cycling

  • Bloody Beauty! Back on the Bike!

    After months of near inactivity, Kangaeroo was finally able to indulge regularly in the pursuit that brings probably the greatest pleasure in life: cycling! So far, 2022 has been a series of calamities in terms of cycling, starting with poor weather then moving on to poor equipment, poor health and poor luck! But things slowly slotted back into place and have finally allowed for a week on the bike that is as good as it gets now! And some of the results were stupendous, as can be seen in the gallery. What sheer delight!

  • Bloomin’ Marvelous!

    For all sorts of reasons, Kangaeroo hasn’t had much of chance to get out and about and cop a look at the cherry blossoms in bloom in Tokyo in 2022. Nonetheless, that hasn’t meant being completely deprived of a sight that possibly makes the Japanese capital the most beautiful city in the world for a week or so every spring. Various restrictions have limited viewing to the area of the Tama river and its tributaries, but even then it has made for some wonderful sights, as this gallery shows.

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    Kangaeroo.com Kit Dares to Dazzle!

    The third, and latest, version of Kangaeroo.com cycling kit has come off the production line and is ready to dazzle. This year, for the first time ever, Kangaeroo.com cycling kit includes a vest and bib shorts. The kit is a full supplement of spring-summer gear in a predominantly Aussie-wattle hue with gum-leaf green lettering. The brighter gear reflects a shift to a new environment. Kangaeroo.com cycling kit comprises a jersey, bib shorts and vest. The jersey features the Kangaeroo.com thinking kangaroo logo on the front, rear and both sleeves. The website title and URL also appear on the front, rear and sleeves. The jersey base is wattle gold with gum…

  • クロス・コーヒーに感謝

     クロス・コーヒーは、東京多摩地区の矢野口にあるサイクリストに大変人気なコーヒーショップである。  昔は常連だったが、引っ越ししてあまり行かなくなった。  正直に言うと、最高な評判ほどいい店だと思わなかったです。  値段が割高で食べ物が美味しくても微量で食べても食べても食べたりない気持ちだけでいっぱいになった。  でも、スタッフもいいし、仲間もそこで集まるので、とってもいい面もあった。  だが、今日は、考えRooがクロス・コーヒーに大変助けられ、心底から感謝しています。  昼のライドはデスマシンであるタイガー車で乗ることにした。ちょっと春らしい天気となって、スピードが出せないリカンベントに乗れる時間があったので、行こうとした。「ツールを持っていけ」と自分に何回も言い聞かせた。ツールがいつもタイガー車となりに泊めているチャリにおいてあるので、わざわざ前に持っているバッグを持ってツールを入れようと思ったが、忘れた。よくあることなので、意識もしなかった。  しかし、約10キロ走ったら、前輪が揺られはじまった。  「くそ!」  すぐに分かった。パンク。また、面倒くさい前輪だ。  「くそ。本当にくそ!」  しかし、クロスが近かったので、道具も空気入りも使えると思って、押し歩いて。  店につくとタイヤレバーを借りようと思ったが、販売品しかなかったので、買わされた。金欠なので、ちょっと不満だったが、気持ちよく支払った。  ここからクロスのすごさが表れた。  持って行ったインナーチューブが別のサイズのホイール用だった。クロスが求めているサイズを売っていない。おまけ、前輪を外したが、また取りけられない。リカンベントの難しいところの一つ。  でも、クロスの店長であるトニオさんがその時間を上手く活用して頂いた。  あっちこっちの自転車屋に電話しまくって、チューブがるところを探していただいた。  場所を地図上で教えて頂いて歩いた。遠くないはずから歩いて10分のところ自転車屋を探してが見当たらない。  「この辺にあるはずだ」と思いながら、可愛くて若い女性に声をかけられた。  「すみません。クロスのものですが。自転車屋を探していますよね。」  「ええ」  「あの、すみませんが、多分方向が逆だと思います」と礼儀正しく言われた。  その方がわざわざ考えRooをおっかけて、ちゃんと探していたところまで誘導して頂きました。  その自転車屋さんはアトリエフルーブでした。珍しいサイズのチューブもスペースをよく食うリカンベント修理できる場所も空気入り貸して頂きました。今度、ゆっくりと店を見ます。  数分立ったら、タイガー車がちゃんと治って急いで帰ることが出来た。  とっても感謝しています。さすがに日本人のサービス精神も優しさをさらに実感出来ました。  天気も良かったので、恵まれた一日となった。サイクリングが最高!  

  • Beautifully Breaks the Tama River Morning

    Mornings can be hard to get up for, particularly in the cold and dark of winter. Yet, some things make it worth waking early for. Waking, then moving, can be a great way to start the day. It can get the body working and warmed up before the mind takes over, or even put the mind in a decent space. In Kangaeroo’s case, it’s handy. The mind is rarely friendly. Winter 2021-2 has not been particularly constructive. Moved to a home last year, renovations kept it dark….for three months. Work is not going well. Laid off three times in 2021. Not feasible to retire. Bike breakdowns, and no replacement parts…

  • A Turn For The Worse

    Professional life has become crushing. This has turned out to be a really lousy year. I was determined to make my cycling goals this year, but now have to focus on saving my job. It should have been a triumphant time. It was a magnificent year for cycling, as my stats attest. Now I am being punished and penalized for things the company used to praise me for. Clearly there is a concerted effort to get rid of me. If only I had somewhere to go. It has been a cruel end to what should have been a great year. Same thing for the Tigers, I guess.

  • Well, Well, What A Surprise

    We’re back at the company where we originally worked, but on drastically reduced terms compared to what we have been on, with the move occurring precisely to the day that makes the company legally permitted to do what they’ve done. It’s a shifty, nasty, dirty act, all carried out secretly and without transparency, and all aimed at circumventing labor laws and standards. The goodwill I felt toward the company has vanished at this perfidity. Luckily, I had a ride up Mount Fuji to assuage my anger.

  • Summer Cycling Sways Silent Sweetness

    For the second year in a row we have been able to have a reasonable undemanding summer season, which is an absolute delight as the hottest time of the year has traditionally meant gruelling hard work as it is our busiest time of the year. The pandemic and pretty lousy sales people have ensured that we do not have to put in overtime; in the office at least. There’s not enough time in the day for me as I continue my pursuit of the goal to cycle a circumnavigation of the world in a year (which requires pedaling over 28,000 km or so).

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    Putting The Limp Into Olympics

    Japan did the most amazing job of hosting the Olympic Games under the mostr trying of circumstances, and I would argue there probably isn’t a country on earth that could have done it nearly as well. But the big question is: Why? We held the Games behind closed doors. Only the most privileged of guests were able to see the athletes do their thing, and I’m sure the quarantining rules were broken for many. Personally, I got to see almost nothing. I saw none of the downtown Tokyo events, but did get to perform an errand near Horse Park, where the equestrian events were held. The park was surrounded by…