Originally Posted by
Ron Damon
Gearing
In Taiwan I had a SRAM Dual Drive with a 11-36t cogset and 47t chainring. Very wide gearing. In the ROK (Republic of Korea) I had just a 11-36t cogset with the same 47t chainring. I shifted into the 36t cog only sporadically but I was carrying less weight. BTW, I am still using that same Litepro crank set with the 47t chainring six years later. Taiwan is more mountainous and steep than the ROK so wider gearing is needed there..
Tools
I only carried a multi tool thing, zip ties and tape. Very little in the way of tools.
Breakdowns
None. No flats either. On tour I swear by Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42-406 (discontinued but I've got three pairs in reserve). Though I got an annoying creaky saddle midway through the ROK. Both the Dahon Dash and FSIR Spin 5 acquitted themselves very well. If touring is the litmus test of durability and dependability, they passed with flying colors. The FSIR still rides today like it's new.
Puzzled by how little it took for the gears for S Korea, I checked the 4 Rivers trail and it indeed seems mostly flat, but there is one peak in the middle. My biking experience with S Korea was very brief, just around Busan, but, in spite of somewhat built up gears by then, I had to resort to walking at places to reach elevated neighborhoods.
No breakdowns is pretty amazing. You must maintain your bikes well, but very limited luggage, not straining the bikes, presumably helped somewhat too. We are leaving onto some short tour tomorrow morning and there is presumably a lesson there we should use.