but most of us MTBK guys seem to hike-a-bike anyway. |
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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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Jeff's Cigarettes
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I wonder why that's so. All that extra cash going into the proprietors pockets or is there an import tax?
Anyways, there are some pretty nice trails here around Everland. |
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JungMin
Joined: 18 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't been out towards Everland, but I have heard many people say there are nice trails out that way. I have pieced together a nice 1.5~2 hour loop here in Suji. Big workout with lots of steep uphills, but tons of rolling singletrack and steep downhills. 100% ridable. None of this hike-a-bike crap. We'll, if your fat and out of shape like me, then ya....gotta hike it.  |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Those prices aren't "too" bad if you swap back into USD. The Scotts look good. That Litespeed is overpriced, and on sale at that, but the rest seem decent for a country with a rather limited selection.
There's a Moots (I think a YBB) with XTR for 6.5 mil. That'd be about $4800 and about the same as it'd be in the States. Beautiful. I'd ride it.  |
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esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| runthegauntlet wrote: |
Those prices aren't "too" bad if you swap back into USD. The Scotts look good. That Litespeed is overpriced, and on sale at that, but the rest seem decent for a country with a rather limited selection.
There's a Moots (I think a YBB) with XTR for 6.5 mil. That'd be about $4800 and about the same as it'd be in the States. Beautiful. I'd ride it. |
Yeah, I hadn't looked at the site in some time (especially since the won tanked). I looked through it after my post. I agree, that there are some decent deals on there considering. I bought a Scott Scale 30 from them a couple a years ago, and was able to negotiate a little in-store. |
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Tribal
Joined: 27 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject: Thanks! |
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| Crockpot2001 wrote: |
Here is a ling to the main English speaking MTB groups. There are several associated with this link. Snoop around. The main Seoul group meets every Saturday at various places and is VERY well coordinated and includes beers, Western snacks and dry humor. Most riders are cross country rides with an occasional day at Jisan, a downhill resort.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/mtbk/
Riding IS very good but nothing like I ever experienced in the US. It takes MANY times to learn the trails since they are pieced together section of singltrack 1-5 km long with some interesting trailheads to say the least.
If you are over 5'11", bring a bike. If you like to ride a more upper end steed, bring a bike. In both cases you will be reamed so severely you'll swear you'd had a boyfriend named Thick-Mick while doing time in San Quentin. Nice MTBs are a way to show status here and they are proud to get ripped off at the shop. Also, there is no such thing as test riding. No rolling until the green is on the other side of the counter. If you like nice bikes, bring one with you.
If you do buy here there are some familiar brands like Trek, Cannondale, Specialized and Giant. For the most part there is a premium on these brands due to import tariffs and prestige. I don�t have prices but I understand they are "more". Merida and titania are local companies but made in Taiwan like most others.
Good luck and I hope we see you soon |
Sounds like I'll bring my bike over. I've got a nice Gary Fischer and the bikes do seem pricey. I'll definitely be joining you guys before long! |
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Tribal
Joined: 27 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject: Adventure Racing |
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| So while we're on the subject, are there any adventure races held in Korea? That would be sweet. |
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Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Adventure Racing |
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| Tribal wrote: |
| So while we're on the subject, are there any adventure races held in Korea? That would be sweet. |
Wouldn't that imply maps and water would be involved? That would make it less likely.
I will add on a serious note that I heard first hand that we may see less and less MTB races due to the lack of interest by insurance companies. I am not sure I blame them. I was at E-mart the other day and watched a looped video of a downhill race at Jisan. I have never seen such a flale (and fail) fest as riding simply hurdled themselves off jumps. There seemed to be zero skills diplayed by all but a handful of riders. |
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nosmallplans
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: noksapyeong
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| Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Jeff's Cigarettes wrote: |
Yeah, I wonder why that's so. All that extra cash going into the proprietors pockets or is there an import tax?
Anyways, there are some pretty nice trails here around Everland. |
party it's the exchange rate - mostly, it's the number of middlemen.
the at cost price for cycling products here in korea are often higher than the consumer prices in the states. that means by the time it gets to you, the price has gone up 400%.
now, this isn't always the case. there are certain products that have similar or reduced prices (shimano is often about the same, sram is sort of devalued here and can be had for less, campy is well... campy). i think the best example of this is the bicycle maker scott - the average frame is nearly $500 cheaper than it's american counterpart! I paid W1,750,000 for a '09 scott scale 40 when the exchange rate was about 1500:1 where as if i had bought it in the states i would've paid $2200 (+tax). |
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