Introductions - Kimchee and Rice

Hello all. I am new to the forum, but have been lurking as a visitor for about 6 months now. I recently purchased my new ride, an Atlantis by Rivendell. I love the bike, and have been riding daily when I can, commuting, fun rides around town etc.. I am in Seoul, Korea. I work for the US military here, and there are lots of riders both American and Korean in the area. The Atlantis is all I wanted it to be, and will probably slowly evolve as my riding needs mature. I am an old school kind of guy, 50 years old, and have been riding on and off for most of my life. It seems that the Atlantis is the ride of choice for lots of senior riders, probably because of price, and also maybe due to the throw back attitude of Grant Peterson. What ever the reason, there are lots of really nice bikes out there in many different niches, and they are all great if they do what you want them to do. My Brooks B-17 is broken in, and my own seat should follow suit soon. Hope to see some of you on the road. Here there be hills a plenty, and everything in between, so... mount up and pedal!

Holy cow - you ride in Korea? I lived in Hae Bong Chun (just up the hill from Gate 3 of Mi Pal Gun, near Nam San Dae Ro. I taught English at DanKook University acroos from Han Nam Village. Too many 2 stroke scooters and insane drivers for me to want to ride over there. I mean I commuted through Chicago and I thought that Seoul was nuts. Beautiful country though for sure! Welcome aboard!

Well, good luck over there! I was stationed in Taegu(Camps Walker and Henry) and I never got my military driver license cuz of the traffic over there. Luckily, my NCOIC didn't force the issue. Never seen traffic like that anywhere else. BTW, you don't happen to carry 16 cases of beer on the back of your bike, do ya? Y'know, to fit in a little better;).

Heck with the bicycles! How's the kimchee? I read that there are over 100 varieties, and that Korea even set up an international kimchee institute, to study and define, the putrid(but tastey) beast. Do you have a favorite? The cycling world wants to know! OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but I'm interested.

Someday I too wll own an Atlantis. I envy you. When I see those carbon racing bikes with the bars six or more inches below the saddle, I just roll my eyes (blue smiley). I already bought a B17N and a Banana Bag for it.

Welcome to the forums pspurr! In '98 and 99, I was stationed at Kunsan. I put over 3,000 miles on my Raleigh 700 that I brought over with me. Those miles were some of the best I have ever ridden. I also brought my little red Ford Ranger with me. It was fun driving it around the S. Korean penninsula.

The food (for me) was a real treat! My favorite kimchee is cumcumber...nice and hot and spicy!

Sometime in the near future we hope to break into the DOD education system and maybe go back to S. Korea to teach the military kids. I would welcome that chance, and I think my better-half (who is also a teacher) will too.

In addition to 98-99, I was there in 1977 (Taegu) and 1983-84 (Suwon). There was a huge difference in Korea each time I went there. The last time showed their road infrastructure was sorely in need of increase, gridlock was very common in 1998-1999, but in 1977 it was almost non-existent.

The picture is me and the Raleigh somewhere in the S. Korean countryside on a nice sunny day. I'm wearing my 1997 RAGBRAI jersey :D