Big Red Bike Tour Stage 9: The Knights In White Lycra

4 September 2025

Thanks to my annual leave, and a message from a fine man committed to giving back to society, I got to spend Stage 9 of the Big Red Bike Tour visiting a video night to showcase the 500-km charity ride the Knights in White Lycra made in June.

The Knights in White Lycra (KIWL) were formed in 2013 and are a group of volunteers that devote themselves to giving back to society and getting fit in the process. They donate the proceeds of heir activities to Mirai no Mori, an NPO devoted to underprivileged children. KIWL conducts a number of fund-raising events, but those that most attract my attention are related to cycling.

I’m not much good at anything and my clumsy over-eagerness often causes more hindrance than help, but my track record over many years has given me a little bit of confidence in being able to cycle a lot, and to keep on going when others can’t at times.

I’ve often wondered if there wasn’t some way that I could use this somewhat dubious ability to show my appreciation to Japanese society for all it has given me, and it seemed like the Knights in White Lycra would be a great start.

I’ve never been involved in KIWL events before now despite having come close, and being acquaintances with many either taking part in KIWL events or associated with those who have done so.

But my current employer is a proactive supporter of employees contributing to their communities, so I thought that now is a better time than ever to reach out to KIWL. I was too late to enroll in this year’s ride, but the organizer Rob Williams did not forget me and reached out to visit the video night last night at The Footnik British pub in Osaki.

As a teetotaller, I often feel a bit out of place at pub-based events, but I needn’t have worried. People and staff were friendly and accommodating, the pub nosh including scrumptious sausage rolls and sublime orange cake was top class, and there were actually a lot of people I already knew. It was a fantastic night! I really loved it.

I’ve got a number of constraints that may prevent me from taking part in KIWL events, but I would really love to find a way to do so, especially after meeting those involved.

And just to cap off a great time, I got to ride home, hitting the streets in the dark for the first time in a long time, but ably helped by my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, which found a way through meandering back streets that were an absolute delight to ride on a warm autumn evening.

Unfortunately, the night also ended in the first casualty of the Big Red Bike Tour on its only double stage day as the strap holding my handlebar bag broke. I had been pretty pleased with its performance, and as far as casualties go there could be much worse, but I think I’d better look for a more reliable and durable replacement now.