Bicycle and Car: In Love with Life surrounded by Vehicles – Part 1

We love cars and bicycles.

We like cars. We like bicycles. Stomping on the gas pedal, turning the crank. The feeling and the exhilaration of moving forward is the same, even though the nature is different. It gives us freedom to do as much as we want on the road. And it enriches our lifestyle.
In this issue, we introduce eight of our community members’ favorite cars. Let’s enjoy car x bicycle with reference to their respective styles.

Edit & Photo / Tats（@tats_lovecyclist）

ROVER MINI Cooper ’95

This classic mini, which makes you want to follow it with your eyes when you see it around town, is one of those special cars whose owners have been cyclists for generations. The previous owner was a cyclist friend of Riku’s, who inherited it as his first car when he heard that he had to part with it due to a move.
The model itself was last produced in 1995, but the first owner changed the AT to a twin-carb 4-speed MT in order to recreate the MK2 of the 1980s. The color was also repainted to tweed gray, which was only available before MK2. The seats, gauges, and interior are also from that era, and the car is also fenderless, making it ride and look more like a classic 80’s Mini. Although it sounds like a fuel-inefficient car so far, it is surprisingly fuel-efficient at 12km/L in city driving, thanks to its lightweight body.

All of them are of simple construction, unlike modern cars, so many of them can be fixed by yourself. He also fixed the wire that supports the trunk door (->) and the key by myself. Including these parts, the car is more like a pet that he take care of than a car.

A photo taken with the previous owner is displayed in the open trunk (<-). You can feel the story that has been passed down to this car.

The carriers (→) are “THULE square Bar (base carrier)” and “THULE ProRide 591 (bike carrier)” to carry two vehicles. If both wheels are removed, another bike can be placed in the trunk.

It is an old car, so maintenance costs will still be high, but even with that, there are many very good elements packed into this car. The best thing about the current car life is that you can enjoy both when you combine it with a bicycle.

RENAULT Mégane R.S.

Renault Megane RS was Masanaga’s dream car, a car he had been longing for ever since he bought a Megane Tomica in junior high school, and his dream came true when he became an adult. He met the former owner before he bought it and he was a big Megane freak who sold his Megane to buy a Megane.

He keeps a Tomica Megane in the car (<-). He wants to tell his junior high school self, “Your dream has come true” / Bicycles are loaded in the car (->). 1 bicycle can be loaded with the rear seat down, 2 bicycles can be loaded with the front and rear wheels removed.

Sports car-like seats and cockpit

The Megane, composed only of curves, gives a glamorous impression and turns well despite being an FF vehicle.曲がる

It is the fastest FWD car on the Nurburgring. It is not only powerful but also very fun to drive in the corners. It is a little bit old, so there are some parts that are not in good shape and some parts that are not well chiseled, but when you drive it, you can forget about those things and you can feel the driving pleasure and you can love it even if it doesn’t go well.

PNS jackets are matching colors with Megane

The Renault community is small and he enjoys exchanging information there. When he talks to people, they are usually acquaintances of acquaintances. There are also many cyclists, so he thinks it is a car that goes well with them.

F60 MINI Cooper D Crossover 

Ryosuke switched to a 5-door car two years ago after the birth of his daughter, as getting in and out of the 3-door F56 MINI Cooper S he owned was difficult.
He loved the playful interior design and cute face of his original 3door, so he decided to get a MINI next time. The 5door, Clubman, and Crossover were on my shortlist as models that would be comfortable for my family, and I decided on the Crossover because it looked good with the roof carrier on it.
The Crossover’s exclusive sage green color blends in well with both nature and the city.

The carrier uses the THULE Wingbar Edge (base carrier) and the THULE UpRide (bike carrier).
The UpRide is a fixing method that clamps the wheels, so it is recommended for carbon frames with less worry. Compared to the type that grips the down tube, the UpRide looks a bit stiffer, so it is better to simulate the balance of the appearance when it is mounted on the frame before purchasing.

Out of respect for the era of the Rover MINI, the interior of the MINI features a circle-based design throughout, including the navigation system, buttons, and door handles, inspired by the round tachometer. In addition, toggle switches for engine start and idle stop are pleasing to the eye. The playful mechanism that makes you want to drive is irresistible.

Baby seat permanently installed in the rear seat (→). There’s a carrier so he doesn’t have to remove it when riding.

A car is the best companion to expand the enjoyment of biking.
For example, if you are going from Tokyo to the mountains, you may find that by the time you reach the starting point, you are already full. Riding by bicycle is also a good option, but the inconvenience of worrying about train congestion and looking for coin lockers can make the trip a little cumbersome. With a car, you can take the best of both worlds, load up a change of clothes, and stop at a hot spring on the way home.
Now that he is a parent, he is trying to find time for his hobbies, and the car plays a big part in that.

LAND ROVER Defender X-Dynamic

Having driven a Golf 5 GT, R55 MINI Cooper S CLUBMAN, and Golf 7 GTI Clubsport, Rokuto has always had a strong yearning for British cars and had a desire to drive one someday.
His previous cars were fun to drive and practical, but since he started living in Tokyo, there are fewer and fewer roads where he can drive comfortably due to traffic congestion, so he selected the Defender for its high eye point, comfortable mobility, and ability to carry luggage and passengers.

The interior and exteriors were decided in detail as the order was completely custom-made. While the base color is black, the two-tone khaki interior and wood paneling are used as accents. The sunroof is included, so the interior is always bright, and when opened, the soft breeze is great for a change of pace.

The interior rear view mirror is a digital mirror. When the physical mirror was replaced, there was some discomfort in adjusting the focus of the eyes, but once you get used to it, the field of view is wide enough to check the rear of the vehicle even with the trunk fully loaded with luggage.

The rear hitch carrier is the THULE EasyFold 9032, which can carry two bikes. It was quite difficult to choose a bike carrier, and he struggled a lot, but finally settled on this model.

Last year he took his bike on the Shinkansen for the first time and realized the difference between the two. If you go by car, you have more freedom in terms of activities and luggage when you are not riding your bike. Or, if you ride your bike both days, you can take a bath and come home after the ride without worrying about where to put your bike, clothes, and other belongings. Traffic is the only bottleneck, but the freedom is something else entirely.

See Part2

Edit & Photo / Tats（@tats_lovecyclist）