Reflecting on 2024, as the year draws to a close, how has it been for all of you? To wrap up the year, the Global Ride editorial team is bringing you a photo album from four international fun ride events: ‘HONOLULU CENTURY RIDE‘ in Honolulu,‘BIKE NEW YORK (FIVE BORO BIKE TOUR)‘ in New York City, ‘PORT DOUGLAS GRAN FOND FESTIVAL’ in Port Douglas, and ‘BRISBANE CYCLING FESTIVAL’ in Honolulu.“Please enjoy the routes and scenery that highlight the unique characteristics of each region.” Table of Contents 1 HONOLULU CENTURY RIDE2 BIKE NEW YORK (Five Boro Bike Tour)3 PORT DOUGLAS GRAN FONDO FESTIVAL4 BRISBANE CYCLING FESTIVAL 1 HONOLULU CENTURY RIDE Event area＿Hawaii / U.S.A．Date: […]

In mid-November, a group of international cyclists arrived at Matsuyama Airport, each carrying a bike travel bag. Invited by Ehime Prefecture to participate in a week-long cycling monitor tour aimed at promoting international cycle tourism, the group consisted of professional-level cyclists, including representatives from bicycle-focused travel agencies and media from North America and Australia.Over the course of seven days, we rode together around Ehime, documenting the experience in detail. This three-part series will provide a comprehensive account of the action-packed journey. What exactly does an international cycling monitor tour, a rarity in Japan, entail? Stay tuned to find out! Tex […]

Hello! I’m Noriko, a cyclist living in the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido.Winter has already arrived here. In Kitami City, where I live, the inland areas get relatively little snow, and it takes a while for it to settle permanently. Even in December, you might occasionally spot someone braving the cold to ride their bike, but seeing a road bike cutting through the wind is practically unheard of.That said, there are plenty of activities to enjoy, including cycling! For riders and tourists who want to fully experience the snowy landscapes and winter flavors, I’d love to share some local highlights for this season. First up, for those who want to keep biking in the snow, let me introduce the &#8220 […]

The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) is more than just a cycling event set across the Japanese archipelago. It’s a journey—beyond a journey—a true adventure, a quest, perhaps even a form of creation. The second installment of this series begins with a reflection on the riders, along with photographer Eigo Shimojo, as they set out on their routes following the pre-ride briefing the day before. ＊You can find the previous essay here. ＃04 Moving Dots in Motion The day after the briefing, on an unspecified date in September 2016, I embarked on my first field coverage of The Japanese Odyssey. My task was to chase down nameless cyclists from all over the world, scattered like dots across Japan. There was no […]

The column series “CYCLE MUSIC” introduces a little bicycle-related music each time. This time, I’d like to write about the solo track “Bicycle” by RM, the leader of the hugely popular South Korean group BTS, who is also a hip-hop MC, singer-songwriter, and producer. I’m sure many people know far more about BTS than I do, and I feel quite apologetic for not being very familiar with them. That said, I was deeply moved by this song, which was released as part of the “2021 BTS FESTA”. The track has a laid-back groove led by beautiful guitar cutting—something I’d even recommend to Free Soul fans. It carries a slightly melancholic and sentimental melody. The chorus refrain […]

For readers of Global Ride, The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) is already a familiar name. This independent ultra-long-distance event that spans the length of Japan is set to return in 2025 after a two-year hiatus. According to its official Instagram account, this year’s starting point will be in Hokkaido. What kind of (crazy) journey awaits this time? With the editorial team buzzing with anticipation, eager for more details, we bring you the second installment in our TJO series.In this essay, photographer Eigo Shimojo—a rider himself—delves into the moment he first encountered the essence of TJO during its second edition in 2016, offering a glimpse into the heart of this extraordinar […]

As the 2025 edition of The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) approaches, Global Ride proudly presents the second installment of a serialized essay by photographer Eigo Shimojo. This time, we step back to 2016, on the eve of the second TJO. Organized by Frenchmen Emmanuel and Guillaume—avid Japan enthusiasts who, at that point, had never set foot in the country—their dream of cycling across Japan was about to become reality. The evening’s vibes at a briefing held in Daikanyama, and the spirit of ultra-distance riding that emerged from it, set the stage for what was to come. ＊You can find the previous essay here. #02 The wave has arrived. The grueling checkpoints and the immense route of the ev […]

The Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) is Hawaii’s largest cycling event. It’s also a milestone that draws participants from various disciplines—cycling, marathons, triathlons—with its allure of being a “must-do at least once in a lifetime” experience.In the third installment of our HCR rider series, we interviewed participants who are riding in their second or subsequent HCRs. “Once isn’t enough,” “I want to share this with the people I love”… What keeps bringing them back to HCR? Why do you choose to cycle in Hawaii? Table of Contents 1. The Volunteer Staff’s Incredible Energy: Yoshi & Junko2. Riding Through Honolulu with Cycling Club Friends: Osamu Kosaka, Eriko Takas […]