The “CYCLE MUSIC” series, where I’ve shared brief columns about bicycles and my favourite music, reaches its 15th instalment, marking a natural break. From the next issue, it will be reborn under the title “Music Cycles Around The World”, with a focus on “city music,” inspired by the idea of travelling the world through both music and cycling. While I had originally intended to recommend this masterpiece back in December, symbolising the “perfect harmony between bicycles and music,” I missed the opportunity. So, as a fitting conclusion, allow me to introduce it now. It’s Norah Jones’ “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones).&#82 […]

Check out Race Report #01 here.https://globalride.jp/trip-travel/ehimemonitortour24_01_en/ Table of Contents 　1. ITOMACHI HOTEL0（Saijo City）　2. Ishizuchi Mountain’s UFO Line (Saijo City, Kumakogen Town)　3. Ozu Washi and Ukai Houseboat Cruise (Uchiko Town, Ozu City) 1. ITOMACHI HOTEL0（Saijo City） On the morning of the third day, refreshing light streamed into the hotel room, promising a good start to the day. Glimpses of the long-awaited blue sky through the window made waking up even better. The “ITOMACH HOTEL0 (Zero),” which opened in 2023 in Saijo City, is an eco-friendly complex hotel committed to low environmental impact through zero-energy operations. It features a sty […]

As January nears its end, bringing up stories from the holiday season might feel a bit stale, but how did you all ring in the New Year?Some may have spent the time tidying up for a fresh start. Others might have wrapped up the year with one final ride and taken a well-deserved breather. There are countless ways to spend the year’s end.Meanwhile, at Cape Soya, the northernmost tip of Hokkaido, travelers from all over Japan—by car, motorcycle, bicycle, and even on foot—gathered, braving the biting cold and huddling together, eagerly awaiting the New Year.Just thinking about it gives me chills… This time, I’ll share a glimpse of the unique way people welcome the New Year at Japan’s […]

The second installment of The Japanese Odyssey (TJO), scheduled for autumn 2025, dives into the riding philosophies and gear preferences of the fastest rider from the 2016 event and the two organizers from France. If you’re intrigued by the challenge of ultra-long-distance cycling, this is a must-read! Take inspiration from their bikepacking setups and consider joining the adventure yourself. For detailed schedules and routes for this year, please visit the official website (as of January 2025, these are yet to be announced). ＊You can find the previous essay here. The 300km/day Speedster Engineer / TOM WILLARD(England) Before the start, he was the first to arrive at Nihonbashi ear […]

The Zone of Interest” (2024), a film centered on Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp (hereafter referred to as Auschwitz), presents a series of scenes that are strikingly beautiful and luminous. As is widely known, Auschwitz, operated under the Nazi regime, remains infamous as “one of humanity’s greatest atrocities” and “the site of the worst crime in human history.” The facility was constructed in the outskirts of Oświęcim, in what is now southern Poland, during the German occupation. Under the command of Rudolf Höss, countless Jews were systematically murdered between 1940 and 1945. The sheer scale of the atrocities has made it impossible to determine an exa […]

Now then, the ultra-long-distance cycling event “The Japanese Odyssey” (hereafter referred to as TJO), set in the familiar landscape of the Japanese archipelago, is well-known to us. After more than a year of silence, the announcement for its 2025 edition finally appeared on its official website last autumn. It also mentioned that the starting point would return to Hokkaido, where the journey began 10 years ago. Amazing! The event began in 2015 with only six riders, all of whom were foreigners. As word of its craziness gradually spread, the number of participants grew to 21 in 2016 (still without any Japanese riders). For this year’s Global Ride, we are pleased to present a serie […]

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 […]