It was love at first sight. I fell in love the moment we met. “Where should I go next with this one?” I find myself thinking. When was the last time I felt this excited? But it’s not a person I’m talking about. It’s a Brompton. And now, I’m truly enjoying life and travel with my Brompton. I’ve always been interested in folding bikes. But compared to road bikes, I thought small-wheeled bikes might be unsatisfying. I believed they wouldn’t reach the speeds of road bikes or be suitable for long distances. In my mind, road bikes were the “King of Bicycles.” That was my fixed idea. But even road bikes have their weaknesses. One of them i […]

Cyclist Ayaka, who resides in Brisbane, along with her partner Yoshi, will report on the Brisbane Cycling Festival from a local cyclist’s perspective in two parts. In the second part, we will provide a report on the main event, the “Tour de Brisbane.”*Part 1 is here Table of Contents 1. What is the Tour de Brisbane?2. Start and Finish at the Expo Venue3. Like Virtual Reality! Racing Through the Heart of the City4. The Story Bridge and Highway with a View of the City5. Aid stations that are truly satisfying in their simplicity.6. In the “Sunshine State” 7. The Evolving Cycling City of Brisbane 1. What is the Tour de Brisbane? During the Brisbane Cycling Festival, […]

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 […]