Fully Spent
This one phrase perfectly sums up my RIDEALIVE 2016.
It wouldn't be fun to do the same thing as last year, right?!
Since it's summer, I want to have more adventures!!
Driven by this simple desire to challenge myself, the starting point was naturally decided, and this year's RIDEALIVE began with me trying to gather as many friends as possible who would agree to join this challenging ride.
In planning the route for the first day, there were three main points.
#1 Meeting up with friends.
#2 Visiting a coffee shop in the mountains that I had been curious about.
#3 Keeping the first day loose and relaxed, as we were a women's team.
And so, the elite women's team was assembled.
The conversation was lively and cheerful from in front of Early Birds, our starting point, and we pedaled along briskly for about five minutes.
We arrived at our first hurdle.
It was the Rinko (bicycle transport) from the nearest station, Tsurumai Station.
The trouble of removing our gear and packing our bikes—already equipped for a two-day, one-night camping trip—into bags, and then the ordeal of carrying everything down to the platform... I'm sure our faces were grimacing.
The train, carrying our heavy-weight bicycles and us, moved steadily toward our second destination.
Rinko takes a bit of effort and energy, but this experience made me realize once again that the benefits far outweigh the hassle.
It allowed us to spend the time we would have spent riding on "communication" with friends and "detours," while also reducing the "anxiety" caused by the ever-approaching time limit.
Since I was a bit worried about the weather, I felt relieved that we had chosen to use the train, and just like that, we arrived at Toyotashi Station in no time. We assembled our bikes, adjusted our ride gear, and headed to meet the friends waiting for us in Toyota.
The first person we met here was "Monja," who kindly agreed to act as the lead for our women's team.
The second person was Midori, who was participating with her family. The plan was for Mom to ride on the first day and Dad on the second, and they saw us off with their lovely child.
With everyone gathered, it was time to start!
We left the streets of Toyota, became increasingly enveloped by greenery, and plunged straight into the heart of nature.
Our destination was a campsite in the Shimoyama district of Toyota City, but before that, we aimed for our target coffee shop.
Pedaling with rhythm, we felt a thrill knowing that the roads we were traveling for the first time were leading us to unexplored places.
The map pointed to a spot deep in the mountains.
Following the map, we pedaled along a cool and pleasant road surrounded by greenery.
At this point, our leader kept saying things like "Are you sure it's really here?" out of anxiety. I replied confidently, "It’s here, it's definitely here!", but in reality, we had been riding on a deserted forest road for a while, so I was actually nervous andドキドキ (heart-pounding) until we arrived.
When we saw the sign for the coffee shop at a corner, I was overjoyed. "See, I told you it was here!" I declared confidently, while secretly feeling relieved.
Driven by anticipation and the aroma of coffee, we moved quickly up a steep slope so sharp we couldn't ride our bikes up it, and there waiting for us was WORK BENCH COFFEE ROASTERS, which had been rebuilt from an old private house.
Between the location and the atmosphere of the old house, there was no way we couldn't get excited.
These kinds of detours and the joy of food are the true pleasures of a ride we build ourselves, and they become the fuel that helps us get through steep hills and rough roads.
The encounters and communication at the places we visit are also important, turning into new discoveries and lasting memories.
The coffee stand is currently in its pre-opening stage, and two guys in their 20s were running the shop, serving coffee and Japanese sweets.
Listening to them passionately share their thoughts on shop-building, coffee, studying abroad in Portland, and their experiences training overseas in their own words was inspiring for us, and it gave us another reason to revisit this place.
After fully enjoying the delicious coffee and the atmosphere, and taking in plenty of fresh air, we had charged both our stomachs and hearts, and set off for our next destination.
Reading this far, you might think it was a smooth ride—I wish it had been—but in reality, we had our share of ups and downs in terms of both the road and our situation.
We took many wrong turns and ended up climbing long mountain roads that we shouldn't have had to, which made for some tough, breath-stealing moments.
(Which is why the data above doesn't quite match the route lab figures below. Haha)
Just a little more until the goal! We were held up by some heavy rain.
But because unexpected things happen, the experience becomes interesting, and the sense of accomplishment is multiplied many times over.
This RIDEALIVE was my second long ride, and although I was still immature as a cyclist, I managed to finish it.
I had to put my feet down many times on steep, difficult climbs and almost gave up, but thanks to the encouragement of the friends waiting ahead and the support of those behind me, I was able to reach the goal with a smile.
Because it was so tough, the feeling of accomplishment was profound—a truly wonderful goal!
Your body is absolutely exhausted, but there is a joy waiting for you there that blows all that fatigue away!
Since my body knows that feeling, I strongly think, "I want to ride again!"
Bicycles are something I use every day for commuting and daily life, but if you broaden your perspective on how to look at and use them, and if you take on a challenge, they transform into infinite possibilities and the ultimate form of play.
RIDEALIVE 2016 was a time where I re-experienced that, and gave it my absolute all along with my bicycle and my friends.
Where should I go next?
With my bike, of course.
My next challenge trip has already begun in my head.
And so on.
TODAY’S RIDER
MIYUKI【PINEFIELDSMARKET】
| Frame | SURLY | PACER / 43cm | |
| HeadSet | ChrisKing | Sour Apple | |
| Rim | VeloCity | A23 | |
| Tire | Panaracer | GRAVEL KING / 700x28c | |
| Stem | SimWorks | RHONDA | |
| SeatPost | SimWorks | Beatnik | |
| Main Group | SHIMANO | Tiagra | |
| Pannier Bag | JANDD | Grocery Pannier | |
| Tent | SIX MOON DESIGN | LUNA SOLO | |
| Helmet | CATLIKE | COMPACT | |
| Shoes | KEEN | COMMUTER 4 |
Text by PFM Miyumiyu ／ Photo by Eri Tanaka