Starting to virtual ride again. Starting from Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. You have seen it in movies, the crazy Times Square like intersection. That is where my ride starts at mile 0.
Mamachari is a typical Japanese mash up of the words mama, meaning mother and chari, a less polite word for bicycle.
The mamachari is the Japanese equivalent of the family station wagon. Used on shopping runs, for riding to the local station, taking the kids to school or picking them up from sports practice.
The defining features include, a top tube bent low that is easy to step over, a shopping basket on the front, a luggage rack on the back, mudguards, chain guards, dynamo lights, an integrated lock, a bell and a hefty rear stand that keeps the bike stable and upright when parked.
The upgrade of choice is a child seat. These can be mounted on the rear luggage rack or behind/between/in front of the handlebars. It’s not unusual for a mamachari to sport two child seats, and on occasion you’ll spot one with three!
Our mamachari is of a newer breed designed with passengers in mind from the beginning. The child seat at the front is mounted low between the handlebars for added stability and when not in use as a child seat it converts into a decent sized basket. But as children soon outgrow the front seat we’ve had to add a second child seat to the rear of the bike.
Jud's Bike Log 