Continuing from Part 1, here’s the second half of our ride at the Alps Azumino Century Ride 2026, held this May. This time, the return journey from Hakuba features one of the event’s most popular attractions—the Cycle Train. It’s a route that’s sure to delight not only cyclists, but railway enthusiasts as well. Text&Photos_Eigo Shimojo Table of Contents 4. 65 km → 111 km: Cycle Train / JR Hakuba Station → JR Shinano-Oiwake Station5. 120 km: Finish / National Alps Azumino Park (Horigane–Hotaka Area) 4. 65 km → 111 km: Cycle Train / JR Hakuba Station → JR Shinano-Oiwake Station Having ridden about 65 km from the start, I was already more than satisfied. Between the […]

On May 23, I took part in the Alps Azumino Century Ride (AACR), one of Japan’s most popular cycling events. Among the several course options, I chose the Cycle Train Route—a 120 km course that includes approximately 65 km of riding, with the remainder covered by train. As its name suggests, the AACR was inspired by the Honolulu Century Ride. After experiencing the event firsthand, Executive Committee Chair Raita Suzuki—a former Japanese Olympic mountain biker who represented Japan at the Sydney Olympics—returned home determined to create a similar event in his native Nagano. Since 2009, that vision has continued to grow into one of Japan’s premier fun rides. In addition to the cl […]

How do you explore Hawaii? A rental car is certainly convenient. You can drive from Waikiki to the North Shore in just half a day. But on a bicycle, the very same roads make you feel as though you’re discovering a completely different island. Scenery that flashes by in seconds from a car lingers with you at the pace of pedaling. You notice the scent of the trade winds, the sound of the waves, and the subtle rhythm of the island in a way that’s impossible behind the wheel. Perhaps that’s why the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR)—one of Hawaii’s signature sporting events—has attracted cyclists from around the world for more than 40 years. The real appeal isn’t simply co […]

(Top image) Courtesy of the official Pharrell Williams website. Text_Mayumi Kamura At the Louis Vuitton Spring–Summer 2027 Men’s Collection, presented on June 23, one item immediately caught my attention amid the luxurious runway transformed into an urban beachscape of waves and sand. It was a road bike. The bike was based on the Pinarello Dogma F, the flagship model from Pinarello. Wrapped in leather on the saddle and handlebars and finished with a gold-colored chain, the bike unmistakably carried the Louis Vuitton aesthetic. Seeing a model stride down the runway with a road bike slung over his shoulder made for a surprisingly striking image. Founded in Italy in 1952, Pinarello is one […]

In this series, the Global Ride editorial team—connecting fun rides around the world—visits the local bike shops where cyclists gather. With an “all roads lead to the local bike shop” mindset, this time we travel to Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, approximately 230 kilometers northwest of Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Matsumoto is a historic castle town neighboring Azumino, home to the popular Azumino Century Ride, a cycling event renowned for its scenic routes through lush rice paddies and beneath the peaks of the Japanese Alps. * Read the article about the Azumino Century Ride here! Text_Mayumi Kamura Table of Contents 1. A Castle Town on the Plains2. CLAMP Matsumoto Kura Store — Bringing Together Tr […]

Hello, and welcome back. Early summer already seems to be in the air, and the rising temperatures have been making my head spin a little. I hope you’re doing well wherever you are. The first time I rode in Honolulu was in September 2023. Since then, I’ve only attended as a member of the media. Time and again, I found myself having the same exchange with riders: “Are you riding this year?”“I’m here to cover the event.”“Why not ride while you’re covering it?” Fair point. Maybe I should. That thought was lingering in the back of my mind when I recently took part in my second TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a ride of about 65 km. What struck me most was how many new things I noticed on a cou […]

Southern Italy, the 1950s. For those born on the island, “the outside world” feels impossibly far away. Mario’s friends leave one after another for America, and only postcards make their way back to the island. Beyond the sea, in “America,” they begin entirely new lives. Meanwhile, Mario drifts through his days with a restless frustration he cannot name, skipping work helping his fisherman father with excuses of “feeling under the weather.” His father tells him, “America, Japan—anywhere is fine. Just get a job.” It is reasonable advice. Yet there are places inside a young man that reason alone cannot reach. Mario is searching for something, though he himself does not yet know what it is. One […]

Held every May in New York, TD Five Boro Bike Tour (“TD” comes from the title sponsor, TD Bank) is one of the world’s most iconic urban fun ride events.For one special day, Manhattan’s major avenues, highways, and even massive bridges—normally filled with traffic and blaring horns—are opened entirely to bicycles.This is not a race.It is an opportunity to experience New York City itself.And that is precisely what makes the event so extraordinary. Text_Mayumi Kamura Table of Contents 1. Event Overview　FIVE BORO = Riding Through New York’s Five Boroughs　Manhattan　The Bronx　Queens　Brooklyn　Staten Island2. What Makes This Event So Unique?　(1) Ride Through a “Zero-Car” New York　(2) A Celebration, […]