Golden Week in Japan, every 5th month of the year, is a week full of consecutive holidays. It is also the week for the big annual Shakariki ride, somewhere in the northern mountain ranges of the city of Kyoto. Shakariki is stemmed from an old bicycle themed manga series, but here in Kyoto it is the name for a small group of local cyclists, who are all about bikes and good times!
Last year we were riding about 120 km. That distance alone is a nothing I take light-heartedly, but here in Japan those 120 km are made up of roads permanently winding uphill and downhill. Even though I usually say: I like hills, this manages to squeeze the life outta me. The up and down also gives Shakariki rides it’s very own taste, meaning, we do a lot of stops for a quick chat, snack and piss-break along the way. Breaks I desperately needed, when this long day of rides was coming to and end! I didn’t keep me from cycling to a downtown bar the same night, though, haha!