Korean Job Discussion Forums

thomas pars · Joined: 29 Jan 2009

I don't want a mt. bike or a folding bike. I want a road bike. Preferably a used one, and old. like a puegeot fromt he 70's. does this exist in korea? Wanting to do some mods to an old fixer upper. anyone else out there into fixing up old road bikes?

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

cycling as a hobby didn't hit korea until the 88 olympics. as such the oldest bikes you're likely to find are beat up old corex's and lespo's. lots of hi-ten steel and stamped parts. if that's what you want... well hang out near the train station with some bolt cutters and i'm sure you'll eventually find something.

i still haven't heard any conclusive evidence of a used bike shop anywhere 'round seoul, 'specially not one that would sell crappy old bikes (this is different from nice but not well taken care of old bikes - ie old peugeots or miyatas).

Guerciotti · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject:

Kurtz · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Location: ples bilong me

Ride steel keep it real? you'd be VERY hard pressed to find a vintage machine over here. Koreans love all things new, so you can get high end modern road bikes, but they wouldn't go for the old classic bikes. All my K riding buddies ride carbon Pinarellos and Colnagos, and I've never seen an old foreign bike ever.

FixedGearJerk · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

you got this thread going in two spots. there were a few responses here in case you missed them.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=154535

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

careful with the road, bikes. Their wheels are narrow enough to go through some of those sewer gutters.

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

old fixer upper and single speed conversion are two different things.

the other thread more or less sums it up i guess. you won't find those frames in korea. they don't exist. you can have one built custom but short of that there are basically no classic steel road frames in korea.

Ultimo Hombre · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: BEER STORE

Anybody know where to get a decent BMX bike?

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Ultimo Hombre · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: BEER STORE

Thanks for the link man. But yes, those prices are too steep for me as well. Headed to the base I suppose. Or some GMarket action.

thomas pars · Joined: 29 Jan 2009

I've run across an old corex and and old Lespo. I would guess that they are at least 20 years old. In pretty good shape as well. I am going to strip the bike down. Convert it to a fixed gear system, but leave on the front wheel brake. Throw on a bullhorn handle set.

Looking for a place where i can get some supplies. white wall tires, surly fixed gear. etc. looking to turn this into a rat rod style fixie. flat black paint, white wall tires. keep you posted on the results.

in the mean time enjoy this vid bike lusters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CsAtDuUFmk&feature=related

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

Yeah, I have to agree, the worst thing that you can do is try and compare bikes and parts in Korea to America. I bit the bullit and sunk a ton in my new bike (albeit an mtb). It pains me to know how much less I would have paid for the same bike with the specs I built this one to back home. Ouchy!

mysterious700 · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

I bought a decent mountain bike known as Lafema (I think). It may be korean with foriegn parts (shimano, etc). It has served me well. Is light weight and is great for going distances. Korean bike shops would have the brand. Maybe 400,000 won. A whole lot cheaper than going to the Trek store and buying a bike there.