It was two weeks before my trip to the US when I received a message from Riebo-chan, the big boss of SimWorks USA.
Rie: "I want you to take some photos, so please join us for the bikepacking ride after MADE~"
Eri: "Oh, where are you going?"
Rie: "It's a Super Chill Ride from Timothy Lake to Frog Lake~"
Eri: "Riding around the lake sounds lovely!"
Rie: "The builders who came to MADE will be there too, it'll definitely be fun!"
Eri: "Okay! Tell me what I need to bring!"
Rie: "Bring your super chill vibes! Bye~"
Starting with a vague exchange like that, my bikepacking camp ride with Shige-chan was set. I arrived at the meeting point—Timothy Lake at the foot of Mount Hood—dragging my exhausted body after MADE. I only tell you this in private, but although I said I’d go, I was a bit nervous since the members looked like such a high-level group and my "English brain" wasn't exactly functioning.
Whether they knew how I was feeling or not, everyone kept saying, "Eri, you have to 'relieve' the fatigue from the last few days by riding your bike!" After all, it's a Super Chill Ride, so just take it easy, they said.
Located at the foot of Mount Hood, the area is full of lakes, hiking paths, biking trails, and horse trails, crowded with people eager to make the most of Oregon's short summer. The Super Chill Ride begins, winding through pleasant singletracks along the lakeside.
After finishing the pleasant singletrack, we hit a jeep road, and were told, "From here, it's just 10 miles of climbing~." ...What!!! I wonder if I can actually make it.
I know from experience that if you keep pedaling—even slowly—you’ll eventually reach the summit, that there’s always a descent after a climb, and another climb after a descent. But what really eases the mind is, after all, the "saddle talk."
"You okay~?" "Yes, I am." (I think they can tell by my face that I’m not really okay.)
"Just a little bit more climbing~!" "I know that 'a little bit more' from a cyclist is a lie." (I answered way too seriously.)
"Want a beer?" "Thank you, I’m good." (If I drink now, I won't be able to ride.)
"Are you having fun?" "Yeah! I am!" (This part is true.)
Of course, these people are incredibly fast, but they are reliable seniors who taught me through their own actions that riding fast isn't the only way to do things.
Let me introduce some of the members I rode with.
The strongest and kinder than anyone. Since we were camping, I was surprised by how little gear he brought, but he had plenty of snacks. Whenever I got hungry, I'd go to Curtis and something would pop out! He taught me how delicious sour Haribo is.
A savior of the ride who would gently call out at the toughest moments, "Eri, are you having fun?" or "You were really fast descending that gravel road!" It makes me happy when Jeremy praises me.
Many of you likely recognize his work from Hunter Cycles posters or his illustrations for GIRO. A silent genius.
The strongest woman on a bike, whether it’s jumps or mountain riding. She’s great at lifting the mood and has a very kind heart. The OuterShell bottle she designed is still fresh in our memories.
The idea man at SimWorks. The High Plains Drifter series is a shockwave that originated from him.
Jeremy's brother, and a reliable older brother figure for us too. With a long history in the marketing department at Chris King, he is a huge foodie. If gourmet Jay is around, you won't have any trouble with food life in the US!
The designer of the POBS shirts we carry at Circles. As a creator, Bob is stylish even on outdoor adventures! Whether it’s riding in Stan Smiths or his Retrotec basket bike, he is overflowing with style.
The up-and-coming frame builder Tom and his friends. It was so cute that they showed up for a sudden ride wearing Crocs! And everyone is such a good person. Thank you for encouraging me so many times!!
You can’t talk about SimWorks USA without this person. A lovable and incredibly strong communicator with many entertaining stories. Many American cyclists have been drawn in by her vitality.
With a big party of 20, that was my two-day bikepacking trip with this intense group. Even though I jumped into it with nothing but "Super Chill Vibes," and it was a bumpy journey where I kept making the fast riders wait because it didn't match my own riding strength, I gained another big experience.
The American DUDES taught me:
That having a fun attitude is what matters most, even when going slowly. That happy vibes are meant to be shared.
Loading the minimum necessary gear onto your bike (though a fully loaded bike is great too!), grabbing delicious food and drinks, and riding with friends is something that lets you completely forget the fatigue of daily life.
If asked whether that was a "Super Chill Ride," it’s hard to nod affirmatively, but if asked if I would participate again, I would surely nod enthusiastically.
The setup around the handlebars was perfect, making it very easy to take photos while riding, so I want to apply this setup to my bike back in Japan!
I used the Randi Jo Fabrications Bartender Plus bag for spare lenses, and the OuterShell Adventure Rack Bag for the camera body. (I mostly carried it on my back while riding, but it was perfect for quickly stashing the camera in the front bag when I was climbing alone.)
