Global locale: The core of South Korea
The Watts Cycling KCR 530 is a unique event created to push the limits and expectations of local riders.
THE RDV : BUSAN
The country's second biggest city in the deep south of South Korea, home to the 'Busan Cydrome', a velodrome that hosts racing every weekend.
For the riders signed up to the charity ride, the objective was to get off-track away from the sprawling metropolis and into the quiet of the countryside.
Six in the morning and 265kms on the menu, means each day started and ended in darkness. Sometimes the best weekends away are when you literally fill your days with cycling.
THE PELOTON : WIDE EYES & NO EXPECTATIONS
A mötely crue included team Café du Cycliste, decked out in Daphne and Adèle and made visible in the dark hours with Jacqueline Audax gilets.
Some are more experienced than others, like Hakju Lee who started cycling three years ago, just so he could ride beside his son as he turned his first revolutions on the pedals.
For many it was a first foray into long distance cycling and what was evident was the inter-dependancy on each other to make it through 17 hours in the saddle each day.
THE PARCOURS : KOREA'S CORE
Joining the two biggest cities in the country by riding through the nation's heartlands.
Good news: this is a nation now traversed by specifically built bike paths. In the modern age when long distance cycling has suffered some high profile fatalities, we'll take the extra safety of designated byways. Bad news: it's still 530kms.
But they say you should follow water for the path of least resistance. The network of bike paths in South Korea follows its four main rivers - Han River, Nakdong River, Geum River and Yeongsan River.
That is not to say this is a flat ride. With 3,698m of climbing along the way riders had to find their own flow to ensure they made it to Seoul.
THE PRIZES: BEER & GLORY
What to do after your longest ever ride across your mother land? Beer, of course.
Longer lasting, however, is the intimate knowledge of the country's contours and curves having rolled wheels over almost all of it. And to do that with new friends made via cycling should make a permanent entry in the cycling memoirs of all those who rode.
LA PROCHAINE :The next Watt's KCR 530 will be held in October 2018.And starting this March Watts Cycling will be running weekly rides for local and visiting cyclists from their shop in Seoul. Details can be found on their Facebook page.RIDERS' NOTES:
Strava File - here
More info on Watts Cycling - here