Category: Just Do It

  • Getting back on the horse

    Getting back on the horse

    Having recovered from saddle sores, given Kuroko a bath, and fixed both a broken spoke and a broken shifter cable, today finally marked the first time back on the bike since my ignominious return from England and Scotland. The day dawned cloudy and dismal. The forecast chance of rain was low but not non-existent. I…

  • Why?

    We stopped in our favorite local sushi counter for a last meal of good Japanese food before I depart for England. When Nana told the master I was off for two weeks of cycling in England and Scotland, he had only one question: Why? Meanwhile, I noticed some familiar faces among the condiments. And then…

  • Back in the saddle

    I had my first ride in nearly four weeks today as Kuroko and I commuted. There were no mechanicals and everything went smoothly as I got used to a new Garmin GPS. It felt so good to be back on the bike that when I got to the office I made a little extra loop…

  • Suboptimal conditions

    Suboptimal conditions

    When I looked at the clock this morning, it was much later than I expected. I got up and checked for messages and there was the Halfakid, reminding me that I was supposed to meet him within 10 minutes. I told him I’d need another hour or more, and started getting ready for the ride.…

  • Some disassembly required

    Some disassembly required

    Nana informed me several weeks ago that Seino Kangaroo service was available to have my bike delivered for the Tour de Tohoku. It sounded a lot better than humping the bike up and back on the shinkansen (which I’ve done before — to Kyoto). Unfortunately, I was really busy with other things at the time…

  • Solo Hamura Ride

    Solo Hamura Ride

    I set out hopefully early Sunday morning with a saddlebag full of onigiri freshly made by Nana and a date with the Halfakid to ride up the Tamagawa to the end of the cycle course — notwithstanding the forecast for a high of 36C. The first hitch of the day came when I pulled up…

  • Who is the goutcho, amigo?

    It’s not fair that actions should have consequences. Less than two months after my first episode of gout, here I am again. I awoke yesterday morning with an all-too-familiar feeling in the joint of the big toe. I hadn’t done anything in particular to bring this on, apart from four consecutive evenings of drinking without…

  • Another lap around Tokyo

    Another lap around Tokyo

    Happy World Bicycle Day! Following yesterday’s mechanical, I set out optimistically today on another 60km ride — but with a bit more climbing. My butt didn’t like the idea of a second consecutive day of riding, but once I applied a liberal dose of Lotion No. 5, everything went well. It’s a 60km ride around…

  • Walking stick came in very handy

    I went back to work today for the first time since my left big toe swelled up with gout, and I used a walking stick to take pressure off the foot. As a result, people were giving up their seats to me on the train. I may have to continue using this even after the…