A one-day cycling trip: The story of a 300km long ride
Long rides are a great way to enjoy the scenery of various regions by bicycle.
They're not a race, so you can ride at your own pace, which is another great thing about them. It feels almost like a trip.
March to May is the perfect season for cycling! Here's a look at the 300km long ride through Setouchi that our staff member Ikeda challenged last year.
Here's the route.
Starting from Itsukaichi Station in Hiroshima City, the ride goes clockwise: Onomichi → Shimanami Kaido → Imabari → Matsuyama → Ferry → Kure → Itsukaichi Station in Hiroshima City.
The key was to ride along the train lines so that I could quit anytime if needed.
I brought along bike-packing gear so I could return home quickly in case of an emergency.
This time, I wanted to visit as many places as possible in a short time, so I set a target of 24 hours.
I left Hiroshima City around 2 AM. The city was dark with few cars.
Three hours after departure, I arrived in the city of Kure.
The shopping street was lit up, making it a safe place to ride.
I had brought two taillights expecting a long night ride, but one ran out of battery here.
Since I had a mobile battery, I rode while charging one of them.
Feeling hungry, I got some breakfast (pasta, etc.) at a convenience store.
After a quick meal at a park along the way, I headed for Onomichi.
I ate around here.
The moving sunrise.
I never thought a sunrise could be so delightful after riding through complete darkness.
I arrived at Onomichi Station.
I tried some supplements that are supposed to help with fatigue, and took photos by the sea along the way.
I took it too easy and ended up two hours behind schedule.
Leaving Onomichi, I headed for the Shimanami Kaido.
The Shimanami Kaido is a place I definitely recommend visiting once you get a bicycle.
Along the way, there are many places to stop, such as local mandarins sold for cyclists and a delicious ice cream shop.
And of course, the scenery is superb!
Crossing the bridges feels like cycling in the sky.
On the Shimanami Kaido, there's a blue line drawn on the road from Onomichi to Imabari, so you can proceed without getting lost.
If you dare to stray from the blue line, there are gravel courses for thrill-seekers and hill climb courses for those who want a physical challenge, making it a place that can truly be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to veterans.
While riding the Shimanami Kaido, a customer who saw my social media came to cheer me on, which was incredibly heartwarming.
I also received some refreshments, which boosted my energy by 100 times!
After landing on Shikoku, I headed west.
Here again, I met a customer and received refreshments... I'm truly glad to be alive. Thank you!
I enjoyed the Shimanami Kaido so much that I was 6 hours behind schedule.
I was supposed to take a ferry to Suo-Oshima, located west on the map, but I missed it.
So this time, I decided to take a ferry from Matsuyama to Kure.
It got dark again, and the road became pitch black.
It's hard to tell from the photo, but the dynamo light worked wonders!
I arrived at the ferry terminal and boarded.
The ferry operating from Matsuyama to Kure had an interior like a luxury cruise ship, which was really nice.
When I arrived at Kure port, I was incredibly surprised to find staff there to greet me!
After arriving in Kure, I rushed back to Itsukaichi Station.
I had set a 24-hour time limit, and I just barely made it.
