Editor M’s first-time participation, what to do? #1
“Inexperienced rider at the Honolulu Century Ride 2023”

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).

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

The bottlebrush tree belongs to the Myrtaceae family

🚴‍♂️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

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.

FEATURE EVENT
I wanna ride on abroad.
Honolulu Century Ride 2023 Chronicle
#4 First Hawaii Ride – Test Run Episode

Sudden events led me to participate in the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) in Hawaii, which takes place in September. I brought my road bike with me, and this is my first experience riding abroad. So far, I’ve written about the bike transportation from Japan and my initial impressions upon arriving in Hawaii. Now, let’s dive into the exciting part – my first ride in Hawaii!

#How to #Japan
FEATURE EVENT
Hawaii, the ultimate place to ride on Earth.

This time, I am convinced.The Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) is the best ride on Earth. This is my second time riding in Hawaii, following last year. I’ve been pondering how I should be involved as the Communication Director of Global Ride (GR). Last year, I was so focused on completing the 160 km ride that I just gave it my all. It was my first time riding a road bike overseas, and everything felt exciting. However, this year was my second time. I didn’t expect to feel the same excitement as before. So I intentionally decided not to view the event from a rider’s perspective. Instead, I planned to ride in the GR editorial team’s car and focus on capturing photos of the HCR and the b […]

#Ride #Hawaii
FEATURE EVENT
HONOLULU CENTURY RIDE 2025
PHOTO ALBUM 🌈 Part2

The Honolulu Century Ride is held annually on the fourth Sunday of September. Riders participate for various reasons:“We got excited thinking it would be amazing to ride in Hawaii.”“Seeing my partner enjoying cycling made me want to join too.”“I participate as a health benchmark, wondering how many more times I can join.” This year, a new course around Hanauma Bay was introduced, and the event was blessed with clear skies throughout. How was your ride? Following the first part of the photo album, we present the second part, showcasing the beautiful views of the Honolulu Century Ride 2025. Text_Global Ride Editorial TeamPhoto_HONOLULU CENTURY RIDE / HM-A*HO […]

#Kualoa #Ride