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 […]

Cyclist Ayaka, who lives in Brisbane, together with her partner Yoshi, will share the charm of the city and the “Brisbane Cycling Festival” from a local cyclist’s perspective. In this first part, we will report on cycling along the Brisbane River and the Cycle Expo. Table of Contents 1. The Sunshine State: Brisbane2. Access from Japan to Brisbane3. Enjoy Cycling on the Water with the Riverwalk4. The Cycle Expo Comes to Brisbane! 1. The Sunshine State: Brisbane Brisbane, the third-largest city in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne, is located in Queensland, which is known as the “Sunshine State” due to its high number of sunny days.This favorable weather condit […]

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 […]