With the spread of the new coronavirus, cycle events around the world have been canceled, including the 2020 Bike New York and Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenges, which have now been unavoidably cancelled. On the other hand, many of us may have become more closely connected to bicycles in our daily lives, such as commuting by bicycle or taking up indoor cycling. Still, we are not the only ones who would still like to “travel by bicycle”…! It is also true that it is still difficult to travel long distances. So, we asked ourselves, “Where are some rides that are close and easy to get to, but still allow us to fully enjoy the feeling of traveling?” Here is what we came up with.

The Second installment of a Brisbane travelogue by popular bicycle youtuber, Kenta-san. Kenta-san participated in B2CG 2019, and his video from Brisbane is now available. This time it’s finally the day of B2GC! Roadie’s ideal world (?) Click here to watch the video of the B2GC!

On the first weekend of July, two cycling events were held in the Niseko area of Hokkaido. One is the Niseko Classic, a UCI-sanctioned citizens’ race, and the other is the Niseko Yotei Fun Ride, a loop around Mt. Yotei. With many entrants from overseas, the two-day event had a rich international flavor that is typical of Niseko.

The Niseko Classic has become so popular that there was a waiting list of over 100 people. 4 categories of 49 years old and under are eligible for the UCIGFWS for the 140km course (elevation gain: 2,362m) and 5 categories of 50 years old and over for the 70km course (elevation gain: 1,125m); all other categories are open to participants. It is interesting to note that the 70km course attracted the largest number of participants in this category, namely those aged 19-49, an open category not covered by the UCIGFWS. This is probably an indication that many people want to genuinely enjoy road racing regardless of participation rights.

Now, one of the fun parts of a fun ride is the refreshments at the aid stations. AEON Hokkaido was a special sponsor of this event, and a large amount of AEON PB jellies, drinks, bananas, and other items were distributed to support the participants’ run.

The Gold Coast is Australia’s largest tourist and recreational area. Brisbane, also in Queensland, has just launched a new cycle festival. Here is a report on one of the main events, the “Tour de Brisbane,” a fun ride that everyone is sure to enjoy.

The Tour de Brisbane was held on Sunday, April 14. A total of 3,209 riders entered the race, a very large number for a first-time event, and the South Bank, the start/finish line, was packed with cyclists from early in the morning. First, the UCI Gran Fondo road race waved off for each age class, followed by the Amy’s Ride, which departed from Southbank, divided by distance.

Six Day emphasizes entertainment with background music by DJs and the use of lights. Its origins are said to date back to 1878. This truck race, which once included popular Tour de France athletes such as Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, is especially popular in Europe, where world champions, Olympians, and next-generation stars can be seen running up close with a beer in hand.