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With the weather warming up,... people are heading outdoors for fun and fitness,... with cycling tops the list of activities for many Koreans. The local bike market has surged in recent years.... as riders seem to have an unquenchable thirst for high-end equipment and accessories, which is likely to keep the industry growing for years to come. Shin Se-min reports. ″More than one in five Koreans that′s around 12 million men, women and children ride bicycles regularly,… making it one of the most popular outdoor leisure activities in the country.″ The domestic bicycle market was worth a cool 644 million U.S. dollars as of last year,… and it′s a number that′s expected to keep rising. Korea′s largest bicycle manufacturer and retailer Samchuly says it recorded sales of over 111-million dollars last year,… up 10 percent from the previous year. Its close rival Alton Sports posted 62-million dollars,… an 11-percent surge from 2013. Local manufacturers aren′t the only ones fueling the expansion,… Koreans are buying imported bicycles by the boatload. Last year alone, Korea imported bikes worth 210 million dollars and that translates into annual average growth of nearly nine percent since 2012. Cycling is a simple pleasure that anyone can enjoy,... but there are certain types of bicycles dominating the local market... and they are high-tech, super-premium models. The demand for these bicycles,... which can cost more than a second-hand car,... is stronger now than ever. ″I spent over 4 thousand dollars on the bike alone and I own a couple of spandex bike-suits. Spending a lot of money on all the related products just makes me want to ride my bicycle even more.″ ″It′s like,... you start out driving a compact car. Then you see a sports car speeding by you,... automatically you will want to get yourself a better car. It′s the same with the bike. You start spending more because you know it will get you better speed, stability and the design, and once you feel that, there′s no turning back.″ Experts say the growing interest in expensive bicycles and accessories was foreseen,... given Koreans′ spending habits and shifting household dynamics. ″The size of an average Korean household continues to shrink. There used to be mostly three- or four-member households, but now we are seeing a rise in two- and even single-person households. These people choose to spend their free time on activities that satisfy them,... even if their hobby costs them tens of thousands of dollars.″ The future for the local bicycle industry looks even more promising... as more and more Koreans take up bike riding to keep themselves fit and in tip-top shape. Shin Se-min, Arirang News.