center of attention

center of attention, a photo by owenfinn16 on Flickr.

There are bicycles everywhere you look in Japan, but the Yuba Mundo is still a head-turner wherever it goes. I have yet to see another longtail or bakfiets in Yokohama. I did see a Big Dummy in Tokyo once.

Kids and the Yuba Mundo

A couple days ago, we grabbed some after school snacks in a "kombini" and rode to a nearby park to eat.  For some reason, the boys didn`t like the looks of the park`s benches - so they plopped right down on the Yuba Mundo`s sideloaders and proceeded to enjoy their kara-age and ice cream.

They do seem to love the "Big Blue Beast".

Yokohama Evening Cycling Cruise along the Waterfront

OK  - the Yuba Mundo is finally fixed and itchin` to haul some bikes.  Let`s ride! 

During the hot summer months in Yokohama, an early evening bicycle ride along the 3.3 mile stretch of waterfront, from Bay Quarter to Yamashita Park, is a great way to relax and get a bit of exercise.  The views all along the way are spectacular!

Yokohama Rides and Rentals will be offering escorted excursions along this route on Pacific Carryme folding bikes, - every Saturday and Sunday evening starting from Yokohama Station`s NorthEast Exit A at 7:00 PM.  The ride will be slow and leisurely with a few stops so you can take photos.  Should not take more than 60 minutes to Yamashita Park - by which time you will have worked up a healthy appetite which you can satisfy in nearby Chinatown.  Hope you will join us for a ride!

You can reserve a spot here:

bookeo.com/yokohamarides

Yuba Mundo update

Update - the insurance company is only willing to pay the difference between the cost of the bike and what they have already paid. :(   Bitched and moaned as much as I could for a week but to no avail.  Also, my wife has to act as interpreter and go between, and she is sick of it. 

Anyway, this means I could pay about $500 of my own money for a new bike and then try to sell the other to make my money back, however, I am not certain I would be able to (with the broken fork) - so, after all that, I have decided to try to get the broken fork replaced.
 
There is only one Yuba dealer in Japan, and they don`t have any forks in stock, so I told the shop to go ahead and install the Surly Big Dummy fork.  Since the BD fork is threadless, they will need to install a threadless headset and stem and possibly new handlebars. 

One thing I am worried about - the Surly fork is about a centimeter longer than the Yuba`s, so there will be a slight change to the geometry -  but I see it`s been done before on a Yuba V2. 
http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/07/21/gallery-sheilia-terrys-yuba-mundo-v2-deluxe/

Will have it back in a week. 

Fingers crossed.



Mobile Park Bench

"Don`t jump!  It`s just a bent fork!"

Night ride through Chinatown

Gomen Ne!?

How to make the most of your time in Yokohama

There are actually many interesting things to see and do in Yokohama!

Firstly, you guessed it - you should rent a bicycle or sign up for a bike tour so you can cover a lot of ground easily and thus make the most of your day! A bicycle is probably the best way to get a good feel for a city when you don`t have so much time.

Three things to do:

Explore Minato Mirai - this is the ultra modern part of the city. Start by shopping and eating at Queens East and Landmark Tower, then ride the roller coaster or enormous Ferris Wheel in "Cosmoworld". As the sun is going down walk toward the waterfront and enjoy the amazing views (and more shopping) at World Porter and Aka Renga (Red Brick Warehouse). Aka Renga are two old warehouses that have been converted to a great shopping and dining space. There are usually events like concerts here as well as seasonal stuff like a Summer beach park, Ice skating in the winter and a great outdoor "Octoberfest" in Autumn.

Yamashita Park and Chinatown - Yamashita is a beautiful old waterfront park that is known locally as Yokohama`s front yard. A great place for a stroll, a ride or to take a break. Not far, from the park is Chukagai AKA Chinatown. Here you should just go with the flow and enjoy the experience of wandering and getting lost amongst the colorful, confusing but always interesting sights and sounds and smells of the area.

Kannai and Noge - Kannai, is just to the west of Chinatown and near to Yokohama Baseball Stadium. It is the cities entertainment area, full of restaurants, bars, hostess clubs and Jazz clubs. Noge is close to Sakuragicho Station, but is a more compact area of old streets and interesting casual restaurants. It`s where the residents go to unwind after work for an inexpensive good time. In Spring, the nearby Ookagawa River is definitely worth seeing when the Cherry Tree, which line it`s "banks" are in bloom. Saddling up to a seat at one of the stalls set up under the blossoms is a perfect way to end the day.

yuba night ride

After a long work day it`s nice to jump on the Yuba and go for a "decompression" ride around Yokohama.  The pent up stress of the day melts away as I pedal through the old narrow streets and lanes of Kannai or Noge and the futuristic "Blade Runner" type scenery of Minato Mirai.

Rain cover for Yuba Mundo

The bicycle parking area next to our house, unfortunately, does little to protect the bikes from the elements. There`s a roof but that doesn`t help much when the rain is really coming down and blowing sideways, as it very often does!  Until now, I`ve been using two cheapo bicycle covers to cover the Mundo but they are poorly made and were starting to tear. 

Well, I finally found a quality rain cover that fits the Yuba Mundo and won`t blow off.  I found it in an autoparts store - it`s made to cover big motorcycles like Harley-Davidsons.  Kind of expensive at 5000 yen but worth it I think!