100 Miles Without Rushing: A New Perspective on My Second Honolulu Century Ride

The trio is back for another Honolulu Century Ride (HCR)!

Tats, editor-in-chief of LOVE CYCLIST, a Japanese cycling media outlet and riding community, returns as a guest rider alongside Anna and Saad. Here’s the story of their second HCR adventure.

Last year, they started from the very front of the VIP group and got a little too caught up in the blistering pace set by Taro Shirato. Having learned their lesson—or have they?—how did they approach the 100-mile ride this time?

Join us as we relive their experience through photos capturing the wind, light, and beauty of Hawaii.

Contents
Our Second 100-Mile Ride
Strong Winds at the Starting Line
The Places That Made Us Stop
　Hanauma Bay
　Kamehameha Highway
　Discovering the Spirit of Hawaii Around Town
Aid Stations Every 20 km and Thoughtful Event Support
Unable to Sit on the Saddle with 15 km to Go
What It Means to Cycle Through Hawaii

Our Second 100-Mile Ride

The biggest lesson we learned from our first Honolulu Century Ride last year was that we had pushed ourselves too hard in the first half. The sheer excitement of cycling through unfamiliar roads in a foreign country was so exhilarating that, before we knew it, we were pushing the pedals hard in a fast-moving paceline. That was an incredible experience in its own right, and I think getting carried away by the excitement and picking up the pace is part of the joy of cycling. But when I looked back through our photos after returning to Japan, there were quite a few places where I found myself thinking, “I wish we’d spent more time here.”

So this year, we headed to the starting venue with a theme in mind: “Take our time and fully soak in the scenery.”

The course was almost identical to last year’s. Although it covers 160 km, the total elevation gain is just 1,084 meters, so there aren’t any particularly demanding sections. We already knew what to expect and where the highlights were, so rather than rushing through everything, it seemed far more rewarding to spend extra time in the places we loved.

Your second time at an event gives you the freedom to ride in ways you might not have considered the first time around. This year, we decided to make the most of that opportunity.

Strong Winds at the Starting Line

But on the day of the event, the wind was howling from early in the morning. We were already being buffeted by strong crosswinds on our way to the starting venue, and even before we lined up at the start, the three of us were beginning to wonder, “Are we really going to make it to the finish in one piece?”

実際に前半は厳しかった。向かい風の区間ではペダルを回しているのに進まず、かと思えば横から殴るように吹かれてよろける。落車はしなかったけれど、風が落ち着くまでに脚も集中力も削られた。 それでも、たくさんの参加者が険しい風をかき分けながら進んでいく光景は壮観だった。これだけ荒れた日でも誰も引き返そうとしないので、穏やかで優しいハワイしか知らなかった昨年の自分には見えていなかったものが見えた。

The Places That Made Us Stop

Hanauma Bay

The wind was fierce, but Hanauma Bay was as breathtaking as ever. The landscape looks as though the volcanic crater and the ocean are locked in a struggle, and from above, we could see waves crashing violently against the inner shores of the bay.

The early morning timing made the view even more spectacular. With the sun still low in the sky, the ocean took on a deep, rich blue, while the ridgelines of the mountains behind it stood out in sharp relief. It felt like the time of day when the contrast between sea and mountains was at its most striking.

This was where we stopped for the longest time. We spent a while simply gazing out over the bay, watching other riders pass us by as they continued along the course. We had no hesitation about taking our time, even this early in the ride.

Note: We were taking photographs as part of an official media crew. Please be aware that event regulations restrict where riders are permitted to stop and take photos during the ride.

Kamehameha Highway

One of the highlights of the second half of the course is Kamehameha Highway, where you ride right alongside the ocean. The view took our breath away last year, and even on our second visit, the color of the water was just as astonishing. We knew what to expect, yet the moment we saw it again, we couldn’t help thinking, “Now this is Hawaii!”

It’s the kind of stretch that makes you wonder how you can possibly capture those colors and bring them home with you. We simply couldn’t stop taking photos.

Discovering the Spirit of Hawaii Around Town

But Hawaii’s beauty isn’t limited to its spectacular viewpoints. Along the course, you might come across a crosswalk painted with the word “ALOHA,” or, just a little off the route, an incredibly steep, perfectly straight hill rising through an otherwise ordinary residential neighborhood.

This island is full of little details you’d never notice if you weren’t exploring it by bike.

Aid Stations Every 20 km and Thoughtful Event Support

Aid stations along the HCR course are set up approximately every 20 km. Having them spaced at these intervals is incredibly helpful, making it possible to complete the ride without having to think too much about when and where to refuel.

One thing I particularly appreciated this year was that the aid stations toward the end of the course offered more savory, salty snacks than they had last year. It seemed that the organizers had listened carefully to what riders needed in the latter stages of the ride and made adjustments accordingly. I think it’s these small, thoughtful touches that make an event so enjoyable.

Of course, you can also bring your own sources of salt and protein or pick them up at convenience stores along the route. I brought some salami with me, which turned out to be perfect for replenishing salt during the second half of the ride.

Unable to Sit on the Saddle with 15 km to Go

With just 15 km to go, my saddle suddenly tilted backward. The rear of the saddle had dropped, and no matter how much force I applied, I couldn’t get it back into position. Every time I tried to sit down, the saddle dug painfully into all the wrong places. In the end, I had no choice but to ride out of the saddle for the entire remaining distance.

After riding 145 km, having to cover the final 15 km without sitting down even once was, to be honest, enough to bring me to tears. My legs were already close to giving out, but I couldn’t sit down to give them a rest. It felt as though the distance remaining on my bike computer would never go down.

Anna and Saad slowed their pace for me and even adjusted their positions to help shield me from the wind. It honestly felt as though they practically carried me to the finish line. I can’t thank the two of them enough.

We had spent the whole day riding with the intention of stopping whenever we found somewhere worth lingering, yet for the final 15 km, I couldn’t sit down even once.

Incidentally, after returning to Japan, I took the seatpost to a bike shop, where the staff told me they’d never seen anything like it before. They’re currently contacting the distributor to investigate the issue.

What It Means to Cycle Through Hawaii

Looking back after finishing the ride, one thing that struck me again was just how bicycle-friendly Honolulu is. Traffic is by no means light, yet drivers don’t try to squeeze past cyclists, and they’re willing to wait when you need to change lanes.

Unlike in Japan, where cyclists are generally required to make two-stage right turns, there’s no need for the equivalent two-stage left turn here. At intersections, you can confidently make your turn alongside the cars.

There are also well-developed bike lanes, so you rarely have to wonder where you’re supposed to ride.

This was our second Honolulu Century Ride, but this year’s experience turned out to be completely different from last year’s. All we changed was the way we rode. Simply deciding to stop at beautiful places rather than chase a finishing time made the same 160 km feel like an entirely different course.

The first time around, completing the distance itself tends to be the main goal. But on your second ride, you have the freedom to choose which views to stop and enjoy—and this course has plenty of places worth taking your time for.

I hope we can return to this island as a team again next year. (And if the wind could be a little gentler next time, that would be even better!)

Profile

Tats Shimizu
A photo and videographer and editor-in-chief of the cycling media outlet LOVE CYCLIST. With 12 years of experience in the sport bike scene, he enjoys exploring the sports bike industry—mainly road bikes—from a marketing perspective. He has worked extensively on shoots for domestic and international bicycle brands, maintains a broad network of connections, and proposes various cycling styles through media channels. His main bikes are a Standert (road) and a Factor (gravel).