This is the second installment in our series featuring trip notes from riders participating in the Honolulu Century Ride 2025.Our guest this time is Kinuyo, a passionate cyclist who has joined the HCR many times and loves Hawaii so much that she often visits with her family. As a tour support staff member for Tobu Top Tours, she is admired by many riders for her wealth of cycling knowledge and warm communication.Every year, she rides the full HCR course on her road bike—but this year, she decided, “I want to ride with my daughters!” Her plan: to place her 7-year-old on the back seat of an e-bike and have her 12-year-old pedal on her own. Joined by her husband, who would tackle the full round […]

*This page contains a promotion in collaboration with Jetstar Airways. In September 2025, our editorial team headed to Cairns in Queensland, Australia. The purpose? To take part in the “Port Douglas Gran Fondo” ride-and-run event (https://portdouglasgranfondo.com.au/). Now in its fourth year, the highlight of this event is undoubtedly its stunning highway route that runs along the Pacific coast—home to the world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef. In this series, we’ll bring you a three-part story of cycling in Cairns—before, during, and after the event—featuring the exclusive highway ride, the vast natural beauty of Queensland, fresh local cuisine, and fascinating historical landm […]

To everyone still basking in the afterglow of the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR), and to those cyclists who couldn’t join this year—this month we bring you a special series of first-hand ride journals written by the participants themselves. Five groups of riders, each crossing the finish line in their own style, share their experiences of the HCR along with stories from the days they spent in Honolulu before and after the event. How did they make the most of their stay? What did they eat, see, and feel throughout their trip? The first story comes from Naohiko Matsumoto, who is approaching seventy and has completed the HCR 100-mile course—160 km—seven times.A former classmate and long-time frien […]

The Honolulu Century Ride is held annually on the fourth Sunday of September. Riders participate for various reasons:“We got excited thinking it would be amazing to ride in Hawaii.”“Seeing my partner enjoying cycling made me want to join too.”“I participate as a health benchmark, wondering how many more times I can join.” This year, a new course around Hanauma Bay was introduced, and the event was blessed with clear skies throughout. How was your ride? Following the first part of the photo album, we present the second part, showcasing the beautiful views of the Honolulu Century Ride 2025. Text_Global Ride Editorial TeamPhoto_HONOLULU CENTURY RIDE / HM-A＊HO […]

September 28 (Sun), 6:15 a.m. / Temperature about 25 °C This year, the Honolulu Century Ride started at sunrise as always.From start to finish, it was a ride under summer-like sunny skies, and the brilliance of the sea and the sky felt like the ultimate gift. Many riders paused again and again to take photos.The newly added Hanauma Bay route, which returned this year, offered breathtaking coastal views that truly evoke “the great nature of Hawaiʻi.”With riders’ radiant smiles, cheers, and sighs, we present the full panorama of HCR 2025 in this photo album. First, enjoy Part 1, covering the first half (up to 40 km) of the 80 km outward leg, showcasing the “Ike nani / ʻIke Nani” (Hawaiian for […]

September 28, 5:45 a.m.At Kapiolani Park, along Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.Less than 30 minutes before the start, the area around the start zone was filled with cheerful greetings — “It’s been a year! How have you been?” “Let’s take it easy again this year!” — as if old friends were reuniting.There were also conversations celebrating new encounters: “He’s finally joining for the first time this year!” Though it was still dark and faces were barely visible under the event lights, the atmosphere was bright and full of energy.It felt like everyone was celebrating the chance to set off on their annual reward — riding through Honolulu. This year’s weather was on their side.Daytime temperatures rea […]

Born and raised in Kanda, Tokyo, I go by the name Shitamachi Kombu. It’s been nearly half a century since I came into this world. Today, I took a ride through the Kanda Matsuri—Kanda area’s largest festival, held once every two years—using a docomo share bike. This festival is one of the three great festivals of Edo, dating back to the Edo period, and is sometimes counted among Japan’s three major festivals. The sky today is a perfect May blue—ideal weather for cycling. If you have a moment, come along with me for the ride. Table of Contents Charging up that Edo spirit in NihonbashiSoaking in Meiji Era vibes at Tokyo StationA detour to Akihabara, the mecca of otaku cultureKanda, […]

From environmental values to cycling gear — rooted in philosophy. The term “sustainable development” was coined during international conferences in the 1980s, eventually leading to the adoption of the “SDGs” by the United Nations in 2015. A decade on, even Japan—once slow to adapt—is finding that “eco-friendly” has become such a given, it’s almost a dead phrase. Today’s buzzwords have shifted from “sustainable” to “regenerative,” calling for an even deeper commitment. In a time when the planet is in crisis, consumer goods are overflowing, and the waste we see around us is overwhelming, the desire to say “But I still want to enjoy life” or “I still want to ride my bike!” resonates more than e […]