On a Thursday blessed with good weather, I decided to go somewhere I’d never been before, opting to head west by taking my bike on the train—a rare choice for me.
I finished packing my bike into its travel bag at Nagoya Station. With various ideas in mind for the coming spring, I decided to take the Rapid Mie train toward Mie Prefecture. The Quoc Pham Urbanites are fantastic for rides like this; while waiting on the platform, an older man complimented me on my shoes, saying, "Those are some sharp-looking shoes," which put me in a great mood.
Once I reached my destination, I assembled my bike and headed out for a ride immediately. Because a bicycle is slower than a car but faster than walking, it allows you to discover things and see scenery that feels a little different—it's the perfect way to grasp the contours of a land you're visiting for the first time, and that is one of the things I love most about cycling.
As I pushed on toward Kameyama, I enjoyed the sight of endless tea plantations—fitting for one of the prefecture's leading tea-growing regions—and continued a bit further ahead.
As I pedaled into the mountains, I noticed snow lingering in places where the sun didn't reach. Right, we had just had a heavy snowfall the other day. Still, I pushed on regardless.
As expected, there was plenty of snow left on the forest roads. In the mountains, where the only sounds were my own breathing and the babbling of the river, I focused all my attention on my bike, carefully applying traction as I moved forward. Yes, up to this point, things were going well...
The further I went, the deeper the snow got, eventually reaching a depth where the bike could stand on its own. At this point, I decided that carrying the bike was faster than riding it, so I switched my mindset to hiking.
It eventually reached a point where it was up to my knees, leaving only my own footprints behind. There was only an hour left until sunset. I hadn't even reached halfway up this mountain pass yet. Moreover, walking through snow is undeniably slow. I recalled a promise to go to the "Gundam Model x Iron-Blooded Orphans Exhibition" with my wife that night. More importantly, I started feeling hungry...
And so, I made the courageous decision to turn back.
For this ride, I chose the Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight as my base layer, following the Café du Cycliste layered style I recommended in my previous post. It can be a little too warm depending on the situation, but it allows you to head outside without being intimidated by the cold. It wicks sweat away smoothly, so I recommend it as a daily base layer for those who find the cold unbearable.
On the train ride home, I thought back on why on earth I would go through such trouble in the mountains during such cold weather. But I convinced myself that it is the scenery visible only in winter, and the encounters and discoveries beyond it, that drive me to go out for a ride.
The energy humans produce is truly warm, and sometimes it can get a bit too hot, but I think it is far more dynamic and wonderful than just saying "it's cold" and shutting ourselves away. If you jump outside and keep pedaling, the clear air reveals magnificent scenery, your body gradually warms up, and you can feel your blood circulating, all while feeling more alive than ever.
Looking back on the history of Circles, it is a fact that many of those who started cycling in the winter are the ones who have continued to ride strongly ever since. That is why we look forward to meeting people this winter who hold that kind of future potential.
Tomorrow is Bike To Tokai CX. It’s early, but I’ll be waiting for you at Early Birds at 7 AM.