Special Thanks / Photo By Kenji Muto a.k.a @muto_photo
Odaiba was shining.
I believe this applies to all ideas: once you have a "discovery," the next step is to let your "imagination" expand, and then simply take the plunge and start running—that is how I respond to the high-fives from everyone.
My heart naturally races at the return of sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN to Odaiba, Tokyo, again this year.
Although it is only the second round of the year, the motivation of both the riders and the spectators is already sky-high; the "Soran Bushi" of the sfiDARE CRIT world has descended upon Odaiba.
I hope you will take the time to read through this report, which always gets my heart racing, via this Uno-chan series.
Now then, please see it through to the end.
Peace 🟰 Running
This is the champion who seized victory in this race.
I’d like to tell the story in order, but please forgive me if I write this with my emotions running ahead of me.
I have always believed that running is, in itself, peace.
Of course, as riders on the sfiDARE CRIT stage, not a single one of us is coasting through a "comfort zone" of peace.
But even within that intensity, the piece that is peace is scattered throughout; I believe it is precisely because everyone had that feeling of "I want to go to that place" that sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN continues to exist today.
As goes without saying, the person who always makes an appearance in this Uno-chan series is the representative of sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN, "Toshifumi Kodama" (a.k.a. Tossy). It’s nostalgic to think that it was 6 years ago that I first met Kodama-san.
Getting to be an old man now. (Haha)
That said, it’s also true that Uno-chan is often told by people he meets, "You've aged, haha." (I'm 34).
Back to the topic, if someone asks me, "What’s your favorite bike?", I answer "track bike (fixed gear)" immediately.
Because when you pedal, the bike moves forward.
That alone, I truly believe from the bottom of my heart, is the charm.
sfiDARE CRIT is also equipped with young power that refuses to stop pedaling.
"Sohei Shimazaki" (a.k.a. Sohei) shows flashes of growth day by day, year by year.
It might be a bit of a stretch to say it's just like his name, but I am always stimulated by him as he changes his growth speed every day while bathing in fresh light, much like a water plant being given water.
The uniform is crying tears of joy.
Sohei's riding is always fearless.
The back of him when he is in front of me always looks so lively. (Burning)
Looking around, there should be plenty of riders taller than him, yet for some reason, I am moved by his performance as he pulls ahead of the pack.
"Sohei, let's go to the final together in Kyoto next time!"
"Or rather, I'm the one losing, so I'll be chasing your back!"
⭐️I will be actively training at Heiwa Park in Nagoya City throughout July, so please get in touch if you have time!⭐️ (Sohei will be there too.)
The breeze of Odaiba also blows for the children
The children are overflowing with energy.
I always watch the children ride as if it were natural, but maybe in our generation, we couldn't have found words like "this is a real race!"
I am truly envious.
It might be fitting to say that we learn politeness from the children.
Their eyes are so serious, so genuinely enjoying themselves, and you can see how amazingly good it feels.
That was a moment when I thought that even we adults should use them as a mirror and strive to be polite people, not just when racing.
Races change their colors
I believe a race is a color.
I imagine the sky is blue, the ground is gray, and the riders are white, but the moment they are bathed in a spotlight, they mysteriously dye themselves in multiple hues.
The race preliminaries started in the rain, just like last year.
In the preliminaries, we raced in groups of about a dozen people each. (There were 4 groups).
The riders were already fully prepared for the rainy conditions as they moved their pieces forward.
"Crown Jewel, Crown Jewel..." How many dozens of times have I watched that on YouTube?
When I'm chanting that, I have to resist the urge to shout, "It's a race!" but "Satoshi Kaneko" (a.k.a. Kaneyan), familiar to everyone from the BLUE LUG Hatagaya store, made his debut at sfiDARE CRIT ODAIBA.
Personally, I was so happy!
I don't have any specific anecdotes about Kaneyan-san, but going back about 9 years, to the days before he even realized Uno-chan existed.
In the dead of winter during the CX (Cyclocross) season, I felt a sense of familiarity with him in Nobeyama, just calling him "Kaneyan!" to myself.
Since that time, I've never even spoken to him, but why?
I had guessed that Kaneyan-san must be a kind-hearted person.
As time passed, now I visit the Hatagaya store whenever I have time to say hello.
I'm grateful to him for worrying about me in the infirmary on the day of the race when I fell.
I've fully recovered thanks to him, so let's both build our fitness for the next race in Kyoto.
"Kaneyan-san, I love you."
To the Final Battle
If you don't give up, you'll make it to the dance (the final).
I don't recall giving up, but as expected, the strong riders are looking further ahead than I could imagine.
Without forgetting this frustration, I will do my best to ensure I can stand on this field next time.
Once it came to the final, a battle was unfolding where you couldn't afford to be careless for even a minute or a second.
Among them, "Takaki Nonomura" (a.k.a. Negima) pushed forward from the start with outstanding propulsion. I really felt the energy radiating from him, that "I'm going to win!" spirit.
Spectators were glued to his form as he cleared tight corners again and again from the first half.
Even after falling once, (his handlebars were twisted, though, sweat) his refusal to give up only heightened the spirit of the dance.
The one who magnificently and brilliantly took the championship was the defending champion, "Mizuki Naka" (a.k.a. Naka-kun).
The final was held over 20 laps, and although Naka-kun was riding toward the middle of the pack in the first half, he gradually meshed his physical strength with his mental fortitude, lightly passing the lead group and brilliantly demonstrating overwhelming strength.
He is a man originally immersed in the cyclocross season.
However, it seems he was captured by this sfiDARE CRIT and has also been drawn into the fun of criteriums.
Once that happened, perhaps the feeling of "I won't let the victory go to anyone else" sprouted; keep an eye on Naka-kun, who appears in every season's race and shows his overwhelming presence.
"Naka-kun, congratulations on the win!!"
In Closing
Being able to praise one another is a wonderful time.
If you have that feeling, you can call yourself a true sfiDARE CRIT rider.
There are no words for "winner" or "loser" there.
The closing text ends up summarizing the same things every time.
Still, I want to express my gratitude to the sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN operation team.
Thanks to your loading and transport from early in the morning, and your warm support during the competition, we riders can face the race with peace of mind.
A hot Kyoto still awaits us.
As riders, we will continue to challenge ourselves with the passion of sfiDARE CRIT, so let's continue to work together to make the event even more exciting for everyone!
I love sfiDARE CRIT.
Uno-chan
