5 days. 2,500km. An unforgettable challenge.
From tropical rainstorms to freezing headwinds, from heavy traffic to sleepless nights, this Japan South to North record attempt pushed the limits of resilience, strategy, and determination. 🌧️❄️
Through chaos and setbacks, one thing stood out—the incredible support of the Japanese cycling community.
This is a story of adventure, grit, and the beauty of crossing one of the world’s most diverse landscapes. Watch now and experience the ride of a lifetime. 🚴♂️🇯🇵
Videographer – Kanao Itagaki
Edit – Jack Thompson
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44 Comments
Congratulations on this achievement🎉! I have two more questions. What kind of frame bag are you using, and how wide are the tires? 32mm tubeless?
Best,
Oli
Magnificent. Sometimes I do a 130km ride and I'm on the bike for six to seven hours, and then I think to myself I'm really cool. I can't imagine 500km in one day, nor what it's like to be on the bike for 18 hours or more. Congratulations!
I request other videos of funny moments, or humorous edits!!! Thanks Jack, Thanks Jack´s TEAM, Thanks cycling!!!
If you decide to visit Japan again, the 1000 kilometer round-trip Shikoku Circuit ride is awesome! The route is painted on the road and Shikoku is sparsely populated with a climate like Florida sort of.
Extraordinary feat. It’s hard to fathom how you can ride 580km in a day (after having ridden nearly 2,000km in 4 days). Fantastic documentary. Await the full 90 minute version. Ernest
Amazing achievement Jack! 500km per day for 5 straight days is unfathomable! I had hoped to support you in person but got really sick and had to take some time off the bike. Back at it now and have the Cannonball high on my to do list.
Kudos! An amazing ride. I rode Cape Sata to Cape Soya (2,597km) in the summer of 2023…. in a much, much more leisurely 18 days. The heat was intense until I got to Aomori. Japan is an amazing place to ride. Congratulations on your record!
Amazing adventure as always Jack 👏. Watching your videos gave me so much motivation, not only to cycling as hobby but also in to my life as whole, nothing is impossible. Congratulations 🥳, you are a legend 💪.
I was lucky enough in 2008 to spend 10 days in Japan, Based around the Niigata prefecture area, although not biking. Loved it, As a person who keeps Koi Carp this country has always fascinated me. Sometimes to us westerners it can seem like an alien planet but in a good way.
I have watched a few Japan bikepacking / adventure videos now and they inspire. This is another case of that – well done Jack & the Team!
"Just bring me the butter"
A complete jaw-dropping record !!
Legend !!
Incredible achievement. Super. Thanks for sharing Jack
Unbelievable. Knocked it out of the park! You’re an inspiration with your achievements on the bike and also the work you do off the bike!!
Congratulations. And chapeau. Great that Andy W. could greet you at Kashiwazaki area. I did an unsupported 1667km across-Honshu ride in 2023 … you can see on the WUCA site … and basically followed the same course as you did a year later in that part of your trip. I did more like 325km a day but that was enough for me (no spring chicken). I had great luck with the weather at end of April-beginning of May. Given the availability of convenience stores/family restaurants and businesses hotels, it is easy to do this unsupported if you are acclimated to riding in Japan and have a good route plan and, of course, GPS. Then again, to go as fast as practical you sacrifice riding many of the nicer roads and end up slogging through areas with traffic and traffic lights. I did this all the more so using a recumbent so wanting to minimize elevation gain.
https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/shimonoseki-omazaki-unsupport-honshu.html
1日500km・・・。驚異的です！！非常に見応えのあるドキュメンタリー動画だと思いました！
私もロングライドが好きなのですが、喘息と胃の不調で悩むことがあります。
パフォーマンスとモチベーションを維持しながら走るのは、なかなか難しいですよね・・・。
改めて5日で2500kmは、常人の域を超えた戦績だと思います！
dope, hope the video 5 mins longer 😁
Amazing job and great video edit! Just curious what was your route? Do you have a gpx file or anything I could take a gander at? I live in Hokkaido and assume you went straight up the west coast and through quite a bit of tunnels 😂
Japlan is ❤ ! Lovely video – quick question – what size/capacity is your Tailfinn Frame bag?
LOL just when I was proud of my new longest ride today 121km in 4h45. That was short lived! What an incredible feat! I tip my helmet to you.
Why do you eat so much ice cream?
Man you're such an inspiration! not only is it an unbelievable achievement on both mental and physical level but above all you are always radiating such positivity! (and I know from your videos that this does not necessarily tell the whole story) but this somehow conveys the beautiful story of overcoming agony with that ever-grinning authentic smile. You can be proud of that mindset brother, Chapot!
日本横断最短でギネスになったヤツか
I’ll say it once again – I don’t know how you do it. Amazing accomplishment for you and your team. Wow. Congratulations and thanks for sharing the adventure 💪❤️
Unbelievable effort, you should be very proud. I can't fathom doing anywhere near 500km in a week let alone a single day. No better way to do it than on an S-Works Roubaix though!
私も昔、福岡から宗谷岬まで行って、福岡に帰りました。毎日平均200km程走り、1ヶ月程かかりました。300k走った日も有りましたが、その時は、疲れ果てたのを覚えています。500kは想像できないですね。私も誰かの応援があれば、もっと速く走れていたかもしれません。素晴らしい偉業、おめでとうございます。
Wow! Absolutely amazing, unreal achievement Jack! Congratulations!
Wonderful Jack. I remember following you on Facebook as you traveled this path. You have always inspired me and for this I thank you deeply. Thank you Sir. LYB
try china next time
お疲れ様でした！！
Unbelievable, what an effort! Out of curiousity, have you been approached by any Japanese TV stations? I think your journey should definitely be featured in Japan XD
無事に走破できて良かったですね🚴♂️
awesome achievement for you and your team. inspirational as ever, thanks for having the energy to film and comment during this record.
インターネットニュースからあなたの動画を見ました。本当にすごいです。おめでとう！次なる挑戦を楽しみにしています！
箸を使って食事していてとても親近感が湧きました。
信号の多さは苦難ですね？
I have a question that has been bothering me for a long time; how the hell doesn't your ass hurt? I've been searching for a saddle that doesn't hurt, and just in 2024 alone I've tried out six different ones.
スゴすぎる
素晴らしい👍
nice cycling🚴♂️💨
Amazing work Jack from you and your team! What a ride!
I've followed this challenge on Strava and was eager to see the video of it all, didn't realise Id have to wait 3 months tho 😂 My fav ultra athlete 💪🏼 Welldone mate. My longest ride so far has been 360km and I struggle to find the reason to push on into the night and the sleep deprivation. Any tips?
Damn thats inspiring, and what a accomplishment and a well made video, well done!
My longest ride is 330km, and i hope one day to reach 500km in 1 ride.
biting the block of butter is wild 🙂
Just awesome! Well done mate! And I am sold on the Roubaix for my next build. Cheers
Is that the original steer there where you put the tt steer on top?
And did you also put bigger wheels? Cuz i think the OG wheels are much smaller?
This Roubaix looks so damn cool ^^
Watching from Perth mate, awesome effort 👏 👏 👏.