SEVEN NEWS. ONE CYCLIST’S DREAM TO TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK TO LOS ANGELES. ALMOST ENDED RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. BUT A LUCKY TWIST WILL KEEP HIS JOURNEY GOING. COREY HOWARD IS LIVE IN NOB HILL. YEAH. THAT CYCLIST TOLD ME THAT HE MADE A QUICK PIT STOP AT THIS WALGREENS TO GET SOMETHING TO DRINK, AND SAID HIS TRIP. BUT THANKS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THAT’S NOT THE CASE. YEAH, IT WAS MY DREAM TO COME TO AMERICA. TAKATO KASHIWAGI IS A CYCLIST FROM JAPAN WHO WANTED TO TOUR THE UNITED STATES ON BIKE. I JUST WANTED TO SEE THIS COUNTRY AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S A GOOD WAY TO EXPERIENCE OUR LANDSCAPE. YOU KNOW, BACK IN OCTOBER. TAKATO GRABBED HIS SLEEPING BAG AND TENT AND DECIDED HE WOULD BIKE FROM NEW YORK TO LOS ANGELES IN 90 DAYS, TRAVELING 50 TO 70 MILES A DAY. AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH TEN STATES, HE FINALLY MADE IT TO ALBUQUERQUE, WHERE HE MADE A QUICK STOP AT A WALGREENS ON CENTRAL. I WENT TO MARKET JUST IN FIVE MINUTES. JUST IN FIVE MINUTES AND SOME SOMEONE, SOME GUY, SOMEONE STOLE MY BIKE. SOMEONE CUT THE CHAIN OFF HIS BIKE LOCK AND TOOK TAKUTO’S ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. TAKATO DECIDED TO HEAD BACK TO THE HOUSE HE WAS STAYING AT, BUT ENDED UP AT THE WRONG DOOR. IT’S NIGHT TIME AND TAKAHITO SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE BY MISTAKE WITH A BIKE HELMET ON, BUT NO BIKE AND WE STARTED TALKING AND HE TOLD ME HIS INCREDIBLE STORY THAT HE HAD COME ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK CITY TO ALBUQUERQUE, ONLY TO ULTIMATELY THAT EVENING, HAVE HIS BIKE STOLEN. A LUCKY MISTAKE. DOMINICK HELPED TAKATO SEARCH FOR HIS BIKE THAT NIGHT AND REACHED OUT TO ALBUQUERQUE’S CYCLING COMMUNITY ON FACEBOOK. MANY OF THEM COMING AND DONATING TO TAKATO AND HIS LUCK WOULD ONLY GET BETTER. I FOUND A GUY WHO RODE MY BIKE. THE MAN SAID. HE BOUGHT THE BIKE OFF OF SOMEONE ELSE FOR $40, SO TAKATO GAVE HIM 40 BUCKS AND GOT HIS BIKE BACK. NOW HE’S READY TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN. I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE ON ON MY TRIP IN ALBUQUERQUE. BUT ALSO I HAD I HAD THE BEST EXPERIENCE IN ALBUQUERQUE, SO. NOW, TAKATO TOLD ME THAT HE HAS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO CONTINUE HIS JOURNEY. BUT THE RACE TO LOS ANGELES IS ON AS HIS TOURIST VISA IS SET TO EXPIRE JANUARY 7TH. REPORTING IN ALBUQUERQUE, COREY HOWARD KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. DESPITE THAT
News We Love: Japanese cyclist's journey continues after bike theft in New Mexico
Thanks to the kindness of the local community, Takato Kashiwagi is back on track
![KOAT logo]()
Updated: 6:43 PM EST Dec 20, 2025
Editorial Standards ⓘ
A Japanese cyclist's cross-country tour of the United States nearly came to an end in Albuquerque when his bike was stolen, but thanks to the kindness of the local community, he is back on track."I'm happy to come here. Most of the people are so kind," said Takato Kashiwagi, a cyclist from Japan who dreamed of touring the United States.Kashiwagi set out to bike from New York to Los Angeles in 90 days, traveling 50 to 70 miles a day. After traveling through more than 10 states, he arrived in Albuquerque and made a quick stop at a Walgreens on Central Avenue."I went in the market, just for five minutes, and someone stole my bike," Kashiwagi said.Someone had cut the chain off his bike lock, taking his only form of transportation. While trying to find his way back to the house he was staying at, Kashiwagi ended up at the wrong house."It was nighttime, and Takato showed up to my house by mistake with no bike, a helmet on, but no bike. He told me his incredible story; he came all the way from New York to Albuquerque only to have his bike stolen," said Dominic Pettine, a local resident.Pettine helped Kashiwagi search for his bike that night and reached out to Albuquerque's cycling community on Facebook. The community came together, providing donations to help Kashiwagi get back on the road. A few days later, Kashiwagi had a stroke of luck."I found the guy who rode my bike," Kashiwagi said.The man claimed he had bought the bike for $40 from someone else, so Kashiwagi paid him $40 to retrieve it. Now, Kashiwagi is ready to continue his journey."I had the worst experience on my trip in Albuquerque, but also, I had the best experience on my trip in Albuquerque," Kashiwagi said.Kashiwagi plans to spend a couple more days in Albuquerque before heading west to Los Angeles, as his tourist visa is set to expire on Jan. 7.
A Japanese cyclist's cross-country tour of the United States nearly came to an end in Albuquerque when his bike was stolen, but thanks to the kindness of the local community, he is back on track.
"I'm happy to come here. Most of the people are so kind," said Takato Kashiwagi, a cyclist from Japan who dreamed of touring the United States.
Kashiwagi set out to bike from New York to Los Angeles in 90 days, traveling 50 to 70 miles a day. After traveling through more than 10 states, he arrived in Albuquerque and made a quick stop at a Walgreens on Central Avenue.
"I went in the market, just for five minutes, and someone stole my bike," Kashiwagi said.
Someone had cut the chain off his bike lock, taking his only form of transportation. While trying to find his way back to the house he was staying at, Kashiwagi ended up at the wrong house.
"It was nighttime, and Takato showed up to my house by mistake with no bike, a helmet on, but no bike. He told me his incredible story; he came all the way from New York to Albuquerque only to have his bike stolen," said Dominic Pettine, a local resident.
Pettine helped Kashiwagi search for his bike that night and reached out to Albuquerque's cycling community on Facebook. The community came together, providing donations to help Kashiwagi get back on the road. A few days later, Kashiwagi had a stroke of luck.
"I found the guy who rode my bike," Kashiwagi said.
The man claimed he had bought the bike for $40 from someone else, so Kashiwagi paid him $40 to retrieve it. Now, Kashiwagi is ready to continue his journey.
"I had the worst experience on my trip in Albuquerque, but also, I had the best experience on my trip in Albuquerque," Kashiwagi said.
Kashiwagi plans to spend a couple more days in Albuquerque before heading west to Los Angeles, as his tourist visa is set to expire on Jan. 7.
