The ways to enjoy cycling keep expanding. Members, styling, purpose, the mood of the era — combine these different elements and every ride becomes an entirely different session.
Snap Journal captures the cycling style of each moment, presenting snapshots that let you feel the atmosphere of the ride.
This time, a social ride from Berlin-based brand FINGERSCROSSED. Together with over 20 cyclists, we set out from Tokyo Station on a roughly 50 km urban loop through the bayside and around to Shibuya.
text & photo / Tats（@tats_lovecyclist）
FINGERSCROSSED x CYCLISM
Most cyclists know FINGERSCROSSED as a sock brand.
Those white socks with a cute little accent design have become a fixture at the feet of style-conscious cyclists around the world, refining the look from the ground up. Last year, FINGERSCROSSED expanded into apparel.
This ride was organized by Japanese distributor CYCLISM to celebrate the release of the new kit, timed to coincide with the visit of Lukas, the brand’s marketing lead from Germany (and to my honor, Lukas himself asked me to shoot it).
Lukas, joining us from Germany
At the meeting point in front of Tokyo Station, every participant received a pair of FINGERSCROSSED socks and swapped them on right there
The two ride leaders, Darragh and Anna
Leading the ride were Darragh and Anna, both dressed in the just-released new kit.
With such a large group, we split into two, and the fact that we made it to the finish without confusion or traffic issues comes down entirely to the two of them steering us properly.
Early morning Marunouchi on a weekend is a completely different space from the weekday bustle, quiet and almost hushed. The city center at this hour is kind to cyclists.
From the perimeter of the Imperial Palace, heading toward the bay
Passing beneath an overpass, a Shinkansen slides by overhead. That’s the appeal of a city center ride: bathing in Tokyo’s compressed sense of scale, one moment after another.
Once we enter the bayside area, the sky suddenly opens up. Linking canal-side roads toward Odaiba
When I ask Lukas his impression of Tokyo, he says, “It’s really beautiful. People are considerate, and cars give cyclists space. You can ride with peace of mind.”
“The city just keeps going, and different neighborhoods flow into each other seamlessly, that’s really fresh to me.” There’s probably some diplomacy in the compliment, but hearing an outside view of the world we live in is fascinating.
At Odaiba, we encounter a 12-meter Doraemon balloon along with various other Doraemons
The full group. The four on the far left are wearing the FINGERSCROSSED kit. The coordinated palette looks sharp
From the bay back into the city. The junctions arching overhead are massive sculptures shaped by Tokyo’s civil engineering
A city ride threading through structures of every kind
♡
Just as Lukas said, the scenery shifts seamlessly
Anna wears the #COMPANION series, the raciest kit in the lineup
Lukas in the #SUPER LIGHT kit built for midsummer
We finished off with an early lunch on the terrace at Good Morning Cafe & Grill Toranomon. A burger hits perfectly right when your appetite kicks in. The strangers seated next to each other at the start had by now warmed up completely, and conversation was blooming all around the table. Wrapping up before noon felt almost too soon.
Crossing fingers, crossing paths.
Fingers (two of them) crossed. It’s often misread, but it isn’t “Finger Cross” or “Fingersd Cross.” The name FINGERSCROSSED comes from the gesture of crossing your index and middle finger to wish for luck. That small charm, once entrusted to a humble item like socks, is now being extended across an entire cycling kit.
Personally, this social ride was what got me into wearing the brand, and I found the quality as functional apparel stands shoulder to shoulder with other top labels. It’s become one of the few brands that genuinely lifts my mood just by putting it on. I’d encourage you to keep an eye on this brand as its presence grows, and I’m already looking forward to the next chance to gather and ride together like this.
Browse the FINGERSCROSSED collection (CYCLISM)
Author
 | Tats Shimizu（@tats_lovecyclist） Editor in Chief & Photographer with 12 years of experience on sports bikes. He maintains close relationships with brands around the world and proposes a wide range of styles through the media, while also working as a photographer for numerous cycling brands in Japan and abroad. His main bikes are Standert (road) and Factor (gravel). |
