This past Thursday, I went for a ride with Ray-chan, who recently got a new bike, and our good friend mountain mountain factory / Kitajima-kun.
Despite some strong winds—like the first winds of spring (though I guess they had already blown through this year)—the sunshine was warm. Once we got into the mountains, the wind didn't bother us at all, and it felt like a ride in the middle of spring.
There is a mood of self-restraint everywhere, with events being canceled and schools closing, but when you hop on your bike and head somewhere a little further away, it reminds you that the bicycle is truly a vehicle of freedom.
Just as a bike won't move unless you pedal it yourself, it might be a bit of an exaggeration to say we can change our current circumstances just by taking initiative, but I think we should move forward through these uncertain times with that kind of spirit, by helping one another.
Anyway, even though it’s a time when it’s hard to go where there are crowds of people, please rest assured that if you can't come to the shop, we have our web shop! In addition to our regular Thursday closures, we have also begun closing on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of each month starting in February, and the staff are planning rides for those days. So, let’s keep doing what we do: ride bikes, move our bodies, and have fun!