The Knights in White Lycra was formed in 2013 by a few British men needing to get fit and wanting to give back. The 60's hit ''Nights in White Satin'' sang at karaoke, gave a name to a bicycle ride they never thought they would repeat.
(click HERE for our latest annual video).
In 2013, 10 riders cycled 330kms to Minamisoma in Tohoku, one of the devastated coastal towns, to raise ¥2.7 million for the Save Minamisoma Project, helping those in temporary accommodation after the tragedy.
Inspired by their experience, 20 cyclists rode 500kms in 2014 from Tokyo to another devastated coastal town, Minamisanriku, to raise ¥5.5 million for OGA for Aid to build a vegetable processing unit. The 2015 peloton grew to 26 cyclists which completed the same journey for ''Place to Grow'', raising ¥7.4 million to facilitate agricultural education for local children.
In 2016, KIWL partnered with Mirai no Mori NPO as 42 cyclists rode from Tokyo to an Iwate care home. KIWL raised ¥10 million, and the same ride in 2017 raised ¥14.4 million. The 37 cyclists of the 2018 KIWL 500, rode from Nikko to Ichinoseki to raise ¥12 million for Mirai no Mori in support of their Leader in Training program. KIWL also raised sufficient funds to help NPO Esperanza to bring Frame Football to Japan for the first time, realizing the footballing dreams of children with cerebral palsy. In 2019, 42 riders completed a grueling ride on a different route, which with fringe events, raised a record ¥14.5 million for newly chosen charity, YouMeWe NPO.
Due to the global pandemic, 2020 & 2021 were challenging years with many 'in-person' events cancelled. However, that was not before we received the pledges of many generous corporate sponsors and due to ongoing virtual events and solo efforts throughout those two years, as well as Global Giving matching, we still raised ¥30.7 million.
We were able to resume full operations in 2022 at 38 riders tackled a route from Tokyo to Kanazawa.
This year, our 10th anniversary ride attracted 47 cyclists from 14 countries. Our biggest ever peloton with the most female riders we have ever seen including the British Ambassador to Japan, rode from Utsunomiya, snaking their way through Koriyama, Fukushima, and Sendai to arrive at a children's home in Ichinoseki.
Through the annual cycle ride and many other sporting and social events, KIWL has raised over ¥143 million for disadvantaged children in Japan as of October 2023.
We welcome people of any age and ability with the desire to 'get fit and give back' to join us in empowering fragile children to become successful and confident young adults.
Watch our short annual video HERE to discover who we are and why we do it!
July 1, 2019
All I Wanna Do is… Bicycle! Queens and kings of the road
On 13 June, Lycra-clad men and women from many walks of life gathered to embark on the 2019 Knights in White Lycra (KIWL) four-day charity bike ride. Now in its seventh year, KIWL was formed in 2013.
Read moreDecember 30, 2018
Thank you KIWL members! Interview with Rob Williams, Chair & Founder of the Knights in White Lycra
Rob Williams, founder of Knights in White Lycra, knows first-hand how fulfilling it can be to test one’s own boundaries. Since 2012, he has been challenging newcomers in his philanthropic cycling...
Read moreJuly 14, 2018
Knights in White Lycra 2018 video
Business in Japan TV produced an exclusive video of Knights in White Lycra's annual charity ride, this year from Nikko to Ichinoseki. Thirty-seven cyclists covered 500km in four days to raise...
Watch hereMay 25, 2018
Knights in White Lycra: Staying Fit While Helping Children in Need
Some years back, a group of British friends were sitting in a pub in Japan, wondering what they could to do to stay healthy. They had two options: either give up beer altogether or embark on a...
Read moreDecember 12, 2017
KIWL GO GO 55 CHARITY RUN
The Knights in White Lycra (KIWL) is a multi-national group of amateur male and female cyclists of all ages and abilities with the common goal of getting fit and giving back. On Saturday December...
Watch hereJuly 3, 2017
Knights in White Lycra 2017: Ride for the Cause
Forty amateur cyclists left Tokyo on May 25, 2017 for Knights in White Lycra's annual fundraising ride. The goal was to pedal 550km and raise ¥7 million for Mirai no Mori, an NPO, to send 25...
Watch hereJuly 7, 2016
Knights in White Lycra Charity Cycle Ride 2016
Knights in White Lycra (KIWL), a Tokyo-based charity cycling team of male and female expatriates and Japanese, embarked on a gruelling 520km cycle ride from Tokyo to Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture...
Watch hereKIWL Annual Video 2021
Make yourself a drink and devote the next 6 minutes to watching the 2021 official KIWL video where you will discover what we do, and why we do it. Video kindly produced by Custom Media KK.
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Joe's first KIWL 500 was in 2019 and has been a regular ever since, joining the KIWL committee in 2022. His cycling ability has shot up as a result of taking part in KIWL!
Rob is British and has ridden every 500km ride since 2013. He steers the KIWL ship and is very proud that it has helped improve the lives of marginalized kids.
From the UK, Andy is famous for cycling the length of Japan in 2020 and has been an ever-present at the KIWL 500 since 2015. He also organizes our Imperial Palace walk.
From the birthplace of the Beatles, Roger is a long-term resident of Japan and organizes our annual KIWL Go-Go run. He also takes part in the KIWL 500 bike ride.
From Malaysia, Miho took up cycling to be a member of the KIWL 500 2019 team. She loved it so much, she has been a KIWL member ever since!
We are delighted to see an ever greater number of female participants in the KIWL 500. In 2023, a record 9 ladies signed up for the challenge. Don't be shy, we are waiting for you in 2024!
From the UK, Nick is a KIWL Co-Founder and rode the recent 10th anniversary KIWL 500. He also hosts our extremely popular Xmas Pub Quiz
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Paul hails from the UK and has been an ever-present in the KIWL 500 since the second ride in 2014. He is one of the group leaders, taking less experienced riders under his wing.
From Japan, Toru san is our most senior cyclist and is an inspiration to so many with his cycling strength and dedication to KIWL's cause.
An ever-present in the KIWL 500 since 2016, Ai-chan has saved many a man's blushes with her delicious energy-infused Brownies!
From New Zealand, Egon has done every KIWL 500km ride since 2015 and is our Route Master. That is how he gets away with this suit!
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