I was surprised to find how much the sound of crunching through fresh snow—*gyu, gyu*—could lift my spirits.
My first ride of 2021 was on January 2nd, when I headed out into the mountains of Seto, where snow from New Year's Eve and New Year's Day still remained.
On the way from Nagoya to the Seto city area, I could see mountains dusted with snow in every direction. The roads from the meeting point onwards, which I usually know well, felt completely new and fresh, thanks to the snow and the sunlight reflecting off of it.
Of course, it wasn’t just the scenery; the road conditions felt through the tires were also a new experience. I enjoyed a ride unlike any other, and felt genuinely excited to tread through fresh snow that no one else had left tracks on yet.
We were lucky that the snow and ice on the paved roads were limited to short stretches between gravel sections, so it wasn't very stressful—in fact, we even enjoyed that part.
It was a short ride that finished around noon to accommodate afternoon plans, but there is no doubt that everyone who rode together had a fulfilling time.
Anticipating a snow ride, I bought new WTB / Venture 700 x 40c tires at the end of the year, as well as LAKE / MX145-X cycling shoes and HESTRA / Ergo Grip Active gloves for this winter season; all of them performed exactly as expected.
While there will likely be many more rides in harsh cold ahead, as long as you are well-prepared, you can fully enjoy them and savor the true pleasure of this season.
Winter is only just beginning.
