Comments on POSITIVO ESPRESSO: Jumbo Mountain Training

Very impressive achievements from David, Jerome an...

2009-06-16T15:19:12.052+09:00

Very impressive achievements from David, Jerome and Ludwig. I am sure you will have no problems at the Transalp and enjoy the event. When you are back there will be no chance for me to ever beat you again this season at any climb in Japan.
Looking forward to ride with you again.

Thanks for the encouraging words, Ludwig and Tom. ...

2009-06-15T21:21:08.366+09:00

Thanks for the encouraging words, Ludwig and Tom.

UPDATE: I knew that my rear wheel had been knocked out of true by an approximate 2 centimeter high edge of concrete on a small bridge we crossed going 45 kph or so, about 15% of the way down the Odarumi descent -- no pinch flat since tubeless tires, but I definitely "hit bottom" and the bike shuddered. I was disappointed to see that the rim is bent 'beyond repair' according to Nagai-san. And there is a broken nipple on one of the front wheel spokes as well. Nagai-san says he could get the rim and replace it in time ... but the spoke nipple is not in stock in Japan. So I will be using my Reynolds tubular wheels on the Transalp, rather than the Fulcrum Racing One 2-way tubeless. The Reynolds are lighter, more aerodynamic, and I hope strong enough for a week of hard riding! So far, I've only broken a single spoke on them in several years of riding, and they are the "cyclocross" version (4 extra spokes front and rear), so the odds are not bad.

Wow, congratulations, David and Jerome! That's rea...

2009-06-15T11:01:13.776+09:00

Wow, congratulations, David and Jerome! That's really quite something. This is now the new benchmark for Positivo Espresso riders!

I also had a somewhat remarkable weekend, but for different reasons. First failed to make it to day 1 of the Miyakejima race because the plane was cancelled. So was able to make it only to day 2 via overnight ferry. Then faced a surprisingly strong competition in D class - looking at the results of the hill climb on day 1, the best riders were in my class... Still made it into the fifth place, and with the better riders gone into C class, I'm now leading the D class.

Bravo David & Jerome! Very relieved to read you f...

2009-06-14T16:30:32.352+09:00

Bravo David & Jerome! Very relieved to read you found the vending machine midway and msot importantly made it safely! Let's do a re-edition of this ride, perhaps as a weekend ride with stay at an onsen in Enzan in the evening. The next day we ride home through Katsunama after we sampling some peaches or grapes.