I'm going to apologise up front for the lack of photos, capturing candid moments and the seemingly small but memorable things along the way is a practiced skill. Additionally from the next post it typhooned for a week so photos in the rain are just about impossible.
Where to start? Landing in Japan I guess. I collected my box without problem and stumbled my way through the airport finding every door and lift too narrow to go through, having to lift the box off the cart and slide it through and the reload it onto the cart. Repeated about 6 times it got a bit tiresome. A proper bike bag for the next international trip I think. Train into Tokyo was no problem and I got to my stop easily. Dragging my cardboard box along the street with the loud scraping sound draws more than a few stares but I was only a few hundred metres from the bike shop I had planned on unboxing at. After what felt like an eternity of dragging this box I got to the shop to learn it was closed Wednesdays and would later learn that in Japan, Wednesday is “close your bike shop” day. Being 1500m from my hotel with a heavy box with a hole wearing in the corner from dragging I had to think outside the box. Dragging it again to a nearby hotel of the same chain as I had booked and playing the “oh im at the wrong hotel, how silly, please call me a taxi” card. The next fun part was fitting this box in the back of a Tokyo taxi. It would’ve been a ridiculous sight, me pushing and the driver pulling this box into the backseat but we got there with laughs all round. Finally dropped at my hotel I checked into my single bedroom (read: small) and took a breath.
 |
| In the taxi with the stupid box. |
The next nearest shop was a Trek dealer but I figured a bikes a bike and they’ll help me put it together right? I should clarify I have no issues assembling my own bike but didn’t bring cutters for cable ties or a torque wrench. Both of which I will bring next time. So after emptying the box of as much stuff as I can I carry, not drag, it 800m to the next shop. As soon as I walk in “ooooo S Works” (the box has a large S on the side) and we begin the google translate game.
Can you please assemble my bike?
Is it new?
No its mine from Australia
Assembling non Trek is very difficult, this is a Trek store.
It just needs to the bars, pedals, seat and wheels put on not a full assembly.
We can do it next Saturday (10 days time)
No, it’s a 20 minute job, surely you can fit me in today or tomorrow?
No
Can I borrow your tools, ill pay, and do it myself?
No
Can I borrow some cutters then please and I’ll do the rest myself?
OK
So cable ties removed I carry my box 800m back to my hotel and proceed to assemble it with my multitool. 1 hour later, done.
Returning to the shop on the assembled bike hoping to demonstrate what I actually wanted and maybe get them to torque everything I get a better reception. When I show them the Japanese Odyssey website and explain what I’m doing suddenly the gates open and they drop everything to assist me. Even finding me a bolt for my aero bars I lost in transit somehow. Everything is now assembled, torqued and ready. So after an initial hurdle/comms barrier they were super helpful and it would go on to set the tone for the whole ride. Once you get over the initial language barrier and both sides understand there is so much assistance and help for you. Everyone is super friendly and will do whatever they can to help.
I spend the next day rolling around Tokyo and getting some little things sorted, SIM card etc and generally getting into the food and studying up on my route. To get familiar with the way out of Tokyo I ride the first 50km of my exit route from Tokyo to get familiar with it and reduce some anxiety about being sure about where to go. Turns out its pretty simple and once you're on the bike path you just keep going. Was worth doing though to see some of the more complicated intersections and know what I can avoid.
 |
| The start line. The zero mile marker for Tokyo. |
 |
| Ubiquitous vending machines. These come in super handy when you need a sugar/caffeine hit. |
 |
| I found a bakery for lunch! |
 |
| The wide open bike path out of Tokyo |
 |
| All smiles today! |
On the Friday before the start we had a casual ride in the morning as a bit of a gathering to get to know one another and see a bit of Tokyo by bike. We had two local guides show us around and had a great time zooming around Tokyo through the traffic and chatting away. We finish at a coffee shop that would not be out of place in Hawthorn and settle in for coffee and breakfast, eggs benedict and a flat white, OMG yes!
 |
| Riding on the footpath is legal and encouraged |
 |
| An assortment of ratbags and scalliwags :) |
 |
| Rolling through the markets |
 |
| 10/10 do recommend |
After riding home through a shower I decide to hit up Shibuya which is famous for the massive crossing you see in lots of Tokyo based films and has massive shopping centres. I get the subway there without event and find the crossing, it’s pretty massive and busy with people going every direction and tourists mingling to get the mid crossing photo. I head up the starbucks overlooking the crossing to watch for a while with a matcha frappucino. At this point I decide matcha is terrible and continues to be confirmed everywhere I go. I just don’t get it.
After exploring the shops I walk over to where the evening briefing is to be held, on a rooftop café and park myself for an hour, give Amy a call and just enjoy sitting and chilling on a roof. Eventually people start rolling in and we chat and drink (pre ride beers, good idea?) before the actual briefing starts we collect a pile of loot, 1L bidon, cap, cycling kit, trackers and a beautiful Japanese cotton handkerchief. I decide I don’t want to risk losing any of this so I pack it all away when I get back to room, besides the tracker of course. The mood is festive and we hear from some of the sponsors, the media team from Far Ride Magazine who will be chasing us around Japan and Emmanuel goes over the ride regulations and what we can expect. I also collect a Wahoo ELEMNT from Sogon at Far Ride Mag to test out for the ride and see how it goes (in short, really well). Stuffed on gourmet sandwiches and a few beers I make my way back to the hotel to prepare for the 5am start.
Final checks are made, my bag is packed and delivered to reception to courier to Osaka and meet me at the finish, bike is loaded, kit is ready, maps checked, ELEMNT configured, charged and mounted. We are go. Time to attempt sleep.
After a series of shitty naps my alarm goes off at 4AM. 5 hours “sleep” again setting the tone for the days to come. I stretch, smash down my breakfast I’d bought the night before, stretch again and confirm I’m 100% packed. Off we go…
No comments:
Post a Comment