Anything worth doing in life is never easy. I hadn’t taken a serious bike ride in years, but the opportunity to get on one from Rhythm Cycles Niseko on a warm, sunny spring afternoon proved too strong a temptation. I hopped on my hybrid standard bike and traveled towards Milk Kobo for a sweet, dairy treat. From there it was all downhill, literally. I cruised into Niseko town, skirted past the Shiribetsu River and weaved between farm houses and fields. Of course, what goes down must come up and the inclines in the scenic valley were a challenge. After crossing the St. Moritz Bridge I was back home in Hirafu, tired but glad I had taken the four-hour tour.