Taking the Road Not Taken

Novelist Kim Hoon has finally completed his essay “Bicycle Journey” after his long bicycle voyage that started in 1999, over hills and valleys throughout the nation on his bicycle, the “poong ryun (wind god).” In this book, he explains the bicycle journey as a “blessing through which all roads flow into the body, as if rowing the wheels with our bodies along each path, even the ones not taken.”

Winter has arrived once again. But this time, instead of keeping yourself warm at home, why not try pedaling some bicycle wheels? Here is one way that will take us to even roads untaken: the Mountain Bike.

MTB is another name for Mountain Bikes, which are bicycles made strong enough to run non-surfaced roads and rough mountains surfaces. The idea of mountain bikes sparked from G. Fisher, an American road cyclist, who attached motorcycle wheels and automobile cushions onto his bicycle in 1970. It was then introduced to Korea in the early 1980s. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, mountain bike racing was accepted as an official sporting event.

Mountain Bikes are often also called “motocross (motorcycle) bikes” because of their smaller but thicker wheels compared to the average bicycle, which facilitates it to climb rugged mountains. The wheels are usually 20-25 inches in diameter and 1.5-2.5 times thicker, equipped with gears equivalent to 12-21. Other distinctive features of the mountain bike are its shock absorbers (more commonly known as “shober” in Korea, a combination of sho- in “shock” and –ber in “absorber”), and specially designed cushions and brakes.

The MTB World Cup, along with other open races, are frequently held in European countries, the U.S., and Japan, where professional mountain biking races takes an active role. In Korea, various national contests are hosted by the Korea Cycle Federation and the National MTB Organization.

Events in the contest are: 20-100km Cross Country, which challenges riders along stony mountainous paths, Hill Climbing, Downhill, Dual Slalom (which comes from the skiing event), and the Trial, also a ski terminology because of its jumps.

The quickest way for a beginner to learn the MTB is to get involved in mountain bike clubs, where they can correctly learn the basics. Riding together with other members will soon get you off your feet and ready to show off your skills. In Korea, there are currently over 600 MTB clubs, each based on local bike stores, with over 200,000 members participating.

jaeyuna@donga.com