There was a moment there, straddling my bicycle, when I felt as if I had become a bird, leaping over the mountains.
Held over two days on September 23rd and 24th with West Izu as the stage, SimWorks hosted Ridin’ Birds Passhunting FLYINGHILL.
In a nutshell, this is a "cycling and camping event to fully enjoy the mountains, food, and sea of Izu." However, the concept goes deeper: "I want to tour on my bike and enjoy camping, but I don't have camping gear, nor is my bike equipped to carry it. But I want to ride in an extraordinary place, different from my daily life, and I want to challenge myself to a route rumored to be tough, just once..."
I believe that Ridin’ Birds is there to give a push to those people who are thinking, "I'd like to do it, but...", and to support them in the best possible way as they take on their own personal challenge.
This is because the campsite where we stay has tents already set up—all you need is a sleeping bag—and an exclusive chef prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, since the staff carries all the luggage needed for the stay, you are free to tackle the rides you want to challenge yourself with, with nothing but your own body.
"I'm looking for a tough ride. But I want to enjoy everything else with ease."
This was the second time Ridin’ Birds has been held, and this quote appeared in the outdoor magazine *HUNT*, which featured the first event three years ago. It completely captured my heart because it perfectly mirrored my own thoughts. I first read that feature article around February of this year, and it was packed with such interesting and captivating content that I felt excited just reading it. *HUNT* is on the bookshelf at Early Birds, so please, by all means, pick it up and have a read.
Half a year has flown by since then, and I, too, joined Ridin’ Birds—an event I once thought was a dream—as a staff member with my own All-City bike, pedaling hard alongside the participants on both DAY 1 and DAY 2. It has been exactly two months since we crossed the mountain pass between Shinshiro and Hamamatsu at the RAL Hamamatsu event in July, marking my second ride event.
Of course, there is the riding, but I was also put in charge of providing the snacks for the second day, so I headed to Izu with a different kind of nervous energy than I felt during the last RAL.
<DAY 1: A Full-Throttle Sprint>
The rain forecast vanished during the night, and I was relieved to see a bright, dawning sky at the campsite where I had arrived the day before.
The ride for DAY 1 began as participants gathered one by one at the meeting point, Shimoda Station. We all rode leisurely together along the coast to the first stop, the scenic Ryugu Cave. Izu’s roads are truly something else. Above all, the sea is beautiful, and its blue color is enough to steal your gaze.
Past Ryugu Cave, the group split into two: those who wanted to ride at a fast pace, and those who preferred their own speed. We headed into the mountains, where steep hills awaited on our way to the lunch point. I joined the latter group at the start. My most vivid memory from here is sprinting at full throttle up the steep slope to the lunch spot, led by Shige, a Circles staff member.
Because I was riding at the very back and was not going to make it by the 2:00 PM scheduled arrival time, Shige told me that other staff were coming to pick up me and my bike by car. I refused, however, begging them to let me ride it out to the very end.
I knew it was incredibly selfish, as it affected the event’s own schedule, but I told myself that I couldn't bear to say, "I got picked up halfway," once I returned to Nagoya. So, I asked Shige to lead the way. As a result, I had to tackle the final steep sprint at twice my usual speed. It was entirely my own fault for enjoying the Izu scenery and roads too leisurely, despite the time constraints.
During those moments climbing the hill, I was absolutely desperate to keep pedaling while chasing Shige's back. It was painful, but the thought that I absolutely had to finish drove my legs forward. I climbed the hill at the fastest speed I could muster, eventually closing the distance until I could see the backs of the group ahead, and arrived at the lunch point with everyone else. Everyone who knew the situation greeted me with smiles, and in that instant, the painful sprint turned into a wonderful memory.
The lunch point was at a villa located up a slope so steep we had to get off our bikes and push them, but the location was superb, overlooking the Izu sea.
There, the Shimoda burger stand EDY BURGER STAND had prepared lunch, with the sound of sizzling patties on the iron griddle and an appetizing aroma wafting in the air. Chaya-san, a staff member of our accommodation, the campsite REN VILLAGE, who also cooperated fully with Ridin’ Birds in every way, was waiting with coffee and ginger ale made with homemade syrup.
The Ridin’ Birds tag attached to the straw was also very cute. Both the tags and the homemade ginger syrup were actually handcrafted by Minami-san, Chaya-san’s wife, who was participating in the MTB course that day. Those small gestures made me very happy.
I quenched my thirst with ginger ale, queued up for the burgers that EDY BURGER was grilling one by one, and added my favorite toppings—pickles, fried onions, tomatoes, and various sauces and dips—to the cheese burger I was handed.
The burger we devoured together after overcoming the hardest point of the day was delicious.
<An Izu Night at Our Secret Base>
After filling our stomachs, we had one more ride to the hot springs. Feeling refreshed after washing off our sweat, we headed to our final destination for the day, Tago Fishing Port.
Why a fishing port? Because our campsite, REN VILLAGE, is at the tip of a peninsula that can’t be reached by bicycle. Yes, we had to take a boat from the port to get there. And, of course, our trusty sidekicks—our bicycles—rode along with us.
After a few minutes of bobbing on the boat, we saw the orange lights of REN VILLAGE flickering in the darkness. Just that situation was enough to make my heart race, but what’s even more amazing is that we were the only ones at this place we were arriving at. REN VILLAGE is defined by the fact that it only accepts one group per day, making it a popular campsite where reservations are notoriously hard to come by. It felt like a secret base just for us. The sense of adventure that continued even after getting off the mountain was irresistible.
The time spent at REN VILLAGE that night was truly wonderful.
Just like at the previous Ridin’ Birds and the RAL Hamamatsu event, Keita-san of EARLYBIRDS BREAKFAST treated us to a fantastic dinner again. There was a spread of vegetable dishes with vibrant colors, alongside meat and fish dishes made with Izu ingredients. Tartines were beautifully laid out on the table. Needless to say, the banquet that began around such a beautiful table was outstanding, and it was overflowing with delicious food and happy smiles. And since we were the only ones there, we were able to create our own unique space, which was also great.
Some were immersed in music playing from the DJ equipment we brought, while others chatted around the bonfire with drinks in hand. Even though there were many people meeting for the first time, everyone was already a friend.
<DAY 2: The Challenge>
The wonderful night ended, and the morning of DAY 2 was just as wonderful.
Stepping out of the tent, the sea, which last night showed only the sound of waves and a swaying dark surface, now stretched out before us, reflecting a refreshing light blue. The sea has two completely different faces for day and night, and it's nice to be able to encounter both.
And the morning wouldn't be complete without breakfast by EARLY BIRDS BREAKFAST. Hot sandwiches and hot dogs made with PFM bread, and PFM Blend brewed carefully by barista Miyuki-san, made breakfast time even more delicious.
After breakfast, we each spent time at our secret base as we pleased—gazing at the sea, riding kayaks, or walking on the beach—before the sad time came to part with REN VILLAGE. We boarded the boat to start the DAY 2 ride and returned to the fishing port.
The main route of this Ridin’ Birds in terms of challenge is the "Nishina Pass" on DAY 2.
It's a mountain pass with 10km of relentless steep slopes and 900m of elevation gain. While I didn't quite grasp what these numbers meant before riding, now that it's over, I understand just how outrageous it was. Even when it was pointed out to me, with someone saying, "That's the Nishina Pass we’re climbing now," while gesturing toward the wall of a mountain looming before us, I just thought, "Wait, is that even climbable?" With such skeptical eyes, I entered the mountain path, but I had decided that since this was my biggest challenge, I absolutely would not put my foot down.
The gradient gradually increased, and when signs for 10% and 12% appeared, I knew it was a particularly tough road, but when I came across the number 14% around the midway point, it was truly unbelievable. My body and mind were stunned by a gradient I had never experienced before, one you couldn't feel in a car, but because I had decided not to get off, I had no choice but to mindlessly push the pedals. As I slowly made progress, the mountain gradually opened up, and I finally arrived at the Nishi-Izu Highland Ranch at an altitude of 900 meters.
The view from there made it seem as if the sky and the sea were intersecting, and it made me realize just how high I was, and that I had climbed all the way here by bicycle. The reward soft-serve ice cream we ate together while still buzzing with excitement vanished into our mouths in no time.
I had two challenges in this Ridin’ Birds. First was to climb the Nishina Pass mentioned above, and second was to provide the banana bread I made as a snack for everyone. I was a complete beginner at baking until I started working at Early Birds, but for the past six months, I had been taught the basics and knowledge of baking by Kazu-san, a PFM pastry chef, while helping with preparations at PFM. Wanting to carry my own baked goods at Early Birds led me to ask Kazu-san to teach me the recipe for banana bread, which I then practiced and arranged in my own way. When I was given the chance to provide snacks, I immediately answered that I wanted to do it, and my production of banana bread for Ridin’ Birds began. Watching the oven intently, considering the baking time and ingredients, and repeating test bakes, I finished a honey banana bread using plenty of honey and walnuts for quick energy conversion, perfect for a mid-ride snack.
My snacks were provided at the second break point of DAY 2, and as everyone arrived, they reached out for it and ate with smiles, saying how delicious it was.
I desperately wanted to make banana bread that was absolutely delicious and would make their time even better, so hearing everyone say "Delicious" or "Thank you" made me incredibly happy. I was moved that something I made could bring smiles to others' faces. It was a moment at the break point I will never forget.
This honey banana bread is now among the baked goods at Early Birds, so please do give it a try.
<Beyond the Challenge>
The total distance I rode over these two days was 124km, and the total elevation gain was 3319m.
Sometimes you want to run away from numbers before you challenge them, but I learned that after you boldly face them, they give you a lot of confidence. The view from beyond the challenge is truly magnificent. When I was racing through the Izu Skyline from the Nishina Pass, it felt as though I were flying through the sky and leaping over mountains—it was truly FLYING HILL.
The top of the Nishina Pass was covered in fog, so I couldn't see the clear, panoramic view, but I think riding through that mysterious air was good in its own way. Mountains, sea, and sky—the faces they show change every day. I felt that if I could cherish and accept the nature I encounter in those moments, I could enjoy any time, no matter what it holds.
And I am full of gratitude for the participants and staff who were able to create this time with me. Whether it was the ride along the steep roads, the time spent sharing a sense of accomplishment while sweating, or the time at the secret base surrounding ourselves with food and drink and smiles, I couldn't have overcome or experienced any of it alone.
Through Ridin’ Birds, I was able to get to know so many people and have reunions as well. I'm already looking forward to seeing how these encounters and the time we spent together will lead to the next things, and how we can keep connecting them.
Thus, our great adventure touring Izu reached its end in a flash, and the beauty of the sunset we encountered on our way to the final goal, Maruten, was breathtaking; it was truly magnificent as a conclusion to our adventure. This was surely a gift from Izu to Team Ridin’ Birds for our hard work over two days. As I watched the sky and sea turn bright red, I felt convinced that it is better to go on adventures and better to take on challenges—whether big or small. I should have become a bit tougher through these two days, and there are more things I can do now. Izu has become a special place for me, one that I want to visit again, and I’m happy to have one more place like that.
The seafood cuisine we ate at Maruten, where we all safely finished, was so delicious I accidentally ate way too much. Right until the very end, it was a wonderful night.
Ridin’Birds Passhunting
FLYINGHILL IZU ’17
http://sim-works.com/rbph17
Text by Asumi Ueno
Photo by Eri Tanaka / Shige / Shinya Tanaka / Manami / Rie Sawada