We’ve had days where I thought winter had fully arrived and it was cold, only for the weather to warm up again. Recently, I hadn't been able to make time for rides because our schedules weren't aligning or I wasn't feeling well.
I couldn't take it anymore. The forecast called for rain. Even so, we wanted to go out and play. And so, this time, we planned a tour focused on "Mie."
The crew was a three-person team: Shige from Circles, Inocchi from Weldon, and myself, Keita from Early Birds.
After meeting in the morning, we headed to our usual mountain destination. Having installed gears on my mountain bike—which I had only ever ridden as a single speed—I was itching to ride it. Since rain was in the forecast, even choosing the right gear for the weather was part of the fun. The mountain had some slippery sections, and it’s perfectly fine to get off and walk your bike on the difficult parts. It’s enough to just fully enjoy the pleasant sections of the trail.
However, I got a bit carried away that day and took a spill. Haha. I was relieved it was only a minor injury. I think this applies to all sports, but there's always a risk of injury when you’re out having fun on a bike. Let’s make sure to be careful so we can enjoy ourselves safely. This time, I learned that the hard way! Haha.
That said, the transition from single speed to gears was fresh and fun, as the way you ride is completely different. It was a thrill to be able to comfortably power through steep inclines that I had never been able to climb before. Haha. I want to ride more and get some practice in.
We wrapped up our mountain fun after about three hours and headed to Ageki Shokudo for lunch.
It’s a restaurant that just opened in November in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture. It’s a new venture for Matsumoto-kun, who we’ve also known for a long time. The restaurant was built by renovating an old building that used to be a ryokan (traditional inn).
The biggest draw is that almost all the vegetables and meat used are grown in Inabe City or the surrounding areas. There are many young people here who have started their farming careers, such as Kaze-kun from Happu Noen (Happu Farm), who also supplies ingredients for Early Birds. It’s an incredible restaurant where you can enjoy even more flavorful dishes thanks to owner Matsumoto-kun’s culinary skills, showcasing ingredients grown with both love and expertise.
Matsumoto-kun himself rides a fixie, and the restaurant is very bike-friendly, with a bike rack out front. It’s also easily accessible from the famous Ninose Pass in Mie. If you’re a cyclist and in the area, I definitely recommend stopping by.
After enjoying some delicious curry there, we headed to ADAPT SUZUKA, a new spot in Yokkaichi.
This new shop was started by Kyohei-kun, a genius of mountain adventure who used to work at Moderate, a famous shop in Mie. His shop is a concept store that serves as a base for the Suzuka mountains he explores daily, aiming to seamlessly connect people, objects, daily life, and play. As someone who enjoys not only hiking and running but also cycling, he is truly a key figure in our scene who makes the most of his outdoor adventures. There’s no doubt his new challenge will become a hub for exchanging information about outdoor activities in Mie.
The conversation about our adventures never ended, and by the time we finished our strategy meeting for our next bit of mischief, it was already dark outside, so we headed back to Nagoya.
Mie is close, but I hadn’t really spent much time exploring it deeply. With the opening of new spots like Ageki Shokudo and ADAPT SUZUKA, it feels like I’ll have more excuses to visit. I want to keep digging into the charm of Mie, which is still full of things I don’t know. Please, let me know your favorite spots. Or even better, let’s go explore together!
It was a great Mie tour where we spent the whole day playing, eating, laughing a lot, and, well, getting a little banged up.
Now, where should we go next?
Ride Mie
