A bevy of Pedaling Beauties...and me

Group Ride to Kyoto

Aaahhh! Golden Week has arrived. This weekend marks the start of the yearly 5 day sabbatical when half the country tries to fly to Hawaii for a quick vacation, while the other half gets stuck on the expressway. Señor Crankee knows better. Sunday I'll be cycling from Nagoya to Kyoto City with most of the girls from the Nagoya Love Wheels Calendar. The plan is to set off on Sunday morning and make it to the Moonlight Guest House in Kyoto by nightfall. I'll be posting photos along the way. Have a super duper cYcLoTastic holiday!

Moonlight Guest House in Kyoto

Guesthouse business Center

Doggy Style

Bird's eye view of hot dogs grilling on my bike.

Something stinks here

Tomohiro, the traveling man

I met Tomohiro Kanamaru a few days ago at the Circles Bike shop. The young slightly tall Japanese approached me as I grilled a few hot dogs on the back of my bike. He ordered a dog with mustard and handed me his name card along with ¥200. As he ate my wiener, I took a moment to read his name card. Just below his email address he detailed how he is traveling around Japan learning all he can about food and hopes one day to have a job that is connected with his love for things culinary. A man after my own heart. Tomohiro is living the dream. The young man saved some cashed and several weeks ago set out from Tokyo with a year long mission to travel all over the land of Yamato and experience the life of a two-wheeled vagabond. I envied him. And to show my admiration, I gave him a second helping of mustard for this hot dog. Tomohiro keeps a blog of his travels which he updates with his mobile phone. Young Tomohiro is one of the reasons I love this country. To see people drop everything, pick up a bike and cycle with no real plan in mind fills me with hope for the future. It is for this very reason that I love cycling. For every time I place foot to pedal, I know that I will meet someone with an interesting story to tell. Or at least someone who has figured out a new way to take their pet along for a ride.

Living the dream, one bark at a time

Hot Dogs, Green Curry and Coffee...must be Sunday

Yesterday afternoon I sold my world famous Hot Dogs made on my BBQ bike grill at Circles Bike shop downtown. I was joined by Keita who sold a very tasty green curry lunch and Rie with her super cute bike cafe. Though my appearance at the Circles Bike shop will be occasional, Rie and Keita will be selling their food and coffee at the shop every Sunday afternoon. If you're in the area on a Sunday, please stop by the shop and try the Curry. Maybe even pick up a new saddle bag for your bike.

Keita and his green curry lunch 600 YEN (a good deal)

Rie serving up some of her gourmet coffee

Dirty Dogs and Hot Coffee

Just a quick note. I will be at the Circles Bike Shop tomorrow (Sunday) noon serving Hot Dogs on my ShishkaBike. Rie will also be there with her Cafe Bike and another dude will be preparing curry rice. So if you're in the Higashibetsuuin area tomorrow, please stop by for a dirty dog and good coffee. Map below.



View Circles in a larger map

New Japanese anti-theft bicycle device

Fido & Strida

On my way back home I stopped cycling for a moment to have a closer look at a Strida Bicycle (aka The Testicle Crusher) leaning against a pole. I approached the triangular specimen much like Jane Goodall approaches chimps, when suddenly I was startled by white scrawny looking dog that was tied to the bike. I hadn't noticed the Bike Mutt, since he was leaning low on the ground trying to blend in with the fauna. My command of dog dialect is a bit rusty, but I gathered from his raspy bark and display of teeth that he didn't want me anywhere near the damn bike. Naturally I obliged. I took my photo and hauled ass. I found it interesting that the $800 bicycle was not actually locked to the pole. The only thing protecting that bike from theft was old snaggle tooth and his bark. I think the Japanese are on to something. After all, we use dogs to protect our homes, why not lock them to our bikes too?

April NUTs & Tasty stews

This Saturday night's monthly NUTs bike race will be held as usual at Shirakawa park at 8:30 PM. We're no longer having the after party at Cafe Palwr (we're still searching for a new home). This month's race will be a "Nabe" race. Participants will race to designated supermarkets to buy what they need to make a Japanese Nabe Stew. We will all meet at Meijo Park for the stew making party. Last year my group made a "Chocolate and marshmallow" stew. It tasted a lot better than it sounds. Bring your bike and your appetite. See you Saturday night!

City Cycling Scenes: The Nagoya Death Star

It seems the Japanese have taken the whole dolphin and blue-fin tuna issue personally and have begun construction of a Death Star to vaporize those pesky vegans. Or maybe this is the the nearly complete Nagoya City Planetarium by Shirakawa Park. Apparently, this planitarium promises to be the largest in the world. One thing for sure; you won't see any stoners tripping on the Pink Floyd Laser Show.

Nagoya's Death Star

Note the laser canons beneath

Pedaling in Pink Petals

One of the simple pleasures of living in Japan. A mid day ride among the Cherry Blossoms.