Glimpses of Japan Local - in JEnglish

As you know those Brompton bikes, they're all about making it easy to carry and move around.   They even come with this handy rear carrier that's supposed to make life easier. But here's the kicker: in Japan, thanks to JR 's rules and all, you got to fold up your bike nice and neat into a bag when you're taking it on the train - no leaving any bits sticking out, mind you. And that means when you're inside, like on the platform or in the station, you can't just wheel your Brompton around using that carrier or the wheels. So, what do you get to do? Well, you either have to lug it around by hand or sling it over your shoulder. My go-to bag for this is the DIMPA from IKEA. It's so perfectly designed for fitting a Brompton nice and tidy inside, that you'd almost think it was made for it. Plus, the shoulder strap is long enough to sling it comfortably over your shoulder for hauling around. But let's be real when it's got some weight to it, just usi...

  The other day, when I was passing by in my car, I decided to stop by at an ancient tomb where the rapeseed flowers were blooming. I thought to myself that I'd like to take a closer look. A long-awaited bike ride!  The  Okagaki  Town Cycling Path along the  Shioiri  River is my usual starting point for this ride. As I leisurely rode along the scenic seaside Cycling Path, taking my usual breather, I bumped into a stylish couple with Brompton bikes. One had a classic, unmodified (or unmodifiable) Brompton original, while the other had a fully customized ones with high-quality parts. They suggested taking a commemorative photo together, so we lined up our bikes. Front bags included: a Brompton brand bag vs. an IKEA tote bag or a homemade small bag. This old bastard thinks of Bromptons as foldable  mama-chari   (Japanese-style bikes for moms), so my bike reflects that style. Ah, memories! With cheerful chatter, the couple briskly headed to their nex...