As Makoto-san wrote in his blog, I’ve arrived in the U.S. a little early for MADE, which is finally taking place this weekend.
There is a reason I came early; I’m not just here to attend the show, but because our most important mission is running the SimWorks booth. I’ve joined the local team during the preparation stage to help with the various groundwork required.
Or, that’s the official reason. The truth is, I have a habit of getting sick as soon as I travel by plane (I actually ended up in bed with a high fever the day after I arrived last year, lol), so they decided to let me arrive with plenty of time to spare.
I took proper precautions and made it into the country safely. In my experience, if you push yourself to stay awake until night on the first day, your body adapts to the jet lag more easily, and I think I’ll be able to head into the show without any health issues this time.
Since I arrived on the weekend and the SimWorks USA office was closed, and with things about to get busy leading up to the show, we decided to get some exercise and refresh ourselves. We headed to Sandy Ridge Trail, about an hour drive from Portland, with the two members of team SimWorks USA, Liebow and Stephen.
Summer in Portland is typically warm but dry and pleasant. Thanks to a fierce thunderstorm the day before—which felt just like the guerrilla rainstorms we get in Japan—it was somewhat cooler, and the mornings and evenings actually made me wish for long sleeves.
I imagine Japan is getting a bit more comfortable now that the typhoon has passed, but the weather here is perfect for riding.
Because it’s easily accessible from the city, there were many families and people enjoying trail rides with their dogs over the weekend. There are lines (routes) of various difficulty levels, so anyone can challenge themselves comfortably. I saw a few E-MTBs as well, and they breezed right past me on the climbs. E-MTBs really make a big difference in allowing people to enjoy trail riding regardless of age or physical ability.
So, we all went down for a quick ride.
Thanks to the previous day’s rain, the dirt surface—which is usually dry—retained just enough moisture for great grip, and I enjoyed feeling that connection to the trail as I descended.
Liebow was on the Juliana, the women’s line from Santa Cruz, which she picked up earlier this year. I was riding a hardtail Hunter I borrowed from her, and Liebow was so skilled that I felt like she was constantly egging me on from behind during the downhill sections. It’s no wonder—she’s out here constantly during the peak season.
Stephen is riding a Yeti that he recently bought to replace his old bike. He cruised along with the sound of the SRAM Eagle AXS electronic shifting, but once we hit the downhill, I’d be left in the dust after just a single corner.
It’s a bike with the latest specs, but wanting to use the underpinnings he trusts most, he hand-built them with Chris King Splatter Edition hubs on Astral Serpentine rims. Of course, he didn't cut any corners on the spokes, using SimWorks by Hoshi Peregrine spokes and raw brass nipples.
The two of them usually ride steel bikes for daily commutes and various adventures, but since trail riding is so popular in Portland, especially in the summer, it’s quintessentially local that they also have these play bikes that they put to good use.
Hitting the trails once a week, pedaling with a clear mind, and harmonizing with nature—maybe trail riding is like yoga for them.
As for me, there was a small stream near the trail, so I tried my hand at fishing for a bit after the ride, but it’s not that easy (lol). Anyway, I’ve adjusted to the time difference, so I’ll be diving into show prep for the rest of the week!
This year marks the second time the show is being held, and it’s shaping up to be an incredible one, so stay tuned! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram.