*MY*LAST**RIDE***with you guys... until January. Heading off Stateside next week to spend a few months in my supercamper and some time with my family. Maybe the occasional anti-Trump rally. In my absence, James and Paul will be sending out the weekly ride notices. Mike (Il Padrino) is our webmaster. Remember, anyone can lead a ride; just send the details (distance, difficulty, elevation, start/end times and locations, and, most importantly, beer stops) to James and Paul by Thursday of each week for inclus ...Continue Reading

*IF THE*WEATHER**TUESDAY*…is anything like today, we’ve got some fine cycling conditions to take advantage of. 26 degrees and sunny with low humidity. Perfect for our planned autumnal equinox holiday ride along the mighty Tama. And don’t forget to sign up for Wednesday’s Bruce Bash.Tama River Loop*Intermediate-level. 55km, easy but fast. Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 11:00 a.m. Alternate rendezvous points: KFC in Ebisu @ 11:30, Intersection of Kan-Nana and Komazawa-Dori @ 11:45, Komazawa Park @ noon, bri ...Continue Reading

CHANGEABLE*The weather forecasters’ favorite word. Translation: No friggin’ idea. *HOWEVER*Saturday looking extremely bikeable at a cool 27 degrees and cloudy with a tiny chance of rain in the late afternoon, so I’m planning a Kasai Rinkai ride for that day. Last Saturday’s forecast rain dampened us for precisely 30 seconds. Sunday the heat returns, but on Tuesday, a national holiday, it drops back down to 27 degrees and some clouds. So how about a Tama River loop?Come Meet Bruce*If you’re free on Wednesday ev ...Continue Reading

Last minute plan to ride to Odaiba Monday starting at 11:00 a.m. *SHARP* from the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi hills. 30 km. Back by 2:00-ish. Beach bar lunch.PLEASE RSVP FOR THIS RIDEIl Padrone, 090-5813-6721 -- Thank you for being on our list. You can Unsubscribe at any time. ...Continue Reading

*RAIN**BETWEEN THE*DROPS*Been closely monitoring several weather apps and still can’t determine when the forecast “morning showers”are going to end on Saturday, so let's push our usual start time back an hour to *NOON*. Even so, we may have a few droplets at the outset, but we won’t melt. And the forecast high is an arctic 28 degrees, so we gotta do /some/thing. Also a nice cloud cover to keep the heat down. Then it’s  going to get hot again Sunday.*Saturday Odaiba Plus*So named because we add 15k on to our us ...Continue Reading

WEDNESDAY**THE 10TH*Is the second Wednesday of the month, thus the time when all hungry and thirsty Half-Fasters descend upon a funky little art bar in Akasaka called the Pink Cow https://www.thepinkcow.com/  mainly to see what we all look like without the helmets, goggles and other bike kit. Place serves terrific burritos. We usually roll in at about 7:00.And anyone who recalls charter member Aussie Bruce Paine please RSVP for a get-together on September 24th, probably at Hobgoblin Roppongi.&nb ...Continue Reading

EMERGING**ONCE AGAIN**FROM THE*DARK*According to the three weather sites I monitor, temps for this beautiful post-storm weekend look to be around 30-32, which is within our daytime riding tolerance. Plenty of sun, though, so lather up with the sunblock and bring lots of water. Humidity will be around 65%. Easy pace. Two short rides, no surprise, to Odaiba and Jonan Jima. There will be some cloud cover, but not much, and Sunday will be sunnier.Bruce Paine Mates*Those of you who know charter member from Down Under pl ...Continue Reading

*IT WILL BE**COOLER!*But not until next weekend and then only marginally so. We’ll see. WAY too hot for daytime rides this weekend, with Saturday’s high forecast to be 37. It will still be 33 at 600 p.m., but with the sun setting, a ride to Odaiba seems doable. Sunday I’m otherwise engaged.Don’t forget to RSVP* for our salute to visiting Half-Fast charter member Bruce Paine on September 24. Location and details to be determined by how many are coming. *Saturday Odaiba Night Ride*Start at the Grand Hy ...Continue Reading

NOTHING*...I can do about this heat. But we still need the exercise and socializing. And beer. So a repeat of last week’s night rides, Odaiba on Saturday night, Jonan on Sunday. G’Day, Mate*Also, a valued Half-Fast charter member, Bruce Paine from Down Under, will be in town on September 24th. If you know him, you know a great mate. If you don’t, you should. I’m putting together an evening of revelry for him, the venue to be determined by how many people want to join. Maybe the Pink Cow or Hobgoblin. ...Continue Reading

BACK*…into the darkness. I was just walking around doing some errands, and it’s too hot even for /that/. So, with apologies to those who don’t enjoy the (cool) cover of darkness, I’m looking at a  pair of night rides this weekend. Saturday Odaiba Night Ride*Start at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills at 6:00 p.m. for a dazzling, 30-km jaunt out to the magical island in the bay for a brew or two at the beach. Back by 9:00 at the latest. *Sunday Jonan Night Ride*Start at the Hyatt at 6:00 for another 30 ...Continue Reading