sfiDARE Crit is Japan’s first every fixed gear criterium race, and it just so happens to be nearby where I live and hosted by my pro keirin friend, Kodama-san. So I couldn’t resist the opportunity to be part of this historic event and see what this whole fixed gear thing was about.
The race was held at the Hirata Riverside Plaza, which is the same location as the local monthly training crit (平田クリテ) is held. There just so happened to be a race this day as well, which I was planning to enter, and then enter the sfiDARE Crit afterwords.
Because I wanted to participate in both races and I don’t have a car, I had to ride over with my road bike as usual, and Kodama-san lent me one of his spare track bikes, a Giant Omnium.
After a solid top 10 finish in the Cat-1 race of the regular crit, it was time for the main event!
The first lap was supposed to be a “free lap” for people to get used to their bikes and riding in a pack on fixed gears on the course. One person didn’t get that memo and decided to attack. Other people went with him, and that left me dangling off of the back trying to get used to my new bike. Luckily, after a few laps of getting used to the bike and the course at speed, I was able to put in some hard attacks on the long back straight and eventually catch up to the front group and then attack off the front.
I was able to get a gap briefly, but was brought back into the group by Kodama-san and Jasmin, who were fresh on form from travelling to the Red Hook Crit in Brooklyn, NY. Eventually, it came down to the three of us, with Jasmin taking a last lap flyer, and Kodama and myself playing cat and mouse to see who would chase and lead out the sprint. He ended up leading it out, and I was able to come out around him at the very last second in a very narrow sprint finish.
Needless to say, I had a blast and was really happy to be able to perform well in my first fixed gear criterium race.
This race wouldn’t be possible without Kodama-san and his wife, who have both made significant strides in bringing fixed gear racing culture to Japan through the sfiDARE Crit.
Thanks to everyone who participated, and I’m excited to see how this race will grow in the future!
みんなさん、お疲れ様でした！
sfiDARE Crit Race Day VLOGS
Full race day, Hirata & sfiDARE Crit
sfiDARE Crit Full GoPro Race Footage
