Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Varlam]

I'm leaving for Korea next week and it will be my first time there. I would like to take my bike with me, but shipping it over and back would be ridiculously expensive. So I might as well buy a new bike. Specifically, an entry-level (or maybe a little bit better if it's the right price) road bike by a good bike manufacturer e.g. Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Felt, Specialized. Can anyone tell me about the availability of this kind of bicycle in Korea? I've done quite a few searches on this forum and elsewhere and haven't been able to find any info so far.

[misslongstocking]

I am also trying to decide whether to take my bike or buy one over there, so I'm interested in any replies you'll get. I'm also wondering if it might be worth it to bring certain parts (frame, specifically) and get other parts there. Living in California, bike shops and coops are a big part of the culture but somehow I doubt it's the same in Korea.

[patrickk]

if you have a quality bike bring it with you. high end bikes and components are very expensive here. expect to pay double for what you could get in the states. i put a boxed bike on the plane and it was free for international flights but that was awhile ago.
you can get some ok deals on low end trek, specialized, khs, etc. but the frames are heavy and the components are crap in my opinion.

these sites can give you an idea of some of whats available.
hy-mtb.co.kr
athatb.com

also check out facebook, cycling in korea for a list of shops mainly in seoul.

[withgusto]

Couldn't I just get a decent deal on someone departing the country?

[Bailsibub]

Mountain bikes are more popular here, so they are more common (and less expensive) than road bikes. If you want a road bike, I'd recommend buying it back home and bringing it with you on the plane. It's worth the 'extra luggage' charge. And just tell the airline you have some presentation equipment in your bag when you're paying. For some reason, they try to really stick it to you when you say there's a bike in the box.

[arpeggi]

i'm interested in buying a mountain bike here as well. as a total newbie (just really interesting in biking on bike paths along the river), can someone recommend a good brand (korean/non-korean) for around 600-700,000 won?

[nosmallplans]

BRING A BIKE WITH YOU. The extra cost of bringing it on the plane is MUCH cheaper than shipping. Let's be honest. Your bike is more important than that second bag of clothing.

Seoul Cycling: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=383197315464
Cycling in Korea: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11799660100

We at Seoul Cycling host weekly Wednesday night fitness rides and bi-monthly (I'd like to bump it up to weekly) weekend rides. We're mostly road bikes but we have no-lycra rides as well.

The Cycling in Korea fella's don't have any rides but are a pretty good resource for information.

If you're into mountain biking you need to google search Mountain Bike Korea (MTBK) or the Filthy Free Riders (these are both Seoul-area groups). MTBK has a weekly Saturday morning XC ride while the Filthys do a weekly DH ride.

BRING YOUR BIKE.

DON'T BUY STUFF HERE.

Seoul Cycling has also got a sponsorship deal with a small shop east of Seoul. We get 20% off which is still 70% more expensive than you should be paying. Buy it and bring it.

Don't expect to be able to buy a bike off another foreigner. First of all, there aren't a lot of two-wheelers in this country. Those of us who are here are pretty serious about what we do and don't buy crap bikes. Thirdly, chances are the bike won't fit.

Oh yeah, bring a bike. There are no bikes in Korea that are cheaper than the bikes in America (nothing worth riding anyway). Specialized Allez in America? ~$750. Specialized Allez in Korea? ~W1,500,000. Cannondale Rze in America? ~$1500. C'dale Rze in Korea? ~W3,000,000.

Actually.

Bring two bikes and leave all the luggage at home. Flip one of the bikes and you'll be able to buy a ton of nice clothing to replace what you left. I brought a C'dale Capo in BBQ black with me to Korea. I paid $440 for it (shop discount), put another $200 in it and flipped it in Korea, two months after arrival, for W1,800,000.

Bring a bike.

[nosmallplans]

[yeti08]

Yes, all you said is so true and makes me a little upset I didn't bring mine with me. Although a friend is coming in May, I may have him bring my Specialized with him.

[byrddogs]

Does anyone have an idea what it does cost to check 2 bikes as luggage (as additional, other than what you are allotted as normal checked limits)? I bought both of mine here and really have no intentions on losing the farm by trying to sell them when I leave.

[supernick]

[byrddogs]

[darkjedidave]

Does anyone know if mountain bikes are really cheap in Taiwan? I know high end Giants and some other brands are made there, just wondering if you can you buy them for cheap?

[The Gipkik]

Don't bother bringing a high end bike or buying a high end bike if you're going to live in Korea. Such a waste of money--unless you're living in a rural area of course. Just buy a used bike from Craigs List or a classified webpage. Nice and light and good for a year or two. I bought mine used from a teacher leaving, a very light Sting mountain bike for 130,000 and it's perfect for booting it all over town, and for longer bike rides on the weekend by the river. The pluses are many: I don't have to worry about it getting swiped, or if it falls down. Maintenance is cheap and I can really pump it and wind my way through crowds of disconsolate people.

[Kurtz]