Why do you need a gravel bike in Seoul?
It may sound strange to suggest riding a gravel bike in a city as densely populated as Seoul but technology has advanced to a point that makes them a no brainer for anyone but the most ardent racer. The city and surrounding area is full of steep hills, bumpy roads and ample opportunities for exploration. You won’t regret riding a gravel bike in Seoul.
Never Ending Hills
Korea is 70% covered in mountains and Seoul is no exception. The great riding this creates is one of the reasons I fell in love with riding here! However, it required a big change in gearing mindset as I had come from the midwest where the largest local climb was 1km at a 5% gradient. After moving here, I quickly adopted a compact crankset with a 28 rear cog but the smaller gears on a gravel bike are even better.
Gravel bike gearing makes it possible to ride at whatever pace I choose in the hilly terrain here. I’ve been racing for 20 years and can't believe I used to climb mountains in a 39x23! It is so much more comfortable to ride with a wide range of gearing and I never feel undergeared on the flats or descents.
Bumpy Roads
Most places with cold weather have bumpy roads and Seoul is no exception. With a normal road bike you need to pay careful attention to your lines on the bike path and roads to avoid cracks. However, one of the things I’m enjoying most about riding a gravel bike around town is that the tires allow you to smoothly and safely blast over bumps and cracks. This not only improves safety but boosts confidence and allows you to focus on enjoying the ride.
Occasional single track trails for the adventurous
I’m an adventurous rider always on the lookout for a new road or trail. The ability to explore new places is one of the main things I find exciting about cycling. I always found it frustrating to be out on my road bike and see a dirt road or trail off to the side of the road and not be able to follow it due to the limitations of the bike. The new gravel bikes don’t have this problem and have allowed me to find a lot of great single tracks and forest roads in and around Seoul.
Seoul and especially the surrounding suburbs are full of nice trails and fire roads to explore. Having a gravel bike here allows you to easily spice up the normal road rides and which helps kee
Style is King - Stand out from the crowd with a unique ride. Talk here about my beautiful 3T Exploro Racemax.
After a few weeks of riding in Seoul it's easy to see that riders here take their rides and cycling kits very seriously here. Rapha kits and racy road bikes with carbon rims abound but it’s always nice to stand out from the crowd a bit.
That’s where my 3T Exploro Racemax comes in. With a killer paint job, all of the aero stylings of a carbon aero road bike but the large tires of a gravel bike the bike stands out not just for its performance but great looks. It’s only been a month on the bike but I’m already getting a lot of nice feedback on the bike from local riders. Gravel in Korea is just starting to take off and it's always fun to be a trendsetter.
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