Hi, Makoto here, currently enjoying the full American experience.
I've successfully graduated from school and traveled around quite a bit, but right now I'm crashing at the Hunter Cycles base.
I'll save those stories for another time, but today I'd like to introduce a bike event I participated in last weekend.
It goes by the name of 2014 Gourmet Century in SONOMA COUNTY
Those in the know might already be aware, but this is a ride event organized by none other than Chris King.
The content of the event is very simple: eat delicious food, have fun riding your bike, and spend an amazing day. It's the best kind of event.
This incredibly popular event welcomed nearly 10 participants from Japan, and under perfect weather, we enjoyed a roughly 100km journey.
So, here are some photos and more.
It all started with breakfast.
The ride started with a truly impressive group of people.
This group was full of big names; how many do you recognize?
This was a relatively large pack, but since participants are free to ride at their own pace, this group also broke up within an hour as everyone started enjoying the ride at their own speed.
Once we started riding, inevitably some people got fired up, and I rode alongside this group for a while.
I dubbed them the "Builder Squad"—two frame builders and one pizza chef. They were crushing it at nearly 40km/h.
Whew, that was tough.
After riding alongside various people, it was soon lunchtime.
A veggie-heavy curry.
It was delicious enough to live up to the "Gourmet" name.
But just when I thought that was it, what came next was even more amazing.
A mobile pizza oven appeared, and a pizzeria opened up for business.
It feels like we're just eating constantly, but that's really how it is—riding to eat, truly a Gourmet Century.
I should include some photos of us riding, too.
Sonoma, where the event was held, is a famous California wine region, so we were riding past wineries the whole time.
The course was very gentle and designed for everyone, young and old, to enjoy.
There was a colorful variety of bikes, too, ranging from road and cross bikes to gravel road bikes, mountain bikes, and single-speeds.
Among them, I even spotted a Cross-Check, one of my favorites.
This person came all the way from Vancouver, and they clearly know their stuff—the hubs were Chris King.
After repeating the cycle of eating and checking out bikes, we were soon at the finish line.
But this is where the Gourmet Century really shines.
We gathered at the venue, split into two groups, and were served a full-course meal.
Ah, it was truly delicious.
At this time of year, cyclocross races tend to take the spotlight, but there are events like this out in the world, too—events that everyone can enjoy together.
In Japan, we have RideAlive and Flying Pass which are just as great, so keep your eyes peeled and definitely try to participate.
Cheers to the best day ever.
And a huge thank you to the man who looked after us all day long,