Here is Randall on the new bridge in his great selection of Ikeda trails. Randall has been working hard to connect his area's trails. He has done a fantastic job and they are almost ready for next months Poker Rally Event (See previous blog writings for the ad) The trails are full of technical hard climbs which are a great challenge, then followed by flowing banked downhills, which you can't help going yahooooo all the way down. Sweet Riders will soon offer special climbing clinics and tours in this area. Want to become a skilled climber!! We have the trail and climb for you!! Stay tuned for the upcoming dates soon to be up on the site............

I had such great fun on this trail that after I head to Hakuba for the rest of the day, I decided to ride these again the next day. So I called some people and we got it organized and did it all over again the next day but twice and long and twice as hard!!!

Me on the bridge and if you look real hard you can see my tongue sticking out of my mouth!! LOL!

Me on the bridge the second day!! No tongue to day!! Ha ha....

Here we are in the middle of our ride after a long steep climb up, Ya-Chan, Albert, Mark and I. Unfortunately, Randall couldn't make it today and Kouji had to work!! It was a great weekend and Sweet Riders is in the works of some exciting plans. When they are 100% confirmed, there will be a big announcement!!! Keep your fingers crossed that bankers can be nice people, heh heh!!!!!

They thought no one was watching, saw them kissing in the hall way!!!! lol!!!!!

Sweet Riders had a great two days at the Outdoor Bike Demo this year. With 500 people out on each day it was a great weekend. On each day we had a demo clinic in the morning and a mini tour in the afternoon. We had some great participants including the Kanai Family that came out for their second year in a row! Thank you to all who came out. It is great to see we have some growing interest in our cycling industry....... Enjoy the pictures here...

Papa Kanai San with Coach Ya-Chan on the straight line riding


Hiroto Kanai all smiles finishing the switchbacks.....


A group shot in the morning after the clinic.....


A final group shot after the afternoon ride......

MySpace Graphic Codes

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Yes, it says CANDI GONE II, Candida Cleansing System.....I am officially on a Yeast detoxification program for 15 days....but will continue most of the diet and routine for 2 months at least. It is time to bust that Yeast. On day three and it is not easy. Today was my worst day, felt like a slug, dizzy, no energy, very drained..... arrrg!!! I know it will be totally worth it in the end. Tried my first work out today without my usual sugared up energy drink, wow, what a difference..... it wasn't good.

I am hopeful that it is gonna get better....ya know, no sugar, no bread, no alcohol, no fruit, it is pretty rough. Wish me luck!!!

Other than that, I am madly trying to get my taxes done(due tomorrow morning ha ha), and prepare for next weekend's upcoming Outdoor Bike Demo Event. Sweet Riders will have two clinics on both Saturday and Sunday. Come out and join us, ride your favourite brand mountain bike, or just have a great time!! It is located at Sagamiko Picnicland near Tokyo. For more info check out www.bikedemo.jp It is all in Japanese though. If you have any questions just mail me here at info@sweetriders.com.


While I was in Canada, my mom bought me this book as a present. It is really good, I am in the middle of it and learning so much. I recommend it to everyone!! REALLY good stuff, I am on the way to a better me, yeahhhhhhhhh!

Take care and happy calculating!!

My good friend Raita Suzuki who retired from professional racing has just had his grand opening at his new bike shop, please stop by if you are in Matsumoto!!! A great new shop!

I love my new Specialized ERA!!!! I raced on it for the first time this past weekend and it was great!!!!


Ya-Chan and I went down to Aichi Prefecture to race and do a Sweet Riders mini clinic. Here we are in our new team colors for 08!! Pretty sweet!!!! We didn't expect to find all of Japan's elite XC female racers in attendance..... so it was really like an official JCF XC. We were a little nervous..... but needless to say we finished the race and I didn't get lapped!! That made me very happy and it was the first time I wore a POLAR heart rate monitor (thanks to my sponsor) in years and I got to see my maximum heart rate again....wow what a shock! The last time I saw that was about 10 years ago.......

After the race, we were both pretty wiped but we had clinics to do so off we went. We ended up doing three clinics ....... it was great fun! Thanks to those who participated and thanks to Ya-Chan for all her help and efforts!!!

Driving home which takes about 4 hours, we cranked up the tunes and hit the highway, until next year's gold cup enjoy the rest of the pictures here!

My good friend Randall Middlebrook is putting on the Ikeda Poker Rally, check this out and come on down, should be a blast!!!

Poker Rally Flier English

Poker Japanese Ver

My flight to Vancouver was great. I had a whole row to myself and was able to pop a sleeping pill and get a good 5 hours of sleep in!! If you know me, you'll know that is very rare.....I arrived in Vancouver and headed straight to Sue's house. We had a lunch date and I freshened up and we headed down to Grandville Island for some chow. We had a great lunch and caught up on 3 years of absence..... She had to go back to work and I did a bit of window shopping down 4th ave, it was great to be back in my old stomping grounds. Later on, Sue drove me to Caley's place where I just crashed, the jet-lag had finally hit me.

Had a great sleep and spent that day walking around downtown Robson Street then meeting Sylvie for a walk around Stanley Park and dinner in Yale Town. It was a great day and also so great to catch up with Sylvie!!

My third day in Vancouver was spent having a very nice sleep in chill morning, hanging at a local coffee shop then later going shopping with Cale. We had great fun doing the girls thing in the mall and then Lisa and Dave came over and we went for a great dinner. I had another great evening with my fab friends!!

After leaving Vancouver, I headed to Edmonton for a week or so. Caught up with Tasha and her fellow firemen on a Friday night and we had some drinks and saw a great live band down at Blue's on White Avenue. After several shots and dancing up a storm it was time to call it a night.......5AM??? geeeeeezzzzz

The next day not feeling so well, mom, dad and I headed down to the Crowsnest Pass. We spent the next 5 days there. It was really nice and we had warm weather!!! I was lucky to hit a warm spell. Mom and I had some great walks, hung out with Laurie and Graham, had a day at Fernie on skis. Yes, on ski's, my first time in 15 years and it was fantastic. I tried some of the new "Chubbies" as they are called, the fatter ski's and wow, too much fun. After some playing I set out to get some things done. The real reason for coming to Canada was business, so I got all of that done too. Busy 5 days..... have some new plans in store... but will have to wait to let the cat out of the bag.......

Leaving the pass was hard to do, it is so beautiful there.....however, on the way home we stopped into Calgary and met Sue and Sarah for lunch. Thanks for coming out guys, was great to see you and have a quick lunch and chat!!

Back in Edmonton, it was time to hang out with my brother and his family. We had great fun going out for a Canadian style breakfast, taking the kids bowling and chowing down on Grandma's great cooking!! I played with my nieces and nephews and I just felt so warm and fuzzy being with the family again! Then it was time to say good bye to Edmonton and have my last night in Vancouver!! More pictures here!

Mom and Dad and I in the Edmonton International Airport, pretty great looking parents don't ya think! I have to say how proud I am to be able to go to the gym with my parents, how many other 40 year olds go with their parents to the gym??? Mom and Dad you are my idols!!! More pictures here!


Me with the girls on my last night in Vancouver. It was so much fun! Everyone, thank you so much for coming out and making my trip so wonderful. It was great to see all of you and catch up on your lives!!! Take care and all the best until the next time I come to Canada!!! Love you all!!!!