Since spring, I've been going back and forth between Tokyo and Nagoya, and it's been hard to get out for rides on my days off. However, I’ve realized this lifestyle isn't all bad, as it gives me chances to join rides I wouldn't normally get to experience. Between the rides and the new people I've met, I’m living a very fulfilling life.
Mt. Jinba BIKE TO HIKE
The Mt. Jinba BIKE TO HIKE organized by Yoshi from Circles Tokyo was exactly that. It was the perfect day, allowing me to get to know the city of Tokyo and enjoy activities with the people I’ve met here.
Endless riverbanks: from the Tama River to the Asa River, then to the North Asa River
We met at the Futago Bridge on the Tama River. The river, which I’d heard about so often, was incredibly wide. Many people live along its banks, and it was filled with folks enjoying their weekend morning—playing baseball, futsal, hockey, and ground golf, or just going for a run.
The embankment also features a cycling road heading upstream, which was being used by many cyclists. Individually, these scenes might seem unremarkable, but seeing them stretch on forever was a very fresh experience for me, and the ride to the foot of Mt. Jinba felt like it was over in no time.
Heading for the trailhead via Wada Pass
After taking a few breaks, we started the climb up Wada Pass, which leads to the Mt. Jinba trailhead (the new hiking course). Up until this point, we’d been riding at a steady pace on flat ground, but once we hit the pass, everyone had to dig deep and climb at their own speed.
By the way, all the participants were people who love mountain activities—be it cycling, hiking, or trail running. We had a real mix of people, including those who aren't great at cycling and some riding small-wheeled bikes, but to the surprise of Yoshi and the rest of us, they were all tough riders who reached the trailhead at a great pace.
Hiking to the summit of Mt. Jinba
Once we parked our bikes, the hike began.
The route was fairly steep. With rain the previous day and intermittent showers on the day of, the conditions were a bit rough, with muddy spots and exposed tree roots. Even so, my BEDROCK SANDALS performed flawlessly.
BEDROCK SANDALS / Mountain Clog
The Mountain Clog uses a Vibram® Mega Grip sole, so even in those conditions, it held onto the ground firmly. My socks got a bit dirty since the heels are open, but that’s just part of the fun.
BEDROCK SANDALS / Cairn
The Cairn series is great all around—the way it fits to your feet and the grip it provides to hold the ground are excellent. It might be hard to hike in them once the weather gets cold unless you’re really hardcore, but it was still warm that day, so they were the perfect choice.
For the record, I wore my Mountain Clogs while riding and switched to my Cairns for the hike, anticipating that things would get muddy. I ended up wearing Bedrock products for both the ride and the hike, and it was a great reminder that both are definitely up to the task in all sorts of situations.
Anyway, it was such a fun Bike to Hike—my first in a long time.
My next goal is to hike in my Mountain Clogs.
You can find a wide selection of BEDROCK SANDALS at Circles stores, our web shop, and of course, at Circles Tokyo.
If you live in the Tokyo area or happen to be in town for business, please be sure to stop by Circles Tokyo.
