May nearly over and another month crossed off the calendar as the countdown to NZ continues. This month has been a mixed-bag of new places, favourite old haunts, and practicing with the usual suspects.
Seems as though summer has officially started and the weather is steadily getting hotter. Last weekend had a high of about 30 degrees and mid-summer will probably average around 35 degrees. Which would explain why the CBR spent most of it’s time with the rad fan going when pottering through the city. Stop-go-stop-go with traffic lights every 50 metres, Grrr…
In the east part of Daegu, just a short ride from the stadium, I discovered the city’s ancient east gate at the ‘Mang-Woo’ Gardens. This was one of the original entrances that used to guard the city in ancient times. Now it has been restored and looks very impressive illuminated at night – all it really needs is a bike parked under the soft lights to complete the scene; past and present. Obligatory photos were taken, of course.
Following weekend, joined a group of riders from Daegu city for a tour east, past the dam and into the middle of nowhere to a little temple nestled in between the mountains called ‘Unmun-sa’. The temple goes back at least as far as 937AD when it got it's current name by the King of the Koryo dynasty. It is frequented by dozens of shaven lady-monks (er… I can confirm that their heads were definitely shaven). More photos taken next to stone turtles, temple gates, and guys in full riding gear in a monastery…?
Took the Hyosung Exiv 125cc meagre-beast for a carpark practice session, but possibly thanks to a torrential downpour the week before, carbies seemed to be stuttering really badly. Dropped said Exiv at my local bike shop for a carb cleaning and new sparkplug. Total cost of parts and labour = about $20. Gotta love that. Situation is reversed for the CBR though, looked into the price of tyres and a set of Michelin Pilot Powers would run nearly $800NZ! Ripoff?
At the practice session, someone brought along roller-blader’s road cones and a makeshift short track was plotted out in the carpark. 10-lap time trials were (stupidly) proposed and we set down to going round and round as fast as the Exiv would allow. My first attempt took 75 seconds, and during my second attempt I tried to go faster, rode rougher and had the back and front pushing and sliding all over the place. Result: 78 seconds – proof enough for me that smooth is faster.
Of course it must be noted that blasting around at silly speeds in a carpark is asking for trouble and soon enough someone low-sided my Exiv, breaking the handlebar, clutch lever, and left footpeg in the process. Yeah, cheers – that’s gonna cost me about another $10 right there.
Went to Palgongsan just north of Daegu city where a giant statue of Buddha can be seen on top of the mountain. The road leading up to it is steep and twisty, great fun going up. However, the road surface going down is 'striped' with alternating textured road surfaces all the way - every 2 metres or so. I guess it's supposed to slow drivers down but it's more like going over a million judder bars and really ruins the fun.
Finally went out for a blast to Unmun dam again Sunday and once again there were multitudes of crazy riders from all over the country. Guys doing wheel-stands into oncoming traffic, another doing stand-up wheelies on his race-base CBR600, and one super-smooth 1000RR rider getting impossible angles of lean on 'The Corner'. It's getting pretty silly out there and it won't be long before it ends in tragedy. Let's not ride like the Koreans...
Stay safe.
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Originally Posted by Korea
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