AJET Connect MAY 2014

KNIGHTS INWHITE LYCRARobert Williams, TokyoA determined looking bunchof MAMILs (Middle AgedMen in Lycra) ready for atraining ride.On 15th May 2014, twentytwo“Knights in White Lycra,”all Tokyo-based salarymenand one lady, will put downbeers, suck in stomachs,wedge themselves into lycra,and cycle 470kms from Tokyoto Minamisanriku over four lungbustingdays—all for charity. Theriders’ ages span four decades; noneof whom professionally cycle, some whoneed to shed a few pounds, and a greater number who havelong lost their youth!With sponsorship from businesses and donations from individuals,the riders aim to raise 5 million yen for OGA for Aid (www.ogaforaid.org). The funds will support people in Minamisanriku,one of the worst hit towns on 3/11.We spoke to founding member of the Knights in White Lycra,long-term Tokyo resident, Rob Williams.How did your cycling club start?I host a lunch club for British expats, and some attendees hada common love of cycling. We wished to put our hobby to gooduse and thus was hatched the idea of a long-distance charitycycle ride. Easy for some, but we were Middle Aged Men in Lycra(MAMILs) with a love for pies and pints and most certainly notdescribed as elite athletes! Most of us were in Japan on 3/11so that April we rode to Minamisoma, Fukushima, 340kms fromTokyo to support the Save Minamisoma Project. We really enjoyedthe experience, so we decided to make it an annual event.What is Knights in White Lycra?64 65VOLUNTEERINGKIWL is an informal cycling club for Expats and Japanese,and men and women—despite the name! The nickname wasspawned during drunken karaoke when someone chose thefamous hit “Nights in White Satin” by the Moody Blues. Weorganize weekend rides, but those with flexible schedules headout on weekdays as well. The idea is to get fit, enjoy Japan’snature, arrange an annual charity ride and drink beer!What other events have you organizedspecifically for Tohoku?We like pubs, so we recently held a Quiz Night at Finn McCoolsand a Craft Ale Night at the splendid Two Dogs pub. We cannotthink of a better of way of supporting charity than from a puband the two events raised nearly 200,000 yen. We shall also beat OGA’s Enchanted Lights dinner party at the Conrad Tokyo onFriday April 25th. When we have completed the ride, we shallhave a celebratory party to raise yet more funds for OGA.What are your current and futureprojects?The 2014 charity ride is bigger and better with 22 cyclists fromfour countries. As for 2015, we hope to double the number ofriders, so if anyone wants to join, please contact us on Facebook.CONNECTCrossing the border intoFukushima in 2013.This year we support OGA because it helps re-build lives throughsustainable projects. The Green Farmers Association uses fieldsdonated by landowners for growing, processing and sellingvegetables. Five million yen builds a modest processing factorynear Minamisanriku giving employment and a sustainableincome to employees.People can sponsor us via OGA’s website, http://www.ogaforaid.org/en/kiwl.html and can like and share our Facebook page,track our training, and follow the ride itself; www.facebook.com/cycle4tohokuCONNECTMay Issue 2014 May Issue 2014VOLUNTEERINGRob Williams is a long-termresident of Tokyo, leaving theUK behind 15 years ago. Heis married with two childrenand calls Japan his home. Robworks for IFG Asia in Tokyoand has worked in the financialplanning industry for 23 yearsin the UK and Japan. Apartfrom family his real love is for cycling, soccer, and music.Rob also organizes and hosts a monthly lunch club for Britishexpatriates called Brits at Lunch which holds its events atvarious Tokyo venues on the first Friday of each month.