Nice to meet you.
I'm shiga. Just a heads up, it's not shige.
It's already been a year since I started working part-time at circles.
Everyone calls me Shiga-chan.
I usually spend my time at university researching insect pests. Truth be told, I don't actually get many chances to wear a lab coat...
At circles, you can mostly find me in the pit, and on Fridays, I’m at HEDGEHOG DINER, ready to chat with anyone who drops by.
I love to talk, so please feel free to say hello!
There's no point in dragging on with self-introductions, so let’s move on.
It was over a week ago now, but I went to Hokkaido to participate in the Rapha Prestige Niseko!
To be honest, I'd only been riding a road bike for six months, and on top of that, I was taking on over 30km of gravel on an aluminum bike, so I was pretty anxious, but it seems that was a needless worry for Team CRC.
Riding with other people is just so much fun, isn't it? I felt it during the recent #GetSickDay ride (it was a day off for circles, but of course, I called in sick), and it really hit home that good rides need great scenery and great company. Of course, good food and hot springs are nice to have too.
I almost wiped out a few times and even felt like tossing my bike, but I made it through without any issues. The biggest trouble the team had was a rear derailleur snapping off, but we had zero flats. We were a strange team that seemed to have more energy on gravel than on pavement.
A lot of people said to me, "It's impressive you're carrying that camera on your back," to which I replied, "It's what I always do!" Maybe that mindset—just doing what you always do—was drilled into me back when I was on the soccer team in junior high.
You can find the photos here!
Almost everyone I met in Hokkaido was older than me, which made me wonder if cycling is really just a hobby for adults. Looking at the people around me, it feels like most students are either heavily involved in cycling clubs or just using their bikes for commuting, with no middle ground.
That's not true, college students. Let’s have more fun.
So, my immediate goal is to get more young people involved.
If there’s anyone who wants to try riding a Prestige, whisper it in my ear.
First off, let’s go have some fun together at #ridealive2015.
I look forward to continuing to work with you all!!!