Hi from japan
 

My name is Ray and I've been riding for about four years now. I ride mostly Xcountry and DH, for that Im riding a Jamis right now. I also commute by bike and use a beaten up Merida for that.
Im originaly from Manchester,England but have been living and working in Japan for the last eight years.
Im planning a monster ride in 2009 and Im hoping to pick the brains of those older and wiser than me. Looking forward to asking lots of questions and hopefully answering some for others.

Hello Ray, are you related to me?

I'm originally from Swinton, with relations all around Eccles, Pendleton, Davyhulme, etc.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Welcome to the forums Ray from another fellow Brit, originally from East Anglia.

Welcome Ray,
I haven't been to your area of Japan. I did visit Fukui in the fall of 2006. I was only in Japan for a week on business. I want to go back, preferably a bike vacation. Have you done any bike touring in Japan? We were in some hilly rural areas and I wondered if MTB was popular in Japan. Are the xcountry trails singletrack? I don't remember seeing a single MTB when I visited, mostly commuter bikes, a couple road bikes. It seemed the bikes were all utilitarian vs. recreational.

Hey there, thanks for the welcome. I'm not sure of I'm related to anyone, my family is from around Oldham and Chadderton. I've never been up to Fukui but here in Fukuoka there are plenty of hills. MTB has taken off in a big way in the last few years and there are quaterly races around Kyushu. The trails here are mostly adapted hiking trails. Most of the non Japanese riders are at pains to share trails appropriatly and the Japanese riders are considerate by nature. I have only riden on these trails and those in Steam Boat Springs, Colorado. The Steam Boat trails were described as single track but in Japan they would be fire roads. It makes for some really good technical rides and some really fantastic scenery. Quite a lot of the more popular more expensive bikes are riden by guys with lots of spare cash and no intension of ever going off road. It makes me wince when my work collegues turn up on GTand Gary Fisher rigs with road tyres and kickstands. I haven't done much touring but camping is pretty popular and dedicated bike holiday companies are starting to appear. The best times to ride over here are from September to December and March through to June. After that its either too cold or way way too hot.

If you're an Owdham lad you probably aren't related to me, darn it, but nevertheless, you never know :) .

Did we ask you if you have any photos of the trails in Fukuoka? We'd love to see some!

East Hill