Less than two weeks to the Izu Loop Twistybutt, our final run for the year. It’s getting chilly and the sun is rising later and already setting before a quarter to five! The only reason to like that is longer-lasting tyres and maybe fuel/gas savings. Well, let’s make the best of it with a gathering of the road warriors for a twisty run and some laughs. Not the usual epically long rubber-devouring days we may be used to but still a great run over familiar roads.

The registration process is quite different this time round. It’s an all in one ‘twisty and fast’ process, like a good piece of road!
As you register, you’ll commit to the rules, share a little about you and your bike and be given the opportunity to purchase your stickers and/or make a donation at sign up. Immediately after signing up, you’ll get a confirmation email with a link to the routes, times, places, fuel/gas options, lunch options and a general ride explanation. No more waiting and wondering for you, the riders, or Touge Express. A lot simpler for all.
The payment system is being handled offsite by Stripe and for extra insulation of security there’s the option to pay via Apple Pay or Google Pay and utelise your phone’s biometrics and/or payment safeguards. During payment, none of your precious information is being stored or even seen by the Touge Express website.

So, why the change? Other than the simplicity for the riders and knowing more definitively ahead of time who’s coming, it was time to progress. Going forward, all Twistybutt Rides and events hosted by Touge Express will be using this simple all in one method. That will mean that registration for events like the Goldenweek Coast to Coast Twistybutt will open later than in the past, 2-4 weeks prior to the event, but there will be no more email tennis or riders going to the effort to register and being lost in the maelstrom of registration madness. Well, it’s hoped to work like that and this being the first run, it may have its hiccups, so do message if you find a vortex of consternation.
There’s a ‘Comment or Question’ section at the end of registration. Feel free to comment there if you have suggestions, queries, gripes, or requests.

A little over 15 years ago, that first Coast to Coast Twistybutt kicked off a succession of rides, gatherings, and rider improvements that the original six riders and hundreds of other Twistybutts since couldn’t have foreseen. Through earthquakes, radiation, financial crises, epidemics and pandemics, and even organisational failures, the Twistybutt rides have been indomitable! This year’s Izu Loop Twistybutt begins a change that hopefully sparks the momentum for steady improvement into next year’s rides and beyond.

Kick stands up at 6:30am on November 22nd. Let’s ride!