I participated in the OMM BIKE at the end of last month for the first time in a while. Since my previous participations in the Hakuba event were back in 2016, the inaugural year, and the Tokushima event in 2018, this was my first time joining in four years. I teamed up with Kim-nii to compete as Team Doppo.
While I had been chasing rankings in my past two attempts, we decided to take it easy this time—so much so that we even made time to stop for a taco lunch at a local Mexican spot on the first day. Uncle Stevens, located on the Hakuba Happo Gondola street within the race area, is highly recommended.
Despite saying we’d take it easy, once we started hitting the checkpoints, our competitive spirit ignited, and I ended up dragging Kim-nii all over the place. It’s my fault he got a leg cramp. Sorry about that!
While aiming for a high score with your buddy is certainly exciting, I was reminded once again that the true joy of OMM BIKE lies in the ability to enjoy the ride at your own pace, simply surrendering yourself to the great outdoors of Hakuba and Otari. It’s also great that you can involve family and friends who aren’t racing by camping and having a BBQ after the event.
I had worn clipless shoes for my previous two entries, but this time, wanting to keep it casual, I went with a combination of BEDROCK SANDALS and Bubbly pedals. The photo shows us after hitting a checkpoint at the end of a muddy, uneven, unpaved road. It got absolutely covered in mud, but the beauty of these sandals is that you can just charge right through without a care. In fact, they worked perfectly for both days, and I can confidently say they are the ideal footwear for activities like OMM BIKE.
We had a booth set up at the venue to offer fitting guides, and I was impressed by how many people were already riding in BEDROCKs. So, I asked a few of them to let me check out their styles.
This is a Doppo ATB owner who joined us from Kobe. The original color looks great no matter how much time passes. I think the SuperYummy tires are also a great tactical choice for OMM. I felt a real sense of kinship with their setup, as they were using the same Bubbly pedals as I was!
Maehara-san from the Yamatomichi team competed in his well-ridden SURLY / ECR while wearing BEDROCKs. He’s been wearing them hard on hikes for a long time, so they had a great, well-worn look to them.
Also from the Yamatomichi team is Otake-san, whom we introduced in WithBicycle. The women of the Yamatomichi team were color-coordinated in blue Merino Light Sleeveless shirts; they really stood out whenever we passed them at checkpoints, teaching me that blue really pops against the green of the mountains! You can really tell that her SURLY / Midnight Special, which she just got this spring, has been getting some serious saddle time.
Jerry Ukai, who competes every year with Jackie-san from JMW (Jindaiji Mountain Works), rode his seasoned Cross-Check equipped with an OUTERSHELL Drawcord Handlebar Bag. He chose BEDROCKs as his post-race relaxation footwear!
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s BEDROCK styles at the next OMM as well. Though the hot days continue, there is still plenty of season left to enjoy comfortable rides and outdoor activities in your sandals, so if you’ve been on the fence, please consider getting a pair.
Since the final shipment of the season has already arrived, availability of models, colors, and sizes is limited, but I’m sure you’ll find the perfect pair for you!
