Hi! Daisaku here.
RIDEALIVE is now less than a month away.
As you've been getting ready, I imagine many of you have been putting your kit together bit by bit: tent, bags, clothing, a multi-tool and so on.
In the middle of all that, there's one thing I don't want you to forget to bring.
That is the "knowledge" to deal with trouble.
This first aid workshop will be held over two days, Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17!
It will be the last workshop before RIDEALIVE.
We plan to keep running first aid workshops regularly, but for those of you joining RIDEALIVE, this is the last chance to prepare before the day.
Workshops we've kept running for RIDEALIVE
It may sound a little dramatic, but it's no exaggeration to say that the first aid workshops we've held so far, this one included, have been kept going for the sake of RIDEALIVE.
At RIDEALIVE there is no set route, and no staff to lead the way.
You draw your own route, make your own plan, work out what gear you need, and on the day you head for the destination under your own power.
That is exactly why, when something goes wrong along the way,
"What is happening?"
"Can we handle this ourselves?"
"Is it OK to keep going?"
"Should we turn back here?"
are questions you have to answer for yourselves.
Of course, you don't need to be able to solve every problem on your own.
What matters is being able to stay calm when something happens, look at the situation, and decide what you can do then and there.
The first aid workshop is the preparation for that.
Rather than thinking about it for the first time once trouble strikes, get hands-on, think it through and experience it once now, while nothing is wrong!
Friday, October 16 focuses on the basics.
The 16th is recommended for first-time participants too.
On the bike side, rather than just memorizing how to deal with problems, we start by understanding how a bicycle is put together.
Specifically, the "rear derailleur."
It's a part whose workings are hard to grasp, and with so many screws on it, it's hard to know what to touch and how.
And yet it's also where trouble tends to happen when you crash or the bike falls over.
We'll explain the structure thoroughly and show you exactly where to make adjustments.
For first aid for the body, too, you'll learn basic treatment and ways of thinking for the injuries that can happen on a ride.
The instructor is Yoshinobu Takagi, a nurse who himself enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities, including cycling and mountaineering.
First of all: know it, try it with your own hands, and learn how to think about it.
It's recommended not only for those who have never joined a first aid workshop, but also for those who want to learn again, and for anyone who wants to take on tours and events on their own from here on, RIDEALIVE included!
Saturday, October 17 is more hands-on, held outdoors!
The 17th is for those who have joined before, or who want to go one step further into practical content.
For the bike, you'll actually work on the derailleur area yourself, building on what you've learned.
The session is held outdoors, so be sure to bring your bike and helmet!
Because it's the bike you ride every day, what you learn in the workshop carries straight over to handling trouble on a ride.
This time we go deeper into the basics, covering
- A review of wound care: infection control and treatment
- How to respond to someone who has lost consciousness
- What you can do while waiting for rescue
- How to immobilize an injured ankle
- Understanding how to hand over to medical services and report concisely
and more.
On top of that, participants will receive an original first aid kit.
[Fri 10/16: Basics]
- Date & time:
Friday, October 16 / 16:00~18:30- Meeting place: Circles
- Fee: 4,000 yen
- Capacity: 10 people
- What to bring: there's a lot of information, so we recommend bringing something to take notes!
[Sat 10/17: Hands-on]
- Date & time:
Saturday, October 17 / 10:00~13:00 *Indoors in case of rain.- Meeting place: Circles
- Fee: 4,000 yen
- Capacity: 10 people
- What to bring: your bike, helmet, and your own multi-tool
What you equip yourself with isn't just gear.
Getting all sorts of items ready for RIDEALIVE is important, but
"knowing what to do if something happens"
is, I believe, a piece of equipment too.
Tools you can pack in a bag and take with you.
Knowledge and experience can't be seen, but once you have them, you can carry them on every ride from here on.
To ride this RIDEALIVE through safely and have fun doing it, and to keep planning your own routes and heading farther afield after that,
let's make sure we're equipped with that item that isn't a thing: "knowledge"!
The last first aid workshop before RIDEALIVE.
We look forward to seeing you there!