It seems that this year, RIDEALIVE is going to be held for women only. And the location will be the great northern land of Hokkaido.
I heard about it this past spring. In fact, this is my first time participating in RIDEALIVE. Never did I imagine I would be joining as a staff member, but there was no reason to say no.
The venue for this event is Hokkaido. Those living on the mainland will almost certainly have to fly. The hurdle is raised significantly just by the prospect of flying with a bicycle.
My role was mechanic and ride leader. To alleviate the participants' anxieties as much as possible, I planned workshops on things like puncture repair and packing bicycles for travel, as well as a girls-only ride. I went ahead with the preparations, aiming to be as well-prepared as possible for the main event.
Women who gathered despite the typhoon
Around 9:00 AM. Participants began arriving one after another at Kutchan Station, our starting point. Due to the typhoon, one person from the Kansai region was unable to make it, but 19 women joined us from not only Nagoya, but also Hokkaido, Kansai, and the Kanto region.
The women who gathered at the rainy Kutchan Station started the event with our customary shout of "RIDEALIVE!!!"
This is the route we rode. (We took the train from Niseko Station to Yoichi Station.)
Based in Niseko, we spent two days cycling around Mt. Yotei, which is representative of Hokkaido. On the first day, we rode around Mt. Yotei from Kutchan Station, and on the second day, we rode the Niseko Panorama Line, aiming for the mystical "Shinsen-numa," said to be the most beautiful spot in the Niseko mountain range.
The scenery was spectacular, no matter how far we rode. That’s why it felt so good the more we rode. Perhaps it was because of this weather that various stories unfolded. Mountain weather is always changing. One moment it was raining, the next the rain stopped and the sunlight peeked through. But then, in an instant, clouds covered the sky and it started raining again. Even though it was Hokkaido, wearing a rain jacket in the summer felt just like being in a steam bath.
Along the way, I spotted potatoes and carrots lying by the side of the road and couldn't help but chuckle. This, too, is uniquely Hokkaido.
During the ride, I tried to have "saddle talk" with everyone. It makes the ride more enjoyable, helps you forget the tough parts, and is a great chance to close the distance between one another. The talk mainly revolved around cycling—basic things like how to brake, shift gears, or pedal.
I would offer advice, telling them to relax their shoulders and take it easy. Sometimes I even gave them a push on their backs. It varied from person to person, but one common thing among women: I think I spent the most time adjusting saddles.
There was always "girl talk" during breaks and meals, and it was all incredibly memorable. Especially on the first night, as we all introduced ourselves, each person opened up about her own anxieties and worries. The topics were much deeper than when we were on our bikes, touching on many concerns specific to women. Once the girls started talking, they just couldn't stop.
Shinsen-numa was like another world.
To get there, you have to ride the 20km ascent of the Niseko Panorama Line, followed by a 30-minute hike.
Perhaps it was because it was cloudy that the plants looked so ethereal. And beside me, I’m sure someone’s legs must have been screaming from the hard route of cycling followed by hiking.
Finally, we headed to our last destination, PRESS CAFE, and there were two ways to get there. One group took the train from Niseko Station, while the other group took the train from Niseko to Yoichi and then cycled the rest of the way. Most chose to ride, wanting to enjoy this moment to the very end.
Riding along the coast as the sun began to set, it felt lonely knowing that it was all coming to an end.
While having curry at PRESS CAFE, we looked back on the two days that had flown by so quickly. And where are we going next? It was as if we were already heading toward our next destination.
Everyone approaches cycling in their own way
Meeting and engaging with so many women this time caused various changes within myself, too. Even though our goals and purposes were different, we laughed, we cried, and we accomplished it together.
I will never forget the time I spent in such a wonderful place with such wonderful people.
Hearing a participant say, "I’m going to make cycling my hobby!" was the happiest moment for me and made me feel that it was all worth it.
I hope to meet many more women in the future and hope that the number of women who cycle continues to grow. That is why I will continue to ride. Believing that the future is bright.
To all the participants, as well as the many who cooperated to make this GIRLS RIDEALIVE possible, I have nothing but gratitude. Thank you so much.
TODAY’S RIDER
AYA【AYA BIKES】
-BIKE SPECS-
| Frame | SimWorks | Doppo Racer |
| Paint | Kyutai Paint | |
| HeadSet | ChrisKing | |
| Rim | HED | Belgium C2 + |
| Hub | ChrisKing | |
| Tire | SimWorks by PANARACER | The Homage |
| Handle | SimWorks by NITTO | Wonderer Bar |
| Stem | SimWorks by NITTO | Rhonda |
| SeatPost | NITTO | S92 |
| Main Group | SHIMANO | ULTEGRA |
| Frame Pump | SILCA | Impero Ultimate |
| Front Bag | outer shell adventure | Drowcord Handlebar Bag |
| Seat Pack | PORCELAIN ROCKET | VERA |
| Frame Pack | PORCELAIN ROCKET | Universal FramePack |
-WEAR SPECS-
| Helmet | SMITH OPTICS | Network |
| Sunglasses | SMITH OPTICS | Cairn |
| Shoes | BEDROCK | Snare |
| Shirt | PATAGONIA | Nine Trails Shirt |
| Vest | RINGTAIL | Breezer Vest |
TEXT by AYA ／ PHOTO by Eri Tanaka