Seoul to Chungju by Bike: 165 km on Korea's Cross-Country Bike Path (A Big Rider's Story)
Some rides are about speed. This one was about one simple idea — the title I gave it on Strava: "Just keep turning the pedals, and eventually you'll get there." On a Saturday in late May, I left my neighborhood of Mangwon-dong in Seoul at 7 a.m. and rode 165 km southeast to the city of Chungju — almost entirely on dedicated bike paths. I'm 187 cm (6'2") and 115 kg (254 lb), which makes me a proud "Clydesdale" in cycling terms. If a guy my size can do this ride in a day, you can too. Here's how the day went, what the route is like, and what I'd tell anyone thinking about riding it. Caption: My route from Mangwon-dong, Seoul to Chungju, with the elevation profile below. The Ride at a Glance Start Mangwon-dong, Seoul (Han River) Finish Chungju Bus Terminal, Chungju Distance 165 km (102.5 mi) Moving time 6 h 48 min Total time (with breaks) 9 h 27 min Elevation gain 885 m Average speed 24.3 km/h Bike paths More than 90% of the route Weather a...