RIDEALIVE 2019 in Okinawa

RIDEALIVE in Okinawa!!!

When I first received that proposal, my heart honestly leaped.

If I remember correctly, the first time I heard about this event was in a CycloWired article in 2014.

The video I saw in that article was wonderful, and for some reason, I was deeply moved by the atmosphere.

From that day on, I followed RIDEALIVE, and it became one of those events that I longed to participate in.

"RIDEALIVE" taught me a new way to have fun using the tool of a bicycle.

Riding a bike, delicious food, toasting with friends. And music... it was packed with so many elements I love.

And now they were saying they wanted to hold such a wonderful event in Okinawa—of course my heart would leap and dance!

But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel the pressure. What about the route? What were they looking for in Okinawa? The blue sea? The sky?

And above all, could I make the content worthy of the RIDEALIVE name?

Carrying both anxiety and excitement, my RIDEALIVE began in late July. I dedicated all my days off to test-riding.

At first, I put the destination into Google Maps and tried riding as it guided me.

It goes without saying that it chose (forced me to ride) the roads cars take (national highways).

As a result, it wasn't fun at all. Too many cars, and too monotonous. I decided right then and there to stop relying on Mr. Google.

I was looking for places where cars didn't go (or were scarce), places only bicycles could reach.

Following the wind. Following my mood. I consciously pedaled to stay off the main roads as much as possible.

Backroads, unpaved paths, alleys, farm roads... whenever a road that piqued my interest caught my eye, I would just head out onto it.

Turning back at dead ends, or finding myself in someone's front yard... *sweat*, getting a bit startled by wild dogs in the forest... *sweat*.

The route we used was created by repeating those test rides—taking one step forward, two steps back, then three steps forward.

Rather than a crude route (speaking loosely) that just cruises along the blue sky and blue sea, what I designed this time was: once you turn off the highway, you find a little unpaved road, or the sea peeking through the trees, or pineapple fields, or riding through sugarcane fields where you climb a hill and look back to see... the blue sea (unfortunately, we couldn't see it due to the rain... *sob*).

There were settlements surrounded by Fukugi trees, riding along the breakwater, sudden appearances of subtropical plants, shikuwasa fruits dropped on the side of the road, etc.

I wanted to create a course where, as you ride casually, you pick up small discoveries and realizations one by one, and even if you didn't notice them at the time, when you look back later, you might feel... something lingering.

I wanted you to enjoy the journey on the way to the destination, too...

I was speaking to you from behind while leading the pack, but... did you all feel something? How many did you pick up? *laughs*

The three days we spent here in Okinawa, playing on bicycles, drinking, and talking... sharing such a fun time is deeply engraved in my heart.

Starting out and immediately being rained on, the tough hill climb on the second day, the night riding on dark roads after the sun went down, toasting with delicious food and beer at the evening banquets,

The delicious breakfasts, etc...

I deeply feel that such an exceptionally fun time flowed in ways I can't fully express here...

And I am convinced that the deep bond born from sharing all of that (that's what I think, at least) means this relationship isn't an ending, but a new beginning!

Bonds connected by bicycles. Bonds met at RIDEALIVE.

En (Bonds). Maru (Circle). Circles. Circles.

I believe there are countless points scattered before our eyes, and the trigger to connect those points is a single encounter (point), and that connection becomes a line,

And I felt once again that it becomes a large ring (en = maru = circle). And to the Circles team, who created that trigger: thank you so much.

And to Miyuki-chan from PFM, who was in charge of this RIDEALIVE Okinawa: thank you for your hard work.

I think it must have been difficult from the preparation stage, but I felt nothing but respect for the way you stayed smiling from start to finish, while still taking care of everyone around you.

Thank you so, so much.

Well then, I look forward to the day I can play with you all again under this wide sky (somewhere).

Thank you, RIDEALIVE!

It was the happiest three days ever!

TAIRA CYCLE
Yoshihiro Taira
https://www.tairacycle.com/