MARATHON RIDER: Brian Perich takes a self-portrait while on a recent training ride in South Korea. Perich, a LaSalle native, currently lives in Seoul, South Korea, but will be returning toCanada for a massive Arctic Circle to South America ride for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada in 2012.
By Bob Stewart
Brian Perich’s adventures have seen him crisscross North America on a motorcycle, accumulating 24,000 km in 60 days; lead groups of teens and adults on 10-day canoe trips through Quetico Provincial Park near Atikokan, Ont.; and fully restore a Jeep in 22 days and drive it from Windsor to Victoria, BC, and eventually San Diego, Calif., before taking up surfing and mediation.
Following a 1998 motorcycle accident in Vancouver, in which he crashed broadside into a car that slid into his lane, causing extensive damage to his sciatic nerve, Perich, 36, a LaSalle native and graduate of St. Anne’s Secondary in Tecumseh, was described by paramedics at the scene as a “wandering nomad.” But his biggest adventure is yet to come.
In 2013, Perich will cycle northeast from Anchorage, Alaska, towards Inuvik, NWT, before turning southwest and traversing Canada from the Arctic Circle through the Yukon and British Columbia before cutting down through Texas and into Mexico, through Cental and South America before ending in Argentina.
The globe-pedalling tour is all part of raising money and awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation through the IDEAS foundation of Canada. The expedition is also built on a partnership with school outreach and innovations at Education Through Expeditions, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
See Cycle, page 12.Perich is calling his Arctic leg of the race, simply, One—Arctic to Argentina 2012.
IBD is a group of disorders that cause the sections of the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed and ulcerated through an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. There are two main forms of IBD: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). “It’s all about raising social awareness for those suffering with IBD and living to their fullest with a chronic illness for which there is no cure,” said Perich from his current home in his wife’s
native South Korea, where he teaches English when not cycling throughout the country with the informal cycling group he founded, Cycling International.
“They need our support, so I am riding for them, and asking for community or charity donations to fund research for a cure, supporting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundations of Canada and America, to continue their research to help improve the quality of life for those suffering from IBD.”
Currently, there are approximately 200,000 Canadians and 1.4 million Americans suffering from IBD-related illnesses. Although there is currently no cure for IBD, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is a not-for-profit organization that believes a cure can be found.
Cycling chronicles
Perich’s cycling adventures across the Korean peninsula have become something of an Internet sensation through his blog and on the social networking site Facebook, where the almost daily updates and photo essays of his site-seeing, training and good will-spreading. Perich’s One adventure has received media coverage for his cycling endeavors on he Korean Broadcasting System’s KBS radio, and in the Korean Times national newspaper.
“Anyone joining this ride can support another charity of their choosing and we can ride supporting each other,” Perich explained. “Also, anyone that is interested is welcome to join segments of this bicycle expedition for fun, adventure and a load of cycling on the road. There’s no barriers or attitudes. It’s about moving in a new direction."
INTERNATIONAL PEDALLER: Brian Perich in South Korea, following a cycling trip from Gangneung, Gangwondo province to Busan, Gyeongsannamdo Province on the Korean peninsula’s east coast earlier in 2009.
[Since this article was written: I have teamed with Education Through Expeditions, ETE founder, Polar Explorer - Antony Jinman. Since the new launch of this non-profit, global green educational programme, there will be regular updates from the expedition directly linked to school educational programs in the UK and other participating countries. It's truly rewarding working with Antony's non-profit organization raising environmental, cultural and health awareness while pursuing the dreams on a 32,000km marathon.]*
Other Media collections on Brian Perich:
- Korea Herald article, 2011,
- Busan Haps Entertainment Magazine,
- Busan Haps Magazine, Interview with Eddie Glayzer,
- KBS World Radio, Live radio interview,
- Education Through Expeditions, Expedition Profile
- Korean-World or Arctic 2 Argentina blogs
- The Korea Times National English Newspaper,
- The Korea Times (@ Arctic2Argentina)
- Interview with Helen Lloyd, Explorer and Adventure Cyclist
- Interview with Tim Travis, 10 year World Touring Cyclist and founder of Downtheroad.org (find more at http://downtheroad.org/ )
- The Korea Times National English Newspaper,
- Vimeo.com Video channel for Brian's Adventures
- Cycling in Korea, Arctic to Argentina 2012, TBS 101.3 eFM Seoul, Korea interview+
Early days of Adventure cycling & MTB touring around Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Cycling in Korea, Bicycle Adventure Touring
Get fit, Ride. 830m peak ahead. Gangneung -Pyeongchang-gun-Jinbu to Jeonseong to Donghae and Gangneung again! 257km loop with 7+ 700m mountains to ascend. Good training ground for global rides.
Bike captured in nature
Blackcat, backpack with tools, pump, patches, double water bottles
Fueled on fruit!
Dragon flies -nature is beautiful
Cycling in Korea: http://korean-world.blogspot.com
Essential ingredients to 24hour cycling missions...^^Peace Grillo!
PyeongChang County (PyeongChang-gun) is a county in Gangwon province, South Korea and the third largest county in the country. It is located in the Taebaek Mountains region, and is home to a number of Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa. The county is around 180 km to the east of Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
GeographyThe altitude of PyeongChang is wide-ranging. Its best known place, Daegwallyeong-myeon, averages between 700 m to 800 m above sea level, with some areas over 1,000 m high.[1] Daegwallyeong-myeon has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dwb) with warm, humid summers and long, cold winters.
Jinbu -Camp!!
Cycling in Korea: http://korean-world.blogspot.com
Hwy 59, Gangwon-do Province, Korea (Northeastern passage...see Sokcho/Gangneung 
Small town of Jinbu, 40km from Gangneung City, Gangwon-do .
Bike Camping and hanging the clothes on the line to dry 
A little camp fire to keep cozyMountain Bike/Bicycle Camp-Lite Micro Adventure 2010
Waking up in the morning to a view of my camping location. 
Sandals ready to flop around the camp.
Loading tent onto the crossbar, the handlebar bag has tomatoes today!
Rear seat-clamp rack with backpack for my clothes and sleeping bag, accessories
Notice the rear view mirror, headlights, tent, bike computer, bell, tripod.Bike-Ultra Camp 2010, South Korea
Fully loaded "vegetarian" touring, fueled on veggies, raw tomatoes like these are powerful fixes for long hauling.
Essential fuel for bike touring pros.
Follow signs along this route
Countryside in Gangwon Province, pristine and developed for farming agriculture
No Cars!
Light rain ahead of my trail, coolness to enjoy the ride
Moving southern, Hwy 59 -Joy! Restaurant coming up on the right
Pavement perfection, smoothest ride in Gangwon, no traffic still!
Rolling thunder, inspired by Vyacheslav!
This junction, left to Imgye (East to Donghae, 7+ -700 meter mountains to cross-my route!), Right to Jeongseon (Taebaek)
Bok Sang, my new Cycling friend in Korea! (we met at the junction, he was heading East, I followed him!) ^^..
Yeah!!!! Bok Sang!!!
Amazing scenery throughout this day, here it is!
Gangwondo, Korea!
Bok Sang sent me a few more photos today
Cycling in Korea 2010 Jeongseon-Donghae route
Walking/Riding on mountain area= exercise!
Bike Camp-Lite Touring in South Korea, July 2010
Another huge climb!!!
Bike Camp-Lite Touring in South Korea, July 2010
Group ride southeast from Gangneung's Lotte Soju factory, Min Gyu and Jonathon.
Famers working their rice fields in July, almost ready for harvest in some local areas, watching in September!
Gangneung countryside, Gangwon-do, South Korea.
Getting baked on the bike, hammer long and tired...
Mission Control
Lights!
New cycling crew, two were special guests at my wedding in July, right is a serious cyclist recovered from a car wreck.
My watermelon patch on the road
Cheers for watermelon, nature's goodness on a tour!
reaching Busan outer limits, July 2010
Pusan National University (station)
Happy polishing off 672km in 7 days! 7 -700meter peaks, 1 830meter peak from sea level, challenging eastern terrain riding, fully kitted, bike camp-lite touring
Local flooding from the rain that punished/motivated us to churn out 175km on day 2!
Doing the deal
Night training, Gangneung southbound, July 2010
Min Gyu (Kwandong University) took this photo, thanks bro!
Min Gyu (Kwandong University)
Gangneung defences from North Korea, my local scene
Triples -great lighting, this set were destroyed on the Busan ride (rainsoaked)
Spring riding, April 2010
Spring riding, April 2010
Heavenly lights, trail riding -post Hwangsa (Yellow Dust) exposure, ride to respiratory recovery
Hey, we ride....what about you???
Good times, cycling and meeting great people along the way!
1
weather was cool, clear and incredibly relaxing. I suffered from altitude sickness below 3000 meters, but will fight to the top to rest and relax by a stoked campfire -brilliant luck in northern Yunnan!
