RIDE LIFE

BIKE2SAUNA

Ryosuke Takei

I used to think saunas were just for boxers trying to make weight.

As a skinny kid, I felt they had nothing to do with me, and I figured riding my bike was more than enough to work up a sweat.

I first heard that saunas were "the real deal" around 2014, when Katsuki Tanaka began serializing "Manga Sado: Sauna Way through Manga" in Morning (a weekly manga magazine). I remember telling Shinya Tanaka, the head of Circles who was already obsessed with saunas at the time, and their cycling club member, Darti, "It seems like saunas are pretty great; there's even a manga about them now." They brushed me off, saying, "We've been telling you that. It's the real deal."

By the way, "Sado" was originally a web serial, so you can still read the original work. Everyone has their own philosophy when it comes to being a "sauner," but reading that definitely changed my perception of saunas.

The first chapter covers general misconceptions about saunas.
http://modernfart.jp/2009/07/359/

It’s not just for diet and health; it’s a ritual to reach Nirvana. And chapters 2-4 discuss how the essence of a sauna lies in the cold water bath.
http://modernfart.jp/2009/08/1002/
http://modernfart.jp/2009/08/1454/
http://modernfart.jp/2009/09/3399/

There’s a whole eye-opening world of saunas—from the dark side to further evolution—so check out all 13 chapters using the table of contents hidden in the bottom right.

Now, with the understanding that saunas have something in common with drugs, meditation, or yoga, the psychological barrier to going to a sauna alone can still be high. The people who finally brought me—a long-time sauna virgin—into this new world were otakuhouse, who organized this BIKE2SAUNA event, the Osaka bike shop movement, and the crew from Tent Sauna Party, who specialize in mobile saunas.

To cut to the chase: it was absolutely incredible. Beyond the appeal of the sauna itself, it pairs perfectly with bike rides and camping. I believe "ride + tent sauna" has as much potential as the "ride + food" combinations I’ve been experimenting with for years.
The video above captures it well and shows exactly what kind of event it was, but let's take a look at it chronologically through photos.

BIKE to SAUNA

We aimed for the gate of Ninna-ji, a World Heritage site in Rakusai, meeting up a bit late. It’s a fact not well-known to anyone but people from Nagoya, but Kyoto and Nagoya are only about 30 minutes apart by train. It’s incredibly close.
At this time of year, you just catch a glimpse of the golden wheat fields from the train window and you're already there.

I quickly assembled my bike at the station.

We had to go to Inoda Coffee, a long-established Kyoto institution, for breakfast because you have to hit Inoda on Sanjo-Sakaimachi.

We headed northwest, following the gravel roads that naturally form within the gravel paths of the Imperial Palace grounds.

It’s about 10km from Kyoto Station to Ninna-ji on the edge of the city. I hadn't participated in many events in the Kansai region, so I was nervous being around so many new people.
After this, we split into road and dirt routes and set off.

We hit the mountain trails shortly after starting. I’m envious of how close the mountains are to the city here.

It was a fun route—short, but with river crossings and some hike-a-bike sections.
We finished with a steep climb, but the warm-up for the sauna had already begun.

Two sauna tents standing by the lakeside, and the delicious aroma of curry from Shinrin Shokudo. Are you going to do the sauna? Or have some curry and beer?

I know the happiness of eating a good meal after a long ride, but I never imagined a sauna would present itself as an equal alternative. I prioritized the sauna this time—our main event—and later learned that if you go into the sauna while your heart is racing and your sweat glands are open from the ride, you reach that "totonou" (transcendental state) much faster.

"Manga Sado" mentions that the contraction of blood vessels due to temperature differences leads to pleasure, and Shinya Tanaka says that entering cold water triggers the release of endorphins—the brain’s natural drugs—to maintain survival. I don't have enough experience to say for sure, but there are definitely those moments. Using words like "entering Nirvana" or "getting high" feels a bit too drug-related, but that's not it; "totonou" (to be settled/aligned) is the perfect term. When done right, both mind and body become perfectly "aligned."

At night, we camped around a bonfire. In preparation for a sauna the next morning.

And first thing in the morning: sauna & beer. The best.

Participant Snapshots

Here are some of the participants of this BIKE2SAUNA event—a crazy idea that actually seems quite accessible once you try it.

First, the organizers: Tent Sauna Party / otakuhouse / movement

The duo from CYCLE, a bicycle free paper. It was cool seeing them work while holding their kid. Looking forward to the article in the next issue.

We had a diverse group of participants, from French riders and trail runners who had done 60km, to small-wheel bikes and even city bikes. It was interesting.
My gear is listed at the bottom.

As I wrote at the beginning, it was truly the best. Honestly, I’m a little jealous that they got to do this first.
The second event will likely be held in the autumn, when the water temperature (a crucial element of the sauna) drops. I'm already looking forward to it!
Keep an eye on the Tent Sauna Party Instagram for updates.