Sayako Takata

After reluctantly taking on her grandfathers bike shop upon graduating high school, all Sayako Takata knew about bikes was how to repair punctures and adjust handlebars. She’s since become a professional mechanic and races both road and cyclocross, while still continuing to run her grandfathers store.

Who were the first people that you rode with? How did they influence you?

The first group ride I went on was with some frequent customers. They've taught me so much over the years. It was tough, but I came to understand the enjoyment of cutting through the air and the sense of accomplishment and excitement in overcoming difficulties together. This broadened my world and gave me a chance to meet so many people and travel to many places.

What would you tell someone just starting out in the sport?

Don't just ride by yourself, have the courage to venture out. If you take a leap and get out to the next city, or to an event, you'll meet people, discover amazing roads, find places you didn't notice before, and experience a true sense of accomplishment. There's so much out there.

“Don't just ride by yourself, have the courage to venture out. If you take a leap and go out to the next city or to an event. You'll meet people, discover amazing roads, find places you didn't notice before and experience a true sense of accomplishment; there's so much out there.”

– Sayako Takata

We’re looking for a real ‘local knowledge’ ride, across the most interesting (and little-known) roads. Please tell us about a ride like that.

If you turn off the main road, climb the hill that sits beside a small stream, you’ll find a rice field and a small house. There's an old lady there who will occasionally greet you. You'll pass by many roads like these and eventually be climbing a narrow, slightly rough road with the aroma of soil and vegetation – you can only hear the rustling of trees, the wind passing by and birds singing. Towards the end of the road, just as you're wondering where will it will lead, a perfectly smooth road will appear ahead of you. If you continue riding you'll find a solitary tree with an observation deck in the centre of a small field. Which makes you wonder, who on earth would come to visit a place like this? When life becomes suffocating, there are roads like these where you can find relief.

If you were writing a short description of your city. What can’t be missed from this description?

There's the ocean, the mountains, cherry blossom, stone walls, a difficult history of many goodbyes. Things from the past and things of the future, a town neither big nor small, a place where time passes slowly at it's own pace.

“If you take a leap and go out to the next city or to an event. You'll meet people, discover amazing roads, find places you didn't notice before and experience a true sense of accomplishment; there's so much out there.”

– Sayako Takata

How did you become the owner and mechanic of a bike store?

My grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer when I was a senior in high school and it was my parents who encouraged me to take over his bike shop. I'd almost forgotten about it up until that point as I'd hardly been involved.

I loved illustration and had a vague desire to work in that area so I was a bit reluctant; but when I was told, "if you sell all that’s left in your grandfathers inventory you can turn the shop into anything you want.” Along with the fact that I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do, I decided to take over the store without thinking too much of it. I thought it might be interesting to do something different to my classmates.

I started to help out after school when we decided I was going to take over the store, but all I did was argue. My grandfather always acted tough and never let me catch on how painful his terminal cancer was, always countering my backchat. When he passed away before I graduated high school all I'd learned about fixing bikes was to lower the handlebars and repair punctures. Why did he leave me this shop? I didn't know how to repair anything, and what would I do when I had customers? I'd only just finished high school and was left on my own to continue running a bike shop. I regretted taking the offer so lightly, and truly resented my grandfather. But I continued with the shop in spite of the fact that I didn’t really know what I was doing. Countless times I’d think to myself, “why me? I want to quit."

But as customers grew, I began to see how amazing my grandfather actually was. My feelings began to slowly change as I learned more about him from those who came to visit. I heard how he had told people with delight that his granddaughter was going to take over the shop. Ten years after I took over the place I finally began to ride myself. It’s through cycling that I’ve been able to meet so many people and visit so many places. All I have is gratitude towards my grandfather, who left with me with skills and a character to be proud of.

Rapha Rides Kyushu