I’ve noticed many people spending this sudden long holiday just as they usually do, struggling with what to do once it actually starts.
In a concrete jungle where cars are more packed than usual due to sightseeing and homecoming traffic, and horns are constantly blaring (I’m including a fair bit of my own personal opinion here), it can be hard to ride your bike as freely as you’d like.
It’s the same for my beloved track bike = fixed gear, and I’ve spent the last few days feeling a bit restless.
Just then, it occurred to me that I wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and I thought, "That's it! If I head for the mountains, there are fewer traffic lights and I can ride without a care in the world!"
So, this time, as a special edition of our monthly night orienteering event CHILL!!, we’ll be holding a 100km long ride—commonly known as #100kfxd—on our track bikes (fixed gears), which are perfect for flowing through the city like surfing, as part of the Circles GW Daily Rides!
(We haven't been able to hold CHILL! recently, but look forward to its return on Friday, May 17th!)
【CHILL!! #100kfxd】
Date & Time: Friday, May 3, 2019 (Public Holiday)
Meeting Time: 8:00 AM
Meeting Point: In front of Inuyama Castle [google map]
Please make sure to have your own breakfast and snacks prepared beforehand.Fee: Free (You will be responsible for your own meals, transportation, and bike transport bag fees)
Destination: Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture
Required items: Fixed gear bicycle, bike transport bag (rinko bag), helmet, repair tools
Itinerary: We will depart from Inuyama Castle, head north along the Kiso and Hida Rivers, and aim for Kusu-bo, Kuguno-cho. After that, we will head to Takayama Station, have dinner in the area, and then plan to return to Nagoya from Takayama Station via train with our bikes.Note: Cancelled in case of bad weather.
* If the meeting time or location doesn't work for you, please let us know if you would like to join or leave midway. We will try our best to accommodate you.
Our destination is Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, located north of Nagoya.
It is said that every year at this time in the Kusu-bo district of Kuguno-cho, which flows along the foot of the magnificent Hida Mountains, they fly large carp streamers in the spring breeze. Just imagining it is enough to put your heart at ease!
Long rides on a track bike are often thought to be purely tough because there are no gears, but since you don’t have to worry about shifting to match the terrain, you can fully enjoy the act of pedaling and the scenery flowing by.
And as for my bike setup for the day: for the rear wheel of my new track bike, the ENGINE11 Crit-D which I received from across the sea, I’ve chosen CONTINENTAL’s Gatorskin, which I love for the sound it makes when skidding, as well as its durability and sidewall strength. For the front, I’ve selected the Grand Prix 5000, which underwent a full model change last autumn to become faster, lighter, and more durable, and is reputed to be the best among Continental’s lineup.
Whether it’s for this ride or just if you’re thinking of doing a long ride on a fixed gear, I’m happy to talk with you about tires and gear ratios!
I know this ride announcement is a bit late, but you might be getting tired from the first half of Golden Week, or perhaps you haven’t been able to surf the city streets the way you wanted because of all the people and cars.
If that’s the case, why not change your pace and come hang out with us?
