My three-month apprenticeship at Culture Club, which began in March, has come to an end.
On the final day, so many of the customers I met over these three months came by to see me; I am truly filled with nothing but gratitude for this three-month experience.
Once again, thank you all so very, very much!!
As a grand finale, I set out on a ride from Nagoya to Tokyo along the Tomei route!
Wait, didn't you just do that recently?
I can almost hear you saying that (or rather, I was actually asked that. Haha). But the last time, it was an unconventional Tomei ride with John, taking three days to enjoy Lake Yamanaka and some gravel riding for Nagoya’s anniversary event.
This time, it was the classic route: sticking primarily to National Route 1—the main artery of Japan—and the historical Old Tokaido road, just heading east as hard as we could. And for this trip, I was joined by my best buddy, the big eater Asai-chan!
Day 1: Time to depart! From Nagoya to the holy land of Shikiji: A battle against hunger and headwinds, approx. 200km
The journey started, naturally, at Circles. Unfortunately, it wasn't a clear, sunny morning, but it was cloudy and slightly chilly—perfect conditions for riding.
Just as we were about to start pedaling, Daisaku, with whom I shared the joys and sorrows of my three months at Culture Club, showed up as a surprise! Thanks, Daisaku!!
So, off we went as a sudden three-man cell, aiming for the "Shikiji" sauna sanctuary in Shizuoka City! It’s a long haul of about 200km from Nagoya.
The first leg took us through the Nagoya city center, and then just straight east on Route 1. After short breaks, we passed Okazaki and Toyohashi, moving from Aichi to Shizuoka. Once we cleared Lake Hamana, it was time for the long-awaited lunch break! We made a pit stop at the famous Hamamatsu gyoza spot, "Fukumitsu." We devoured the vegetable-heavy, light Hamamatsu gyoza and headed into the second half of the day.
However, the energy boost from the delicious gyoza was short-lived, as the real trial began right after. By midday, a fierce headwind of about 7m/s picked up, blocking our path!
At times like that, you form a paceline to endure it, and thanks to our surprise helper Daisaku, we managed to push through the headwind section. Due to some accidents involving rain, we parted ways with Daisaku in Kakegawa. Thank you so much, Daisaku!
After that, we struggled against the headwind and the rain that had started to fall until we finally arrived at "Shikiji"! For our exhausted bodies, their sauna and the natural spring water cold bath were truly heavenly... Asai-kun and I washed away the day’s sweat and congratulated each other on surviving the first day's intense battle.
Day 2: Over Hakone with Mt. Fuji at our backs!
Revitalized at Shikiji, we welcomed the second day. Unfortunately, we weren't blessed with the weather, with rain forecast for the morning and evening onwards. We abandoned our plans for an early start, but decided, "Let's at least climb Hakone," changed our plan, and traveled by train to Mishima to start pedaling.
The road to Lake Ashi at the top is about 20km with an 800m elevation gain. There aren't any brutally steep sections—it's a road you climb rhythmically—but when you glance back, you can see the view of Suruga Bay unfolding below, and the magnificent Mt. Fuji even peeked out for us a little bit!
Many people choose the route through Gotemba for the Tomei ride as it’s less strenuous, but being able to see the road you've traveled is the ultimate reward and gives you such a sense of accomplishment!
After descending the Hakone mountains, we cruised along the "Pacific Coast Bicycle Path" beside Sagami Bay. With the sparkling sea on our side, we aimed for our goal in Toranomon.
But alas, more strong winds and rain... and due to time constraints, we ended up taking the train from Shinagawa and arriving in Toranomon.
What to wear for a ride
What was particularly comfortable on this ride was the RAL Merino Tee. Temperature control is crucial for long-distance rides.
This T-shirt, which has polyester on the outside and merino wool on the inside, is highly quick-drying and does a great job of regulating body temperature after you’ve worked up a sweat. Of course, even when I got sweaty during the ride, I didn't feel any discomfort against my skin, and it dried quickly.
Climbing mountain passes like Hakone is the most demanding scenario, as the sweat you work up on the ascent can chill you instantly on the descent. But because it dries so quickly, I was surprised by how dry I felt when I reached the top; simultaneously, there was very little chill from sweat on the descent, and even when it started raining, I was able to keep riding without getting cold.
Not only is it quick-drying, but the simple design of this wool tee means it doesn't look out of place in the city—a key point. It worked perfectly as casual wear during the ride and at our lodging! Choosing this apparel was definitely the right call!
This ride reminded me once again of the importance of good food and a bath to soothe your exhaustion! I've posted the logs for those of you curious about this route, so please try challenging yourselves, too!
With that said, I’ll be waiting for you at Circles Tokyo starting this month!
