rainy sunday OsakaRide

My first ever ride in Osaka, in the city where one of the most important companies in the bicycle busines – Shimano – is located, it started well and it seemed i can do my ride without getting wet.

After flying from Taichung Bike Week in Taiwan, I arrived in Osaka to attend the Intertec Dealer Show, our partner in the Japanese bicycle market. I also took some time for market research and visited the Shimano Bicycle Museum, a modern building filled with historical bikes—definitely worth a separate entry.
As part of my market research, I decided to go for a ride. A tip from my friend Xavier, who worked at Shimano’s headquarters in Japan, led me to choose a hilly route. I rented a bike from a Trek store near my hotel, starting my ride north. The first part of the loop was through the city, with typical stop-and-go traffic and nice inner-city architecture. After about 20 km, in Minoh, the climb began, taking me into the woods. It was cloudy but still pleasant, with a temperature of around 20°C—perfect for riding, though a bit humid.
The winding roads brought me to Toyono, where the second climb started. However, as I ascended, the clouds grew darker and rain began to fall. The descent became unenjoyable, so I stopped at a closed gas station in Nomainaji to take shelter.
Soaked and feeling cold, I waited for the rain to stop, checking the rain alarm and hoping for a break. I spent about an hour at the gas station, and just when I thought it was clear, the rain started again. With limited time, I finally had to leave despite the still-wet roads. A few hundred meters in, water started pouring into my shoes.
The loop had been well planned, and I aimed to pass Chimyo Lake on my way back south, but the rain intensified. It became nearly impossible to navigate as raindrops blurred the phone display. It was one of those rides I wished I hadn’t started. After what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the city, soaked to the bone, and returned the bike to the store.

bike: Trek Domane
starring: Gerry Samer