RIDEALIVE in Yamanashi
When I was asked to host RIDEALIVE in Yamanashi, I jumped for joy. I was over the moon.
After all, it’s “RIDEALIVE.”
It’s about expressing what it means to play and to live through cycling, and from the perspectives you can only gain because of the bike. Is there any way of showing life more exciting than this?
It had always been my dream to participate in this event.
That’s exactly why I was thrilled to the point of leaping for joy.
However, at the same time, I couldn't help but feel an immense amount of pressure.
It was the pressure of bearing the evaluation of the field known as “Yamanashi.”
My love for Yamanashi and my strong admiration for RIDEALIVE collided, and at first, I felt overwhelmed. I couldn't help but feel intimidated... I mean, who wouldn't be?
This journey would span three days and two nights.
Two nights...
Yeah, two nights.
If you want a one-hit wonder of awe, you go to the Yatsugatake Mountains or Mt. Fuji.
Yamanashi definitely has those surefire areas.
But our home base is Kofu, the navel of Yamanashi.
I really wanted this to be our starting point.
Just as I started to feel a little flustered, some reliable helpers appeared.
Our ambassadors for this trip were Ryotaro-san, a designer at RawLow Mountain Works who has a deep connection to cycling, and Urakabe-san from TORAYA EQUIPMENT, who relocated to Yamanashi and shares everything—from work to play—with us.
In the scorching heat of the Kofu Basin in summer, we held our first test ride!!!
“This is tough, way too tough!!!”
The route we initially aimed for was out!!!!!
It was a failure caused by trying to make it as gentle as possible.
Every route around Kofu, no matter how you slice it, is tough.
Yes, playing in the mountains of the Kofu Basin means you can’t avoid grueling climbs.
Let’s not try to fake our way through it.
It is precisely because of these mountains that you can enjoy the depths of Kofu.
I want to make this an absolute success.
My resolve only deepened.
I was determined to enjoy Kofu.
I searched for routes until the very last minute.
The Toughest Day 1
And with that,
the day finally arrived.
There had been nothing but typhoons on the weekends.
I was almost ready to complain to the sky, but on this day, the sky was on our side! After raining until midnight, the clouds gradually cleared into a blue sky.
“I’m the one who brings the luck,” said Ryotaro-san.
“No, I’m the lucky one,” I replied.
Our departure point was the gateway to Kofu, the north exit of Kofu Station.
Bicycle lovers gathered from all over, including Nagoya and Tokyo.
The Kofu mountain range lies to the north of the station.
First, we headed for Takeda Shrine. This is where Takeda Shingen once had his residence.
We passed in front of AKITO COFFEE, a place I visit often,
and after about 1.5km of riding up a long, gentle slope, Takeda Shrine appeared at the end of the road.
In my heart, I prayed for our safe travels over the next three days.
From here, we finally leave the basin and head into the mountains.
The ground is still asphalt, but the increasingly heavy pedals remind us, whether we like it or not, that we are at the foot of the mountains.
We entered the shrine’s parking lot, and I explained the outline of the course to everyone.
“It’s tough!! It’s really tough!! It’s crazy!!”
I wanted to convey just how difficult it would be using every word I had.
From here, a steep climb continues for about 8km to Taira Pass, located on the border between Kofu City and Yamanashi City to the north.
We face the mountains head-on.
Even though the distance from Kofu Station is less than 10km, the elevation gain is nearly 900m.
If you take your time and rest along the way, you can make it.
If it gets too hard, just push your bike.
This is a section where everyone can take their time at their own pace.
This is the only really hard part.
We just have to get this out of the way first...!
I kept telling myself that over and over.
“Phew... so tough.”
“Who even came up with this course?!”
“Yeah, yeah...”
As we struggled with our heavy pedals,
the houses gradually disappeared, and the greenery grew thicker.
We climbed past the village around Sekisui-ji Temple, where there is a well said to have been used for Takeda Shingen’s first bath, and reached the top of the slope.
Looking back, the Kofu Basin, where we had been just moments ago, spread out below us.
At this viewpoint, we waited for everyone to catch up.
From here on out.
We enter the most difficult, steep area.
“Alright, let’s go.”
I reignited the engine in my heart.
With the mountain castle of Yogai-san on our right,
the mountains grew deeper after passing Sekisui-ji Onsen.
The asphalt turned into a narrow path resembling cobblestones, and the steepest slope with a maximum gradient of 20% arrived.
Our heart rates spiked.
Our legs began to tremble in protest.
A few people started pushing their bikes.
We’re almost there, once you get past this, you’re good!
I told everyone in my heart.
Then, suddenly,
a healing space appeared in this most difficult area!!
Hee-chan and Mayu-nee-chan, the sister staff members who support SUNDAY,
were waiting for us with bright smiles and an aid station.
An oasis in the middle of the steep slope!
The table was lined with chilled, sparkling drinks and the bounty of Yamanashi’s autumn—grapes.
This is the pride of Yamanashi, the Fruit Kingdom!
The reward that suddenly appeared in the mountains brought out the first “This is the best” comments and smiles of the day from everyone.
Alright, reset & charge complete!
Pushing, pedaling, advancing, resting—
at our own paces, everyone managed to get over the pass.
Next came the Mizugashi Forest Road, which repeats gentle ups and downs. We moved through the forest that covers Kofu’s water reservoir.
Occasionally, Mt. Fuji and the Southern Alps peeked through.
By the time we arrived at the campsite, the sun had tilted significantly, dyeing the sky and mountains red.
Yanak and I were at the back, a little distance from the rest of the group.
On the bridge over Lake Otome, which marked the end of the first day’s course,
we saw Mt. Fuji and the moon hanging in the sky,
and we both stopped in our tracks and let out a gasp.
Even though I’d been here many times for reconnaissance, I’d never seen a view like this.
A miracle.
That word crossed my mind.
I felt a deep sense of relief.
We finally reached the base camp for this journey, Kinpu Sanso.
A campsite with a comfortable vibe, somewhere between a mountain hut and a guesthouse.
It felt as if it had been waiting there just for this RIDEALIVE.
When you're tired, eat delicious food
At the campsite, our friends, chef Kubo-hide from Bumpy Fish and My-Zack from Far Yeast Brewing, welcomed us with top-tier food and craft beer.
As soon as we pitched our tents,
the exquisite beer quenched our thirst.
“This is so good!!!!”
I wanted to scream.
My-Zack, whose real name is Miyazaki-kun from Far Yeast Brewing,
is, to put it simply, a very, very nice guy.
I’m always impressed by how many skills he has.
He has many friends in trail running and is a founding member of the trail running team “Trail Toba-chan.”
He currently lives in Enzan, Yamanashi, where his wife grew up,
and is active at Far Yeast Brewing in Kosuge Village.
He was happy to take on this project!!
Thanks for everything,
My-Zack♡
After wetting our throats with beer, we soothed the fatigue of the steep climb in the Sanso’s bath, heated by spring water.
Once we washed off the sweat, it was time for tonight’s special dinner.
The chef was Kubo-hide-san from Bumpy Finish Food Service.
He is my OMM BIKE partner and MTB mentor.
A multi-talented person who can do anything skillfully.
At SUNDAY, we carry his brand BUMPY FINISH’s wood-decorated outdoor items.
He also used to run a popular restaurant at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
(He shut it down because he partied too hard there... lol)
Now, as Bumpy Finish Food Service, he provides exquisite food in a catering style, appearing only for requests from friends.
Cries of joy greeted the dinner being carried out one after another.
With Chef Kubo-hide and My-Zack, these two are unstoppable.
I had no worries about coloring the first night of our journey.
They themselves looked forward to RIDEALIVE, enjoyed it with us on the day, and laughed together.
That is truly a wonderful thing.
And it’s something necessary for RIDEALIVE.
Even though we were so tired, I wanted to keep enjoying this time.
The first night drew to a close as if we were holding on to the very last moments.
TODAY’S RIDER
Ryotaro Taniguchi, Rawlow Mountain Works
When I was a kid, I loved going to the library during summer vacation to read Mark Twain stories. In my imagination, I’d head off on adventures with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
The reason I love going to the mountains and going on bicycle trips might be due to that imaginative background, but I think it’s just that my mind is still in elementary school.
It’s now the summer of 2018, more than 40 years later. This middle-aged man who’s an eternal elementary schooler got his hands on some slightly convenient gear and experienced the ultimate adventure in Kofu with the ultimate friends—not in my imagination, but in reality.
The moment where you can scream “Whoa! This is the best!” from the bottom of your heart is something that seems like it should happen, but rarely does. Fortunately, at Ride Alive Kofu, we were able to experience that.
My preamble is a bit long, but it goes without saying that the bicycle is a wonderful tool for travel. If you can’t go further by bike, you can just walk on your two legs. I’ve always thought that a trip combining the two might be the ultimate experience.
Add in some delicious food, good drinks, and just enough space to sleep, and you don’t need anything else!
The thing that was able to miraculously—or perhaps inevitably—fulfill all of our greedy and selfish desires was this Ride Alive. (With the bonus of three days of clear weather, too.)
I won’t talk about the Bike to Hike report here, but if it weren’t for the beautiful location of Kofu, the warm local people, and the Sunday crew, this crazy, wonderful adventure wouldn't have been possible. I’m truly grateful to the community that Circles brought together!
And to the friends who shared this journey with me, Big thanks & respect!
The adventure continues next year.
Rawlow Mountain Works
http://rawlow.jp//
TEXT by Konosuke Ishikawa ／ PHOTO by Eri Tanaka