Wheel Women

And that’s Tour #3 for 2026 complete! What an incredible journey it has been.

From the deep country (inaka) of Fukuoka to the islands of the Shimanami, we packed so much into this adventure. We tackled the legendary 20km climb to Koishiwara, rolled through beautiful mountain samurai forests, hunted down exceptional ceramics, and discovered countless hidden corners of Japan along the way.

Our final day in Fukuoka may have been cut short by rain, but not before we squeezed in visits to torii gates and some quiet rolls through local farmland and wheat fields. Then on to the Shimanami, where we took on some serious climbs, including the legendary Rose Park hill and the punchy 3km ascent at 10% to beautiful Kirosan. The reward? Spectacular views, plenty of laughs, and that wonderful sense of accomplishment that comes from sharing challenges together.

Sadly, our final day on the Shimanami fell victim to the approaching typhoon. But after all, I did promise adventure, and adventure is exactly what we got! While it was disappointing to miss that last ride, I think my tired little legs were quietly grateful for the rest.

Over the course of Spring tour season we've ridden hundreds of kilometres, climbed countless hills, shared amazing meals, immersed ourselves in local culture, and created memories made new friends.

So that's a wrap for the Spring tours. What a season it has been.

Now we wait excitedly for October and the next adventure to begin!

And that's a wrap...our first tour for WomanTours from the USA is complete. What an amazingly fun, interesting, intelligent and enthusiastic bunch of women we had the pleasure of guiding through the Shimanami. Was just so much fun sharing our love of a good bike ride and exploring amazing places together.

Big thank you to WomanTours for having the faith in us to run this and to all the women who jumped on board with such gusto for the first tour. There will be more to come in October '26 and of course dates coming for 2027. We can't wait!!

And another big thanks to Natasha for assisting with the guiding, taking the lead at times and just being awesome fun to travel with! Also a big 'arigatou gozaimasu' to Yukiko and Takuma for helping out along the way, joining us on rides and sharing their 'local knowledge' with the group, and as always making me laugh every day!!

More pics from our island hopper with WomanTours…what a day!!

Way back in 2012 I signed up for a cycling coaching course, never imagining it would become the beginning of one of the most enduring friendships and important professional relationships in my life.

At first it was simple…teacher and student. Tash teaching, me learning. But somewhere along the way the roles quietly shifted. The teacher became the supporter, encouraging what I was building with Wheel Women and saying she wanted to be part of it. Even now, I still feel incredibly grateful for that belief and support.

Over the years there were more opportunities to learn, more rides together, more adventures and a whole lot of laughter. Then in 2017 the tables turned again as we led our very first Wheel Women Japan tour together. Me stepping into the lead role, Tash beside me backing me up every step of the way. What an adventure that was.

We did it all again in 2024, though that time it felt right for Tash to simply relax, ride and enjoy Japan without the responsibility of leading...still the laughs, a few tears and plenty of bad Japanese 🤣. A well-earned break for someone who has given so much to so many riders over the years.

And now…2026. Back together again as the Ride Leader team, as friends, and as two women ready to guide another amazing group through the magic of the Shimanami.

Older, wiser, probably sillier than ever… and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Follow us over the next few weeks for the next tour...island hopping across the Shimanami. And don't forget, unless you're on the Expressions of Interest list for 2027, then you might not get a place on the tours for next year!
Natasha

https://tinyurl.com/WWjapan2017

And what a year it was....

2025 brought two incredible Japan tours — April and October — alongside private coaching sessions, training up new cycle guides, and plenty of reccie rides with our wonderful Japan team, Yuki and Takuma. So much time on bikes, in beautiful places, with great people.

April was something a little different — a very cool Brompton tour organised by Wheel Women rider Dayna. Endless fun, brilliant riding… and somehow we timed it perfectly with sakura in full bloom 🌸 Lucky us!!

October marked our first adventure into Fukuoka, and wow — we made the most of it. Islands, tea fields, samurai forests, and VERY large beer glasses 🍺 Twelve days of laughter with an epic mix of riders: some returning for their second tour (our favourite “repeat offenders”) and others discovering Japan — and overseas cycle touring — for the very first time. Longest distances, first multi-day tours, first international rides… it’s such a privilege to be part of those milestones.

And it didn’t stop there. Natasha and I were also out scouting new adventures — Natasha exploring towards Nagasaki and the Goto Islands, while I dove deeper into local loops around the Setouchi region, Kurashiki and Okayama.

All four of our 2026 tours are now fully booked (WOW — thank you 🙏), but if you’re thinking ahead to 2027… you might want to start planning. Let’s just say there are some BIG ideas brewing.
• Island time in Okinawa?
• A little Shōgun energy around Nagasaki?
• An arty-but-party adventure around the Setouchi Inland Sea?

Thank you to every rider, supporter, local guide and friend who made 2025 such a joy. The best part? We’re only just getting started.

We always share details with our waitlist crew first — before anything goes public. So if you want to be in the know, sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/WheelWomenJapan2027