More shots from the Nagoya Chari Fes

Crankee here. Have a gander at some picts from last Sunday's Bike Fest in Nagoya City.

Nagoya Chari Fes - Bicycle Festival

Quick reminder: The CharFes bicycle festival will be held today and tomorrow at the Yabacho underpass (across from Parco department store). All kinds of bicycle events planned. I'll be there Sunday noon with my ShishkaBike serving up tasty hot dogs (made with extra pig anus). Stop by and say "Haroo" if you're in the area.

The muddy waters of FSCX

The annual Nagoya City FSCX, sponsored by Circles bike shop was held yesterday along the Shonai river just before route 41. We had a decent draw, considering it was a Monday (national holiday). Heavy rain the night before guaranteed us a very muddy and challenging course along the riverbank. The mud was almost a foot deep in some places, and I sure as hell was not going to ride my Surly Steamroller through that muck. Luckily Sal loan me his Surly Karate Monkey with super fat tires. Still I managed to muck up my pants and shoes. The day's winner was some cat from Osaka. Nothing like the good clean fun of free style cyclo-cross.

Sal...before the race

Gay

Fun FSCX style!

Hopping the course

You think they look hot now, you should have seen them after the race. Dirty girls.

Spicy Kebabs, 300 YEN. Señor Crankee never passes up a chance to capitalize on a cycling event

Pedaling my Surly along the riverside road,

cherry blossoms stick to my rims

and I swerve left nearly hitting a 200 year old woman.

Bent like like an upside down L

she glances and sneers at my ride,

"Poser" she spits, loud enough for me to hear,

and continues down the path,

counting the cracks on the pavement for the next 200 years.

Pedaling my Surly along the bumpy path,

I imagine time slows down as I hit warp 10.

The cherry blossoms stop mid-flight,

and I ride through the pink cloud mouth open,

tasting the high pitch laughter of Japanese girls.

Vintage Mizutani Moped

Came across this vintage motorized bicycle yesterday outside a small antique shop. The maker (Mizutani Bicycles) has been around since 1924 and judging from the condition of the bike, I'd say it has to be over 50 years old. Wonder if she still runs...

Still in pretty decent condition

"Mizutani Ringyo" label on saddle

Motor case reads "Diamond Free Patent Motor"

Miniature guard dog

Alley cats, Cyclo Cross and Chari Fes

The cold skirts of winter are finally peeling away and showing us warm and fuzzy patches of days to come. Lots of bike crap going on this month. Here's what's on the calendar for March:


NUTs Alley Cat race
Date: March 20
Place: Shirakawa park, Nagoya City
Time: 9:00 PM
Entry fee: 600 YEN (After party at Cafe Palwr)



Annual FSCX Free Style Cyclo Cross Race
Date: March 22
Place: Shonai River Park Kansenjiki (near Fure ai bashi bridge) right along the river.
Time: 10:00 AM
Entry fee: 500 YEN



I had a lot of fun at last year's race. Bring any bike, a helmet and if you want to eat BBQ, a plate and chop sticks.


Nagoya Chari Fes (Bike festival)
Date: 27th 1:00 pm～7:00 pm／28th 10:00 am～5:00 pm
Place: At the Yabacho underpass, Downtown Nagoya (sakae)

Our resident freaky guy Date san (aka Dirty) is once again putting together a fun two days of cycling events for all to enjoy. Among the planned activities are:

• Flea market
• Bike tricks and fun
• Safety tips
• Curry rice festival and more!