WET*WET*WET*Too cold and wet for cycling this weekend, and anyway I can’t ride due to recent eye surgery. But next weekend is looking considerably brighter.  My eye, too. Stay tuned.Cruisin’ with Half-Fast*Yesterday, Akira and I signed a contract to rent the Marco Polo on the evening of June 8th. So the  Half-Fast Tokyo Bay Cruise VI is ON. Mark your calendars. Been before?  Then email me and sign up /now/. Space is limited. I’m tweaking the flyer and will send it next week.  Il Padrone, 09 ...Continue Reading

HARD*TO*BELIEVE*But this miserable weather will soon give way to a pair of supremely bikeable weekend days, at 23 degrees or more and mostly sunny with little wind. So I’m  planning two intermediate rides, a Saturday Tama River loop and a Sunday Odaiba Plus. Looks like the blossoms won’t be blooming until next week, but I have cataract surgery next week and I’m not sure if it will be safe to bike. We’ll figure something out. I’ll get to the rides in a minute, but first...Mac and I went to visit Paul yesterday ...Continue Reading

*GONNA**RAIN**SATURDAY*Probably. The forecasts have been changing hourly all week. But *Sunday*, with not a lot of sunshine but temps as high as 18 and little wind, is certainly bikeable. So just the one keep-fit social ride on Sunday. Being out there, even when the weather isn’t perfect, is better than not being out there.*Sunday Odaiba Jaunt*Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 11:00 a.m. for a quick, 30-km ride out to the Beach by the Bay for a Brew or Two. Back by 2:00 probably. Beach bar&nbs ...Continue Reading

*IT’S TIME TO BREAK OUT THE*SUNSCREEN!*Spring seems to have sprung. Saturday looks like around 19 degrees and sunny, with Sunday even a few degrees warmer but a few clouds; little wind. So I’m looking at an Odaiba Plus and a Jonan Plus respectively. In addition, ludicrous-level riders Chris and Peter are both offering more challenging hill-climbs on Sunday.  Please bring along an eco-bag for any convenience-store lunches. Not kidding.*Saturday Odaiba Plus*Our usual 30-km jaunt out to the beach by the bay for a brew ...Continue Reading

*WINTER*…seems to still be with us (snow this morning!), with highs this weekend of 11 and 12, and some wind. But sunny and not wet, so we’ll be out there for a Jonan ride on Saturday and an Odaiba jaunt on Sunday. Note: The forecast high for /next/ Saturday is 20 degrees. Plan on something longer.*Saturday Jonan*Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 11:00 a.m. for a quick 35-km ride out to Jonan seaside park out Haneda way. Please bring an eco-bag for your convenience store lunch. Back by around 2:00.Sunday Oda ...Continue Reading

EIGHT *DEGREES *AND *CLOUDY*…is below my cycling fun threshold, but, alas, that’s the forecast for Saturday. Not planning any rides.Good thing *Sunday* looks much more bikeable, at 13 or 14 and sunny with moderate winds. Sunday is also the day for the Tokyo Marathon, so we’ll want to give that a wide berth. Therefore, a Tama river loop. Please bring an eco-bag for your convenience store lunch.Sunday Tama Loop*Intermediate-level. 55km, easy but fast. Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hill ...Continue Reading

*Wednesday Odaiba Romp*Some of us will head out to Odaiba on Wednesday. The high will be about 13, and this wind will finally ease up. Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 11:00 a,m, *sharp*, back by 2:00, distance 30 km. Beach bar lunch.*Please RSVP for this ride, 090-5813-6721 *******For this weekend, we’ll likely skirt the Tokyo Marathon Sunday by doing a 55-km Tama River loop. 12 degrees and little wind. But I’ll confirm that on Friday when we have a better idea about the weather.  The altern ...Continue Reading

*SATURDAY*Appears to be the only day this rain will be letting up, so we’ll do a keep-fit ride. But it will be cold, so bundle up.As you can see from the mailing this morning, we’ve all been invited to this interesting-looking party out at Ted’s place on March 2nd. The guy lives in a live house!  Note that there’s a ¥1500 cover and that it’s a potluck, so bring a small dish to share.  Looks like fun.*Saturday Odaiba Run*Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 11:00 a.m. for a quick 30-km ride ou ...Continue Reading

Forwarding from Ted Johnson:Don, We’re having a live music & dance performance party at our place on 3/2.  Please join if you will be in Tokyo and feel free to bring friends.  Also, if not inappropriate, feel free to pass the invitation to the HFC gang. For reference, my house is a sort of live house (called HalfMoonHall) with living quarters attached.  There are events daily at HalfMoonHall.  Most are hosted by others (we’re just providing the space) but some we are participating in. ...Continue Reading

NEXT *WEEKEND*(Feb. 24, 25)…looking a bit iffy, with a max of 9 degrees Saturday and rain Sunday according to the current forecast.All the more reason you should /carpe/ some /diem/ and get out there /THIS/ weekend (Sat: 14 and partly cloudy, Sun: 18 and mostly sunny). So I’ll be offering a run out to the beach at Jonan on Saturday and a longer Odaiba Plus on Sunday. Saturday Jonan Plus*Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 11:00 for an easy, 35-km jaunt out to a little beach across from Hane ...Continue Reading