Mike Kwak

Cherry Blossoms by Bike — The Best Spots Near Camp Humphreys

Cherry Blossoms by Bike — The Best Spots Near Camp Humphreys

Spring in Korea hits fast. One week the trees are bare, and the next, everything is pink and white and suddenly everyone is outside. If you've got a bike — or you've been thinking about getting one — this is the week to use it. Here are the

Should You Get a Bike? (And Which One)

Should You Get a Bike? (And Which One)

Every week, someone walks into Platoon Cycles and says some version of the same thing: "I don't really know anything about bikes. I just… kind of want one." That's a perfect place to start. You don't need to know the difference between

What I Wish I Knew Before My First Cross- [Country Cross-Country Series #7 Final]

What I Wish I Knew Before My First Cross- [Country Cross-Country Series #7 Final]

This is the last post in the series. Parts 1 through 6 gave you the facts — route, gear, budget, stages, food, navigation. This one is different. This is what I learned by doing it wrong first. I've ridden the cross-country route and helped hundreds of riders prepare

Trek Bikes: Korea vs. USA Price Comparison — March 2026

Trek Bikes: Korea vs. USA Price Comparison — March 2026

Think Trek bikes cost more overseas? Think again. We pulled current prices from both the US Trek website and the Korean Trek website this week, ran them through today's exchange rate ($1 = ₩1,505), and the results might surprise you. Some Trek models are up to 40% cheaper

Navigation & Apps [Cross-Country Series #6]

Navigation & Apps [Cross-Country Series #6]

In Part 4, we walked through each stage of the route. In Part 5, we covered where to sleep and eat. This post is about not getting lost — and what to put on your phone (and handlebars) before you roll out of Incheon. The cross-country route is well-marked.

Where to Sleep & Eat Along the Way [Cross-Country Series #5]

Where to Sleep & Eat Along the Way [Cross-Country Series #5]

In Part 2, we gave you a budget overview. In Part 4, we flagged where food and water get scarce. This post fills in the rest: where to actually sleep, what to actually eat, and how to handle it all when you don't speak Korean. This is the

Stage-by-Stage Breakdown - [Cross-Country Series #4]

Stage-by-Stage Breakdown - [Cross-Country Series #4]

In Part 2, we gave you a 5-day itinerary with distances and overnight cities. This post zooms in. Every section of the route, kilometer by kilometer — what the terrain looks like, where the hard parts are, where the views are, and what to watch out for. Print this. Bookmark