Overview A 500km 4-day cycling tour for 40-45 male & female amateur riders of all ages and abilities. KIWL has again chosen YouMeWe as its charity for 2020, supporting them in their dream of installing a PC in each of Japan's 600 care homes, AND educating them in their use as well as providing support for career counselling, financial literacy, and support in adult life beyond care.
With safety as priority, riders are split into groups led by an experienced KIWL cyclist. Each day is 100-150kms, some of it flat, some in mountains. It may rain, it may blow, it may shine. Whatever the weather the ride goes on unless it is too dangerous. Why do KIWL riders keep coming back? Because it is a significant personal achievement, they experience the emotion of meeting the kids for whom they are raising funds, and they ride through breathtaking scenery mostly on quiet country roads and river paths. Oh, and they make lots of new cycling friends along the way.
All communications and the event itself is conducted in English, the KIWL 500 2019 ride was attended by riders from 15 countries. Riders should have sufficient English ability to understand important instructions.
Route Starting in Echigo Yuzawa, the ride heads 150kms north to Niigata city on day one. The two nights we spend there includes a 100km ride on Sado Island (subject to weather conditions). We then cover a very challenging 160kms to Yamagata on day three, and the final day's riding of 90kms takes us to a local Sendai children's care facility. An official photographer and videographer will document the ride. Your lifelong keepsake.
Is The KIWL 500 For You? You don't have to be an elite cyclist, absolute beginners have entered in January and trained to be ready in June. It can be done, you just need the will to get fit, and have a functional road bike. The KIWL 500 is a challenging endurance ride which includes significant hill climbing. It is not possible to complete it without sufficient training in the months beforehand. Commitment is needed, riders are asked to evidence having completed at least 4-6 flat and undulating 100km+ rides in training before the event.
What Is Expected as a Participant in the KIWL 500? The KIWL 500 is above all else, a fundraising event. Each participant is expected to raise at least Y100,000 (about US$1,000) for YouMeWe. This can be your own direct donation, or you can ask colleagues, friends & family to sponsor you. Others host their own fundraising events like a BBQ, dinner party, or social evenings, or bring colleagues to KIWL's fringe events (Imperial Palace Walk, Futsal tournament, Golf Day, Fun Run, Pub Quiz).
Those who successfully introduce corporate sponsors for our jersey are not asked to raise personal funds but can do so if they wish. Corporate sponsorship opportunities range from Y150,000-500,000 depending on the logo position on the jersey or other items of official KIWL clothing. Companies make a direction donation to YouMeWe ensuring that 100% goes directly to benefiting the kids they serve.
Personal Budget for the KIWL 500 Each rider pays for the accommodation & meals arranged for them, and their official KIWL kit. There are also shared costs like insurance, media expenses, refreshments and support car costs. About Y100,000 in personal expenses should be set aside, plus train travel to Echigo Yuzawa and to return home from Sendai.
To get a feel for the ride, watch the 2019 KIWL 500 video here, read about it in our blog, and view the gallery above.
