Hello, and welcome back. Early summer already seems to be in the air, and the rising temperatures have been making my head spin a little. I hope you’re doing well wherever you are. The first time I rode in Honolulu was in September 2023. Since then, I’ve only attended as a member of the media. Time and again, I found myself having the same exchange with riders: “Are you riding this year?”“I’m here to cover the event.”“Why not ride while you’re covering it?” Fair point. Maybe I should. That thought was lingering in the back of my mind when I recently took part in my second TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a ride of about 65 km. What struck me most was how many new things I noticed on a cou […]

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 […]

I also consulted with Mr. Ito, the initiator of TURE DE TSUMARI, who had just completed the event recently. When I mentioned that I needed advice, he said that he would first like to hear about my current situation. A true architect, I couldn’t help but admire his attention to detail. He also looked up the elevation differences for the HCR in advance and suggested that I should ride for the expected duration to get a sense of my stamina and riding style. It does make sense…!