The Tour de France, a 23-day journey that circles France by bike in the peak of summer, is finally heading into its decisive final stages. This is the second part of a two-part series reporting on cycling in France directly from the ground. This time, we dive into a hands-on investigation of renting a performance road bike—seriously planning as if we were going to ride ourselves.Is it easy and reliable to arrange a rental? How much does it actually cost? And what should you keep in mind if you really end up riding in France? The route I planned is the finish of Stage 16: Mont Ventoux. There’s no doubt this mountain will play a major role in determining the overall winner. Let’s take on this […]

The Tour de France, a race that circles around France by bicycle over the course of 23 days in the peak of summer, is in full swing from July 5 to 27. The country and people that gave rise to such a grand sporting event share a deep love for cycling. In recent years, France has rapidly developed cycling infrastructure to promote eco-friendly transportation. As one of the world’s top tourist destinations, the nation is now fully committed to advancing cycle tourism. A journalist with 30 years of experience covering the Tour de France witnesses this dedication firsthand. In this two-part series, Part 1 offers a preview of the 2025 Tour de France and essential tips for cycling in France. Table […]

When cycling in France, let’s consider what arrangements are needed locally and how to plan your trip. You have two options: bring your own bike or rent one on-site. Table of Contents 1. Tips for Checking Your Bike on International Flights2. Renting a Quality Bicycle in France 1. Tips for Checking Your Bike on International Flights First, consider the case of bringing your bike on the plane to France. I asked Action Sports Corp, a company that handles the “Bike Porter” bike transport cases for airlines, about the latest situation. Q: What size bikes can be checked on international flights? Is it free or are there additional fees? A: Policies vary depending on the airline for international fl […]

Here is the second part of Brisbane-based cyclist Ayaka’s ride report on the 2025 Tour de Brisbane. Last year, Ayaka and Yoshi, her partner, challenged the 80km course; this year, they enjoyed the 50km fun ride. From a local cyclist’s perspective, Ayaka shares her experience of this large-scale Australian cycling event, which takes over public roads and bus lanes usually used for everyday transport. Read the first part here: Table of Contents6  Riding Through Rain-Washed Brisbane7  Highlights of the 50km Course8  Atrractions of the 80km Course9  Diverse Participants and Their Unique Ways of Enjoying the Ride10  A Relaxed and Festive Atmosphere at the Finish11  Participating from Japan12  Att […]

Ayaka, a Brisbane local, took part in the Brisbane Cycling Festival with her partner Yoshi.She reports on the main ride event, Tour de Brisbane 2025, from the perspective of a local cyclist. Table of Contents 1 　What Is the Tour de Brisbane?2　Overview of Each Ride Category and Course3　A Surreal Experience on Fully Closed Highways and Bus Lanes4　Cyclists from 15 Countries Join the Event5　A New Starting Point and Growing Excitement 1 　What Is the Tour de Brisbane? The Tour de Brisbane, held in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia, is a large-scale urban cycling event that features full road closures, allowing everyone from beginners to serious cyclists to enjoy the ride. Held annuall […]

With so little information available, The Japanese Odyssey (hereafter TJO) remains an ultra-distance cycling event that’s quietly—but intensely—beloved.This marks the final installment of the column series by photographer Eigo Shimojo, who set out to explore the riders who take on this mysterious event.And during the course of this series, the enigmatic TJO has unveiled details for its 2025 edition.This year’s tagline? “The Forgotten Tōge”—forgotten mountain passes!For full details, please check the official website, but here’s a quick overview for now. Schedule: October 3, 2025 (Friday) – 13 days and 12 hours (324 hours)    A pre-event is scheduled for October 2 (Thursday) in Fukuoka.Start […]

The details for The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) 2025, set to take place this autumn, have finally been announced! This year, the journey starts in Kagoshima and finishes in Matsumoto City. Riders will navigate through 20 checkpoints over 13 and a half days, including ferry crossings along the way. The route spans 2,300 km with a total elevation gain of 46,000 m.For the full schedule and route details, please check the official website. In this column, we bring you a detailed report on the bikes and packing setups of three “intense” riders who took on TJO 2016. Their gear choices reflect their professions, nationalities, and personalities—so take notes and get inspired! ＊You can find the previous […]

The final installment of the Honolulu Century Ride 2024 rider interviews concludes with the experiences of advanced cyclists.What do veteran riders, who have participated in this event five, ten times, feel about it? What aspects keep drawing them back? We asked veteran participants about the allure and unique ways to enjoy the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR), often described as “the greatest ride event on Earth.”“Why do you keep coming back to cycle in Hawaii?” Table of Contents １. The Reason a New Employee Took on His First Ride / Keisuke-san２. A Goal Carried Over to 2025 / Kenji-san, Keiko-san３. Riding Solo, Yet Never Alone—A Story on the Road / Dankichi-san １. The Rea […]