Hello! This is Yoshimoto from Circles Tokyo.
On a super personal note, I actually took the qualification exams for Bicycle Safety Maintenance and Bicycle Technician at the end of last month. I spent my days off studying for exams for the first time since high school, so I hadn’t been able to do any of my favorite bicycle riding for a while.
Watching the OMM-related blogs pop up one after another was more than enough to stir things up for me, having been stuck watching the shop during OMM, and my desire to go out and play was about to explode. Haha.
As is the case every year, what leaves an impression about OMM are the scenes of people jumping into the river during stream crossings and looking like they’re having the time of their lives. In Tokyo, where temperatures have been exceeding 35°C day after day, I was truly envious of everyone’s smiles...
Just then, I found out that Inocchi, a great senior of mine from Nagoya, would be coming to Tokyo for the POT Equipment Store POPUP that we’re holding at Circles Tokyo starting today. So, I called Inocchi immediately and asked one thing:
"Why don’t you get off the Shinkansen early and go jump in a river with me?"
As expected of a true veteran, he agreed instantly, and off we went on a "Dobon" (splash) ride!
It felt so good, and I wanted everyone to know that you can have this kind of fun near the Kanto area even when it’s not OMM, so I’m reporting back!
BIKE TO Splash with Welldone
Our meeting point this time was Odawara Station, which is easily accessible from Tokyo Station and along the Odakyu Line. It’s very convenient to get to from the city center.
Beyond this route, it’s a very attractive area for cycling, whether for hill climbs or gravel riding. Since heading from the city center to Odawara is against the flow of commuter traffic, it’s easy to bring your bike on the train, so you really have to take advantage of it!
After leaving Odawara Station, we headed straight for the Sakawa River. We moved north, enjoying lighthearted "saddle talk" while riding along the varied embankment paths, occasionally popping into gravel sections. The charm of group riding is that conversations flow naturally once you’re on your bike, and you quickly get to know one another.
After a while, we turned toward Hadano. The shortest and easiest route is just to stick to National Route 246, but since I’m a bit contrarian, I took the less-traveled National Route 708, repeating small ups and downs until we reached Shibusawa Station, where I met up with Inocchi coming from Nagoya.
I linked up with Inocchi at Shibusawa Station. Before the gravel climb, since we were in Hadano, we had the famous soba with tomato gelee and eggplant, re-energized ourselves, and headed toward the day’s biggest challenge.
The main event this time was a gravel hunt stretching from the base to the middle of the Tanzawa Mountains, and cooling down our overheating bodies from the hill climb in a waterfall at the end, known for its crystal-clear water.
Sweaty and exhausted, once we reached the top, we took off our cycling shoes and changed into the BEDROCK sandals attached to our saddles. The Pro model with Megagrip provides traction even on wet rocks—essential footwear for playing in the river.
With that, we were all set. Without a single regret, we went "splash!" The sense of achievement from the climb and the exhilaration resulted in the biggest smiles ever!
After fully enjoying the great outdoors, what awaited us was another pleasure I’d forgotten because the river was so incredible. That’s right: the downhill!
Big smiles here, too. The seemingly endless agony of the climb instantly transformed into sheer pleasure, and the memory of the struggle just faded away.
People often ask me, "Why do you do such grueling things?" but I guess it’s because I forget the pain. Haha.
By the way, the gravel suspension was a huge help here too!
After that, we headed back to Odawara, washed off our sweat at the bathhouse, indulged in some local seafood, and called it a day.
What you can enjoy depends on what you bring
Rides like this aren’t just about the running; the key is what you do (or can do) at your destination. Of course, the more gear you bring, the more you can enjoy yourself, but that’s the tricky part of bikepacking—it makes the riding harder.
It’s a style where you accept the heat on your back and carry your gear, using the weight to add power to your pedals. The Chips Bag 30L from my brand, WELLDONE, is the optimal solution for a backpack designed for both hiking and cycling, born from Inocchi’s experience.
It features a roll-top designed not to interfere with your helmet, and a shape that fits your body even when you’re standing to pedal. Also, true to the "Chips Bag" name, the front zip is inspired by "party-size" potato chip bags, allowing you to access items at the bottom of the bag without opening the roll-top, so you can grab what you need immediately.
Custom frame bags also have many benefits, as they allow you to place heavy items close to your center of gravity, which helps with bike stability and keeping things feeling light when standing. Inocchi used his frame bag to store heavy items like spare tubes and tools!
Crafting a frame bag with the optimal capacity and weight balance for your personal style of play is a luxurious experience. We hope to see you at Circles Tokyo over this three-day weekend!
