I went to Bikelore.

I spent the first two days of the three-day weekend at Akigase Park in Saitama, where I went to enjoy the Forest of Akigase Bikelore 5!

True to its name, “A Bicycle Field Day for Kids and Adults,” this event gathers a wide variety of bikes and riders.
With plenty of food and retail booths, it created an environment that was enjoyable even for those not participating in the races.
You could call it a festival of sorts.

Held over two days, the races were diverse—ranging from highly competitive events like the Team Rally, Fan Class, and Fast Class, to more entertainment-focused races like the Cargo Bike Race and the Owl Class, which is becoming less of a costume parade and more of a "night parade of one hundred demons" (lol).

Although it is a CX-style race, unlike AJOCC races, there are no categories, and in the spirit of a "bicycle field day," you’d see the occasional fixed-gear bike or small-wheeled bike. It was like a mixed martial arts event.

I took part in the Team Rally and Sunset Race on the first day, and the Fast Class on the second; each was a fun experience with a uniquely different atmosphere. People would offer you food from the sidelines, and in the Fast Class, I just couldn't keep up with the fast CX riders... that sort of thing.
For the Sunset race, I wrapped fairy lights around my body, and every time I did a lap, little kids would shout, "The Christmas tree is here!" (Sorry I don't have a photo, go look for it! lol).

If you search #bikelore5 on Instagram, I think you'll get a feel for the vibe, so please check it out! The costumes, in particular, are fun just to look at.

Also, it seems Josh and Shige-san were fighting hard in their new team kits at the Kansai CX Round 4 Makino, which was happening at the same time.
To tell the truth, I got carried away and built up a race bike myself, and I’ll be racing CX this season with the Cielo/SimWorks CX Team.

I'm starting in C4, but I'll do my best not to drag the name of the bike or the team through the mud. If you see the bike at a race, feel free to heckle me! lol

See you next week at Nobeyama CX!

Photo by phunta