WORDS: ALBERTO VICIANA

After Badlands 2024, I struggled a lot mentally. For a long time, I didn’t even want to look at my bike. The motivation was gone, and the joy of riding had faded.

I knew I needed something meaningful to reconnect with cycling, not another race or challenge, but a project that would remind me why I love riding in the first place.

That’s when this idea started to take shape.

I have always wanted to go back to South Korea. I visited a few years ago for my honeymoon, and I was amazed by the country. The culture, the people, the food, and the energy of the cities left a deep impression on me. Ever since then, the idea of returning never left my mind.

This time, however, I wanted to experience South Korea in a different way. I wanted to go back with my bike, to explore the country at a slower pace, to dive into the cycling culture, and to truly be part of the local cycling community for a few weeks.

While researching cycling in South Korea, I discovered something really fun: the Korean cycling passport. It’s a system where you collect stamps along different cycling routes across the country. You complete a route, get your passport stamped, and once you finish the entire route, you earn a medal.

There are multiple routes to choose from, and of course, I decided to do the longest route possible. Crossing the country from Incheon to Busan, around 650km in one go. A true cross-country journey, following rivers, bike paths, small towns, and endless landscapes.

A simple idea: a lot of miles, a lot of time alone, and space for thoughts to flow freely. Miles to reconnect with myself, with my bike, and to fall in love with cycling all over again.

It felt good to be back in Seoul! I immediately experienced how amazing it is to explore the city by bike, and getting to know the cycling community was just incredible. People are very kind and friendly. They look after you and are very curious about why you are exploring their country.

I made a lot of new friends, and I am very happy that I discovered a different side of South Korea by bike. I will definitely be back to complete my cycling passport and create new memories. Many more miles, and maybe fewer thoughts, but with my new, South Korean, community by my side.