I’m Mayumi, the editor in charge. Although I’ve never ridden a typical bike before, I ended up cycling in Honolulu due to the nature of my assignment.

 I have zero riding experience and haven’t been on a bicycle since my commute 20 years ago. I used to pedal my mama-chari (Japanese utility bicycle) vigorously for about 5 km. The Honolulu Century Ride, a major cycling event, covers 160 km, which is considered a century (100 miles). As a complete novice, I thought it would be too much to handle and opted for half the distance.

80 km… Isn’t that quite long???

In this ongoing series, I will provide firsthand reports on my experiences participating in the event as someone who has never ridden before. I hope to convey how even newcomers like me can have so much fun at their first event (although I have a feeling it might be quite tough).

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The Honolulu Century Ride is not a competition for speed. It’s what you might call a “fun ride,” with the goal of enjoying the ride. There are four different distances to choose from: 40km, 80km, 120km, and 160km.

While 40km might have been a safer choice for someone with no experience, the desire to see Hawaii’s stunning landscapes got the best of me, and I chose the 80km route.

It’s funny how, in my everyday life, I try not to have the mindset of “since I’m already doing it, might as well go all the way” (it feels mentally exhausting), but when it comes to traveling abroad, I easily slip into the “since I’m already here, might as well” mentality. It’s a bit scary how that happens.

When I told my colleagues and friends that I would be riding 80km, they all seemed to say, “Oh, you’ll be fine, that’s not too bad.” I couldn’t help but wonder,

“Do you really believe that?” 😅

With a vague sense of unease, I found myself just one month away from the event. As August came to a close, it felt like the end of the year was approaching (though that’s unrelated).
 I began to feel a bit anxious and decided to start talking to experienced riders to get some insights.

I received some pretty specific advice from a friend who has experience participating in domestic triathlons and bike events:

They recommended training the hamstrings because they get tired from pedaling with the calves.
They suggested practicing on a machine with light resistance.
It was encouraging to hear that it’s better to start now than not at all. I started to feel a bit motivated. During our conversation, my friend also proudly showed off their uniform, saying it looks cool.

<To be continued…>
*The photos are unrelated to the text.

Text_ Mayumi Kamura

Profile

Mayumi Kamura
I’m a Global Ride editor. My expertise lies in visual expressions like design, art, fashion, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted me to focus on my physical and mental health. I started playing tennis and resumed taking contemporary dance lessons. Considering that bicycle-related accessories often boast high design quality, I have a feeling I might become a fan during this experience.

Post Date：2023.10.13