Kiminori Yanase is back, baby!!!
Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, and I’m definitely not back to 100% yet.
I wanna...
I wanna ride~~~~~...
And so, I was finally able to start running again.
(My body feels good, but my camera lens has been acting up suddenly due to the impact of the crash...)
Revenge Ride Accomplished
On July 19th, about four months after breaking my collarbone in multiple places, I put on my cycling jersey, bib shorts, and clip-in shoes for the first time in a while.
The location was Taki Town, Mie Prefecture, just like that day. But a different course than before.
Taking in the mountain scenery, chatting with friends, and occasionally racing each other—it was a truly enjoyable and fulfilling ride. My body felt good, and I even managed to finish ahead in those little "race" moments. Plus, since there were many new roads and sights I’d never seen before, I was incredibly satisfied with this first ride back after my injury.
Also, since this route was near the place where I broke my bone, finishing it safely and without incident felt like a way of warding off bad luck. Let's just call it a "revenge ride" accomplished.
To My Home Course, Sangunyama
Then, two weeks ago, on August 9th, I went out for a ride in the same gear and setup. Since the weather was unstable, I decided to head to my home course, the Sangunyama Observatory.
The person who rode with me was a long-time regular customer, a senior-like figure to me, who rides a SEVEN CYCLES Axiom SL. The climb up Sangunyama for the first time in a while was tough; I felt a bit discouraged, thinking, "Wait, I’m this bad at climbing?"—the exact opposite of the "Oh! I can still move pretty well!" feeling I had last time. Still, thanks to my mentor leading the way the whole time, I was able to make it to the summit and the observatory.
We took photos of the usual scenery, sheltered from the rain a few times, and made it back to Seto City without any problems. We capped it off with a karaage set meal at our usual spot, Nasubi, before heading home. Regardless, this ride was only a success thanks to my mentor—thank you very much!
Well, like that, I’m still not 100%, but I’m satisfied that I’ve reached a point where I can enjoy riding while being careful about various things.
However, I really shouldn’t get too carried away...
Of course, I intend to place various restrictions on myself mentally.
But once I start riding, that all slips my mind completely. Riding is just too much fun, and my jersey and clip-in shoes only push me to ride more. At the end of the day, there's no doubt that this style is the most comfortable way to ride.
| HELMET | KPLUS Alpha |
| SUNGLASS | SIMTH OPTICS XC |
| CYCLES JERSEY | SEARCH AND STATE S2-R Short Sleeve Jersey Black Ops Camo |
| BIB SHORTS | SEARCH AND STATE S4 Performance Bib Short |
| BASELAYER | ASSOS M’s Summer NS Skin Layer |
| SOCKS | ASSOS RS Socks Superleger Low |
| SHOES | QUOC Mono II |
Camera in the bag, not on my back
Speaking of restrictions, I’ve set one physical limit: the camera stays in a front bar bag, not over my shoulder.
Since I started riding again, I’ve been using the Cunningham Camera Bag from TADE QUI. It’s perfect for storing essential items like snacks and tools, and with its sturdy padding, I can store my camera with peace of mind.
It has plenty of pockets and straps on the outside. I can organize smaller items, and use the straps to carry jackets, vests, or even my Bedrock sandals. There’s still a lot I haven’t fully utilized yet, but it’s easy to imagine it becoming a staple on my rides. I plan to do a proper review of this bag later.
Oh, right, I haven't really explained the cause of my multiple collarbone fractures, but I’m sure you can guess. It was all down to my own carelessness.
Everyone, please be careful when taking a camera on a ride! lol
