Editor M’s first-time participation, what to do? #6
“Inexperienced rider at the Honolulu Century Ride 2023”

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I don’t know what constitutes “enough,” but it’s clear that my training is far from sufficient as I depart Tokyo. I’ve at least got my helmet and jersey…

I’ve arrived in Honolulu. My first time in Hawaii 🌈 Even the Starbucks at the airport feels liberating 🌞 As I head towards Waikiki on the highway, I catch a glimpse of Diamond Head. Is this Hawaii… ✨ Despite battling deadlines of work during the drive, I gradually begin to feel the paradise vibes. Lush, vibrant plant life everywhere, it’s dazzling.

The banyan tree (baobab) guarding Waikiki Beach.

There are three days left until the event on 9/24. I have work (the reason for my trip to the United States) during that time, but my mental state seems to be in good shape.

With some peace of mind, I asked the staff accompanying me to show me shopping spots and more. I’m more interested in groceries than luxury brands, so we went to a supermarket. We stopped by “Wikiki Marker,” which is newly opened near the hotel. When you think of Hawaiian souvenirs, Hawaiian Host chocolates with their distinctive packaging come to mind, but the regulars here told me about coconut-flavored popcorn and honey. For breakfast, I got a kale salad and pineapple from the deli. I’m savoring the deliciousness of vegetables and fruits.

The natural magenta of the dragon fruit is dazzling.
Authentic spam musubi.

I suddenly remembered a conversation with a friend before departure.

“You know, I’m not confident about riding 80 kilometers. I might end up just eating spam musubi at the rest stops, and it’ll turn into a gourmet trip, haha.”

“Don’t want to see that, Mayumi.”

!!!

I eagerly returned to my room and started my workout routine, focusing on hamstring exercises. I’ve been doing various types of training, including the Wall Pilates that’s been appearing in Instagram ads a lot lately, for about three weeks. I only do these exercises in the morning and evening, but I feel like my lower back mobility has improved (although it might be a placebo effect). While I have a decent level of basic fitness, I’m not confident in continuously using the same muscle groups for an extended period. The dedication of athletes is truly admirable.

As I continued with my exercises, I realized there were only two days left until the event. I wonder how it will turn out…

This is Hawaii! Under the clear and crisp blue sky.

To be continued…

Text_ Mayumi Kamura

🚴‍♂️Editor M’s first-time participation, what to do? series🚴‍♂️

#01 Road to Nowhere
#02 Under Pressure
#03 One Fine Day
#04 No women , No cry
#05 Here Comes the Sun
#06 Kaimana Hila
#07 ANOTHER WORLD
#08 Bonus episode : An Accident as Expected

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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.

CULTURE
CYCLE MUSIC #04
Georgie Fame”Happiness”

Ever since this column started, when I listen to music, I somehow become conscious of cycling jackets, music videos related to bicycles, titles, and lyrics related to cycling. But when I thought of this song, I was delighted. It’s Georgie Fame’s beloved groovy tune “Happiness.” This song is from the 1971 masterpiece album “Going Home” is known to those in the know, and on the back cover, you can see Georgie Fame wrapped in a boa leather blouson, riding a bicycle.

#Column
FEATURE TRIP&TRAVEL
Tokyo oldtown bicycle stroll #04
Just Five Minutes from the Airport to Old Tokyo!
~Haneda Airport, Kamata, Magome, Omori~

Everyone has their own idea of what an old town is.An old neighborhood. A low-lying area. A down-to-earth, working-class town.A place where you might run into Tora-san or Ryo-san.*This time, I visited Ota Ward, home to Japan’s gateway, Haneda Airport.Cross the bridge from the airport and explore by bike — you’ll soon realize this is unmistakably part of Tokyo’s old town. *Tora-san and Ryo-san are the main characters of a film and a manga series, both set in Tokyo’s old town districts. Text & Photo_Shitamachi Kombu Table of Contents Surprisingly Easy! From Haneda Airport to Kamata by BikeAnamori Inari Shrine – A Fox-Themed FavoriteKamata: One of Tokyo’s Hidden Hot Spring Districts(Bonus) […]

#Shitamachi
CULTURE
CYCLE CINEMA #14
“The Zone of Interest”
A Bicycle Bridging Hell and Heaven

The Zone of Interest” (2024), a film centered on Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp (hereafter referred to as Auschwitz), presents a series of scenes that are strikingly beautiful and luminous. As is widely known, Auschwitz, operated under the Nazi regime, remains infamous as “one of humanity’s greatest atrocities” and “the site of the worst crime in human history.” The facility was constructed in the outskirts of Oświęcim, in what is now southern Poland, during the German occupation. Under the command of Rudolf Höss, countless Jews were systematically murdered between 1940 and 1945. The sheer scale of the atrocities has made it impossible to determine an exa […]

#Colunm #Cinema