BIKE TOURING AND SWIMMING IN KATSURA RIVER - EP.6
Hey man! I’m so happy! Hello! Oh, Sh*bal! SSDD, Same ****, different day. - Don’t call it a hotdog! - What is that? Campaignolo! Hopia, peanuts, popcorn! This is Gaijin Cycling Nation season 2! A weekly cycling vlog about our bike tour adventures in Kyoto. Don't worry, If you don't ride a bike, this show is not all about cycling. We'll be showing non-cycling destinations here in Japan and lots of trivia as we move along. If you're into anything related to Japan, please subscribe because we upload new episodes every Monday, 7:00 PM.
Please like this video to help us grow with Youtube's algorithm and if you have questions or suggestions, please leave a comment. This show is brought to you by the following. And with Budol Buddy's wealth. Mueheheheheh... Welcome again to another episode of Gaijin Cyclin Nation, season 2! Last episode, we went cycling towards the town of Ine.
A boat village that is part of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Japan”, until we made it here in Tangocho, a quiet fishing town with no food for hungry cyclists like us. Bad news? No stores, no kombini, no restaurants. On this episode, we’ll learn the secrets of this house. We shouldn’t have come here! Lower your voice! We’ll return to Ine for lunch. and eat at an authentic yakiniku place in Kyoto.
- That looks like my scr*tum. - We’re eating, Marlowe! Please watch till the end because we have a special announcement. If you’re all hyped up, what are you waiting for? Let’s go, ikimashow. Hey, Marti! What are you doing here, man? Get your sh*t together! If there’s a checkpoint, You’re American accent won’t save you. What a nice view home! All that cup noodle dinner was worth it. Before the sun goes down, we went home with a full stomach.
Full with MSG from all the instant foods. Wati! It’s only been 3 seconds on the floor! We’re lucky we didn’t encounter any checkpoints from the nearby army base. That’s if we make it to town! Before that, we need to get past the army base! We got home safe so we rested at the beach. We’re now facing Russia, North Korea and China.
And as night falls... We can’t see nothing. This is our house in the middle of nowhere. It’s facing the sea and there are no lights at all. JOKE LOST IN TRANSLATION My action cam can’t see anything.
DJI Action 5, please notice us. This is the only time we get to check the house we rented. We’ll unravel it’s secrets now. A huge surprise for people who judge on first impressions.
Damn! We shouln’t have gone far. There’s tons of cup noodles here! - Where? - Up here! - Really?! - There are a lot! Sh*t! That’s a gold mine. - They have cup noodles? - There are a lot of cup noodles and drinks! - Shhh! Lower your voice! - Sorry. Over here, look! - There’s rice! - We can cook! - The owner know’s the situation here! - There are lots of drinks! They know we’ll be hungry. Look, there’s rice! This house is overflowing with food! - Look! They have curry! - Do you know how to cook? - I think you just add water to that. - I think these are noodles. Look at this! This is house bunker.
But no, it’s all for sale. But that’s fine. Cup noodles, 200 Yen. The kitchen is complete with cook wares. We’re cooking curry sauce with rice. - That’s like a cocoa rice porridge! - No it’s curry! Don’t forget to pay. Slide it in this piggy bank. There’s also a spacious room with a big TV.
There’s also a retro gaming console. The kids are now gaming. There’s a queen sized bed and an office table for an unkown reason. What’s this office desk for? This window? It’s just a view of the alley outside. Nothing scary about it, sorry. All of that for a clickbait.
Filipino’s won’t call it a meal without some hot steaming rice. What we had was just a snack. 1000 Yen worth of snack a la MSG. We’ll devour their rice and instant curry. This will be our true dinner.
Let’s eat a pouch of curry. Adult... curry. This costs 200 Yen based on the owner’s prices. If you didn’t know yet, curry is popular in the UK. They learned this dish when they colonized India.
Which the British took to Japan during the Meji era, after their long isolation from foreign countries. The Japanese Navy also has a tradition of serving curry on Fridays. Just like how Filipino’s serve mongo beans on a Friday. That’s why curry is popular in Japan.
Even us outsiders experienced cooking it. This is too spicy. I did the dishes to leave a good impression to our host. I even washed the disposable plastic tubs so the cockroaches won’t eat it. Hey cyborg, go charge up.
- What robot? - Charge your body. Believe it or not, I sleep like this. With glasses on. Let’s get in our morning routine.
Let’s wait for them to wake up So we can prepare for our ride back to Kyoto. Let’s just chill here. Because there are no stores, we’ll get our coffee here in this vendo machine. Wrong! I got a milk tea! It’s fine. it’s good anyway. Look, there are children mannequins We finally get to see the people of Tangocho.
There are bus rides every now and then so we don’t feel trapped anymore. There are students too. - There’s a student! There are people here! - He’s going to school. We even saw tourists on a bike tour. Cyclists! - Where? - Their biking! Hello! We’re not the only ones doing this.
We’ll be having breakfast here because we need it for our way back. We need energy because we now know it’s a long road. This is one of my leftovers from Ukawa onsen. Instant yakisoba. Eat up, guys! I pity myself for eating nothing but instant noodles since yesterday. - Let’s check the schedule now. - Yeah, so we don’t hurry.
let’s take it easy. While these 3 stooges plan our route home, I’ll go play some video games because we’re not in a hurry. And also to feel nostalgia. We’ll play with this very tiny Famicom. It’s all in Japanese! Why are you so good at this? I’m just panicking! We’re useless! Oh, sh*bal! That’s okay.
Awesome. This is the classic Final Fantasy. I’m good, let me move on. Speaking of video games, it’s similar to bike tour from point A to B.
Especially if you’re abroad like Japan because everything feels new. New places. It’s like a dream. New people. I’m Marti. New experiences. It stinks so bad! Wanna smell?
I missed doing things like season 1. It’s very similar to video games I used to play in my childhood. We’re like heroes of the game. Our journey started in Nagoya. We met lots of people.
Biked throught the night with no lights on. And it feels nice to reach the town where you can finally rest. On the next day, you move again towards the next town. New things happen daily. You are perpetually moving, until you reach the end.
Congrats, we didn’t fight! And when you finish it all, it’s game over. Reality will hit you hard back to your duties. That’s why I film these moments.
It’s my own reset button, back to replaying our epic adventures. We’re leaving now. We’re going back to Ine, and take a train again to Kyoto. Closing time... Time, Time, Time, Time, Time, Time, Time.
Here we go again. Another day, Another... I don’t know. That’s SSDD. Same Sh*t, Different Day.
It’s a descend to get here, but a climb to get out. So this ride starts with a climb. We saw a monkey. Like it’s watching us leave so they could get on with their lives.
Good thing these tunnels are cool. The sun was setting when we got here so we don’t feel the heat. But now it’s noon, we’re fast but the breeze feels hot.
From here, Miyazu station is 42kms away. That’s where we started yesterday. We’re back to this viewdeck again. We used a drone here. Ice cream! Pitch black! Things that are fun to do in tunnels: Screaming. Hopia, peanuts, popcorn! - In the red corner... - Hey man! Whatchu doin’ here?
Nobody’s gonna hear you. Getting trapped here is scary. You’ll be the only ones to hear your stupid screams. Hopia, peanuts, popcorn! The headwind was harsh on our way home. We’re descending but we still need to pedal, the headwind’s pretty nasty.
Combine that with a hot weather. It’s kinda hot today! A little more heat and it feels like a bus radiator. Best thing to do on times like this is to take turns on being domestique. I’ll hide behind your backs! A domestique is the one who sets the group’s pace. The domestique blocks air resistance while the rest of the team pedals behind so they don’t feel the drag from the wind. If the domestique gets tired, someone has to replace him in front.
But I’m a jerk so I don’t go upfront. This science is explained in the anime Yowamushi Pedal. I don’t feel the headwind because I’m hiding behind your backs! We’re still 35kms to go. Here goes the headwind again! What a pain! There’s a slight change from our first route. We went down a zigzag road in the woods. We didn’t pass by here before. Maybe this is a short cut.
We’ll have lunch here. I hope they have sinigang! I’m craving sinigang! - Say “Cook me sinigang!” - Cook me? - Cook sinigang. - Oh, cook me sinigang! - Sinigang is a delicious food. - Yeah, I know. Hi Dean! Cook sinigang! We’re back in the town of Ine.
That melody tells people it’s time for lunch. We took a break in a touristy spot to decide where to eat. Look, there are other cyclists too. We’re here again. It’s like Narai but on the seaside. This place is awesome! Fishing town! - Their bikes are here. - There’s an alley, maybe we can check it out. Their bikes are here.
After checking out cafe’s and restaurants, They decided to eat here, In Ine Cafe. We’ll be eating lunch here. Except for me. I’m out of money.
Out of all the cafe’s here, this place got the most memorable name. Ine Cafe. I think the bike parking’s why they chose this place. A tip to all business owners out there.
Provide a bike parking and watch the people crowd your place. But I’m not sure if all of them will buy stuff. They’re all craving for real food after eating nothing but noodles and curry. I was supposed to get a rice meal. It’s lunch time anyway. I check the menu and it was way too expensive for me.
I wanted something like what Jilson’s having. So I’m getting this instead. Seaweed cake? Matcha cake? I forgot the name of this green cake. It’s the same color palette as this town. To further make me crave for food, Kriz ordered this meal. It’s like a sashimi meal topped with lettuce.
Remember the cyclists we met in Tangocho? They’re here now. They’re from Norway. They’re doing a bike tour with a SAG. SAG stands for support and gear.
It’s a vehicle carrying your stuff, food, bike tools to provide support. The seat of shame. - All quitters must sit here. - Leave a spot for someone.
This will be the tap out corner. I quit. I’ll just sit here. - Can I come with you? - Come on, let’s take a hitch here! This one’s called the Premium Rush! We’re now flying a drone. We’re having doubts about a no fly zone, because we’re near Russia, North and South Kore. But according to DJI, the drone won’t fly if it’s a restricted area. This one? My mind’s floating high...
- Zoom it towards him. - My mind’s floating-- My mind’s floating high... Thank you! Before leaving town, a local had a chat with us. I forgot his name, I didn’t get it on film. - We’ll try to come back again. - Yeah! We’ll be saving money and come back here.
He’s the tour guide to the Norwegian cyclists. They’re doing an 11 day bike tour. He thought we’re on an agency tour. But I told him this is all DIY. We’re all just crazy to do this.
Actually, Marlowe was encouraging Kriz to start a bike touring agency. That’s how the name Gaijin Cycling Nation was conceived. He did a great job organizing routes here in Japan, he might as well start his own cycling travel agency and name it GCN, It’s supposed to be a spoof of Global Cycling Network. If we only knew this was going big, we might have thought of a more serious name. Do that Kriz, GCN.
- Gaijin Cycling Nation. - I’ll consider that. And all the Japanese will hate you! But I guess that’s how things are formed. Random things that eventually end up meaningful. Car! Oh, it’s you! I thought it’s a car. We finally left Ine. But the wind won’t stop pestering us.
This is hard! Let’s go! Whoah! The wind blows harder at sea. It’s my first time noticing this very long, long, long, long, road. We came across a cyclist again. Hi! Remember my cake and coffee lunch? I’m almost done digesting it.
They’re on fast, racing pace. They’re way too fast. My balls are getting numb. - Chill pace! - That’s a chill pace! Watch out for the wall. Alley cat. Watch out for the wall! Be careful! Pader Badd.
We’re back again to the long sandbars of Amanohashidate. We’re almost at the train station. I’m tired! Hey, your camera! He tossed it like trash! We’re at the sandbars again. We’re waiting for the earliest train to depart. If we wait by the station, we’re wasting the view here. That’s why we’re chilling here.
The earliest express train will leave by 6PM. But if we spot a local train, we can also take it, but that will be 4 hours without a seat. We’re now in Amanohashidate station. You’re doomed, the popo’s are here! We thought of eating here before packing our bikes. But that’s too risky because we can’t tell how long are we gonna eat.
- I think we’ll miss our ride if we eat here. - Yeah, let’s just buy kombini food. We decided to pack our bikes and buy food from the nearest kombini. We entered the station with our bikes and headed straight for the platform. - This is the most... - Tidy? - The most... - Tiny?
- Nothing... I’m just farting. - Ewww! This part takes away all your finesse. You know the meme that goes fast and slow? Ooooh... awwww... Ooooh... awww... The slow part is this rinko thingy. He’s true.
I remember in season 1, these moments are the biggest hindrance to cycling, every time we ride a train with bikes. You wanted this. I know you asked for this. You have to disassemble your bike, carry it inside the stations, and find a spot to build it back. One time, we got stuck inside Shinjuku station. and Shinjuku station is a maze even for locals.
I’m confused, it’s not the Yamanote line. What more to us foreigners. Imagine getting lost, while not knowing until when you’ll be carrying your stuff because you can’t get out. I think Jilson almost went beast mode that time.
- I need to pee! - So we disassmble, then build, then do it again? - I can’t build my bike back again, Kriz. - I know, I’m just saying. Okay, alright. This is heavy, man! So let that be a warning to all tourists doing a bike tour in Japan. Riding a train with bikes will be a test of friendship.
1C? The 1C coffee shop? Have some coffee there, okay? Our train’s going backwards! I’m getting sick! Let’s drink! You can drink alcohol while on a train in Japan. At least in the premium trains with a solo chair. I’m not sure what’ll happen if you get drunk.
Hey man! I’m so happy! The truth is we planned to bike all the way from Tangocho to Kyoto. We wanted to do it at some point. But when we felt how hard it will be on our way there, we decided to take the train instead to not waste time. After more than 2 hours of train ride, we made it back to Kyoto station. Just like nothing ever happened. Success! We’re back to square one.
We crashed where we took off. Back to this huge, white wall. This is where we build the bikes to get home and get some rest.
We’re now on our bikes getting home. We’ll shower then drop some things. We’re home! We got home and we only have one thing in mind. To eat some real and tasty food.
We’ll be eating dinner. - We toast to what? - Campaignolo! We’re all tough! Fr Badd will be our servant tonight! He’ll be the one cooking! We’ll be eating in this yakiniku place because Kriz was craving for this. To those who don’t know, Yakiniku is similar to a Samgeupsal place, but everything in Japanese style.
- Wow hotdog! - It’s not! Don’t even call it hotdog! - What is that? - Arabiki wiener. - Sau seigh jay. - Arabiki wiener. - Wiener! - They call it a wiener.
This day won’t be a victorious day without beer. We won’t know what the raw egg is for if Fr Badd’s not here. You dip this sukiyaki in the egg. Let’s divide the eggs.
- Share your eggs okay? - This egg is good! You dip the meat in the egg before taking a bite. Boom! That’s good. This one’s good! - What is that? - Cut it with the passive aggressive sh*t and eat. All my life, I’ve never used an egg as dipping sauce.
But before that, let’s help Fr Badd. - You don’t beat the eggs? - You beat it, of course! Get the beater out. He’s doing lots of stuff. I’m multitasking. I’m also cooking. So my duty was to beat his eggs.
Don’t make jokes about egg beating okay? All the meat were marinated-- All the meat were marinated in sauce so the sauce coagulates on the grill. Someone has to scrub the grill. You know I’m the expert on this. You are the expert, I know. Knowing the local language has lots of advantage when traveling. Especially if you want to experience their culture.
This is one good example of that. This one! - How do you order on this menu? - How do we even read this? We’ll just point random stuff to the waiter. We’re all starting to get tipsy. You’ll notice it first on Budol Buddy. Cheers! Bang! He’ll start talking in English. Hey man! I’m...
- How do you say happy again? - Shiawase. Hey man, watashi wa shiawase desu! Arigatou in Jah pan! I’ll send you to Okinawa. You belong in Naval Base Okinawa. You can easily tell that he’s getting wrecked. - This looks like my scr*tum. - Stop it, we’re eating!
He’s trying to wreck the language barrier between him and the waitress. - 何ですか。 - セキャンド水です。 Water? 聞いてもわかないだろ。 Did I ask it correctly? - Yeah, you’re good! - I’m good at this! No. don’t bite that. Wait, no! This season is almost over, but we have one problem. I don’t know how to end it.
The only reason why we’re showing this is we want to share to you what we have experienced. If we’re to stick to that concept, why not do this: Option A: Let’s meet up in Ayala Car Free Sunday, do some lapse, We’ll include those who drop by. Or option B: We can ride from Ayala going to Arca grounds. We’ll include everyone in the video. You can send us a video if you can’t make it, like if you’re abroad or in the province.
Send it to me, and you’ll be in the final episode. I’ll leave my email in the description. So on Feb. 16, don’t eat that! So on Feb. 16, 2025, let’s all see each other for the final episode of season 2.
Let’s go, Ikimashow. That ends another episode of Gaijin Cycling Nation season 2. We hope you enjoyed and learned something from this episode. From the quiet town of Tangocho, up to the yakiniku restaurants of Kyoto. If you’re new to this channel, please consider subscribing.
Because we have weekly episodes! That’s right, weekly episodes! Every Monday, 7PM. Click the notification bell to be notified when we have new uploads. Please join our Facebook group so we have a small community. We’ll be making announcements about merch and other stuff there.
Please like and share this episode so more people can see. If you have questions or suggestions, leave a comment down below. Next episode! We’ll be cycling on top of Arashiyama. We’ll go swimming in Katsura river, We’ll time travel back to 2016.
We’ll visit Grand Bois, a bike shop specializing in classic randonneuring bikes. Bike mechanic! - Pay for that. - Really?! I’m sorry. The people carrying that are amazing! I can feel the wild beasts again! - Let’s not go down anymore. - Ha ha ha ha! Nice! This is my first time doing this!
2025-02-18 17:53
