This is my third RIDEALIVE.
I was supposed to be a pro at this by now—fully prepared, with a perfect plan, heading for an easy finish and a blissful celebratory toast! But somehow, through some mistake (or perhaps everything was a mistake?), I ended up with a tearful finish well after sunset, missing the toast entirely, despite covering over 100km with 1500m of elevation gain.
Since we barely saw anyone along the way and didn't even get any official photos taken, what on earth were we doing for those nine long hours?!
I’d like to share some excuses for our late arrival while reflecting on the journey.
My buddy for the ride traveled from Tokyo to Nagoya on the first Shinkansen of the morning, bringing his bike along.
I had naively thought that if everything went smoothly, we could head out by 8:30.
First, it was something about the Garmin,
then wondering if we should wear a different T-shirt instead,
then deciding we needed to pack sandwiches because we were hungry...
Before I knew it, after carefully tending to these trivial preparations, it was 10:30.
But hey, it’s RIDEALIVE—you want to look good, and you can’t work on an empty stomach.
It couldn't be helped.
The route I mapped out went from Nagoya to Owari Seto, over Togoshi Pass, and through Koran-kei, heading toward a campground near Lake Mikawa. As we arrived in Owari Seto under a light drizzle, we were met by several police cars blocking the road to Togoshi Pass. Apparently, a major accident had occurred, and the road was completely closed—so much so that even pedestrians weren't allowed through. We had no choice but to reroute, so we chose the Sanage Green Road. It was a significant detour, but that was fine—it was my first time riding it on a bike anyway.
Even with the unexpected detour, we didn't rush, sticking to our own pace. The scenery along the way was new to us, and curiosity got the better of our anxiety.
Gravel pits are amazing!
Is that a butterfly? Or a moth?
Ice cream is the best!
Let’s find a way down to the river!
Looks like you could catch fish here!
I wonder if sweetfish sashimi is good?
Going on like this, we made plenty of wrong turns, and it was long after the time for the toast that we finally laid eyes on Lake Mikawa.
I never imagined riding after sunset could be so grueling. As the scenery faded from view, it was replaced by the sound of rain, forgotten fatigue, and hunger. The endless uphill stretches in the dark only increased our feelings of vulnerability. We complained to each other, comforted one another, and I think we were the only two who truly felt how joyful and warm those finish-line lights were when we finally found them.
(Everyone else had probably crossed the finish line before the sun went down.)
Relieved to be around other people, we arrived with teary eyes, chattering away before immediately inhaling our curry along with a drink.
And so,
When you get right down to it, it’s not much of an excuse, but those nine hours were the result of us picking up and chasing after every single emotion and discovery we stumbled upon along the way.
But surely that’s true for any route—what you discover from the path you choose depends entirely on the person. There were things I only noticed because I was with him, and roads I never would have taken otherwise. The sheer possibility of all that is why I think I’ll always choose a bicycle as my means of travel.
The joy of sharing the load, the fun, and the hardship with someone else. Things you only realize when you're on a bike. Two days spent pedaling in search of scenery and feelings I hadn't known before. My summer's end has once again passed by safely.
TODAY’S RIDER
| Frame | Hunter Cycles | Cyclocross |
| HeadSet | ChrisKing | |
| Rim | Velocity | Fusion |
| Hub | Chris King | |
| Tire | Panaracer | Gravelking 700x28c |
| Stem | SimWorks By Nitto | Rhonda |
| Handle | SimWorks By Nitto | Misirlou 370mm |
| SeatPost | SimWorks By Nitto | Beatnik |
| Main Group | Shimano 105 | |
| Rear Carrier | Tubus | |
| Seat Bag | North St | Route7 Pannier |
| Helmet | Giro | Aspect |
| Tanktop | Patagonia | |
| Shoes | Keen | Commuter |
TEXT & PHOTO by lilükitchen Uki