Hello! I’m Noriko, a cyclist living in the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido.Winter has already arrived here. In Kitami City, where I live, the inland areas get relatively little snow, and it takes a while for it to settle permanently. Even in December, you might occasionally spot someone braving the cold to ride their bike, but seeing a road bike cutting through the wind is practically unheard of.That said, there are plenty of activities to enjoy, including cycling! For riders and tourists who want to fully experience the snowy landscapes and winter flavors, I’d love to share some local highlights for this season. First up, for those who want to keep biking in the snow, let me introduce the “ […]
The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) is more than just a cycling event set across the Japanese archipelago. It’s a journey—beyond a journey—a true adventure, a quest, perhaps even a form of creation. The second installment of this series begins with a reflection on the riders, along with photographer Eigo Shimojo, as they set out on their routes following the pre-ride briefing the day before. ＊You can find the previous essay here. ＃04 Moving Dots in Motion The day after the briefing, on an unspecified date in September 2016, I embarked on my first field coverage of The Japanese Odyssey. My task was to chase down nameless cyclists from all over the world, scattered like dots across Japan. There was no […]
The column series “CYCLE MUSIC” introduces a little bicycle-related music each time. This time, I’d like to write about the solo track “Bicycle” by RM, the leader of the hugely popular South Korean group BTS, who is also a hip-hop MC, singer-songwriter, and producer. I’m sure many people know far more about BTS than I do, and I feel quite apologetic for not being very familiar with them. That said, I was deeply moved by this song, which was released as part of the “2021 BTS FESTA”. The track has a laid-back groove led by beautiful guitar cutting—something I’d even recommend to Free Soul fans. It carries a slightly melancholic and sentimental melody. The chorus refrain […]
For readers of Global Ride, The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) is already a familiar name. This independent ultra-long-distance event that spans the length of Japan is set to return in 2025 after a two-year hiatus. According to its official Instagram account, this year’s starting point will be in Hokkaido. What kind of (crazy) journey awaits this time? With the editorial team buzzing with anticipation, eager for more details, we bring you the second installment in our TJO series.In this essay, photographer Eigo Shimojo—a rider himself—delves into the moment he first encountered the essence of TJO during its second edition in 2016, offering a glimpse into the heart of this extraordinar […]
As the 2025 edition of The Japanese Odyssey (TJO) approaches, Global Ride proudly presents the second installment of a serialized essay by photographer Eigo Shimojo. This time, we step back to 2016, on the eve of the second TJO. Organized by Frenchmen Emmanuel and Guillaume—avid Japan enthusiasts who, at that point, had never set foot in the country—their dream of cycling across Japan was about to become reality. The evening’s vibes at a briefing held in Daikanyama, and the spirit of ultra-distance riding that emerged from it, set the stage for what was to come. ＊You can find the previous essay here. #02 The wave has arrived. The grueling checkpoints and the immense route of the ev […]
The Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) is Hawaii’s largest cycling event. It’s also a milestone that draws participants from various disciplines—cycling, marathons, triathlons—with its allure of being a “must-do at least once in a lifetime” experience.In the third installment of our HCR rider series, we interviewed participants who are riding in their second or subsequent HCRs. “Once isn’t enough,” “I want to share this with the people I love”… What keeps bringing them back to HCR? Why do you choose to cycle in Hawaii? Table of Contents 1. The Volunteer Staff’s Incredible Energy: Yoshi & Junko2. Riding Through Honolulu with Cycling Club Friends: Osamu Kosaka, Eriko Takas […]
The Japanese Odyssey (TJO), a little-known ultra-long-distance cycling event traversing the length of Japan, has captured the fascination of dedicated riders. The Global Ride editorial team, with great admiration, has been following this enigmatic event and recently learned that it is set to return in 2025.Checking the official website, which had been dormant for some time, we discovered a message on the homepage from the organizers announcing the event’s revival!The thought of this crazy journey* unfolding again after a two-year hiatus is enough to set our hearts racing.But wait—how does one even prepare for a grueling ride spanning thousands of kilometers, with gravel sections and a fully […]
It’s already mid-November, and we can finally feel the touch of autumn. Recently, while browsing Instagram, I came across a post saying, “It’s already been a month, but I’m still feeling the vibes of Hawaii!” I couldn’t agree more. Just looking at the photos brings back the breeze and atmosphere of Honolulu. Here’s the next installment of our interview series on the Honolulu Century Ride 2024 (HCR). Once again, following our first feature, we bring you four dynamic first-time participant groups. So, why did you choose to ride in Hawaii? Table of Contents １. Thanks for the Big Smile / Yakihata２. Celebrating the 75th Birthday / Joji and Honda３. A Parent-Child Ride to Mark the End of Coll […]
The interesting thing about movies is that they show us diverse worlds. The bloody history of the mafia. A war that happened on a distant star. The encounter between a hitman and a young girl. The life of a samurai at the end of the Edo period. A soldier in a desperate situation. A battle against a killer by the lakeside. Crossing borders, eras, and time, they bring us surprise and inspiration. **”Wadjda” (2012)** is a Saudi Arabian film (co-produced with Germany) that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Venice International Film Festival. The director and screenwriter, Haifaa al-Mansour, is Saudi Arabia’s […]
What’s the farthest you’ve traveled by bike so far? Maybe it was the coffee shop two stations away, the office an hour away by train, or perhaps just across the prefectural border. Likely, readers of this article are thinking, “No way, that’s way too close. I can ride much farther than that!” When you get a road bike or any kind of sport bike, there’s this urge to go farther and farther. Before you know it, you’ve broken through the 50km, 100km, and even 200km barriers, and you find yourself thrilled as your world expands with each new distance. So, how about 1000 kilometers? Does that sound like an impossible distance? With 1000 kilometers, you coul […]
