Congratulations to Kazuhiro Eguchi – who set a new record for: Honshu (Japan) S-N) – in the following categories: Unsupported, Male, 18-49 (age-group), upright bike.

Rider’s Narrative Summary

The rider’s summary should be sent promptly and must be submitted within 14 days of the completion of the record attempt.

So that the report can be posted at ultracycling.com, please e-mail the report and digital photos of the start, the attempt and the finish to the Records Chairman. The report should include:

  • Record attempt, e.g. Hawaii E-W

Honshu (Japan) S-N

  • Name of rider(s)

Kazuhiro Eguchi

  • Start date and exact start time to the nearest minute

May 2, 2026, 00:10

  • Exact start location described so that someone else could find the same spot

Kangen Bridge, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

On Prefectural Route 250, ~1.5km SSW of Shimonoseki Station west exit, at the crossing of the small channel from Hikoshima to Honshu.

33.93875669749187 N, 130.9153073508708 E

33°56’19.5″N,  130°54’55.1″E

https://goo.gl/maps/BtBDuud7J8WfbtzX6

  • What were conditions like?

The ride began with favorable conditions, as tailwinds on the first day and the morning of the second day allowed me to maintain my planned pace. However, the weather shifted on the afternoon of Day 2, bringing rain that lasted into the following day. The most challenging section was the coastal road from Yurihonjo to Akita, where I encountered severe crosswinds of 10 m/s, which were strong enough to make me fear for my safety. Temperatures fluctuated significantly, ranging from a high of 25°C to a low of approximately 5°C. The nighttime cold was particularly intense; despite layering all my gear—including merino wool baselayers, arm covers, and rainwear—I still struggled with the freezing temperatures. Additionally, the route toward Mutsu in Aomori was difficult to navigate due to narrow, rough roads combined with heavy traffic from the Golden Week holidays. On the final day, severe drowsiness forced me to make frequent stops, resulting in a significant decrease in my overall pace during the final stretch.

  • Why did you want to do a record?

While organizing the necessary staff and logistics for a supported category record is difficult, I decided to take on this challenge because the unsupported category allows me to attempt the record and verify my performance independently. Although I am interested in a longer challenge from Kagoshima to Hokkaido in the future, I chose to attempt this Trans-Honshu record first, as it could be completed within a five-day window, including travel time.

  • What equipment did you use? Anything special?

I used an ELVES BIKE MORI aero gravel bike equipped with a dynamo hub wheelset. The drivetrain was a 1x setup featuring a 42T chainring and a 10-45T 12-speed cassette. For tires, I chose Continental Grand Prix 5000 in 28c; however, reflecting on the many sections of rough road surfaces encountered between Fukui and Aomori prefectures, I believe 32c tires would have been a better choice.

  • What did you eat & drink?

My initial plan was to rely as much as possible on energy gels, but consuming a large amount on the first day led to gastrointestinal issues, so I limited their use from the second day onward. I primarily sourced my food and drinks from convenience stores, consuming items such as onigiri (rice balls), bread, and hamburgers, along with cola and fruit juices for hydration. Additionally, I ate beef bowls twice at Sukiya, a beef bowl restaurant chain. Throughout the ride, my caloric intake did not keep pace with my expenditure, which made it difficult to maintain my power output from the third day onwards.

  • What was the best part?

The best part of the ride was the first day, when favorable tailwinds allowed me to cover 291 miles with ease.

  • What was the hardest part?

The most difficult section was the stretch from Yurihonjo to Akita. During my passage, I encountered crosswinds of approximately 22 mph, which felt like a typhoon and made it difficult even to ride in a straight line at times. Furthermore, it was nighttime and raining, and the cold was so intense that the thought of giving up crossed my mind.

  • Did anything particularly unusual happen?

The route consisted mostly of roads I had cycled before, so nothing unusual occurred. There were no major issues with the bike either, other than a single rear tire puncture caused by a piece of metal or some other debris on the road.

  • Exact finish location described so that someone else could find the same spot

Cape Oma (Omazaki) in Aomori, at the monument identifying the northernmost point of Honshu. 

41.54638705463183 N, 140.9126434005875 E

41°32’47.0″N, 140°54’45.5″E

https://goo.gl/maps/nfDpFmhkvPqLekLZ8

  • Exact finish time

May 5, 2026, 20:51