Off the beaten path: riding bikes...

This is a long post, sorry!  Feel free to skip to the pictures!  ;)

If you haven't heard my bicycle woes, then this is news to you.  For maybe a good month and a half, I have been scouring Craigslist for even the prospect of an inexpensive bike.  See the thing is, I don't NEED a bike.  I can get to work by walking.  The bike would be purely for recreational purposes and to explore things off the beaten path.  ;)

So my tale of woe begins.  I found many suitable bikes.  I found some in my price range (¥5000 - ¥7000).  I contacted more than 3 people but only 3 people I contacted responded to my e-mail.  The first person I spoke with offered to sell me her bike and then minutes later responded saying she was selling it to a friend instead.  One lady and I had a long conversation, decided on a day and time to meet but at the last minute she reneged on the deal claiming she didn't want to sell the bike for "personal reasons" which is weird because her post on Craigslist said it was a Sayonara Sale.  I still don't buy her story.  Anyway, I contacted another person who after speaking with her was obviously selling a stolen bike.  Oops, I didn't want to buy that.  Finally, disheartened and days later, I contacted Sam about his bike.  Also, leaving Japan, Sam was selling his for ¥5000, perfect.  I commissioned my friend and bodyguard, Melissa to go with me to Kichijōji to meet Sam and get my new bike.  Kichijōji is a very cool place and if you've never been there, I recommend that you go.  I need to go back and do some proper shopping.  (They have the largest Chiyoda I've seen!)  Anyway, my heart was pounding the whole way there.  I was afraid he'd back out at the last minute and I be devastated and without a bike still.  He had told me to meet him at the Baskin Robbins and we were there at 4PM sharp (the designated meeting time) and no Sam.  I waited nervously.  Finally Sam arrived with the bike.  A huge sigh of relief some light conversation later and she was mine!  He had even replaced the awfully uncomfortable standard Japanese bicycle seat with one much more cushy.  Unfortunately, it had a flat tire.  No worries though because I was about to begin the arduous process of transferring ownership from Sam to me. 

The first step (if you buy a bike off the internet) is to go to the nearest KOBAN which is a police box and if you've never seen one, it is practically a box (one or two small rooms and some police officers).  Here I had to explain to the police officers that I just purchased this bike and it was not stolen.  This was difficult with my limited Japanese and the police officer's limited English.  Reason #25921 I need to learn more Japanese.  However, after 4 police officers attempted to assist me, the main officer got on the phone to a very lovely sounding lady with perfect English and I explained the situation to her which she then explained to him.  Who knows how much later, I left with the required paperwork and I asked the officer where a bicycle shop was so I could complete the process.  He looked at a terribly distressed map, seemed equally distressed but then proceeded to escort us to the bicycle shop.  You heard me right.  I had a police escort to a bicycle shop.  The walk was about 5 minutes away from the station and he walked us right up into the shop.  Both Melissa and I thanked him immensely in Japanese and moved on to the next step.

The next step was the provide the shop owner with the required paperwork so he could transfer ownership of the bike from Sam to me.  Unfortunately, this was a little confusing because the police officer wrote the address of my company instead of my address.  After a little broken Japanese explanation he was able to write the correct address on my registration.  I paid ¥500 for the transfer of ownership and the other man in the shop aired up my flat and helped me adjust the seat.

Finally, freedom!

To finish our Kichijōji visit, Melissa and I shopped, did the obligatory プリクラ and had dinner at a lovely Italian place.

One thing I forgot to mention is that Kichijōji is approximately 16.8 miles from my house.  Even the police officer was shocked I planned on riding the bike that distance until I showed him my muscles.  I hope he thought that was funny.  ;)

(Freedom in the form of a bicycle)

To start I found a park and the a river which I followed for quite some time.  It was so nice and cool and I listened to the sounds of nature as I rode.

(The river path)

Not too long after, I stumbled onto a festival with lanterns and cotton candy.  I really wanted to go but my goal was home.

Not too long after, I reached sings of civilization where I replenished my cash and got a water.  Using the marvel that is modern technology, I used my iPhone map to get me on the right path.  Easy.  To be fair since I am familiar with the title of this blog, I did not at any time get horrifically lost.  I think the river path was not on the required directions but it was a nice ride nonetheless.  I might have veered off the beaten path any number of times but it was never a bad thing nor was it the wrong direction.

Random large torii gate:

Once I reached greater signs of civilization (Shinjuku) by way of seeing the unmistakable Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the map had me follow the train line I have taken so many times, only this time I was above ground.   At Shinkuku, I had to walk my bike from Shinjuku to Shinjuku-Sanchome because I couldn't pedal through the 18.5 million people on the streets.

Love in Shinjuku:

Another random torii gate at a shrine:

Along the way there were so many places I wanted to stop and take pictures of or stop and visit (saw some interesting bars and restaurants) but I was sweaty and disheveled from riding such a long way.  I dropped a number of f-bombs some directed at idiot people who refused to move out of my way almost causing me to crash and one at the car who went through a red light almost hitting me.

I rode past the hotel I stayed at in March in Higashi-Nihonbashi.  I reached the Sumida river and took a picture of the Sky Tree which didn't turn out.  :(

I rode through the back streets of Ryogoku.  I rode through places I have never seen because I was underground.  I rode by my Japanese class and across the bridge and all the way home.  I rode approximately 16.8 miles.

Today, I am hurting but not as much as I thought I would.  Yet I feel like a champ.  I have never ever ridden a bike 16.8 miles but I'm glad I did it.

I'm on vacation still and I have reserved today strictly for rest.  I am armed with AC, food, entertainment (time to catch up on my TV shows before the onslaught of September premieres) and most importantly Advil (god bless America's miracle drug).

If you actually read all this, I salute you.  Thank you for sharing in an important event in my life!  I think it is important (even though some might shrug it off) because I am not an athlete (never have been) and I don't usually partake in any form of extreme exercising.

I hope you have an enjoyable week!  I'm off to buy a proper lock for my bike!