For the Love of the Bike

The Siberian cold is on it's way, I just know it. It's cold and rainy here today, high of 62. Time to dig into my archives from the past couple of weeks and write briefly on a random subject that I've been holding back on for days just like today. I have started my self-taught Korean lessons via a pirated version of the Rosetta Stone language computer program and later on today I plan on starting a book on the history of the Korean War, but until I'm a little further along with those two cultural endeavors and have some incredible facts to share, I thought I'd bring to light the Koreans love for the bike.

From what I can tell, Koreans are totally into biking, maybe even more than Austinites were during Lance's heyday. The difference I've noticed is that Koreans ride bikes of all kinds; from road bikes to mountain bikes to very funny small bikes that somehow fit a grown-up. I've only seen a few bikers braving the traffic and liberal drivers on the streets. I think most head down to the Han River to cruise along the bike-only paths.

As for cycling gear? C'mon! We all know the best part about getting into a sport is all the new clothes you get to buy for it! Koreans, as you would suspect, are completely decked out, as if they're all of expert level. I've noticed if they're on a mountain bike then they're donning very outdoorsy/hiking looking attire -- hiking pants, hiking shoes, vest, backpack, etc. If they're on a road bike then they have on typical cycling gear. The one thing they all have in common, but that I have never seen before, are full face masks (I'm assuming to protect against pollution). Sometimes these are in the form of bandanas covering the bottom half of the face and others are more reminiscent of Darth Vader (probably with some sort of air filtration system). There are lots of solo cyclists, but quite a few tend to ride in groups of five to six. A group of masked cyclists is quite a sight to behold.

(I'll try to capture more closeups of the masked bikers and just bikers in general, but that will require me to carry my camera while running. However, the pics below capture the wonderful biking area along the river.)

 On Hannam Bridge, on the south side of the river.

 Don't have a bike yet, so I stay to the right.

Bike rental. $3.00 a day.

Lots of people bike together in groups and rest in the shade of the bridges.

Rest stop under Hannam Bridge.

View from one bridge to another. You can bike over any bridge.

It's very peaceful (and when it's hot, cool) under the bridges and perfect for napping.

They're also very clean, free of homeless people, and often have on-sight lockers for your bike.

Some Seoul Cycle Style

In some brief research on the subject I came across an event that adequately describes Seoul's love for the bike: The Seoul Cycle Design Competition. This is from the webpage for design entries:

Once considered a 'hard' city, Seoul is making strides toward becoming a 'soft' city.
Seoul is about to be reborn as a soft city by embracing design concepts that will redefine its urban environment with an emphasis on themes centering on green, blue, history and human.

The Seoul Cycle Design Competition will be held under the theme, 'cycling with design: seoul style', and is part of Seoul's city-wide effort at improving its design brand and image. The primary goal of the competition is to help build a design oriented city that focuses on its people. The competition is divided into three categories: cycle design, cycle fashion & accessories design, and cycling infrastructure. All three categories emphasize environment-friendly ideas, with the hope that the contest will contribute to establishing a healthier cycling culture. Cycles have become an icon of 'eco-friendliness' and 'healthiness,' and are part of a major urban lifestyle trend. Nearly everyone can enjoy riding cycles; therefore, just about everyone will be able to enter the competition. Through this competition we hope that all citizens will have the chance to share their own personal visions for a new Seoul, a city that has embraced change through design. We invite everyone who is interested in cycling and design to take part in the Seoul Cycle Design Competition.

And some people enter things likes this:

Image from Designboom

In the designer, Eungi Kim's own words:

'Horsey' is an attachable bicycle ornament/accessory which makes one's bicycle look horsey!
The 'horsey' package includes wooden ornaments (horsey shape body), metal parts, and screws.
The manual is very simple so that anyone can easily arrange it according to one’s needs. Through this 'horsey' project. I wanted to give a special look to bicycles so that people would care about cycling not only as transportation but also as a lovely pet.

Image from Designboom