tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57302334290510356212024-03-12T18:42:11.220+09:00POSITIVO ESPRESSOBlog of the Tokyo, Bremen and London-based Positivo Espresso cycling team, a bunch of guys and one girl from various nations [East and West] riding up and down the Tamagawa, Weser and River Thames and attending this and that bicycle race during the year when not torturing historical bicycles or listening to David Hasselhoff songs.mobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15740078823008165116noreply@blogger.comBlogger1769125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-55303044672550464922024-03-12T17:48:00.002+09:002024-03-12T17:48:22.079+09:00Another brevet on the Brevet -- riding in cross and headwinds, and then searching for the rear derailleur limit screws<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsC1rWIrs8d8uDDS6DgmBjG7tgqS3YfPmrreakBHqd2KNEIMl2lakkHcBaY6gLLCO59x_3MAz9UXNhFBJ9UINJTqCamt5FdW5XY-gXn_ZAcXbO4wroi9ruOtDQsOX3CNGXVMYUR4EnCslCX1Mwkq9m3d9MOwuyhO2isZaMXqDmDVYY1mfIqfbtzVWu-4/s1712/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%2017.02.51.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1712" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsC1rWIrs8d8uDDS6DgmBjG7tgqS3YfPmrreakBHqd2KNEIMl2lakkHcBaY6gLLCO59x_3MAz9UXNhFBJ9UINJTqCamt5FdW5XY-gXn_ZAcXbO4wroi9ruOtDQsOX3CNGXVMYUR4EnCslCX1Mwkq9m3d9MOwuyhO2isZaMXqDmDVYY1mfIqfbtzVWu-4/w640-h466/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%2017.02.51.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><br />On Saturday I joined the AR Nihonbashi 300km "around the world" brevet. Why "around the world"? Because the checkpoints were evidence of foreign culture and/or foreign enclaves in Japan -- a Dutch windmill, Thai temple, Sri Lankan temple, Brazilian grocery store, and a Mosque ... not to mention a Japanese shrine thrown in just to remind us of the host culture.<p></p><p>Winter brevets limit choices for the organizers. And early March can be decidedly wintry in Japan. This brevet would not have happened if it had been a day earlier, when there was snowfall in much of north Kanto, though sun and above freezing temperatures ensured it was all gone a day later. A ride in the mountains at night, on a 300km or 400km course, can be problematic. So courses tend to stick to the plain. Indeed, on the January Chiba brevet that I joined, one key goal was to get over the highest point before the "thunder snow" hit.</p><p>The difficulty with flat courses in Japan near Tokyo is that they tend to go through densely populated areas with plenty of traffic. And Saturday traffic tends to be worse than Sunday, with many more trucks out on the road. A 300km brevet usually must be held on Saturday, unless on a 3-day holiday weekend, since the finish reception for 7AM starters, for example, remains open until past 3AM the following morning. That does not work for riders or volunteers who have Monday to Friday jobs. So a winter flat brevet means a brevet with heavy traffic. Indeed, I did <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2015/02/flat-kanto-300.html">a winter AR Nihonbashi brevet back in 2015</a>, and the congested traffic of that event was enough to keep me away from similar events for quite awhile. The only other option is a night-time Saturday start. That is actually my favorite if I can show up well-rested, as we are assured near zero traffic on the outbound leg and far fewer trucks on the return during the day Sunday.</p><p>On the other hand, a flat course is what I want--what I need--for the recumbent. I have done 2 previous 400 km brevets on the Pelso recumbent, plus the 1667 km ride across Honshu last Spring. But the Pelso has been gathering dust in recent months. Signing up for yesterday's event was strong motivation for me to get the bike out and put it into riding condition -- fine tune the 12-speed SRAM Eagle GX drivetrain I had got and installed last year, go back to the J-bars (I did not really like the steering tiller I experimented with briefly), and otherwise get it ready to use regularly. I managed 5 rides, each of 40-60kms, on the Pelso in the past few weeks. Was that enough preparation to use it on a 300km brevet? I was about to find out!</p><p>The other reason I selected this brevet was its start and finish near my home. Well, the start was at Odaiba, which, as the crow flies, cannot be more than 3kms from home. Even going across the Rainbow Bridge, it is more like 5kms. And the finish in Shinbashi/Shiodome is even closer. </p><p>Of course, the Pelso is not easily rinko-able, so a train to the start was out of the question. And with a 630AM start it is not allowed even to walk a bike across the Rainbow Bridge (pedestrian access is from 9AM in summer, 10AM in winter). So I rode via Kachidoki/Toyosu, 11.5 kms to the start, just as far as, say, an AR Tamagawa or Randonneur Tokyo event starting near the Tamagawa. Oh well, not such a great advantage to join a Nihonbashi event when it starts in Odaiba!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUG8-Ne68t2Pdy0cfrkcdhiUg_JlSlM6VkGf0HE7dNo78XQ8Pwf3fCVMIAcLqQO5P3D4ScER37geEOpNt_Tm7BWEbszTnqGTG0nQQJWEkfDQ2wc0RrzdoAcC0AgBztQlFBoCsakkWWBAhDOnBZYB1FEXbZ8o04mSYT8qYFB9ERWdRkRnwq4GL-1szjuM/s3827/IMG_4431.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2870" data-original-width="3827" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUG8-Ne68t2Pdy0cfrkcdhiUg_JlSlM6VkGf0HE7dNo78XQ8Pwf3fCVMIAcLqQO5P3D4ScER37geEOpNt_Tm7BWEbszTnqGTG0nQQJWEkfDQ2wc0RrzdoAcC0AgBztQlFBoCsakkWWBAhDOnBZYB1FEXbZ8o04mSYT8qYFB9ERWdRkRnwq4GL-1szjuM/w640-h480/IMG_4431.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlis7z4WZyBuwJm0P2LfPXcMSiGrSVDh2016gSLk0qzpZIc98e0GJ-MKRkmdKhzsEh5-pS2dHtcXxtXKWV9xhV4FAouXDw9gpnDbEY5X4YrkcnupugVeD7pLLPjIFiCWuvZN_Rbre-Bq1-pdwY70QohjE1IaEla7asvMZyAiNM643UxX4bW04iWlcIe4/s3800/IMG_4432.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlis7z4WZyBuwJm0P2LfPXcMSiGrSVDh2016gSLk0qzpZIc98e0GJ-MKRkmdKhzsEh5-pS2dHtcXxtXKWV9xhV4FAouXDw9gpnDbEY5X4YrkcnupugVeD7pLLPjIFiCWuvZN_Rbre-Bq1-pdwY70QohjE1IaEla7asvMZyAiNM643UxX4bW04iWlcIe4/w640-h480/IMG_4432.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Jerome also signed up for the event. I knew he would not like the flat winter course and heavy traffic, but was glad that he would do it -- some extra motivation for me to show up even if the weather was bad, to finish if the chips were down. But he registered for a 6AM start, 30 minutes before me. I got to the start location after he had left and never caught up ... but at least could communicate via text during the ride.</p><p>The forecast was for typical early March weather. A low of just around freezing and high of around 11-12 degrees C (50-55 F). But the weather forecast on Friday night warned of a "winter style" weather pattern, with stiff winds from the NW. An online forecast showed that the winds would be strongest during the day from maybe 9AM until 4PM then gradually die down. Looking at the route, I realized the strong wind would almost exactly coincide with the time we would be riding ... to the NW. So a nasty headwind stretch of 120kms or more! The forecast proved remarkably accurate.</p><p>I left home by 540AM and was at the start area, next to a smaller replica Statue-of-Liberty in Odaiba, by 6:10. The ride to the start was lovely -- dawn rides often are near the waterfront.</p><p>After the bike check and lots of other riders admiring the Pelso (the only recumbent there, as is usually the case for events in Japan), one of the organizers said that the 630AM riders could start. No one else looked as if they wanted to lead, so I headed out. I managed to get around a corner, through a couple traffic lights, and onto the main road north past the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, and was sure any of those who started right after me must have been held up by one or more red lights. I did not see any other participants until 23kms into the ride.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZJzefJ0IS3LFMsijFc0LhwxbFDeWtBL7RTmV1U69UFZ2Nw3Vb9QOnxnCmeeO-WuzTr3rfqZwdE9guEQ2X8chgWQ5hH3tkIYQvaFYeFXZHx0XHngJGvXVMh2D3lwoRn6r9fczwTIgSyiJiNOOJaPQ67NR2xvZ2Wfq3f2EbumTlWzwiR-pLcIREX4dMkQ/s4032/IMG_4433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZJzefJ0IS3LFMsijFc0LhwxbFDeWtBL7RTmV1U69UFZ2Nw3Vb9QOnxnCmeeO-WuzTr3rfqZwdE9guEQ2X8chgWQ5hH3tkIYQvaFYeFXZHx0XHngJGvXVMh2D3lwoRn6r9fczwTIgSyiJiNOOJaPQ67NR2xvZ2Wfq3f2EbumTlWzwiR-pLcIREX4dMkQ/w480-h640/IMG_4433.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onto the course, alone.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But I did have plenty of company. After 7AM on Saturday morning, the city was coming to life in this industrial/harbor-adjacent area. There were lots of trucks.</p><p>The route turned toward the East at around 20kms in. For the next two hours or so, I would be riding almost directly into the glare of the morning sun. This makes a huge difference riding a recumben, face upward. At night, I could see the constellation of Orion above me as I rode ... but in the morning, it was the brutal glare of the sun.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbNPIkzf6EXGG7bSPfEBtRylps3UXh7Tbmm-Ey2O4o-Bx6-UGaWv0uWo8sFj1qWCuQ-Ql5bBWfHk-TYfKxPlMILCf3sQsM7Nkz8L94wcf2amE5zX7pUO6Ydvq0XR4YvCMh1nOJ03VKrQA2IgvMUoQqS1wiZIDA6ACenMRvFRpX0Yv3oOhUJ8j3ciawY/s3471/IMG_4436.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3471" data-original-width="2971" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbNPIkzf6EXGG7bSPfEBtRylps3UXh7Tbmm-Ey2O4o-Bx6-UGaWv0uWo8sFj1qWCuQ-Ql5bBWfHk-TYfKxPlMILCf3sQsM7Nkz8L94wcf2amE5zX7pUO6Ydvq0XR4YvCMh1nOJ03VKrQA2IgvMUoQqS1wiZIDA6ACenMRvFRpX0Yv3oOhUJ8j3ciawY/w548-h640/IMG_4436.jpeg" width="548" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route turns East here.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbNPIkzf6EXGG7bSPfEBtRylps3UXh7Tbmm-Ey2O4o-Bx6-UGaWv0uWo8sFj1qWCuQ-Ql5bBWfHk-TYfKxPlMILCf3sQsM7Nkz8L94wcf2amE5zX7pUO6Ydvq0XR4YvCMh1nOJ03VKrQA2IgvMUoQqS1wiZIDA6ACenMRvFRpX0Yv3oOhUJ8j3ciawY/s3471/IMG_4436.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCuwRNqRMgUDV8jFf3cTt0z1JKhCR6t4XPgKFUIeOqVDgRMoqHBMaqYVMKDN9VvuaYmeUz0aYHG2z_d6gB0LXUgZaEEWiU62PGT_m7w3EBbqMOLFWECWiiPKEEJAFAxK6mcpVVHFtDZgjZKJ_WvPrTow8L5zRpHwRPzzdWA7XiclKQcubjWdmjRU5G5g/s4032/IMG_4437.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCuwRNqRMgUDV8jFf3cTt0z1JKhCR6t4XPgKFUIeOqVDgRMoqHBMaqYVMKDN9VvuaYmeUz0aYHG2z_d6gB0LXUgZaEEWiU62PGT_m7w3EBbqMOLFWECWiiPKEEJAFAxK6mcpVVHFtDZgjZKJ_WvPrTow8L5zRpHwRPzzdWA7XiclKQcubjWdmjRU5G5g/w640-h480/IMG_4437.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish we could have headed up the Arakawa.</td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><p>As the route crossed the Arakawa, there was a steep ramp up to the bridge with no shoulder. I was waiting at a light with numerous trucks and did not like the idea of riding next to them up that ramp. So I went down a side road and walked my bike up the levee to the pedestrian/bike crossing on the North side of the bridge. This was fine, except I lost time, and even more time at the far end of the bridge, where cyclists and pedestrians needed to descend a looping, slow pathway. As I reached the bottom and returned to the main road, ... a group of at least 5-6 riders, a healthy share of the 630AM starters, had passed me.</p><p>I caught them at the next traffic light and trailed them for around 10kms ... until I noticed that my front tire was noticably soft. A slow leak, or open valve that got bumped from time to time? I pulled over at the next opportunity and pumped up the tire. Perhaps it would hold? By now, we had left Tokyo Prefecture behind and were passing through Ichikawa and Narashino, Chiba. Here we were on smaller roads -- one lane in each direction, and the traffic had become heavy -- long lines of cars waiting for red lights, in some places without room to pass and pull up to the front of the line even. This was shaping up to be a long brevet. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSRPcO43vfDroziqJSUDp9YQYUZlgAzHcKl1o4Eyti7PxEf6liQ0vjDe5mHnjvpd59TCs7cvd65zXM5y0KHEHriNkVcE7PX6USmakrUS1drX2iHdDeE8-fH7ESnvEULzqOsX4ZWdaFAjDhu_v0TgwVnyCN-eJIHDgRWdiCWnKOVUfzOIbOi2DP3mqcU0/s2582/IMG_4438.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2582" data-original-width="1677" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSRPcO43vfDroziqJSUDp9YQYUZlgAzHcKl1o4Eyti7PxEf6liQ0vjDe5mHnjvpd59TCs7cvd65zXM5y0KHEHriNkVcE7PX6USmakrUS1drX2iHdDeE8-fH7ESnvEULzqOsX4ZWdaFAjDhu_v0TgwVnyCN-eJIHDgRWdiCWnKOVUfzOIbOi2DP3mqcU0/w416-h640/IMG_4438.jpeg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy traffic ... in many places without this much shoulder nor any sidewalk, and wide trucks,<br /> so impossible even to pass by the cars on the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The tire was soft again. I pulled off at a 7-11 parking lot, flipped the Pelso over, removed the front wheel, and changed the tube. The first tube I tried to insert was around 10cm too long. Very poor quality control. The second tube worked, at least, but it seemed like the change had taken 3-4 times as long as it should have. My knees were starting to hurt -- riding the Pelso does put a lot of presure on them, something I never experience with a normal upright bike -- and I had some pain in my left rib cage going back to a minor accident on the Pelso on March 1, that I think I stressed it somehow when I did some manual labor around home on Thursday, or perhaps even when slept on it Friday night. My rib injury was causing more trouble today than it had in the past week, so I was moving slowly off the bike. On the bike, reclined on the Pelso, it was not a serious problem.</p><p>New tube inserted, I was back on the road and into the congestion. This continued most of the way to PC1. Finally, we had left the city behind and were in the countryside. The PC was at a park that included a lovely, functioning windmill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOkHn2pRZU0OPOxG-o_4p0peCg7Ic4arq1i-wFIEqWCBC_twXvd4W6FThLVmD2Y5oHiFZiSSxoimLbifq9kBY1OGpwptZI-yo35oR9BiBSjMTYVl6vBAgN4h8VJvQCiCIglLF-b6ojkc1rroHfnX0PJg6ND8FMC6rRfnWkKgvsgKS8P5_La_1Mhql3J4/s4032/IMG_4441.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOkHn2pRZU0OPOxG-o_4p0peCg7Ic4arq1i-wFIEqWCBC_twXvd4W6FThLVmD2Y5oHiFZiSSxoimLbifq9kBY1OGpwptZI-yo35oR9BiBSjMTYVl6vBAgN4h8VJvQCiCIglLF-b6ojkc1rroHfnX0PJg6ND8FMC6rRfnWkKgvsgKS8P5_La_1Mhql3J4/w640-h480/IMG_4441.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At PC1</td></tr></tbody></table><p>By now, there was what felt like a gale force wind from the NNW. We were still heading ENE, so it was a cross wind. About 500 meters beyond the PC, my Wahoo beeped at me that I was off course. I had followed 3 other riders who were continuing ahead, when the course turned left. I hollered and the nearest 2 riders (a couple), turned around. The furthest of the 3 continued along, at least for the time being. I looped around 270 degrees and then entered the side road, which went up a steep hill, 9, then 10, then 11 and 12 degrees. I got off and walked, the couple passed me. Anyway, it was a short steep bit so I was back on the bike in under a minute. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdjL4s4guf60AfsJo1ZLf7tIE7ZlZwingnYXe40DriB3yd9BTqNj8wMUjbskDUBDmVmVl6ErKBp38zbHtcD748xzALDQnGDqqYbfwjYNhesGiFtly0voFNowDa7LOhowXB0spz0b1DtgvsE86EoFa4UuICXpk0zvsvBvND4fEi2SP_3ImY0GWzlpqCa8/s836/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%2017.14.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="836" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdjL4s4guf60AfsJo1ZLf7tIE7ZlZwingnYXe40DriB3yd9BTqNj8wMUjbskDUBDmVmVl6ErKBp38zbHtcD748xzALDQnGDqqYbfwjYNhesGiFtly0voFNowDa7LOhowXB0spz0b1DtgvsE86EoFa4UuICXpk0zvsvBvND4fEi2SP_3ImY0GWzlpqCa8/w640-h304/Screenshot%202024-03-12%20at%2017.14.16.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wind coming at us across a lake, just past PC1<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K0vLEWrU1GjW2HencrGobh8FCTsZigfruJ02hJXQgypuoRvhn3UQ1Hd6pChcVN6Q0rN-bPzXcLQHH64Dd1i3cGd1g4H2cObA_Zv_RqpkFoDWJwjsa3jo4K-0iAyUDf5OzwEUzIRfvAsaTswo1LIzgy8lYOHLcBL1pdqt3RCrkmPblgwXw9gTU1shZd8/s4032/IMG_4447.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K0vLEWrU1GjW2HencrGobh8FCTsZigfruJ02hJXQgypuoRvhn3UQ1Hd6pChcVN6Q0rN-bPzXcLQHH64Dd1i3cGd1g4H2cObA_Zv_RqpkFoDWJwjsa3jo4K-0iAyUDf5OzwEUzIRfvAsaTswo1LIzgy8lYOHLcBL1pdqt3RCrkmPblgwXw9gTU1shZd8/w640-h480/IMG_4447.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, some low traffic stretches ... but the crosswind gusts were deadly.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The next part of the trip involved less traffic and even some quiet country roads, but vicious winds mostly from our left side. At points, I felt pushed across the road, even though I leaned over to the left side of the Pelso seat. It was like riding a sailboat port tacking close to the wind ... except a bicycle lacks a keel. The vicious wind continued. I saw a couple riders headed the other direction. ... They DNFed and were headed back to town or a train station. I took some ibuprofen for my ribs and knees, which seemed to do the trick.</p><p>A few times I needed to get off the bike, the wind was so strong. Eventually, far into the 30km stretch between the windmill PC and PC2 (at a Thai temple), the couple who had passed me on the hill ... came heading back down the road. DNF, they said. They made a good choice, I think.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DD2oXGTPJRZ4CtHI4W5iJLPVkFShr0s1RoMLzp8DYZDyn4OWCpdzxjlGHx6AWR2swYXjSVVE2RG9PdG_d48kQXyP8Fh-Mwsqh1AxEKtK3aPrycq-NcnGqskkzQ1yRy6jNDFxAUBVZcbhOykb29wj6SHx5N3wEcrVnwILj7jMpFkzdv0nLVSgSOhcrX0/s4032/IMG_4448.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DD2oXGTPJRZ4CtHI4W5iJLPVkFShr0s1RoMLzp8DYZDyn4OWCpdzxjlGHx6AWR2swYXjSVVE2RG9PdG_d48kQXyP8Fh-Mwsqh1AxEKtK3aPrycq-NcnGqskkzQ1yRy6jNDFxAUBVZcbhOykb29wj6SHx5N3wEcrVnwILj7jMpFkzdv0nLVSgSOhcrX0/w480-h640/IMG_4448.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At PC2, Wat Pakna, near Narita</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After the second PC, we turned to the WNW. Our route would be pretty much straight into the wind from here (82kms) to the third PC at Oizumi (198kms). It was slow going, especially the first couple hours. I was creeping along at between 15-18kph, but was still passing more riders than passed me. At least the lower position of the recumbent makes it a good choice on a flat course into headwinds.</p><p>Somewhere early in this stretch, before Tsukuba, we went through an area with some short ups and downs and I downshifted, taking advantage of the wide gearing on my 1x12 drivetrain. The chain ... rode up over the innermost gear and jammed in between spokes and cassette. It jammed hard. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_OS7BZUCqMICSJH3skOuECptnzgGok0X8VLOes-PQxgZdsjX0-Us1q0vymgtDKEb_LUjEUUIVGY5d_aM8ttaxjgZAjqv60pTwDsHkIrJw5Nhf_Wzwf8LBAUiihO4JdFEWth7gC5b6nvUuvEOfOmtBVcDCVJrzxn2rrG6y_m5VBUmXDs2-TjGypm76ZE/s2208/IMG_4451.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1435" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_OS7BZUCqMICSJH3skOuECptnzgGok0X8VLOes-PQxgZdsjX0-Us1q0vymgtDKEb_LUjEUUIVGY5d_aM8ttaxjgZAjqv60pTwDsHkIrJw5Nhf_Wzwf8LBAUiihO4JdFEWth7gC5b6nvUuvEOfOmtBVcDCVJrzxn2rrG6y_m5VBUmXDs2-TjGypm76ZE/w416-h640/IMG_4451.jpeg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unjamming my chain. ... first of many times.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I spent at least 20 minutes trying to get it unjammed, finally succeeding after removing the wheel (a huge pain with the Pelso!) and a lot of elbow grease. My hands got sliced a bit on the teeth of the cassette. Bloody. Why did the chain slip inside when it had not had any problem since I had tweaked the "b limit" adjustment screw a week earlier to solve some other shifting issues? This 1x12 setup is new and really only had gotten use on the rides over the 2 weeks before the event, but all had been dialed in and going smoothly the past week. Smooth shifting into all gears. Why did it need to develop a problem now, on this slight upslope in Ibaraki near Inashiki?</p><p>I looked for any upper/lower limit adjustment screws, on the top, bottom and rear of the rear derailleur. There did not appear to be any -- nothing visible even with the bike upside down and wheel off. Odd. Maybe the Eagle GX did not have them? Oh well, I thought, I will just need to be careful as I shift to the lower gears.</p><p>It did not work. I think over the rest of the ride I counted 7 times where the chain jammed. Sometimes I could quickly pull it out and reset it. Other times it took 15+ minutes and I needed to remove the rear wheel. I tried to avoid the innermost gear of the cassette ... but somehow the chain jumped over and into the spokes even when I thought that I still had at least one cog left. I tried to ease the chain up a gear as gently as possible ... which usually worked ... but sometimes did not. This killed a LOT of time and set me way back over the final 200kms.</p><p>At least the tires held after the first tube change. ... except, except, the tire had not fully sat onto the rim, in some places still not all the way expanded to the "hooked" intersection with the bead, and so there was a perceptible "bump" as the front tire turned. I never fixed this (which would have required much higher tire inflation, then deflation back to a good level). I was on rough enough roads so it did not really make a big difference, but it was a minor annoyance for 250kms. </p><p>After passing through Ushiku, the route took us SW of Tsukuba along a 4-lane road that had some trees and other landscaping. There were still plenty of trucks, and lots of "otaku" engineer types driving "car-guy" models of cars. (Audis, BMWs, the new Prius PHEV, etc.) on weekend outings -- maybe a quick trip to the pachinko parlor, or the golf driving range. But at least with 2 lanes in each direction there was plenty of room for them to pass. Tsukuba has a different feel to it, because it was developed as a kind of science and technology city. Lots of research institutes and corporate R&D facilities, I think, as well as the pre-existing "inaka" (countryside) stuff.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KOCcu_PAeOad6IiPbPT6uad54WihhE5W3i_WJRHD2QMKe05WReHHV_dBWCnSg2usQW6dX87vcjhT3hhmiag_e8uDhmF1jyTtGdwB9ZUf3-1-UrmOoJZQ1vn-WvbzQo5X3k0sIuq5vj-aJfmIpe_mgrw5u6LgQJiF0Iu6FTtj0RtQGGK5dBrO93R5oRA/s4032/IMG_4454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KOCcu_PAeOad6IiPbPT6uad54WihhE5W3i_WJRHD2QMKe05WReHHV_dBWCnSg2usQW6dX87vcjhT3hhmiag_e8uDhmF1jyTtGdwB9ZUf3-1-UrmOoJZQ1vn-WvbzQo5X3k0sIuq5vj-aJfmIpe_mgrw5u6LgQJiF0Iu6FTtj0RtQGGK5dBrO93R5oRA/w640-h480/IMG_4454.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PC3 Sri Lankan temple</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCODolCfBlPaYQ5_yu2liTcNYDNJEaIUm1xrPUODjGRSehcxRas8THDrinFoZAVCCcibnzivhVcpjJ5mhZSF_K5gDppzBlZ40fsP4hGcPyGRianIrHNJc0zMW0w-_IyEFERFUkCEjt8NpWNX8ChQNRvZ9OR-P4fdOAU890lhJVifvUd5QnhyphenhyphenZlqbldDas/s4032/IMG_4453.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCODolCfBlPaYQ5_yu2liTcNYDNJEaIUm1xrPUODjGRSehcxRas8THDrinFoZAVCCcibnzivhVcpjJ5mhZSF_K5gDppzBlZ40fsP4hGcPyGRianIrHNJc0zMW0w-_IyEFERFUkCEjt8NpWNX8ChQNRvZ9OR-P4fdOAU890lhJVifvUd5QnhyphenhyphenZlqbldDas/w480-h640/IMG_4453.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combini pasta stop just before PC3. Already almost 3PM -- behind pace!<br />Does my recumbent rear bag carry as much magic as Doraemon's bag? <br />Well, today it was missing a few things.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We had a nice stretch on some local roads, and a couple long stretches on national route 354, in traffic. I stopped a few times, and chatted with other riders. By now, I was mostly in the vicinity of riders who had started at 7:30AM, an hour after me. I had made slow going of it, and I think most riders slower than me had given up already. At every PC I was at or just slightly behind the time limit ... but the organizer was not enforcing intermediate time limits, as the PCs were designated "tsu-ka check" (just need proof of passage -- the photos -- not proof of time). I figured I would catch up on the return into Tokyo, once there was no more headwind.</p><p>I texted with Jerome from time to time. Over the first stretch he had gone WAY faster than me. ... but then on the headwind he noted it was "tough going", even for him. He was still perhaps 80-90 minutes ahead of me, though he had started only 30 ahead. But the gap had stopped increasing. </p><p>As I took my Wahoo off the bike at a convenience store to recharge it a bit while I stopped, one of the ziptips broke through the base that held the unit on. After a few more kms, the material I had used to bind it tightly to the handlebars (a rubbery base -- but might as well have been a cut piece of an old inner tube) fell off somewhere, leaving the Wahoo rattling around and slipping off. I held it in my hand for awhile, then eventually used some electrical tape to secure it. I had forgotten to bring my stash of zipties. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_IPnhekz7Z8sdCCB1_cuYLvWKqVdJNgH9dx4LgaAHRYO61wUExPJrKnEZLvNZNhAYrE4NR5grvQ9sUpGEeVDvYYt28iOAOwhs5MfsZOvTd4VlyhqMkFT_IixUEMhfq9J5-nZBo8UMo8iezdxMSH9bR2_Yyboyv36TYLc005Vz4hVAwKPLXOf31VW9vw/s4032/IMG_4457.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_IPnhekz7Z8sdCCB1_cuYLvWKqVdJNgH9dx4LgaAHRYO61wUExPJrKnEZLvNZNhAYrE4NR5grvQ9sUpGEeVDvYYt28iOAOwhs5MfsZOvTd4VlyhqMkFT_IixUEMhfq9J5-nZBo8UMo8iezdxMSH9bR2_Yyboyv36TYLc005Vz4hVAwKPLXOf31VW9vw/w640-h480/IMG_4457.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4V63mys4AvqZ6XFd1yWIuiJikS1CRF6f9hi0xUoA4cBvk-aJ-oDcLtzyi3huJHg8MDYFF1V5laWuAUTrINgVO0s5p83eNyAifk7hu-_pGLhmx1dSidvu9rydSU4bW1fNt3ORZQlScMOaQ2vClJIzBDtYhnnxcqCVL4qbtDvzznkpQIleT9I3owG7Vr0/s4032/IMG_4456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4V63mys4AvqZ6XFd1yWIuiJikS1CRF6f9hi0xUoA4cBvk-aJ-oDcLtzyi3huJHg8MDYFF1V5laWuAUTrINgVO0s5p83eNyAifk7hu-_pGLhmx1dSidvu9rydSU4bW1fNt3ORZQlScMOaQ2vClJIzBDtYhnnxcqCVL4qbtDvzznkpQIleT9I3owG7Vr0/w640-h480/IMG_4456.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Watarase-gawa west of Koga, Mt Fuji in the distance. 545PM!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As the sun went down, I passed from Ibaraki into Gunma Prefecture. My dynamo light was pointed too far down so I tried to adjust it ... and it came loose in my hand. I had not secured it properly to its base -- amazing that it had not fallen off over the past couple weeks, and today's first 150km+. I also had forgotten to bring the correct size of Torx star-shaped allen key wrench to fit it into the base. So I just used my back-up light for awhile. <p></p><p>Eventually I made a pitstop for a hamburger at a McDonalds, a few kms before the Oizumi PC. I had a message from Jerome that he had stopped not long before at a burger place AT the PC -- a Brazilian supermercado. The headwind had died down to a fraction of its former self after sundown ... just before we turned, finally, in a different direction. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPODfIEe75L0HxS9X66gE5ZgNRpUyxgBMBJQtcuHbwev3CfA3C5ulgRqsNChoyX265AKEzD8U9LQ2GayvAaLo2zUWvXm9pdhPThzSAkJFUCNo2TibXFUuxjNP8jDf5nubjT5H6p0BERFaRXOzLtyIj2RHw0kbVTeeA2ynGz4UsD49CWs33k0vXBWwVNw/s3510/IMG_4460.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3510" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPODfIEe75L0HxS9X66gE5ZgNRpUyxgBMBJQtcuHbwev3CfA3C5ulgRqsNChoyX265AKEzD8U9LQ2GayvAaLo2zUWvXm9pdhPThzSAkJFUCNo2TibXFUuxjNP8jDf5nubjT5H6p0BERFaRXOzLtyIj2RHw0kbVTeeA2ynGz4UsD49CWs33k0vXBWwVNw/w552-h640/IMG_4460.jpeg" width="552" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The supermercado PC</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I realized that my backup light would probably run out before I reached the finish. I could have recharged it if that happened, but it would have taken too long for me to have any hope of meeting the cut off. And the beam was not nearly as good as on my "Supernova" dynamo light, properly aimed. So I used the rest of my electrical tape and managed to secure the dynamo light. It pointed slightly to the right, into the middle of the road (and oncoming traffic), but was low enough so as not to bother the drivers and it held to the finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnCM23EB-K8mtlL3TLF_onDSAeCB6k_FfV5KzJN_23MbfGxAhFWLY6kJe4fljWXjc2O1OBMH_KxVj4J3vxsTNU1VyN5CEEp_GGIYI3AjWDq1t_P-bLc-XvKi9gdl_t6UpXkEUm_F_gnK8S6MCtMOjST-PYp8CCOLY11MPRs_TQT214CUowmX_k9g4n9w/s4032/IMG_4467.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnCM23EB-K8mtlL3TLF_onDSAeCB6k_FfV5KzJN_23MbfGxAhFWLY6kJe4fljWXjc2O1OBMH_KxVj4J3vxsTNU1VyN5CEEp_GGIYI3AjWDq1t_P-bLc-XvKi9gdl_t6UpXkEUm_F_gnK8S6MCtMOjST-PYp8CCOLY11MPRs_TQT214CUowmX_k9g4n9w/w480-h640/IMG_4467.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Electrical tape -- one essential I remembered to bring along.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Bir1QScz-DxPor8AXtRrsWFG9ONSoG58fvbmQBhv0VaqW1e6tB59x4qPH-A9yguE7vr-XHg4794sLmCTFuwAtcrRrJm_QHiuR2sXyeC7VthhZNk1bB_4kX6zxcAGi6sDrNZNNq95mxrbZDRVcZEtvEe8kqxo5g-dltOWz1r2N8KFHRyeFu4oc8Lb-OM/s4032/IMG_4469.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Bir1QScz-DxPor8AXtRrsWFG9ONSoG58fvbmQBhv0VaqW1e6tB59x4qPH-A9yguE7vr-XHg4794sLmCTFuwAtcrRrJm_QHiuR2sXyeC7VthhZNk1bB_4kX6zxcAGi6sDrNZNNq95mxrbZDRVcZEtvEe8kqxo5g-dltOWz1r2N8KFHRyeFu4oc8Lb-OM/w300-h400/IMG_4469.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The missing torx wrench, Sunday morning at home.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After passing SW through Fukaya, Saitama, the road eventually turned south and the SSE through Ogose, Moroyama, and Hidaka. This is a very familar route. I remembered it has having more up and down than it did. The recumbent was just fine to climb on going over these "rollers" ... except when the chain slipped off and jammed into the spokes again. </p><p>I was at my wit's end, crouched beside the bike in the dark and cold, trying to get the chain back on, when another rider (730AM starter) came by. He pulled off to ask if I was okay, and I expressed my frustration. Another 10-15 minutes wasted, by now several hours in total. Why wasn't there an upper and lower limit screw on this derailleur? He took a look and shrugged his shoulders. By now I had started to cough occasionally, and the cough seemed to be originating in the area of my ribs/lungs that had been bothering me earlier. That was not a good sign, but at least the coughs were seldom, not frequent.</p><p>Anyway, the chain dug out and reset, I made it up the hill, through Moroyama -- a very familiar location -- and took the turn off to go to Hidaka Jinja, another PC. I don't think I had ever taken this short detour, but it the shrine was very impressive and worth the deviation. I'll stop by again sometime when it is actually open.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAtEzjT6x9j3cE4A_89fHFbZo3FO5j3UqpHAANf7g3CRgMpzaV4G9zJ3vzpfwFL_5eurz0qzrhmwhUpUd5hREr0a689F8b5y2tBMUJE_HkrrxHlnPLgf0uiN9JFBLrdo0-y_8QIcWphItvP3G5_UpkcbJbRv6hTi0zvKxyTLXFPlDq_wxOUGaphDWzEk/s2301/IMG_4463.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="2301" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAtEzjT6x9j3cE4A_89fHFbZo3FO5j3UqpHAANf7g3CRgMpzaV4G9zJ3vzpfwFL_5eurz0qzrhmwhUpUd5hREr0a689F8b5y2tBMUJE_HkrrxHlnPLgf0uiN9JFBLrdo0-y_8QIcWphItvP3G5_UpkcbJbRv6hTi0zvKxyTLXFPlDq_wxOUGaphDWzEk/w640-h470/IMG_4463.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Hidaka Shrine</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was now 1140PM. I was 30 minutes behind schedule to make the 2:30AM cutoff at the finish. One more chain-caught-in-spoke incident on the climb out of Iruma. I sent Jerome a text telling him about the cough, that I would not make the cutoff, and could meet him somewhere between the goal/finish and our respective homes for a bite to eat if someplace was open. But I did push on. </p><p>The climb out of Iruma was much shorter than I expected ... the route turned left to the SE rather than going South over the ridges to the tea-fields of Sayama/Oume. I was expecting several more hills but instead we traveled on a long, long stretch of mostly flat to 1% downhill. I was making up some time, actually a fair bit of time and moving at a good clip. I passed several riders. With no more headwind and no more traffic, only the red lights held me back. I tried my best to time them, and to use the ones that I hit for a short rest, a sip of water, a check of the route and time.</p><p>I got a message from Jerome that he finished just before 1AM. A few minutes later I sent a note that I would "go for it". I was within 30kms, and still had 80 minutes left. </p><p>Then I hit red light after red light. On Oume Kaido, I rolled up to a red light watching the cross-light turn yellow, then red, and started through just as it turned green. I had not noticed a police car on the far side of the 6 lane road. He barked at me with his loudspeaker and I gestured up at the green light as I accelerated on. The car did not turn or follow. But the lights got more frequent as I got into town, around the Ogikubo area, then down Kan-nana. I was riding near other brevet riders now, though none whom I recognized, and no 630AM starters I am pretty sure. At red lights I pulled to the front and said "excuse me, I'm a 630AM starter, I'm out of time and need to hurry." At a red light were we turned onto Inokashira Dori, I just inched around the corner and continued on -- a technical violation but a harmless one at 2:10AM. I snapped my last PC photo, the mosque at Yoyogi Uehara, at 2:11AM. There was a note from Jerome that he felt ill to his stomach and was heading home. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6mnjCFzIEXmQq3HgKhwbYLtBlcTq7kxgLtPVzu0CvzPr-XGoCS0jSw5Z8r0QQUbrVw9GNhvAafCPrOWa2puok7Dpb5JgZCVnRWR2FT6XXo5qeApJbKgmq4cRqI3X7ZMNVlwP4Q3iLCGoXI6a_3inj7yzW4ZVi9z8vECY6MWJyLzzDFpyvF23Pp_ecSk/s2555/IMG_4464.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2555" data-original-width="2350" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6mnjCFzIEXmQq3HgKhwbYLtBlcTq7kxgLtPVzu0CvzPr-XGoCS0jSw5Z8r0QQUbrVw9GNhvAafCPrOWa2puok7Dpb5JgZCVnRWR2FT6XXo5qeApJbKgmq4cRqI3X7ZMNVlwP4Q3iLCGoXI6a_3inj7yzW4ZVi9z8vECY6MWJyLzzDFpyvF23Pp_ecSk/w588-h640/IMG_4464.jpeg" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mosque at Yoyogi Uehara, 2:11AM</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Now I was on familiar roads ... taking a route I have often ridden from Uehara through Omotesando and to Nishi Azabu. In fact, I had ridden it on the Pelso within the past few weeks. But I could not do anything about the red lights -- at Yamate Dori, then before Yoyogi Park, then at Meiji Dori, and again at Aoyama Dori. Each light killed a minute or two that I did not have. And in the city there was still cross-traffic, even in the wee hours taxis racing back and fro.</p><p>I got to Nishi Azabu Crossing at 2:28AM. 300kms into the brevet course, but still 3.7 kms from the goal in Shiodome, and no more time.</p><p>So I rode home, picked up some food at a convenience store, bought milk for my morning coffee, left a voice message for the organizers announcing my DNF, ate, bathed and slept. </p><p>The next day, in the morning light after sleeping in, without the panic of trying to reset a chain ... I searched online and found the youtube video on how to set the limit screws for a SRAM 12 speed Eagle GX derailleur. I got out my Torx star allen wrenches and reset the front dynamo light properly and securely. And I will reset the Wahoo base securely.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-KF7HRgoqPMd7OptlHhEbaIVVAZg3C6zol4ZI_fOd0LmbKelVaEGkarvHPHZsFbhML46pVsvsJdQ0IbVT4c62lRwL_VY-8Mp66-djSN68S5GSbKyM6YgyDtSbee-6AFdAUVI7IER2wuXy1DptK-H1pXzX17hmYG7ibczXtFF-z-KZzIDfQbAFVGJPZ4/s4032/IMG_4465.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-KF7HRgoqPMd7OptlHhEbaIVVAZg3C6zol4ZI_fOd0LmbKelVaEGkarvHPHZsFbhML46pVsvsJdQ0IbVT4c62lRwL_VY-8Mp66-djSN68S5GSbKyM6YgyDtSbee-6AFdAUVI7IER2wuXy1DptK-H1pXzX17hmYG7ibczXtFF-z-KZzIDfQbAFVGJPZ4/s320/IMG_4465.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wahoo secured with tape after the base broke.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXx_3NE0kEzUg2znQ5pIQg5OGR6v_y2AF5EB_GlvSpJXshzoiFXWkwqzem7AYyTLlMtqyQyml4X8Cs36zPtq2FcE3DOjTMKIAQdYLSmEzM99iPGVEXYrM5bkZJW3BC1LdhqEUhVsSsz91vZDK-jx2avTvzPUlQxyRdM9OLtqx56v2C1aB4vdhSCJRgc8/s4032/IMG_4470.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXx_3NE0kEzUg2znQ5pIQg5OGR6v_y2AF5EB_GlvSpJXshzoiFXWkwqzem7AYyTLlMtqyQyml4X8Cs36zPtq2FcE3DOjTMKIAQdYLSmEzM99iPGVEXYrM5bkZJW3BC1LdhqEUhVsSsz91vZDK-jx2avTvzPUlQxyRdM9OLtqx56v2C1aB4vdhSCJRgc8/w300-h400/IMG_4470.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No limit screw visible from the bottom (nor from the top)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KIKLeIEOJeI3xIo2j4tyGKZ-YM3xFiIiEVykENL3BiPoCSN2hpLHhHYfW1-AS6RUu3mooxzxlbOiWWDY3jy4KQHVUDQ5C9Fe6v6r8OK4ZRZi495JcMK5N9YrUQi30FlEA11rpwTnbr_nN-pF7GxtrUrwACc0GonlYGh-l8lpHx6ol3-ixr_RzvUDYyo/s4032/IMG_4471.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KIKLeIEOJeI3xIo2j4tyGKZ-YM3xFiIiEVykENL3BiPoCSN2hpLHhHYfW1-AS6RUu3mooxzxlbOiWWDY3jy4KQHVUDQ5C9Fe6v6r8OK4ZRZi495JcMK5N9YrUQi30FlEA11rpwTnbr_nN-pF7GxtrUrwACc0GonlYGh-l8lpHx6ol3-ixr_RzvUDYyo/w320-h240/IMG_4471.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two small limit screws, tucked way in underneath. Argghh!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I think that with a bit more thoughtful and careful bike preparation, I would have completed this event within the time limit. And the Pelso actually handled the short rolling hills of this course better than I remember from last year's events. It is still not a good bike for longer or >10% climbs, and not great for riding in heavy traffic with narrow tolerances. But it is great for looking at the stars, and it is easy on the back, neck, arms/wrists, and butt. If I rode it a bit more and actually trained on it, it should be faster than a regular bike on a course like this, especially with the nasty headwind stretch. I worry a bit about it putting too much stress on my knees, but I think I can manage that by spinning a higher cadence/lower gear and moving my position.</p><p>I did not get "credit" for homogulating a 300km event, but I did ride 313km in difficult conditions. So not a bad training outing. And a good learning experience with the Pelso.</p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-21048300563848347712024-01-15T10:39:00.009+09:002024-01-15T13:17:23.943+09:00AJ Chiba Flower Line 200km Brevet ... with Thunder Snow!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvugVSy9J6ickL87QENFdzjQn7jnL-sbzfAosCsyOipt9rLLRuH7uapOTPM6MXT5e-q5BJ1-XHEChWJhlkOZBEvkH5aAp5l4Np81dZTzs4SzV2Z5XAwzob2shTv2pZ3s7jbI-ad_3DGAssQ7xE2oP0WVoRlJn5Kf0tesh-gLIn3uPRFkQDQG20A17n9xY/s3513/IMG_3598.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2503" data-original-width="3513" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvugVSy9J6ickL87QENFdzjQn7jnL-sbzfAosCsyOipt9rLLRuH7uapOTPM6MXT5e-q5BJ1-XHEChWJhlkOZBEvkH5aAp5l4Np81dZTzs4SzV2Z5XAwzob2shTv2pZ3s7jbI-ad_3DGAssQ7xE2oP0WVoRlJn5Kf0tesh-gLIn3uPRFkQDQG20A17n9xY/w640-h456/IMG_3598.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the start</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHL4fGT9NvAYYk6x_Wlv1mUQ9Jx7u6PeayPPxoSapPF6xTR_Jf9WWMp7iP3jZWPQw-40FYpC_ZC6BnVGCHjp8eosnOlkxsv6t3CIo6rsA-jxW2OhvieCoqCfmAQxDKE4WK2_l5Bmx2I_n19h4839kPCzsyMxOHsIBIeKbQvhMvyfCSqxWKf3q9wefZjE/s4032/IMG_3599.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2494" data-original-width="4032" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHL4fGT9NvAYYk6x_Wlv1mUQ9Jx7u6PeayPPxoSapPF6xTR_Jf9WWMp7iP3jZWPQw-40FYpC_ZC6BnVGCHjp8eosnOlkxsv6t3CIo6rsA-jxW2OhvieCoqCfmAQxDKE4WK2_l5Bmx2I_n19h4839kPCzsyMxOHsIBIeKbQvhMvyfCSqxWKf3q9wefZjE/w640-h396/IMG_3599.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I injured my wrist on July 27, 2023, and the recovery has been longer than it should have taken. <div>After a negative x-ray, and 10 days for my bruised ribs to recover, I started to ride again. But my wrist felt tender. I could not put my full weight onto it without significant pain. I got a wrist brace, tried to adjust my riding position, and hoped for the best. </div><div>After a trip to France and a DNF at Paris Brest Paris, and a couple weeks off the bike to see if it would fully heal ... it was no better. So back to a (different) orthopedist. This time, the x-ray showed a scaphoid fracture, confirmed by a CT scan. The "non-union" fracture would need surgery. After another overseas trip, I had surgery at the end of September, with a 25mm bolt inserted to hold the two pieces of bone together so they would heal. They did so.</div><div><div>The next six weeks, as I recovered from the surgery and let the bone heal, I walked, a lot, but still gained weight.</div><div>In early November, I got on the trainer and did some Rouvy rides. On November 19, I took my first ride outside of my immediate neighborhood and short (2km each way) commute. By early December I was doing 40-55km rides several times a week. I had a week off for an overseas trip, then kept going with the shorter rides.</div><div>Finally, it was Christmas Eve and time for the "Festive 500". I rode 513kms over the last 8 days of the year, spread quite evenly with no single day longer than 110kms, and not that much climbing. But I was starting to feel more strength on the bike. My right knee complained at times in recent months with a sharp pain or some tenderness, but usually not actually while riding the bike -- more likely from twisting it a bit when getting on or off, or some other off-the-bike irregular motion. Once it got noticeably worse, or noticeably more noticeable, after a weight training session. In any event, whatever I did to it, it seems better now than a few weeks ago.</div><div>In early January, I rode to Hakone on January 3, almost 100kms, and felt pretty good. Then, on January 5, I went on from Hakone to Kofu before hopping a train to Kobuchisawa. That was a serious ride of 118kms with 2000 meters of elevation gain. First there was a steep 700 meter climb up the Old Road (箱根旧道) to the pass above Ashinoko. Then there was a shorter climb to Otome Pass. Then a long (700m+) climb from Gotemba up to Kagozaka Pass above Yamanakako. And finally there was a couple hundred meters of climbing from Kawaguchiko to the southern end of Wakahiko tunnel. </div><div>The following day I added 103kms getting most of the way back to Tokyo. All of this had me feeling like I was just about ready for the first brevet of the year when January 13 rolled around.</div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpOajJKiDIRXBqaDENv4IWu4i07SQrO-m8MSWkKcj-3oM2DKhZMFV1ITaiuMwWRojFW53Igyz8IEoONbMashCdK5S3_wCylCT9VOhObp7qnEm-rxFgG2gwBF6f_hPHIiNVP2JLXvC6q9qFApNK5SM4oI6mgC5Qp2HXkOtEghRMUkWLUrk7OsPc28IGt8/s4032/IMG_3600.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpOajJKiDIRXBqaDENv4IWu4i07SQrO-m8MSWkKcj-3oM2DKhZMFV1ITaiuMwWRojFW53Igyz8IEoONbMashCdK5S3_wCylCT9VOhObp7qnEm-rxFgG2gwBF6f_hPHIiNVP2JLXvC6q9qFApNK5SM4oI6mgC5Qp2HXkOtEghRMUkWLUrk7OsPc28IGt8/w640-h480/IMG_3600.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over 100 riders total.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJZ-_bQaZbhvZEDWN-obxCy17J6UXBG_VsRCU1ZjOP2EaeMO4Y9HsxcyaEx6UMO_3osuurao5cSCjfboiZ3xEtXcnXPI0kF-jKCNuqeA3Lv0Kp0OszA9zx7Sgv7YOPdwgw8WFrHMVDAquh5NTPojbx3zx2NFVY5ycbf_t-G2-R7ekX6ftJR8iwpqOCb8/s4032/IMG_3601.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJZ-_bQaZbhvZEDWN-obxCy17J6UXBG_VsRCU1ZjOP2EaeMO4Y9HsxcyaEx6UMO_3osuurao5cSCjfboiZ3xEtXcnXPI0kF-jKCNuqeA3Lv0Kp0OszA9zx7Sgv7YOPdwgw8WFrHMVDAquh5NTPojbx3zx2NFVY5ycbf_t-G2-R7ekX6ftJR8iwpqOCb8/w400-h300/IMG_3601.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerome readies.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>For this, I had chosen AJ Chiba's Flower Line 200km, held January 13 this year. For a winter brevet, the course looked great, with much lower traffic volumes and more rewards (lovely sea coast, beautiful "satoyama" countryside) than the typical Kanto winter 200km. It was, indeed, a lovely course.</div><div><div>Jerome joined, and was allowed to register on the spot, a courtesy from the organizers who know him well from his many Chiba rides. We got stuck in traffic on the Aqua Line both directions, but at least the outbound delay was modest.</div><div>The forecast was for excellent weather ... until mid-afternoon. Then the temperature would plunge and we would get some precipitation and a wind from the North. So my plan was not to dawdle, no long lunch, just a purposeful ride. Indeed, there were 3 climbs, 2 of them relatively short, to just over 200 meters elevation, on the outbound leg, and one from sea-level to nearly 350m elevation after Kamogawa on the return, 150kms into the course. I wanted to get over that last climb before the nasty weather arrived -- precipitation at that elevation could be snow or ice, and the road could quickly become difficult or impossible to ride.</div><div>So I was disappointed to learn that I (and Jerome) would start in "Wave 3". Wave 1 would go at 8AM, Wave 2 at 8:15, and Wave 3 at 8:30. The organizers offered that each wave could start immediately after the "bike check", which would be 10 minutes earlier. No reason to wait, especially as the course was 205, not 200 kms in length.</div><div>I was the first one through the Wave 3 bike check and took off as fast as I reasonably could. I wanted to get ahead of any line of riders so that I could time the traffic signals easily going through Sodegaura and Kisarazu. This was a good strategy -- Jerome caught me and stayed with me at times, but I basically was alone until more than 20kms into the course, when I passed one, then another rider from Wave 2. Of course, Jerome says that I go out too fast, and I do, and at some point in the ride we switch places and he is faster and stronger than I am. But this time I had good reason, and I was happy to get a good average speed (>28kph) on my Wahoo to the first checkpoint at ~37km. </div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKhEKUTCMFHJjkpVx86u2mqBeuYwaNKH6_mLtYeRRukp_TwUZzS3ztPzZ55aa_loDJmqirUGA65anwm9u-HYFmVm7pu73-yxMxNcFDOwGoLRd4kASIZRcWy782-oExjlNvyvYpyaCjBeJtOGOXGWky9D5FjcnDzMwRZXoO-BHxaUmtBd326-N91zqqQ8/s3902/IMG_3604.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2434" data-original-width="3902" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKhEKUTCMFHJjkpVx86u2mqBeuYwaNKH6_mLtYeRRukp_TwUZzS3ztPzZ55aa_loDJmqirUGA65anwm9u-HYFmVm7pu73-yxMxNcFDOwGoLRd4kASIZRcWy782-oExjlNvyvYpyaCjBeJtOGOXGWky9D5FjcnDzMwRZXoO-BHxaUmtBd326-N91zqqQ8/w640-h400/IMG_3604.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading south with favorable winds and sun!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After the first checkpoint, we headed for the two short inland climbs of the outbound leg. I remembered the second of these very well from a few years back, the Shiitake Mura being just below the Pass. I still felt that all was okay. No physical complaints and the equipment was working well. Except for my GPS track of the ride. Usually I will "copy" a ridewithgps track to my account then make sure it is synced to my Wahoo unit. But this time I just "pinned" the organizers' track. That should achieve the same result, but this time even though Wahoo showed a 205km route, the route track ended at the first checkpoint. I tried reloading it in various different ways using the iPhone apps from ridewithgps and Wahoo, but I could not get it to show on the Wahoo, even though I could see it on my iPhone. But during the ride my iPhone was stowed in my back jersey pocket, inside a vest and, later, a rain shell. And I could not operate the iPhone (if I did take it out) without removing my winter gloves ... never easy to get them off and on again at the drop of a hat. Oh well, at least from here the course would have relatively few twists and turns, and I could memorize most of them from PC to PC, and follow visible riders at times.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QCPAGRuDa9OLwhnYs7_M5xynoAzdG_LAcQ8kVzEx2TuhAtSYYe7gPmKzLyXdlS_Y-0W4R4DA6-swQq3Vr8pNVFZkwyJFnfeaGqa2HBeye-_t8BrbeKJ3ASexKW9yM4aZkYi_GHAoWmF7KKIYUgdAzOzr1T_SSWEIg4GeUBSeCvwJ5JOabkBt8lPNs2o/s4032/IMG_3607.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QCPAGRuDa9OLwhnYs7_M5xynoAzdG_LAcQ8kVzEx2TuhAtSYYe7gPmKzLyXdlS_Y-0W4R4DA6-swQq3Vr8pNVFZkwyJFnfeaGqa2HBeye-_t8BrbeKJ3ASexKW9yM4aZkYi_GHAoWmF7KKIYUgdAzOzr1T_SSWEIg4GeUBSeCvwJ5JOabkBt8lPNs2o/w640-h480/IMG_3607.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiitake Village climb</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT54wbNrI-wFcSga0yi_l3OCn4bndFU4qPrLx9ccU71xuBSgXSJuf9Ck6Et5K1YQwkJYNOoWytloCVrPXhvwJHfPACH8dAt7LdQL_NKAI-_GGKtUEM6_8krbSjSX_EUWZLTTKjkreA_g3BSzJ9Z1Rrh5mxwziejo67zX_iFgpHszPYDxZSRQ6odcDTmgQ/s3666/IMG_3610.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2455" data-original-width="3666" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT54wbNrI-wFcSga0yi_l3OCn4bndFU4qPrLx9ccU71xuBSgXSJuf9Ck6Et5K1YQwkJYNOoWytloCVrPXhvwJHfPACH8dAt7LdQL_NKAI-_GGKtUEM6_8krbSjSX_EUWZLTTKjkreA_g3BSzJ9Z1Rrh5mxwziejo67zX_iFgpHszPYDxZSRQ6odcDTmgQ/w640-h428/IMG_3610.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We got to Tateyama, started along the coastline around the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula, and could see Kanagawa's Miura Peninsula across the bay. A second checkpoint was at 82km -- by now after the climbs Jerome was riding ahead of me, and when I arrived he was already eating a large 7-11 spaghetti. I was not so hungry, but opted for a smaller rice "doria", and put a 7-11 chicken sandwich in my rear jersey pocket for later. Even the "doria" was probably too much carbs at that point, and I felt a bit bloated for the next stretch until I could fully digest.</div><div><div>As we left the PC, Jerome said "next PC at 142km". Both the organizer rep (who was standing there) and I immediately corrected him -- nope, there is a photo checkpoint at "Aloha Garden", 12 km on, at km 94-95. It was not listed in the brevet card, but was on the cue sheet. We were off and pretty much rode together to the photo check. But I was struggling a bit to keep up. I told him to go on ahead so we could each stick to our own pace. I needed that to fully digest the "doria".</div><div>It worked. I felt decent and made decent time all along the southern coast of Boso. It was beautiful and as dramatic as this flat coastline ever gets. Even better, the wind was generally from our backs -- from the southwest -- as we proceeded. This can be a difficult stretch with a stiff headwind. </div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oGJgviGzYIdDo1CKD_izWCISLrloVs598Fz9gRzz3M0KtUIXGdwcgaHfsuojdEAk4qUO5-sqqlH5Owui6JmLTOlvup7Lk38b1kzeAc8IZewjc415Ugu09d85rc0AEXqvQjwsxbPEynz7BIkMduUA4_BfVgZyYCr6JETYWolchs2992LUJfDeCpeEdb4/s4032/IMG_3611.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oGJgviGzYIdDo1CKD_izWCISLrloVs598Fz9gRzz3M0KtUIXGdwcgaHfsuojdEAk4qUO5-sqqlH5Owui6JmLTOlvup7Lk38b1kzeAc8IZewjc415Ugu09d85rc0AEXqvQjwsxbPEynz7BIkMduUA4_BfVgZyYCr6JETYWolchs2992LUJfDeCpeEdb4/w640-h480/IMG_3611.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the southern coast of Boso - the "Flower Line"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52XkrtEzIuzpvvaMqEFkw-xl9UhVH3E7KRMxQOxTmHxG2fS8a_Gm6zaIoz_YvhDLDX3IxDqNio4-OuVtoQEDkItIYUsjTxt2x1ebH94fEhacyKt0p9MTHRKHJqnI2cS0S9ahcMczoQiLZiUOQyKmDgUF8agbKoLmlQ2MOIXJZGJuOwyiexA1GepCpSIE/s3911/IMG_3613.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2932" data-original-width="3911" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52XkrtEzIuzpvvaMqEFkw-xl9UhVH3E7KRMxQOxTmHxG2fS8a_Gm6zaIoz_YvhDLDX3IxDqNio4-OuVtoQEDkItIYUsjTxt2x1ebH94fEhacyKt0p9MTHRKHJqnI2cS0S9ahcMczoQiLZiUOQyKmDgUF8agbKoLmlQ2MOIXJZGJuOwyiexA1GepCpSIE/w640-h480/IMG_3613.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least the sea walls have murals on them. My bike butts heads with the shark. <br />Makes me wish that I had been <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-next-model-canyon-shark.html">RIDING a shark</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>It was just after 3PM when I pulled into PC3 at Kamogawa. 142kms in 6 hrs and 40 minutes. I was on pace for a 9hr 45min time -- fast for me for a winter brevet, whether due to the course and relatively favorable winds, my equipment (the "Sky Blue" Parlee and smooth-as-silk Gokiso wheels), or my conditioning rides over the year-end/New Year. One rider put on rain pants, rain jacket, helmet liner, etc. before she headed out. I said "if I put on my rain gear, I will get hot, and guaranteed the rain will stop". </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYSY3F5nNJZ82K_jwlehFgTwm1st3LI4IF4d9yJRpzWwDtGHamulAkQON4PB4zm3Z9xdYY9ahN1RVVnC_SmRaOCrumVSLrb4Ly0s43A30KtgLHNbgxvfglloNex97pM_-XHqppSDFuEV7JYc_rRXNB55dysOR9LZeNbVdB6VY-7pTsFq1ccWntK_xVd0/s4032/IMG_3615.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYSY3F5nNJZ82K_jwlehFgTwm1st3LI4IF4d9yJRpzWwDtGHamulAkQON4PB4zm3Z9xdYY9ahN1RVVnC_SmRaOCrumVSLrb4Ly0s43A30KtgLHNbgxvfglloNex97pM_-XHqppSDFuEV7JYc_rRXNB55dysOR9LZeNbVdB6VY-7pTsFq1ccWntK_xVd0/w640-h480/IMG_3615.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some rain drops now--pavement turning dark and damp.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>As I approached Kamogawa, there were some raindrops ... but not so much as to require rain gear over my winter gear. I headed out 10 minutes later, rode out of Kamogawa and turned North to start the biggest climb of the day -- around 6 kms and 350 meters elevation. After a brief warm-up section, the climb got steep and stayed at 7,8,9, and 10 percent grades for a couple kilometers. There was even a new circular skybridge. And the rain HAD stopped, for now. I would have been very hot climbing with an extra rain layer, even as the temperature plunged.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcH9pujRi2qmCWmLNfZLu0PLbypuHt6QXdCmfC5_TLCVowvd9bBQl1S1PmlUDYYErH9VFI9XYRdDtcR_9DJRIMsCtkGMkPA25uFuPrRlz75hrgdfz_Q2k43SJiZsD8bA7zlbbefYa-qSKb1mKwbqIkaMsP3d3AhPsyRkiwoBkyialN9_zMfvcIxdUt1A/s3285/IMG_3616.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2566" data-original-width="3285" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcH9pujRi2qmCWmLNfZLu0PLbypuHt6QXdCmfC5_TLCVowvd9bBQl1S1PmlUDYYErH9VFI9XYRdDtcR_9DJRIMsCtkGMkPA25uFuPrRlz75hrgdfz_Q2k43SJiZsD8bA7zlbbefYa-qSKb1mKwbqIkaMsP3d3AhPsyRkiwoBkyialN9_zMfvcIxdUt1A/w640-h500/IMG_3616.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1j8MmE_nbacI2oIQ4jJXiF3amXP44ZK2dyvXPcX3urs8zL1UZGWNtWuloMWpmhIOFckoatR1tutSKQS7o9AaRVMkFlMo_jeEEbfPvJ6jytZKbseS2IlrdeFOt516xXKLm64ZJtmxb8w11pgl2maQ5iyStNBnMkjP98TmwcPU38mFRUqKCwz2YezQGB8/s3952/IMG_3617.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2964" data-original-width="3952" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1j8MmE_nbacI2oIQ4jJXiF3amXP44ZK2dyvXPcX3urs8zL1UZGWNtWuloMWpmhIOFckoatR1tutSKQS7o9AaRVMkFlMo_jeEEbfPvJ6jytZKbseS2IlrdeFOt516xXKLm64ZJtmxb8w11pgl2maQ5iyStNBnMkjP98TmwcPU38mFRUqKCwz2YezQGB8/w640-h480/IMG_3617.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back from the sky bridge as the weather changes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>At the very top, there were 3 younger riders. I had passed them leaving Kamogawa (they waited at an odd "Y" intersection where we had the green light, as I passed). They passed me early in the climb. At the top, they were resting and putting on more clothes. The precipitation had started again -- just a few drops of nasty sleet now. I did not rest but kept going. After a few minutes descending, I did not feel any more precipitation, and was relieved to be lower where any that fell might be less likely to stick to the road. This was it. All downhill to the finish. Mission accomplished?</div><div>Alas, it was not that easy. The sun set just as the precipitation started up again, mostly as rain, but this time, it was hard. I put on my thin rain shell, and my warmer gloves. This worked OK for awhile, but the precip had turned to "wintry mix" of snow, sleet, and rain. And the wind got stronger, stiffer, faster. By the time I was all the way down the hills and emerged from the "satoyama" area at around 170kms, the conditions were awful. I stopped once to put on my new Q36.5 rain pants. These cheered me up -- easy to fit on over my shoes (and overshoes), easy to zip tight, no straps to adjust. And they worked as promised -- kept me dry but breathed enough so they did not get covered in sweat on the inside, as most rain pants have done. They were expensive, but I was very glad I had them.</div><div>My gloves did not perform as well. My hands were nearly frozen. I tried my thick Pearl Izumi winter gloves ... soaking wet now. I could not even get my hands back into them after a stop. So I went back to the Q36.5 Amfib gloves. They are okay in dry conditions down to many 3-4 degrees C, and they are somewhat water-resistant, but they were soaked, and my hands got cold, frozen cold. The headwind was vicious. I had long ago taken off my glasses so that I could see better in the dark/rain. But sleet or snow would hit my eye and temporarily blind one side or the other. I needed to squint and dry not to look directly into the tempest. I finally got to a 7-11 and pulled off for a cup of coffee, a quick check of the iPhone, and a change back to the thick Pearl Izumi gloves. As I emerged and remounted, I could barely make progress to the North, and was getting pummeled with wet snow. The road was full of puddles. </div><div>It was a long slog north the next 15 kms or so. Several times I needed to dismount, the wind was so strong I could barely turn over the pedals, even in a very light gear. I heard claps of thunder amid the wet snow and sleet. Thunder snow! At a second 7-11 stop during this stretch, to check my iPhone/map and warm a bit, I got word now that Jerome had finished. </div><div>Anyway, the route finally made a left turn at 193kms. I was all alone, but could get the turn and continue now with a cross wind (and some protection from nearby trees, buildings, hill) west toward the bay and finish. </div><div>Just as the course reached a "T" intersection, and I faced a need to guess my direction, two riders passed me. I followed as they made the right turn, then continued straight at the next intersection. I could follow them a few more kms until we reached familiar territory and I knew the route. We caught another group of 3-4 riders. I got behind at a traffic light, but caught up a bit on a long, straight stretch along the bay, straight into the nasty wind -- a reminder of what we had faced previously. But at the end of the stretch was our goal, a parking lot, the organizers, and, in my case, a car that was already warmed up and waiting. The organizer checked my brevet card. My time was 10 hrs and 50 minutes -- not fast, more than an hour behind Jerome, way way too late to "beat the weather" as I had hoped, but still way, way ahead of the 13 hr 30 minute cutoff and, considering the weather, not bad at all. I asked if he wanted to see the photo from Aloha Garden. "Not needed, not today". He was as cold as we were.</div><div>After grabbing a quick bite with Jerome at a fast food place in Sodegaura, I drove home. The Aqua Line had a 40kph speed limit due to cross-wind restrictions on the return. In fact, we were sitting in traffic until after the bridge becomes a tunnel, so no worry about exceeding 40kph! </div><div>But all in all, a very successful start to the 2024 brevet season for me. How often do I get a real adventure like that on a 200km brevet? Not often!</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4lQ-L2I2Qedj8FfB1xHiivB19Oh_CKJ8o61xfO1v-I8-uCmzGZ_mrJyrZkrDZK1kTaJgHGMko7JegkY8hgurAo1pyveZkyYPFSBiE3bhi7uxHiDc9RxH7fLe-8AWiDTMq7RB30EfnAeYJCq-uUXs1VIS56NsySFLgpNV1_QUF0pn0LVAYDl__0eexCE/s1002/Screenshot%202024-01-15%20at%2013.05.30.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="878" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4lQ-L2I2Qedj8FfB1xHiivB19Oh_CKJ8o61xfO1v-I8-uCmzGZ_mrJyrZkrDZK1kTaJgHGMko7JegkY8hgurAo1pyveZkyYPFSBiE3bhi7uxHiDc9RxH7fLe-8AWiDTMq7RB30EfnAeYJCq-uUXs1VIS56NsySFLgpNV1_QUF0pn0LVAYDl__0eexCE/w560-h640/Screenshot%202024-01-15%20at%2013.05.30.png" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route was counter-clockwise.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-78972704940540534532024-01-14T21:25:00.005+09:002024-01-15T13:54:11.441+09:00Sarah Gigante wins the Tour Down Under<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA-3cagm_jN-_wWANWvbGGuPlqLAKfm_1S_ie3ZW-NfbFw-gF5hzYd1WvSNhw1fIaITL3oaTwYWDeld6YiKCi1v-z6yyQ55FfEZwGQJa_zwMm0ztr9t2TQRiGOKE6WPakjuW6V7tF5f-4V0JQj8vzPaYWiRLFpq_FjMzo4ANE91O8WeUM4FsBIwx-NQ0/s2308/IMG_0170.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2308" data-original-width="1731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA-3cagm_jN-_wWANWvbGGuPlqLAKfm_1S_ie3ZW-NfbFw-gF5hzYd1WvSNhw1fIaITL3oaTwYWDeld6YiKCi1v-z6yyQ55FfEZwGQJa_zwMm0ztr9t2TQRiGOKE6WPakjuW6V7tF5f-4V0JQj8vzPaYWiRLFpq_FjMzo4ANE91O8WeUM4FsBIwx-NQ0/w480-h640/IMG_0170.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Gigante flashes a wide, transparent grin while on a training ride up Doshi Michi<br />July 21, 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics. Obviously, she is enjoying just being there.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><p></p><p>Today, Australian cyclist Sarah Gigante won the Women's version of the Tour Down Under, a major World Tour Title.</p><p>Gigante hit the cycling scene with a splash five years ago -- with a victory in the Australian national time trial at age 18, repeated at 19 -- and launched a professional career that included a stint with a local Australian team then several years with Movistar, all by age 23. </p><p>In 2021, in her first pro season in Europe, she had a bad crash, only 4 months before the Tokyo Olympics. She nonetheless made the Olympic team selection and placed 11th in the time trial, 40th in the road race. After more health issues and two disastrous seasons at Movistar -- the most recent of which saw her race only a few days -- she has moved on to AG Insurance-Soudal Quickstep. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-aoAJ0227IeTorTcex31HAY9KtkUSrlD5WC7RmhL5UnHbHKu84geVFmszNndMnHErUtMtmhwzq0ufDzqchVD0gctV2mG4n8j2HehkoTfufOyWok-JvKRc_QvdOkXLQR94DXVxj5-VpvGsKUegr311OhyphenhyphenNS_3RgzsHGwM1xn4btHQZD92VVKeF8U4rw4/s646/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20at%2021.07.05.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="646" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-aoAJ0227IeTorTcex31HAY9KtkUSrlD5WC7RmhL5UnHbHKu84geVFmszNndMnHErUtMtmhwzq0ufDzqchVD0gctV2mG4n8j2HehkoTfufOyWok-JvKRc_QvdOkXLQR94DXVxj5-VpvGsKUegr311OhyphenhyphenNS_3RgzsHGwM1xn4btHQZD92VVKeF8U4rw4/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20at%2021.07.05.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMM-1A1yh2YnT-20BZBWWEp42wQFF_-rrK9sqYp8cRi832NLJnIcA1ElVjAjBtEtDY4rF1vhs3DyE3PWADNdyxEAL_mpH1GCVwO8G9XCFc1cYhH6XA1ftaHpWhUM3nsPPDnUeZBzBNSJvAzgNHZBZE64GINephvmDgBVFxys95kr3AlZc5qXs9pIV9eo/s703/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20at%2021.07.26.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="703" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMM-1A1yh2YnT-20BZBWWEp42wQFF_-rrK9sqYp8cRi832NLJnIcA1ElVjAjBtEtDY4rF1vhs3DyE3PWADNdyxEAL_mpH1GCVwO8G9XCFc1cYhH6XA1ftaHpWhUM3nsPPDnUeZBzBNSJvAzgNHZBZE64GINephvmDgBVFxys95kr3AlZc5qXs9pIV9eo/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20at%2021.07.26.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gigante gives the thumbs up!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And now, she's back! In her first significant race with the new team ... she won the Tour Down Under with a dramatic, decisive victory in the last stage. You can watch the last few minutes of her climb to victory up Willunga Hill <a href="https://youtu.be/OfKSocQpzCs?si=7oPaNvTt3FK81cUV">here</a>. And then you can see her interview at the finish line -- half of what spills out of her mouth seems gibberish, she is so overjoyed and excited at winning that her words trip over themselves.<p></p><p>Why is this of interest to me, other than the pleasure of watching someone who is so happy, especially after overcoming a period of difficulties? Well, that day in 2021 when I rode up to Yamanakako looking for Olympians doing training rides. I had the best luck as I headed down Doshi-michi. I saw groups from Australia, Denmark, Japan, Israel, among others. (The mighty Slovenians I had seen for a few milliseconds as they descended south from Kagozaka toward Subashiri earlier. The Brits - G Thomas - I saw as I descended from north Kagozaka to Yamanakako). </p><p>But the only Olympian who really acknowledged me, who smiled and made eye contact, was Sarah Gigante. Indeed, as she saw that I had pulled off Doshimichi and was going to take a photo with my iPhone ... she gave me the thumbs up! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaz7Wif5yJCvCYmDg1YfCdsOtRruxSV-7mqNWkeG5tZTUpGEIAET5M8NvCKWGUbyzTcL0WcQssMvGD_DjRAav8xB9xZU1esGBYOJ938SH35o4FFTZiK7xevBkyBgRNSd5p4CAEcRv5GHTk2D1WpvbcTe2qwznTkUiUlKKXwL8sMjgjxxBV3U61YlgIGg/s3402/IMG_0169%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3402" data-original-width="2753" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaz7Wif5yJCvCYmDg1YfCdsOtRruxSV-7mqNWkeG5tZTUpGEIAET5M8NvCKWGUbyzTcL0WcQssMvGD_DjRAav8xB9xZU1esGBYOJ938SH35o4FFTZiK7xevBkyBgRNSd5p4CAEcRv5GHTk2D1WpvbcTe2qwznTkUiUlKKXwL8sMjgjxxBV3U61YlgIGg/s320/IMG_0169%202.jpeg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumbs up!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Maybe a close-up would be better!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOio3j_Asjk6dzxTSfIR5esaBLU_xFimakr1le7wgLp7KniRihL4g5-q0VWx8M1rklkyH_BNoNPORSJ5AzzMcTbKebG0-fjiyn7A0_Iy7pruaVxxNnHs3phWozuzPBCOqi8HlQvHXHLuL7o5UfI1nnvXDeAg_hyUAJF-Ljygn_KpLwxlaATxVcsY6FAM/s842/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20at%2021.06.39.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="842" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOio3j_Asjk6dzxTSfIR5esaBLU_xFimakr1le7wgLp7KniRihL4g5-q0VWx8M1rklkyH_BNoNPORSJ5AzzMcTbKebG0-fjiyn7A0_Iy7pruaVxxNnHs3phWozuzPBCOqi8HlQvHXHLuL7o5UfI1nnvXDeAg_hyUAJF-Ljygn_KpLwxlaATxVcsY6FAM/w400-h363/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20at%2021.06.39.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Sarah -- Best wishes for your success over the rest of 2024 and beyond!David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-34779544163440044272024-01-14T19:21:00.009+09:002024-01-15T11:45:03.371+09:00Trying Out Some Shorter Saddles, Saddles with Cut-Outs, and Cheaper 3-D printed Saddles<p>I have yet to write up my PBP adventure of 2023. I DNFed after Loudeac and before Brest, just under 500kms. The main problem was with my left wrist -- a lingering injury that turned out to be a scaphoid fracture but had not shown up on an earlier x-ray. </p><p>A secondary problem was chafing/saddle sores that made it painful at times to ride — made much worse by my inability to ride out of the saddle due to the wrist injury, and a very hot afternoon on the stretch before Loudeac. I had the same issue in 2019, much later in the ride, with the same saddle on the same bicycle. That is a Fizik Arione model that is just slightly wider (and interferes just slightly more with my leg motion) than the classic, original Arione. And the saddle cover is slippery/smooth on top, bit a bit grippy on the sides where the legs should slide smoothly. Also, the narrow front part of the saddle is a bit wider and protrudes more than on the "Classic" version.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9_DKf56oMM94Myzl6uu-882_RHBYB14Ub58Oj00IY4tlUVUFdxID4TMgyG0zm7Lehfui4zIygQx4cstFDDV5OlOSkWrOI-AdlTpgAlL2d22_8BML2oGiL-av20XRCpwSMhre8kX5OAEHoyX_XXJnS-sgNbKKxGfcKKQABcYDvlXIz0p_sTZRHe8gqHeE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2438" data-original-width="3675" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9_DKf56oMM94Myzl6uu-882_RHBYB14Ub58Oj00IY4tlUVUFdxID4TMgyG0zm7Lehfui4zIygQx4cstFDDV5OlOSkWrOI-AdlTpgAlL2d22_8BML2oGiL-av20XRCpwSMhre8kX5OAEHoyX_XXJnS-sgNbKKxGfcKKQABcYDvlXIz0p_sTZRHe8gqHeE" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wider Arione w/ grippy sides and the more-bulbous front. 209 grams.<br />Worked fine on many rides ... but problematic on the longest randonees.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2015/03/good-and-evil-saddles-fizik-arione-vs.html">As mentioned years ago</a>, the classic Arione (the "good" Arione) has been my long-time go-to saddle. I rode 205kms yesterday on one and it fit me absolutely fine.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7au5xviHi2IC4HuF5BIfrpjlxV9uMezTbRM_eYyffTrNKpdtJtHyUX0VFpCZilgdSX9vq9exbaIsDc53dT2abnq-SYuILwGmVwY8wvpkem7RfjumtDBhJYUnP-s20BuCsHlY_PPUcN4EeNDZIlPu8tMX6U1NdLNzOWHeq4PBMdgrt-1cAWwi6ouHZ0hQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="3740" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7au5xviHi2IC4HuF5BIfrpjlxV9uMezTbRM_eYyffTrNKpdtJtHyUX0VFpCZilgdSX9vq9exbaIsDc53dT2abnq-SYuILwGmVwY8wvpkem7RfjumtDBhJYUnP-s20BuCsHlY_PPUcN4EeNDZIlPu8tMX6U1NdLNzOWHeq4PBMdgrt-1cAWwi6ouHZ0hQ" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Classic Arione. 225 grams and worth it.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>But I have my doubts whether the Classic Arione can continue to be my go-to. </p><p>--First, Arione model types have proliferated, and <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2015/03/good-and-evil-saddles-fizik-arione-vs.html">most of them do not work at all well for me</a>. The "classic" Arione is not easy to find these days. Sure, I only need one every other year or so, but at this point I cannot find one in stock anywhere.</p><p>--Second the Arione is said by Fizik to be appropriate for the most flexible "snake"-like cyclists. I am toward the other end of the flexibility spectrum. </p><p>--Third, saddle styles have changed a lot in the past decade. The Arione is a long (30cm) and flat saddle. That has the benefit of allowing the rider to shift forward and back, relieving pressure and getting some variation over a long ride. But it also means that the rider is not "dialed in" to a "proper" position. Now, shorter saddles that put the rider in such a position have proliferated and seem favored by bike-fitters and many riders. These nearly all have a "cut out" or "channel" in the middle to avoid numbness or pressure on the most sensitive parts of the anatomy. If your butt gets sore ... you get out of the saddle briefly instead of shifting back and forth. And the shorter saddle makes it easier to lean forward into an aerodynamic/racing position without putting pressure on your sensitive parts.</p><p>I ordered two of the shorter saddles during my injury-forced time off the bike. </p><p>The first is a <b><u>Fizik "Argo Tempo Kium R3"</u></b>. It is 265mm long, 150mm wide, and has a large cut-out. It is designed for endurance rides and has a bit more padding than Fizik's racing models. It is stated as 229 grams, but mine weighs 243. The cover is very smooth, almost slippery. This contrasts with the more grippy "suede" feel of the middle strip of the Classic Arione. How do I like it? It is OK. There is nothing particularly uncomfortable when used on the shorter rides I have taken, but I find the edges around the large cut out to be quite sharp in shape, so I feel a bit as if I am sitting on two sharp ridges, not a saddle. The padding at the rear is wasted when the edges of the cut-out are so sharp. That, the slippery feel, and the weight, all mean it will not be my go-to saddle.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinwKGogNkvtLoygXojl1fyWOnceYpL4VnwKV9t0ldwNDe0hqebVvG0AuCMnKn7CUsNBWcsGae7JAzZktNunUe_kjt44ZBon502DXSEgaDmWvbUTDDyr6Ks9flyu96_ZcyK7J7-UrIPdzHqlr6522QwDgFpd0mrt9aln0G5rtpWfE8SDidRZP-9sYBvSmM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2721" data-original-width="3881" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinwKGogNkvtLoygXojl1fyWOnceYpL4VnwKV9t0ldwNDe0hqebVvG0AuCMnKn7CUsNBWcsGae7JAzZktNunUe_kjt44ZBon502DXSEgaDmWvbUTDDyr6Ks9flyu96_ZcyK7J7-UrIPdzHqlr6522QwDgFpd0mrt9aln0G5rtpWfE8SDidRZP-9sYBvSmM" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fizik Argo Tempo Kium R1</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The second is the <b><u>[Shimano] Pro Steath Curved [performance]</u></b> saddle. It is 142mm wide, 248mm long, weighs 203 grams, and ... is now on the Ti Travel Bike. The Ti Travel bike has been in storage recently and may not be ridden for the next month or two. I liked the feel when I sat on this saddle, and I think the dimensions will work better for me that the wider Fizik Argo. Also, the edge of the cut-out has a smoother transition and feels more comfortable. But just because I have a good feeling about it does not mean nearly as much as actual testing on long rides. Stay tuned. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVgSeCiNRi89iKbD7C7_Rj0czx2K1HLYcQqHAjvUQshxNcypGylaKT-FdJQnWwLdFmWmSpNG_I6Dvp6dSVPD7B_aMH7woyWLNakF4aeu5U3Ge_6TO-ynK3o4I0CEcAFNgjXfe8j-RILt0FRKO15D-v7flJMGvBQSa3CnH1BnCDdwhqL0BrCV3sAenh8tU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="526" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVgSeCiNRi89iKbD7C7_Rj0czx2K1HLYcQqHAjvUQshxNcypGylaKT-FdJQnWwLdFmWmSpNG_I6Dvp6dSVPD7B_aMH7woyWLNakF4aeu5U3Ge_6TO-ynK3o4I0CEcAFNgjXfe8j-RILt0FRKO15D-v7flJMGvBQSa3CnH1BnCDdwhqL0BrCV3sAenh8tU" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pro Stealth Curved Performance</div><br />If shorter saddles are a trend across model line-ups, <a href="https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/3d-printed-saddles">a recent trend in <u>high-end</u> saddles is 3-D printed versions</a>. <a href="https://www.selleitalia.com/saddles/road/3d-printed/">Selle Italia advertises 6 models</a>, priced at Euro 340-450. Specialized ones also cost in this range.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fizik has 6 models in its "Adaptive" line, starting from Euro 250. <a href="https://www.fizik.com/rw_en/drops/adaptive.html">As Fizik explains it,</a> "<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Adaptive padding is created through a process known as Digital Light Synthesis. DLS uses digital ultraviolet light projection, oxygen permeable optics, and programmable liquid resins to essentially “print” saddle padding that is comfortable, supportive, and incredibly resilient—resistant to both UV exposure and prolonged, repeated use."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">These saddles have a kind of mesh padding, like this:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1Pe8j6qu0UX39x-UAmHPwtqijWhBZS9p4AR3kHWMT_YpD6-XVVJGMq63_PjXmvbinBQbf40CtprBFkvMca-5i-3CAA_BgSfbmFZcZLFJoXDnkz3He7WCNiznEkP7dh3IB3dgzvFA-zVRBScU2jNPbM2N6zPS3R_VmgjjczE9n5wbSMGKD6mVHyRouzAQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1Pe8j6qu0UX39x-UAmHPwtqijWhBZS9p4AR3kHWMT_YpD6-XVVJGMq63_PjXmvbinBQbf40CtprBFkvMca-5i-3CAA_BgSfbmFZcZLFJoXDnkz3He7WCNiznEkP7dh3IB3dgzvFA-zVRBScU2jNPbM2N6zPS3R_VmgjjczE9n5wbSMGKD6mVHyRouzAQ" width="180" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">I think the main advantage of this design is probably to get a greater degree of more effective and appropriately distributed padding than a traditional saddle ... at a lower weight. It is for weight weenies, and priced like a higher tech, weight-weenie product. But I just cannot see paying 2 or 2.5 times the price just to shave 50-60 grams off my saddle weight and get padding that may or may not be noticeably different than my trusty Classic Arione.</span></span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">But ... I was curious. Then I saw that this style of saddle is now being offered on Aliexpress from no-name manufacturers in China. I bought one for around $70 from a brand called <b><u>Bucklos.</u></b> It comes with carbon rails and a carbon shell, while the padding area is made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethanes -- a kind of sturdy but elastic rubbery plastic) ... and weighs in at 153 grams, light as a feather. It is around 143mm wide and 240mm long -- the shortest of my new short saddles. My first ride, of around 50kms ... I did not even notice the saddle. That is about the best thing one could say in reviewing a saddle. </span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">On the longest ride I have taken with it so far (around 120kms, including 2000m of climbing), I finally "noticed" it after around 100kms, and even wished it (or my bib shorts' chamois) might have had a wee bit more padding. But that is to be expected after months without any long rides. And on that ride, after my next food/bathroom stop, I again forgot about the saddle.</span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiawtNZPDbBvPMYR8Al7UPDwsLyazBot9SzEt5XDEU4WEFMz4c5-xKV2v6ULl83MndtTA8X93gS2VnEEuKd0acpHrCQoI3vnLd04bM9nLng9CehZMaxFlk8Lv3K6TvvGZp3UNAaWBUp3vyazjAobhqxF-81RUa8UPTR6CDvcWkjbBsHjkrlG_wojvdMRes" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiawtNZPDbBvPMYR8Al7UPDwsLyazBot9SzEt5XDEU4WEFMz4c5-xKV2v6ULl83MndtTA8X93gS2VnEEuKd0acpHrCQoI3vnLd04bM9nLng9CehZMaxFlk8Lv3K6TvvGZp3UNAaWBUp3vyazjAobhqxF-81RUa8UPTR6CDvcWkjbBsHjkrlG_wojvdMRes=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bucklos" 3D printed saddle from Ali Express.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br />The Bucklos does not have the same harsh edge to the cut-out as the Fizik Argo Tempo. And the surface grips my bib shorts just enough so that I don't slide around ... but does not seem to cause any chafing where my legs are moving. I've had this saddle on the RAMAX now since the Festive 500, for maybe 700 kms of riding, and I like it a lot. I'll try it on some longer rides eventually. </span><p></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Is the "TPU" material for the padding comparable to what Fizik and Selle Italia are using on their high-end models? Well, it seems that the major brands work with Carbon 3D.com for their printed saddles. <a href="https://www.carbon3d.com/materials/epu-41">Here is a photo of a Fizik saddle</a>, the padding for which seems made of EPU 41. As is stated, EPU 41 "is comparable to commercial TPUs with a Shore A hardness of 70."</span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">In fact, I like this saddle so much that ... the last time I was on Aliexpress I ordered a second, very similar one (from "Ryet") for around $40 on sale. That one weighs in at 151 grams.</span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghAbf_mEyFTqI_OzhV9JoKkz2TJxRY6AILcBoq8jIE2UNY7SIPKTCBJByxyRWcgQr5alJNyxt8uJQYQr9_BmoJyrZoii3SedatZV8BhXs143VXG1BwCSNcHv8pJxFnBhILLHGYuF9HXt6gCcdCWDe5-_d8TMWxPwvP6zbF8m_Au8X-YDbFLAR19s4hmCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghAbf_mEyFTqI_OzhV9JoKkz2TJxRY6AILcBoq8jIE2UNY7SIPKTCBJByxyRWcgQr5alJNyxt8uJQYQr9_BmoJyrZoii3SedatZV8BhXs143VXG1BwCSNcHv8pJxFnBhILLHGYuF9HXt6gCcdCWDe5-_d8TMWxPwvP6zbF8m_Au8X-YDbFLAR19s4hmCg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ryet 3D printed saddle. Carbon shell and rails, 151 grams.</div><br />I'll update this post once I have more experience riding these.<p></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Oh, and the one other saddle I really want (and plan) to try, is the <b><u>Infinity Bike Seat</u></b>. It's the official bike seat of RAAM. The seat is basically all cut-out. It places the rider in a set position, no saddle sores because ... not much saddle except around the edges, and you are propped forward so you can use aero bars on a long solo ride. I have a line on a "loaner" I could test, since this is an expensive investment.</span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmMY3HFa8NHkq9LZ3gGk5NQpO0pNtObKWBkPtjUkASNjdpHW2lImlSC3RVJl9OU6wuGm7U8YpeDUVgxeQKmvMT2lUrp-JXy5vlKiW1tuuYEx2JA1MQYjGPqJ14gYmLt80SV_vebFVEnBAIqjWvVBOh2kdssErr9CxfG58xRZDz5gGOJxl6BWnLOidfqTo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="235" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmMY3HFa8NHkq9LZ3gGk5NQpO0pNtObKWBkPtjUkASNjdpHW2lImlSC3RVJl9OU6wuGm7U8YpeDUVgxeQKmvMT2lUrp-JXy5vlKiW1tuuYEx2JA1MQYjGPqJ14gYmLt80SV_vebFVEnBAIqjWvVBOh2kdssErr9CxfG58xRZDz5gGOJxl6BWnLOidfqTo" width="286" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-70555575217199317892023-07-31T17:55:00.000+09:002023-07-31T17:55:11.353+09:00Wheel Nos 00030, 00031, and 00032In the PBP year, new dynamo hub wheels are in order. <div><br /></div><div>Jerome asked for a new one, together with a new light. So back in June I built him one using a slightly worn H Plus Son rim I had used briefly while waiting for a different (tubeless ready) rim some time back. Jerome says he is done trying tubeless so this was a perfect match. A new SV-8 hub, and DT Swiss aero-bladed spokes, and voila -- Wheel No. 00030:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTx_Bb07N1SbAV5vI4EKmw6aUIaY6orzss02Q6t4BoXnPw-vy2yRfcdrow7q6ey_f0RAEhmxrcstX-5_J5utcdTiHftJ6eH-EQ6NaNtSXF7M6bWIc-hFtaTzaH9JL61mMQEnHrKkHN16jc_tI00u41yQu8Qjc8U57oIXyzqPN8WQG8xtL-x12NbxQgeM/s2867/IMG_0003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="2427" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTx_Bb07N1SbAV5vI4EKmw6aUIaY6orzss02Q6t4BoXnPw-vy2yRfcdrow7q6ey_f0RAEhmxrcstX-5_J5utcdTiHftJ6eH-EQ6NaNtSXF7M6bWIc-hFtaTzaH9JL61mMQEnHrKkHN16jc_tI00u41yQu8Qjc8U57oIXyzqPN8WQG8xtL-x12NbxQgeM/w339-h400/IMG_0003.jpeg" width="339" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0ZWvuN8AcPuh2rHtYUhefDYryJoCUjRbF1WFHtHZ8I4hXWNgX3t7xrB7SPR1DJphXELIQmkBGHaB3FGd0HQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For myself, I want to try to ride PBP with a more "modern" tubeless setup this year, with carbon rim wheels. I got a slightly shallower Imezi rim than my existing ones (complete with pink decals to match my rear wheel) and built it up with Sapim CX-Ray spokes and another SV-8 dynamo hub, for use with my travel bike. Wheel No. 00031:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhT37OZf1OGFd_t0UJarIXSGqj_hyS6AhJqKwLb6Uy2hobMYMHaejrbX1copMsDvxg9iFxSRGSakwaIOcUUv_LRztFBMG2B5x78MBNwG-Krz5hy6P4MLU2Fro0ditanePak_AtBgzjbIOkyCEM55fQ6vp_umfpp448V7CrUEsoKiKAHNwaSBHWf3S-Ndg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2712" data-original-width="2895" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhT37OZf1OGFd_t0UJarIXSGqj_hyS6AhJqKwLb6Uy2hobMYMHaejrbX1copMsDvxg9iFxSRGSakwaIOcUUv_LRztFBMG2B5x78MBNwG-Krz5hy6P4MLU2Fro0ditanePak_AtBgzjbIOkyCEM55fQ6vp_umfpp448V7CrUEsoKiKAHNwaSBHWf3S-Ndg=w400-h375" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-XnB0khFzCT3TWrpseuqzcp7mqt38b9Qkonn0DbaIKI7SiQQfW7maP215Rzgw1vB1LaQvJU_bnpIsc6hoSnffT6irfXRKkqFzGBCJg4Ml56daOTVUcgEGOSXYea1E7E4n_-uv1Hq_XN1wo32BBmuNxI_91X924776JMzlaGnt5p_9ug-D90IgEmD-wwA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-XnB0khFzCT3TWrpseuqzcp7mqt38b9Qkonn0DbaIKI7SiQQfW7maP215Rzgw1vB1LaQvJU_bnpIsc6hoSnffT6irfXRKkqFzGBCJg4Ml56daOTVUcgEGOSXYea1E7E4n_-uv1Hq_XN1wo32BBmuNxI_91X924776JMzlaGnt5p_9ug-D90IgEmD-wwA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div>After a few weeks of riding the new setup, I worried about carbon rim brakes for PBP. Jerome and I went for a ride to the base of Wada Pass ... and I could not help but remember the time I melted another carbon rim sitting on the brakes descending the pass. And even though the dry weather stopping distance seemed okay, I lack the stopping confidence that I have with regular aluminum clinchers or, better yet, disk brakes. </div><div><br /></div><div>I saw that Ijichi-san, one of the regular Tokyo area randonneurs, had just taken delivery of a beautiful new custom titanium rando bike from <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2015/04/equilibrium-cycle-works-latvian.html">Vlad at Equilibrium cycles</a>, Tokyo-based Latvian framebuilder, and that Ijichi-san's new steed was using mechanical disk brakes. The thought hit me immediately -- why not swap out my Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork and replace it with a road disk brake fork, including mechanical disk brake that I could use with my current SRAM AXS Force/rim brake brifters? After all, that was the setup that I ended up with on the Yamabushi, where I did not really like the original brakes -- and a front mechanical disk was the ideal solution. After some searching, I decided to go for a made-in-USA Paul Components flat-mount short-pull mechanical disk brake that looks and feels very solid and has strong reviews. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I built up Wheel No. 32 today from an SP Dynamo PL-7 hub, Sapim CX Ray spokes, and a fairly wide (22.5mm internal, 28mm external, 40-42.5mm deep "wavy", hookless) rim purchased off Ali Express. Likewise I got a road disk brake fork from Ali Express. Everything has worked fine (so far) except that the fork is designed for M6 bolts, while the Paul and every other disk brake I have ever seen uses M5. Anyway, with a bit of extra elbow grease the new M6 bolts I purchased fit and the brake is attached.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wheel No. 00032:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN-82U90cU3lEkXPsgT_1TgEyIBGxl9zE99sAeR_mQld8ZzdqsLXft0t4-KTOagR_F5WWj5BXExvE23FAc9EdDCPwBalymb3iqQn_fpnRgnwqtflmXejuzTWA1v-r8BU-YRABQYq4h8CxJ1fer4J0wYIRSp0o0052-dwbPj7a6Vt8oRe9SKRDPHqaZQQ/s4032/IMG_0836.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN-82U90cU3lEkXPsgT_1TgEyIBGxl9zE99sAeR_mQld8ZzdqsLXft0t4-KTOagR_F5WWj5BXExvE23FAc9EdDCPwBalymb3iqQn_fpnRgnwqtflmXejuzTWA1v-r8BU-YRABQYq4h8CxJ1fer4J0wYIRSp0o0052-dwbPj7a6Vt8oRe9SKRDPHqaZQQ/w480-h640/IMG_0836.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVu_TT4LrBUUp9-tUwZ2dI0n9GorxJwar7U996SEUqJqSUGS0pfwUKm1x8LM5hbinBQtrNrsTRGS-00_Znqq5E_1MoGEn4pDizWATIj5X3BbZ73dBkA6Dh4xvRJWHrc5Bswt69WQb0cSEtf9r7LTvR-J7igs9zriH26PUCefng_zuEG_XB1s8lpOMjzk/s4032/IMG_0837.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVu_TT4LrBUUp9-tUwZ2dI0n9GorxJwar7U996SEUqJqSUGS0pfwUKm1x8LM5hbinBQtrNrsTRGS-00_Znqq5E_1MoGEn4pDizWATIj5X3BbZ73dBkA6Dh4xvRJWHrc5Bswt69WQb0cSEtf9r7LTvR-J7igs9zriH26PUCefng_zuEG_XB1s8lpOMjzk/w240-h319/IMG_0837.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The mechanical disk brake:<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgucMWWU8dIiriQmH2adDGfwvhmye_pcEqYgvYUUqi8VyJKa2-sJobJ49EklsNUBC5fYXDAunAxy_b0qve68ctDYCzcAkz75P7rU46k0Cx3oVYWtUL8-hJa2v5UD_hDIBRbfM5wCk07mYdgGe3luMSvtuELzlSG-tNjgW-TuErO1jxL7GnQ-bUXFTCsbPM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgucMWWU8dIiriQmH2adDGfwvhmye_pcEqYgvYUUqi8VyJKa2-sJobJ49EklsNUBC5fYXDAunAxy_b0qve68ctDYCzcAkz75P7rU46k0Cx3oVYWtUL8-hJa2v5UD_hDIBRbfM5wCk07mYdgGe3luMSvtuELzlSG-tNjgW-TuErO1jxL7GnQ-bUXFTCsbPM=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The wide rim means the Corsa N.EXT TLR 700x28 tire sizes to 29mm wide, but still plenty of room in this fork. I think this should just about be the perfect rim/tire combination for both comfort and speed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU3213QKYAeE9_ywJThcgOfRa27pZgJECs-sCGqqK6qZPoqY8sXJ2xFB7dFF59ax10L7NaLuszNsgphzr_N0wMgqlQuaqBnbQAU1UBu2KOdpdARopjZ_NNODuPK7aPUnlZF6kXJvxYhblJ4hguif8WWuMtRaCaCaWY2HbG9FgQn-0JpU08Ov9Mf71AV_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU3213QKYAeE9_ywJThcgOfRa27pZgJECs-sCGqqK6qZPoqY8sXJ2xFB7dFF59ax10L7NaLuszNsgphzr_N0wMgqlQuaqBnbQAU1UBu2KOdpdARopjZ_NNODuPK7aPUnlZF6kXJvxYhblJ4hguif8WWuMtRaCaCaWY2HbG9FgQn-0JpU08Ov9Mf71AV_g" width="180" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-8714928057254430412023-06-03T15:50:00.016+09:002024-01-19T11:32:22.000+09:00Helmets -- An Update, and [Shimano] Lazer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVPAEZoNenV9sZ9F-TY8uaSvD6jmMQCEEPWoQqm3ph311qncNRcHlMX6ID0L5PNLWXFn-Rdf0Vm_VQVKVLKxU-FdXOpW4-V28RRZ6D7L2H9ulV1KIE-CYhiOP8aVcGzLgBccpaJ1nZ0S3NOUUrc-KXbvumOIugWObQXCFtRFYHyMXBwBGX2iSRt4u/s2921/IMG_9751.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="2921" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVPAEZoNenV9sZ9F-TY8uaSvD6jmMQCEEPWoQqm3ph311qncNRcHlMX6ID0L5PNLWXFn-Rdf0Vm_VQVKVLKxU-FdXOpW4-V28RRZ6D7L2H9ulV1KIE-CYhiOP8aVcGzLgBccpaJ1nZ0S3NOUUrc-KXbvumOIugWObQXCFtRFYHyMXBwBGX2iSRt4u/w400-h299/IMG_9751.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New helmet - Lazer Vento Kinetocore<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2022/09/helmets-time-for-new-one-wavecell-mips.html">Last September</a> I wrote a brief review of my helmets when I discarded my ancient <b>Giro Atmos</b> and got a basic <b>Bontrager Specter</b> "wavecell". I have thought about it some more in the meantime. I think my perception of helmets varies significantly with the season/temperature and length of ride.</p><p>First -- one helmet that had been in storage and was not included in last year's review. It is a <b>Bollé </b>model I got some years ago. It is just a little too wide to fit snuggly on my head unless I am wearing a cap of some type underneath. It does, however, have some interesting features. First, you can latch on covers that block the vents on top of the helmet (there are still a couple small vents on the side). This makes the helmet a lot warmer in winter and also presumably improve the aerodynamics considerably. I used the Bollé this winter on the February Seattle Randonneurs' 200km brevet and some other rides, and I must say it is ideally suited to winter riding. The helmet also came with a removable thick felt lining that covers head and has generous ear flaps ... too warm in Tokyo for all but the coldest days of mid-winter. I still have that liner somewhere but have not been tempted to use it in years. If the Bollé were just a little bit narrower, I might use it in warmer weather without the vents covered ... Anyway, it probably has another few years of winter use in it before it needs to be discarded. (The US CPSC recommends replacing helmets after 5-10 years, even if not damaged, as the foam filling deteriorates over time).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit-B2fJ0_9Nm8m_sBP6NT3T-DzgrKURVFvKoCY0p5WUPUc9A5ZvV3kh-tV2yXEl8Sb0RBcLh2BP-D8duKOLvUO7GnmUavmY7vL_elY_2MHHl2nPLRfW7h0fuMyK3fHjepqG6CklTZcMUyCcVl5PR0QKX_JhduLsnMY6KPSpFO0F7yvnjmgEhIooF8/s2335/IMG_9756.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2260" data-original-width="2335" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit-B2fJ0_9Nm8m_sBP6NT3T-DzgrKURVFvKoCY0p5WUPUc9A5ZvV3kh-tV2yXEl8Sb0RBcLh2BP-D8duKOLvUO7GnmUavmY7vL_elY_2MHHl2nPLRfW7h0fuMyK3fHjepqG6CklTZcMUyCcVl5PR0QKX_JhduLsnMY6KPSpFO0F7yvnjmgEhIooF8/w400-h388/IMG_9756.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vent covers on!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nZhUkGvf_rxKKZo2xg8kuRhDSpdUSsVeKxe7hsuIGWw9bL_0QxaFxKv8umyVtatmWptYq4ZD-uQYh0ox4D519U5-RUwLtGU2tt-zO0hA0s1ZdLnBJFR83EiVPFnj5_2-jb5ocn52qiRtmS9a7Iyk3uO3jxZ52SB15cSreqX-A4roFQYksqF89l3v/s3393/IMG_9757.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3393" data-original-width="2879" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nZhUkGvf_rxKKZo2xg8kuRhDSpdUSsVeKxe7hsuIGWw9bL_0QxaFxKv8umyVtatmWptYq4ZD-uQYh0ox4D519U5-RUwLtGU2tt-zO0hA0s1ZdLnBJFR83EiVPFnj5_2-jb5ocn52qiRtmS9a7Iyk3uO3jxZ52SB15cSreqX-A4roFQYksqF89l3v/w340-h400/IMG_9757.jpeg" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vent covers off!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzi1jNB5ivinFEBahlEb3Zj0109mZR1XfjygQVboohdzkQP3g3CT_CdyBWRXJ-I7pmVIfm4jkhEkAmdYq5kz2nJoShgVm1NtEA_6cE3-R0NJCG6WnaNh9wNhgshb3mHvIg0Fx1uD9HPL_l9sy891oR9Uwn9hIXlRFoGkMPWoP5XqH8ndVTgC9Y-oE/s3197/IMG_9758.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2470" data-original-width="3197" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzi1jNB5ivinFEBahlEb3Zj0109mZR1XfjygQVboohdzkQP3g3CT_CdyBWRXJ-I7pmVIfm4jkhEkAmdYq5kz2nJoShgVm1NtEA_6cE3-R0NJCG6WnaNh9wNhgshb3mHvIg0Fx1uD9HPL_l9sy891oR9Uwn9hIXlRFoGkMPWoP5XqH8ndVTgC9Y-oE/w400-h309/IMG_9758.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DaImHcF2KzZYNvLFIy29Vx6nF5VZS1UjVxay9_rtCHnhA0L9f_FtT9IgErtSSX59MNGwvQTRPi4mnYZm4bqHTQ1CDk1_9PU8kr-AaRGtZjIGFah7PupVFDNZZJQKD4jN3z37TM4C6wbtQR2tXsnEaQbmkNt7ILThI0l13rjjyRimQtu6ZVQB3RBk/s3539/IMG_9759.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="3539" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DaImHcF2KzZYNvLFIy29Vx6nF5VZS1UjVxay9_rtCHnhA0L9f_FtT9IgErtSSX59MNGwvQTRPi4mnYZm4bqHTQ1CDk1_9PU8kr-AaRGtZjIGFah7PupVFDNZZJQKD4jN3z37TM4C6wbtQR2tXsnEaQbmkNt7ILThI0l13rjjyRimQtu6ZVQB3RBk/w400-h249/IMG_9759.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vent covers</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Second -- last Fall I gave a relatively mixed/lukewarm review of the <b>Giant Pursuit MIPS</b> helmet. I have used it on a few rides recently and have adjusted it so that it fits a bit better and feels balanced on my head. It is still a bit heavy and bulkier than some, and it is still a very dirty white color.</p><p>Finally -- For PBP and other future rides, I finally bought a first-tier aero road helmet, the <b>Lazer Vento Kineticore</b>. "Kineticore" is Lazer's name for their crumple zone crash-protection tech, which gets 5 stars out of 5 from the Virginia Tech helmet crash testers. Lazer is a 100+ year old name in cycling helmets and was acquired by Shimano in 2017 or so. On the Worldcycle Japan domestic online site, it is listed as "Shimano Lazer" or, actually, シマノレーザー. Elsewhere it is just "Lazer".</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjeQPfJ6Qg7Y6zBg3_B_d_UpjwC9akd_fhUVjabqzneJSZFpMC9WHr2hmBcl-Mc2nsIIq8jKIiE1_sLZqTKzNLOTOHW9ZYaP6bqVQn_Eel1n_R7Z78nq0a4mbUMsijOcs4NDpYhsBigmhy3Yoboahx_PIvwGSQWJHadU0rcg6aUvYfapuYaSUlvuZ/s2817/IMG_9748.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2817" data-original-width="2573" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjeQPfJ6Qg7Y6zBg3_B_d_UpjwC9akd_fhUVjabqzneJSZFpMC9WHr2hmBcl-Mc2nsIIq8jKIiE1_sLZqTKzNLOTOHW9ZYaP6bqVQn_Eel1n_R7Z78nq0a4mbUMsijOcs4NDpYhsBigmhy3Yoboahx_PIvwGSQWJHadU0rcg6aUvYfapuYaSUlvuZ/w365-h400/IMG_9748.jpeg" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vento</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENre_TvqnBPbMcc64nUY1LvvXmcXi_1gwqUDq9ZBsPp5PPr57kSxZbbdi6a4MQYtiKoKuigj5yxsDwB4tIqs03-8wt6a23G8eUhneMQ5yiCLQg5EBsYdVT34FSK-pHj1z8j9ikOgk-omuxm_NMMQ2mT7ytgCaTKC5XP6up28ZrNPW1R4Acw85e7mT/s2848/IMG_9749.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="2848" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENre_TvqnBPbMcc64nUY1LvvXmcXi_1gwqUDq9ZBsPp5PPr57kSxZbbdi6a4MQYtiKoKuigj5yxsDwB4tIqs03-8wt6a23G8eUhneMQ5yiCLQg5EBsYdVT34FSK-pHj1z8j9ikOgk-omuxm_NMMQ2mT7ytgCaTKC5XP6up28ZrNPW1R4Acw85e7mT/w400-h399/IMG_9749.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear left view. The corrugated surface above the light is actually a band to tighten/loosen the internal part that wraps around your head and holds it snug. Very easy to adjust while wearing. AND does not protrude from the back like many of the wheel systems that would interfere with a ponytail or riding on the recumbent with the headrest.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMVRmhrgO8dPARz--L1E_5XfruIhm6lRwprdsKwRsLW3SnSe9sVc-KjlvFpRizgzbidKrHZZ4o2_x7GICOiXH-swbzocZyBfhciKIAtuVhS41MkHOfelfNgUL3aYgNWaWMrrfgf3Wnup8xEXoC6g_W7QlQmfSgN24vf6RMwJcu4zSLQz3aYC0wbg8/s3438/IMG_9760.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="3438" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMVRmhrgO8dPARz--L1E_5XfruIhm6lRwprdsKwRsLW3SnSe9sVc-KjlvFpRizgzbidKrHZZ4o2_x7GICOiXH-swbzocZyBfhciKIAtuVhS41MkHOfelfNgUL3aYgNWaWMrrfgf3Wnup8xEXoC6g_W7QlQmfSgN24vf6RMwJcu4zSLQz3aYC0wbg8/w400-h297/IMG_9760.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view with reflective stickers </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WjxhgbCS4S07ViIJWB5PW3Hdlo15da1aZjwVRtucTcDki_Js7RqtQ738V-G8bNKIUfTykL5dZg7j5t7EBM0bLuGAjp14exORlAjeOt7rMobdAckJV9tWU0r2pPau5uVQKmsCJlvn3ivg7pW91DfIy68RtqAEn_rop-R6RCOtM8bukcfi3_XXHHQk/s4032/IMG_9761.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WjxhgbCS4S07ViIJWB5PW3Hdlo15da1aZjwVRtucTcDki_Js7RqtQ738V-G8bNKIUfTykL5dZg7j5t7EBM0bLuGAjp14exORlAjeOt7rMobdAckJV9tWU0r2pPau5uVQKmsCJlvn3ivg7pW91DfIy68RtqAEn_rop-R6RCOtM8bukcfi3_XXHHQk/w400-h300/IMG_9761.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kinetocore crumple zones.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The helmet looks distinguished, I think. It fits perfectly, is very easy to adjust with an external adjustment mechanism on the back, and is easy to attach a rear LED light. There is even a decent place to stash glasses. And it is relatively light, as well as being designed for aerodynamics ... with decent airflow. I added some reflective stickers given the darkish cover, and affixed a rear light. I compared it with a number of other similar designs ... and it was 10-20% less expensive <u>and</u> available within Japan, but by no means cheap at around $180 equivalent.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bWZHXv3IzFydPXYvfkWxp1IfRfR8YG-yfw0DH0VJ_24v-CivevzAqotjUYVR1vPc1qdb0vH43xdzt-Fw1K4Mrdc_GXehZIK8VafvuFK-2zK-Wbrju7vfjVObSVnXTaXFMZwUMFcl1lsUJTMF0Dk5X_aY-biqot8JVu70ZcXdFA0h2yQf9OmLcjkB/s1016/Screenshot%202023-06-03%20at%2015.43.22.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1016" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bWZHXv3IzFydPXYvfkWxp1IfRfR8YG-yfw0DH0VJ_24v-CivevzAqotjUYVR1vPc1qdb0vH43xdzt-Fw1K4Mrdc_GXehZIK8VafvuFK-2zK-Wbrju7vfjVObSVnXTaXFMZwUMFcl1lsUJTMF0Dk5X_aY-biqot8JVu70ZcXdFA0h2yQf9OmLcjkB/s320/Screenshot%202023-06-03%20at%2015.43.22.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wout van Aert (aka WvA)!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3XCtUHIpOZHwzBb8bS1tOLTiv9zBhRea80XP2MCXssVAqMpNwPhs7qGDxcjDXYKZdti1C5qJ5PDVO8iimRdSfS0-HCJXsY8EDJBptWD607go2rjlgTiikbKZUjqG_qAC-lZNpsM0u36a64N3RlpMt2T3BEB2hv7DS6vIjFwW6QvcKiRWLCaS-ULN/s986/Screenshot%202023-06-03%20at%2015.43.51.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="986" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3XCtUHIpOZHwzBb8bS1tOLTiv9zBhRea80XP2MCXssVAqMpNwPhs7qGDxcjDXYKZdti1C5qJ5PDVO8iimRdSfS0-HCJXsY8EDJBptWD607go2rjlgTiikbKZUjqG_qAC-lZNpsM0u36a64N3RlpMt2T3BEB2hv7DS6vIjFwW6QvcKiRWLCaS-ULN/s320/Screenshot%202023-06-03%20at%2015.43.51.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas Vingegaard [correction - Marianne Vos] ... showing too much mouth.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp2W3uT2y2iPS_esVYeZ-ajCxAlD5OBclRKD_QiLXfka2IzqIxwfVY-1Xr5Oso55heJPWwE6hkjsnPCTdFFvN_scx3AYHbQJGpsb2GIeoxnjgnGP8guUkNqsFZz7i2bvTECxdIT4EOb4OGdJ83Uq8Ur2OxBK6AKM1xTDf118JgKiEKeA69qV5W8DTC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="708" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp2W3uT2y2iPS_esVYeZ-ajCxAlD5OBclRKD_QiLXfka2IzqIxwfVY-1Xr5Oso55heJPWwE6hkjsnPCTdFFvN_scx3AYHbQJGpsb2GIeoxnjgnGP8guUkNqsFZz7i2bvTECxdIT4EOb4OGdJ83Uq8Ur2OxBK6AKM1xTDf118JgKiEKeA69qV5W8DTC" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christophe La Porte (winner stages 1 & 3, GC leader, Critérium du Dauphiné)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Team Jumbo Visma uses the Lazer helmets which ... seems odd, given that they are not a Shimano team (they use Cervelo bikes and [Cervelo affiliated] Reserve wheels, with SRAM groupsets). Then again, Lazer is a Benelux company that downplays any Shimano connection; and Jumbo Visma is the #1 Benelux team. As the sponsors want to hear fans and consumers say, if it is good enough for [Wout/ Jonas/ Primoz/ Rohan/ Christophe ... ] then it is good enough for me. <br /><br />Then again, Wout van Aert usually rides a Red Bull sponsored helmet ... he was using a different Lazer model until, at Tour de Suisse, he appeared with a Vento that has the Red Bull logo and color scheme. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3P5pStlLuUz6HX8ZcqXflSt3YPGNvpMojkiqoGn5tyIyJ0RlNdIBNGdlRZY2yymsq-A1ti4hrAac53fWmYh7S0dF_H9kpUwk_UQ_AOK-DUQtUrlQlXV3BSecps-B_YWuONe8lojYOr_bLTy7PsBGqqSBAnLPkgYfEEM5adVHj-bv1Tt0019MUZevjskc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1157" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3P5pStlLuUz6HX8ZcqXflSt3YPGNvpMojkiqoGn5tyIyJ0RlNdIBNGdlRZY2yymsq-A1ti4hrAac53fWmYh7S0dF_H9kpUwk_UQ_AOK-DUQtUrlQlXV3BSecps-B_YWuONe8lojYOr_bLTy7PsBGqqSBAnLPkgYfEEM5adVHj-bv1Tt0019MUZevjskc" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WvA in his Red Bull Vento</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For a seriously hilly stage in warmer weather ... some of them opt for maximum ventilation rather than aerodynamics. I did not see Primoz Roglic using the Vento at last month's Giro. But they all seem to have the Vento at the Dauphiné ... and won 4 out of 8 stages, 3 wearing the Vento. Vingegaard used one on Stage 5, but had on a different Lazer helmet with full ventilation/less aero at the end of stage 7 -- a stage under 150kms in length but with over 4000 meters elevation gain. (Team FDJ also uses Lazer helmets.)<p></p><p>I hope that, with this new purchase, I will not be buying any helmets for the next couple years at least. I'll still use the Bontrager for my rides in town, and the Bollé for some rides in winter. The Giant Pursuit perhaps can see service as a backup, or for a TT-like effort.</p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-90596767563057536492023-05-22T23:29:00.001+09:002023-05-22T23:29:09.920+09:00The Manxman Retires this Year<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwZKph7RuVz7aousdmsuwnQOJEaF6xmMcHJx4X1yvnHeBkF5yCu-2AF9OKUiWSi8u5O7oYrgWMuKfkG-aTy9kXP9NjsXef6z6Fqg1B7BhdAo6olYlV2g6rHOOLkytxuCysfRV614N6HWTh30Von_sukucT0U-w2ghtJsEmLzNzeGI9FjkyzRzYAvV/s1640/IMG_0808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1640" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwZKph7RuVz7aousdmsuwnQOJEaF6xmMcHJx4X1yvnHeBkF5yCu-2AF9OKUiWSi8u5O7oYrgWMuKfkG-aTy9kXP9NjsXef6z6Fqg1B7BhdAo6olYlV2g6rHOOLkytxuCysfRV614N6HWTh30Von_sukucT0U-w2ghtJsEmLzNzeGI9FjkyzRzYAvV/w640-h418/IMG_0808.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Nice press conference. Emotional.</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/pYCV480jCwY">https://youtu.be/pYCV480jCwY</a></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-14810020432739179632023-05-15T20:40:00.011+09:002023-05-15T21:16:59.174+09:00World Record?! And If I had to do it all over again ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ61oJtuKHHVZ2LfJaGsx3Sv5pUhnJKVdgRFn_PzdKNTOARtgZlAYFlCjqwg9gdDLq06gQnN9WloJMwKPcqjBQP7t1Tpo8I9aI8AmnjlWKa-lWRj6HrZl21grcfmGyY69RWVkmAoco41vPEvXR2q1x_uakTzGMFGh7E0uNs3HJSeKPx_vjcZ8pNBs/s1414/Screenshot%202023-05-15%20at%2018.15.51.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1414" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ61oJtuKHHVZ2LfJaGsx3Sv5pUhnJKVdgRFn_PzdKNTOARtgZlAYFlCjqwg9gdDLq06gQnN9WloJMwKPcqjBQP7t1Tpo8I9aI8AmnjlWKa-lWRj6HrZl21grcfmGyY69RWVkmAoco41vPEvXR2q1x_uakTzGMFGh7E0uNs3HJSeKPx_vjcZ8pNBs/w400-h305/Screenshot%202023-05-15%20at%2018.15.51.png" width="400" /></a></div>I received my WUCA "Record Certificate" now that the ride has been validated. It is nice to get a record certificate from the organization that validates the HAMR (the Highest Annual Mileage Record) -- currently held by Amanda Coker of the USA, at 86573.2 miles, and the 24-hour record -- <a href="https://ultracycling.com/christoph-strasser-24-hour-road-attempt-july-16-17-2021/">currently held by Christoph Strasser</a> at 1026kms. I should get a certificate from Guinness as well within the next month or so. <div><br /></div><div>The overall speed of 12.15kph, over 5 days and 17 hours 16 minutes, is shockingly slow ... but I guess once you get very tired and start sleeping overnight, your average speed plunges. That is recognized by events like PBP, where you need to maintain 15kph the first 600km, but only 12kph on the second 600km. I think Randonneurs Mondiaux cut the average further for events over 1200km. Because this ride did not have any such time limit even, I dawdled at times when tired, losing a bit of that "not a moment to lose" spirit of a randonneur and deciding I really wanted to take that photo, or rest and recover just a bit.<div><div>Anyway, the record should easily be beaten by one of many ultra-endurance cyclists I know here in Japan. Many others could easily break 5 days, I think, or perhaps even 4.</div><div>That said, overall my Honshu end-to-end ride was a success. I made it, at least, and could enjoy some spectacular sections of the ride and make it through the less spectacular ones. As I wrote on Facebook, I cannot imagine a better place than Japan to try something like this, and I felt a lot of support along the way, even though it was a solo, unsupported event. </div><div>If I were to do it again, I would try to make some minor changes to optimize it.<div><p><b>1. Training.</b></p><p>I have ridden the standard Super Randonneur series this year - 200, 300, 400, and 600 km events - so I meet the basic condition to do a longer ride. Box checked. But only the 400km event was done this year with the Pelso. The rest were done with a normal road bike. I did ride the Pelso regularly in January for 3-4 weeks, and more recently on a few 100km training rides. But I have never done a multi-day ride on it. And I really should have done another 600k or even a 1000k on it before attempting to do this ride. It is a big jump to go from a 400km ride to a 1667km ride on a recumbent. </p><p>That said, I was happy that the reclined position and headrest really did mean I had no back, neck, groin or other pain ... except my "burnt toast" leg muscles, some ankle pain (that resolved each time when I pulled over and stretched my ankles some), and minor swelling of my hands the last day and for a few days after I finished.</p><p>Still, I should have done at least a 600km ride on the Pelso, and a 1000km ride on ANY bike this year, before trying to get a decent time on this long an event.</p><p>Also, I should have trained enough to lower my weight to "best" historical levels, in order to make the climbing easier and offer a somewhat better power/weight ratio. My weight at the start of the ride was close to my typical peak winter weight, probably due to two 5-6 week U.S. trips in late fall and winter.</p><p><b>2. More rest in advance; An earlier start in the evening.</b></p><p>I did not start this ride fully rested. At least I got decent sleep the last few nights before the ride, but on the morning of the 26th, I woke early, went to my university and taught an 830-1030AM law school class, met with some colleagues, then took the shinkansen all the way to Shimonoseki (5+ hours including a transfer to local train at Kokura), went to my hotel, walked 15 minutes to Yamato to pick up a large box with my wheels and seat, carried the large box all the way back to the hotel, spend the next 90+ minutes setting up the bike ... and before I knew it, it was time to leave and start the ride. I did get some "rest" on the shinkansen, but no sleep, and I ended up doing work on the train that I needed to complete before starting the ride. So while the excitement of starting the ride kept me going past dawn near Hiroshima, I was really, really tired the remainder of the first section to Okayama. </p><p>If I did this again, I would arrive a day in advance in Shimonoseki, get at least 10 hours sleep, spend a relaxed day including naps, and start at 7PM instead of 8:43PM. Traffic volumes were already dropping by the time I carried my wheel box back to my hotel, and I really would have liked to get past Hiroshima a couple hours earlier and all the way up into Higashi Hiroshima before morning rush hour.</p><p><b>3. Routing - dead ends, non-paved roads, high traffic volumes. </b></p><p>I did not "pre-ride" any sections of this trip. I used Strava's route mapping feature to select the "most direct", "least elevation" options, and only made minor tweaks from that course before transferring to Ride with GPS and importing from their to my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. Overall, it worked out very well. And I had ridden at least various sections of the route before so as to have a good sense of many of the roads. Misawa-san (Philippe) warned me that Route 2 from Higashi Hiroshima to Mihara was not a good selection ... and he was right. There were too many trucks, and not enough shoulder. It was difficult to feel safe at times ... I walked up one hill just because of the trucks zooming by. If I did it again, I would look for an alternative route between Hiroshima and Mihara/Onomichi, if available.</p><p>Also, the coastal road just north of Tsuruga, Fukui, felt scary in the early evening after dark, with trucks and cars roaring by and no shoulder. But there is no better option I can find, and once I got 15kms or so from the Tsuruga, my route continued left along a deserted coastal road while 95% of the traffic headed right and up a hill on the main highway. From there north the route was awesome. But I would prefer to do that busy section just north of Tsuruga before dark, or maybe in the wee hours when there would be low traffic and trucks could pass by going far into the opposing lane.</p><p>Finally, I would have should have tried harder to avoid Route 2 in eastern Hiroshima, Okayama, and western Hyogo. There are parallel roads or even paths along rivers in some places that would be better, as I was basically stuck in traffic jams. I tried to "time the traffic lights" in many places, watching when they turned green or red, cutting my effort if it looked as if I would arrive to a red light, accelerating if I thought it might get me through before a green light changed. But it was impossible in heavy traffic of eastern Hiroshima and western Okayama prefectures.</p><p>There were a number of places where the Strava routing sent me onto a gravel rutted path. Once or twice this worked and proved a good alternative to a busy highway. Other times it was a big waste of time and required me to backtrack or hunt and peck in the dark for a route when the highway would have been much faster. A couple of times, Strava's route directed me to turn off a road and ... proceed through the middle of a field or flooded rice paddy. Other places, when I missed a turn and got slightly off course, Wahoo tried to route me back to the course by sending me ... along the edge of a dirt field that dead ended into a thicket of jungle, still 100 meters or more from the road I wanted to get to. Overall I wasted an hour or two with these kinds of issues.</p><p>I split the entire route into 5 sections for loading onto my GPS unit, but each of these was too data heavy for Wahoo to load "turn by turn" instructions. I should have split it into more sections and gotten the turn-by-turn instructions to save time when I was exhausted and missed a non-obvious turn. That tweak, plus an evening or two online going over the route very carefully using Google streetview etc and tweaking it, could have saved me an hour or two, at least.</p><p><b>4. Bike and gear.</b></p><p>The Pelso is a good "all around" recumbent. It is not the fastest, but it is relatively practical, relatively comfortable, relatively aerodynamic, and it survived the 1667kms. I do not have experience with other recumbents, and this was my first ride longer than 400kms on the Pelso, but I would make a few tweaks if I tried something like this again. </p><p>a. <b>Steering column and handlebars.</b> The steerer column protrudes quite far above the frame of the bike. I think I could cut this down 10 cms or more and it would help the aerodynamic profile of the bike a bit, still with enough room for my feet around the double "J" shape handlebars. The manufacturer confirmed that I could do this without affecting the integrity of the bike, but I did not have time to try. Another idea would be to replace the double J shaped bars with a steering "tiller" that protrudes less and allows one to ride with arms tucked in, thus lowering aero drag. But I would not want to do that without ample time for experimentation.</p><p>b. <b>Wheels</b>. I thought about potentially using a disk rear wheel ... or at least covering a wheel with monokote to fashion a home-made disk wheel, for better aerodynamics. I was glad I did not do this, given some strong gusts and cross-winds at many points along the way. But I would have liked a compromise -- a deeper-rimmed rear wheel with aero spokes. Also, the Velocity Aileron rims I used are optimized with 28mm wide profile tires, while I had 30mm ride tires. So different rims would have likely been faster, and more comfortable. This optimization could make a bit of difference that adds up over time. That said, I would keep my SP Dynamo front hub. On a ride of this length, the 5 watts or so of drag from the dynamo hub is more than compensated, in my view, by 24 hr x7 day bright front and rear lighting and no worries about batteries.</p><p>c. <b>Helmet and clothes</b>. Likewise, I did not use an "aero" helmet on this ride, but might if I wanted to save a few more watts. Riding a recumbent does not require cycling bib shorts -- no pad -- as you are not sitting on your groin area. Most days I wore running shorts. These were comfortable, but I should have chosen shorts that hugged my legs tightly, for aerodynamic purposes. I did have good arm and leg covers that are designed not to cause aerodynamic drag, at least.<br /><br />d. <b>Water bottle placement.</b> When I ride the Pelso I usually place a water bottle in a holder that protrudes from the side of my Radical Designs rear bag. This time I pulled that holder closed with safety pins to reduce drag and instead carried two bottles in water bottle holders on the underside of my seat. Unfortunately, the bolts I used to attach the bottles protruded too far and scratched the bottles every time I tried to pull them out or return them. By the end of the trip, one of the bottles was leaking. The other probably has a very limited life left. Some more care setting up the bottle holders would have solved this problem. I think the under-seat location is ideal in terms of aerodynamics, even if harder to reach.</p><p>e. <b>Tubeless tires.</b> I was generally very happy with my tires -- Schwalbe Pro One 700x30mm TLR. They roll with low resistance and are comfortable. I lost air once in the rear tire just before Niigata, and in the front in Aomori. The first was likely due to a big dent in my rear rim. The second was some kind of puncture and IRC "respawn" sealant quickly sealed the leak. Overall, this was less trouble than one might expect on a ride of 1667kms, including two nights riding in the rain. Before I would do this again, however, I would try to get some experience "plugging" holes in tubeless tires. At least now I know how to use the "respawn" successfully.</p><p>f. <b>GPS.</b> My Wahoo GPS unit recorded the ride flawlessly. The battery life was plenty to make it through my 350km segments with only a short "top up" recharge mid-ride, and never got near empty. That said, I really should have run a parallel/back-up GPS recording in case of trouble, and would do so if I ever try another long ride to be validated by GPS. Over the course of a ride this long, as often as not there is SOME trouble with part of the GPS recording. And in this case, a GPS issue would have invalidated the record attempt.</p><p>g. <b>Tighten bolts and check daily.</b> The seat on the Pelso is attached directly to seat stays and frame, and it forms an important part of the structure of the bicycle. When I put the bike together in Shimonoseki, I tightened everything properly. But a few days later, in Niigata (or was it Akita), when I checked again, many of the bolts had worked a bit loose and I could retighten them at least several turns. I think this actually resulted in somewhat diminished confidence in bike handling and a "squishy" feeling at times that was accentuated when I was very tired. In the future I would check and tighten all the bolts daily.</p><p>h. <b>Groupset</b>. My Pelso has a 1X SRAM 11-speed groupset. 1X is ideal for a recumbent, as it simplifies the chain line, and avoids a front derailleur and double chainring sticking up on the front of the bike, and with the long chain I think the typical 1X problem of a chain that is consuming more watts drag when in the innermost or outermost gear is largely avoided. When I had my bike turned upside down to clean the chain and frame before leaving my Niigata hotel, I bumped the bike ... and the right (rear) brake lever mostly snapped off. From that point, I survived without any problem on a front brake and an at best a 25% functioning rear brake. ... The brake lever looked like a cheap piece of crap. Not sturdy. And the 11x46 rear cassette is probably near its replacement date ... though a clean chain helps it to last longer. The chain came with the bike and now has over 7000kms on it also. Anyway, if I want to experiment with a steering "tiller", I might as well upgrade the levers and even get a better grade of rear derailleur ... perhaps even electronic shifting? The Pelso is due for a bit of an upgrade. </p><p>Meanwhile, I will focus on riding my road bike(s) until I am done with Paris Best Paris!<br /></p></div></div></div></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-37654845196068660222023-05-09T15:48:00.006+09:002023-05-19T11:30:13.536+09:00Japan Energy Tour -- Down Solar Memory Lane, the Nuclear Ginza, TEPCO's 7 plants, Aomori<p>My ride started as a solar PV tour, and ended up as a nuclear tour. Kind of like Japan's post-2011 energy policy? I don't actually have any photos of the sites I mention below ... because they were not close enough to be visible from the roads I took -- in the case of the nuclear plants, that is intentional.<br /><br />I started in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. I remembered driving all over Yamaguchi Prefecture back in 2013-2014 looking for solar project sites. Eventually my company started to develop one ... on the northern outskirts of Shimonoseki, at a closed campus of Baiko Gakuen, a women's college. Women's colleges and 2-year colleges are shutting down all over Japan, victims of demographics and trends toward co-ed 4 year university degrees. </p><p>Anyway, we got working on the project, submitted preliminary applications to the utility, did a layout, talked with a construction company, and negotiated with the landowner, the university. Unfortunately, the university really wanted someone who would take over the entire campus, not just the ground where we wanted to do our solar project. We would have gotten the project if they had not fund someone who was willing to do so ... a local group led by a technologist (Shiroshita-san) who was a very nice guy and a pleasure to deal with, though this would be his first "mega solar" project. We ended up transferring our application to the local group's project company, and getting some modest compensation, and they ultimately were able to implement a project. I don't know if they managed to use the campus buildings for something (I think they were considering mushroom production).</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9Fh5T8nLspj576FAOUJkq5uhDLZEH4IQNYhP2QioLwo8eI61rPtS4uzi1kfgMtkn7ep0qCAFVddbsAAtqXXeiC3c16Ce6roduF6mpUY0ZmWnwRiLrLn911r0h-XnQrj8b9zsYsJyd-EwNCHf31XJVGTXkkt0Q8M849xbNaJ_i8hNcLXc0iMfR4pxP" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="847" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9Fh5T8nLspj576FAOUJkq5uhDLZEH4IQNYhP2QioLwo8eI61rPtS4uzi1kfgMtkn7ep0qCAFVddbsAAtqXXeiC3c16Ce6roduF6mpUY0ZmWnwRiLrLn911r0h-XnQrj8b9zsYsJyd-EwNCHf31XJVGTXkkt0Q8M849xbNaJ_i8hNcLXc0iMfR4pxP=w640-h491" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solar PV project at Umegato in N Shimonoseki</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The first leg of my ride took me through Hiroshima, then on Route 2 through Higashi Hiroshima and on to Mihara. Passing through the Hachihonmatsu and Saijo areas of Higashi Hiroshima, I remembered countless trips to this area to try and secure project sites and to work on the one project, in Kurosecho just SW of my route, that we did realize. I thought about my former colleagues, as well as our real estate finder (Handa-san), Doi-san who prepared our applications to the city, Yamamoto-san, our surveyor who handled some very complex land issues, Itoh-san, head of sales at our construction company partner on the project, and many others. I still hold a minority interest in the Kurosecho project today.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMSMVSmHorqRWSqhnylS3MRIi8rXQN63biNGAs6A8tWFvKNdWH2XGwsSEusqgZ-J6OR3LBnQTfPdScOP4HmwYwJvYtY0I573vxrA5iu88SjF47bT7FT2Zg2hhdcQgPlwmiAtWJUmoZO939n7M2EuMr4mcYXa8H4c2uXu44SXu5LjneYSXCwQe55X-a" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="887" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMSMVSmHorqRWSqhnylS3MRIi8rXQN63biNGAs6A8tWFvKNdWH2XGwsSEusqgZ-J6OR3LBnQTfPdScOP4HmwYwJvYtY0I573vxrA5iu88SjF47bT7FT2Zg2hhdcQgPlwmiAtWJUmoZO939n7M2EuMr4mcYXa8H4c2uXu44SXu5LjneYSXCwQe55X-a=w640-h452" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurosecho Mega Solar</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The next day, as I passed from Kasai-shi, Hyogo Prefecture, into Kato-shi, I rode near yet other projects we had worked on. These two, in the Takaoka district of Kato-shi, were done as "floating solar" projects on irrigation/adjustment ponds. We co-developed them with the leading manufacturer/designer of the pontoons for these installations, and sold them pre-construction to a major Japanese company's affiliate. They built the projects and, upon commencement of operations, the larger of the two was the largest floating solar PV power plant in the world. That status lasted for only a month or two, until a larger, similar project was completed in Kasai-shi to the west.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYo1VwVEW4lG09Xcw-WLTw7zbCeZEt_N6t-p9PkyGgHaGjr79zaglvR456TvGKMhRJGlo_vGHzN7GCFEQlHO4NXxDn30whOqZZQb6AGoSngwHGYEoz2YxhOW56l83FcAS3D4mE1xDbo38MC9Dh9Z3ncWpqmDDBdfUPtLUnpjOw_CeMW1ievuu61qS0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1394" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYo1VwVEW4lG09Xcw-WLTw7zbCeZEt_N6t-p9PkyGgHaGjr79zaglvR456TvGKMhRJGlo_vGHzN7GCFEQlHO4NXxDn30whOqZZQb6AGoSngwHGYEoz2YxhOW56l83FcAS3D4mE1xDbo38MC9Dh9Z3ncWpqmDDBdfUPtLUnpjOw_CeMW1ievuu61qS0=w640-h541" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floating solar PV in Kato-shi, Hyogo</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I did not pass any other solar PV projects I felt any connection to during the remainder of the trip, though I think I saw more larger-scale residential solar PV on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori than just about anywhere else I can remember. I guess this area, on the Pacific side of Aomori, gets relatively good sunlight.<p></p><p>Later on the second day of my trip, after passing Maizuru where I reached the coast of the Sea of Japan, I entered Fukui Prefecture and cycled along the "nuclear Ginza". </p><p>I first passed through Takahama, infamous in recent years as the place where Kansai Electric executives got massive kickbacks from a local construction boss and former Deputy Mayor, Eij Moriyama. When Moriyama died, this all came out into the public and the entire top executive ranks of Kansai Electric needed to resign, though they miraculously escaped criminal prosecution. </p><p>The town had some spectacular public infrastructure -- great town hall, great sports facilities. The nuclear plant was out of sight (in fact, ALL of them were out of sight along the nuclear ginza).</p><p>The town's "character" had a prominent place on the sign as I entered town.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOwBEBiX7Gsq5IrRUjgHMQDf0fmpTFM1FkPej7o5Lxmb4kZ9uiZMdhXTe_5V3X7a3dzYdGidJl5M2ltw8jplTHQWNUVsroAu12ZvLtgNmu_Ce_PCv4aOXuHY738wZlvtME--QjN34XfobBohHKERVvx4Z8hkWSVNyiCnudR2BEgrkcbGD7RM1NdHyr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2486" data-original-width="2188" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOwBEBiX7Gsq5IrRUjgHMQDf0fmpTFM1FkPej7o5Lxmb4kZ9uiZMdhXTe_5V3X7a3dzYdGidJl5M2ltw8jplTHQWNUVsroAu12ZvLtgNmu_Ce_PCv4aOXuHY738wZlvtME--QjN34XfobBohHKERVvx4Z8hkWSVNyiCnudR2BEgrkcbGD7RM1NdHyr=w563-h640" width="563" /></a></div><p>I guess the character, <a href="https://wakasa-takahama.jp/akafun/">Akafun Bouya, </a>is supposed to be a little boy. But on the sign coming into town, I wondered ... is that supposed to be an old man? It certainly looked like an old man, with the shaved head. I wondered, is that perhaps supposed to be Eiji Moriyama, who was partly responsible for the lovely town hall and sports facilities and is the most famous resident of Takahama town (from my perspective, at least)? What a joke that would be! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0lROtwhmRM-DDU42psXTpVCaIdl0ulxYE8gLEzbW3wRgD8UPUAmlSdtQkECmsFfRwxs_e2L-6eQ6C7KzZodBRS8jQdY4H-NC54A33xrWHEAtxg-BdL884B6JPAc5DOekuNnpQHmU3t_DqlZT7iLvXfpSztgZ7ia7sPwP3uwDxf8b-m7glUAlB29ht" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1232" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0lROtwhmRM-DDU42psXTpVCaIdl0ulxYE8gLEzbW3wRgD8UPUAmlSdtQkECmsFfRwxs_e2L-6eQ6C7KzZodBRS8jQdY4H-NC54A33xrWHEAtxg-BdL884B6JPAc5DOekuNnpQHmU3t_DqlZT7iLvXfpSztgZ7ia7sPwP3uwDxf8b-m7glUAlB29ht=w640-h472" width="640" /></a></div><p>Alas, upon my return home I looked up Moriyama's image, and he did not have a shaved head or look anything like Akafun, at least not at the age when he was giving suits with 99% pure gold plates sewn into the lining to the Kansai Electric executives.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCynR5VwAPHu9ZRaNGMnq4GBzGq9ckoAxsxE1kt704uI0Rvp-D1wTIcN8jri1lOKp1mJe_yZnuGlHgUAUrp_TBqhPwL5yhPAzrpxfOTEwqfwPs2UK0k4cxyMjUikHc_sg0p38IY2O-LK4PpV6TWDSPc3ETiQVl4HHtY1eupjRd99co0vU4sFkqybE8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCynR5VwAPHu9ZRaNGMnq4GBzGq9ckoAxsxE1kt704uI0Rvp-D1wTIcN8jri1lOKp1mJe_yZnuGlHgUAUrp_TBqhPwL5yhPAzrpxfOTEwqfwPs2UK0k4cxyMjUikHc_sg0p38IY2O-LK4PpV6TWDSPc3ETiQVl4HHtY1eupjRd99co0vU4sFkqybE8=w307-h400" width="307" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC78Y87MX8bQreAvMFIkjGYzZwY5AUsjFsdzxqShqyZttV3BqXliXVQq_dISJtF7S8t438d8Ik2bAWlosndrtXhTKxrE5zVp5qXUayU2n55S-FEgEAW5-64jPNr9aDmnJgWzBTq20R5Ihsy6IuVCz3RDflumzQQ-zMkpcRwjoAkkEVhHPUte4vNHp_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1013" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC78Y87MX8bQreAvMFIkjGYzZwY5AUsjFsdzxqShqyZttV3BqXliXVQq_dISJtF7S8t438d8Ik2bAWlosndrtXhTKxrE5zVp5qXUayU2n55S-FEgEAW5-64jPNr9aDmnJgWzBTq20R5Ihsy6IuVCz3RDflumzQQ-zMkpcRwjoAkkEVhHPUte4vNHp_=w640-h492" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takahama Nuclear Plant</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The next town was Oi. They also have a nuclear complex, one that also has been in litigation since the "restart", with 2 older units now shutdown and 2 newer ones operating. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtDzgbTW6MpoYqZ5uXJaWj22wNyF26_KS-Ki06cS7ZakhOQN7g0TVjSjKrfdG7-uTP96a9lSeakNtTyQRizo-GsDhxjg4MMz8F3k14ritWzywbizmTqktcWb3hCw4OcXOu4gKFhgX2aZJDzS0qtKCprJ8jT8_QD5ptyLtkBq4BAiFLLJxi15lgIUza" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1085" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtDzgbTW6MpoYqZ5uXJaWj22wNyF26_KS-Ki06cS7ZakhOQN7g0TVjSjKrfdG7-uTP96a9lSeakNtTyQRizo-GsDhxjg4MMz8F3k14ritWzywbizmTqktcWb3hCw4OcXOu4gKFhgX2aZJDzS0qtKCprJ8jT8_QD5ptyLtkBq4BAiFLLJxi15lgIUza=w640-h530" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Oi Nuclear complex</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Then it was Obama -- a nuclear free town so far as I could tell. </p><p>After a turn north, I was in Mihama, the site of yet another nuclear complex, far away from the town center and the highway on which I was cycling.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0I07SaP8rvm6If9f_iXUiueuPOJ9s-Z52MRq02i3mvbcUqLFUppIxj9kPRc1zypwO7RzTqAHSSOcF4jIYjxDCagNjWcofzO7HJcvdZ8L2NZNprrsc1oTQM8CRhmwM0m146YU-N9CbVX2bazcZ44RjY4xer_6szRIrvzpA837b08n26lS4oIs4H2_1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1173" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0I07SaP8rvm6If9f_iXUiueuPOJ9s-Z52MRq02i3mvbcUqLFUppIxj9kPRc1zypwO7RzTqAHSSOcF4jIYjxDCagNjWcofzO7HJcvdZ8L2NZNprrsc1oTQM8CRhmwM0m146YU-N9CbVX2bazcZ44RjY4xer_6szRIrvzpA837b08n26lS4oIs4H2_1=w640-h537" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mihama nuclear complex -- out of sight, but not quite out of mind?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And finally, I made it to Tsuruga, home of the Monju experimental fast breeder reactor, now being decommissioned, and the Tsuruga nuclear plant complex, where restart efforts have been stymied so far due to serious inaccuracies in "cleaned up" data submissions to the regulator by the operator, on the question of whether a particular unit of the plant is located directly on top of an active nuclear fault.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjiKnRVzIYkENhO9jLkTMdry9kddIFC2wnU763cpu5zH6v0PRF4OWg7syYTChspvqpGY8-Ip79DVRv3Iuu5xR5ke9W6-AwDZnaADPutFGl_Xf5nvse5d_F36msrqnLHHIIrC-VnJhWAbZbSyziX-aPTICetEW9dnz_6EPi7gHaDWT8RieanMHF6oJC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1263" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjiKnRVzIYkENhO9jLkTMdry9kddIFC2wnU763cpu5zH6v0PRF4OWg7syYTChspvqpGY8-Ip79DVRv3Iuu5xR5ke9W6-AwDZnaADPutFGl_Xf5nvse5d_F36msrqnLHHIIrC-VnJhWAbZbSyziX-aPTICetEW9dnz_6EPi7gHaDWT8RieanMHF6oJC=w640-h412" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower left - closed down Monju; <br />Upper right - Tsuruga nuclear plants one of which still might be restarted.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finally I had run the gauntlet, as I headed North along the coast from Tsuruga into Fukui Prefecture. I would go far south of the Shika plant on the Noto Peninsula. The next major nuclear installation I would not ride by until the following evening, as I passed Kashiwazaki Kariwa in Niigata, the site of seven TEPCO reactors, none currently operating. These reactors should be visible from down the coast during day, but it was night and I was passing inland of them, so I could see only some red lights on towers in the dark. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD8J-kdUQDygdxdvValAL0c1m7eY4XxPAjRsOaoCJM0iMLpXYORvIemgP4CwQEvpsjQAC02ZHqrE6JCHlBaHKUpHm309TIAX32lQ9065L7kC0po1061KR_cS-H7sc8IOpeSNeyDy8_FZL6j77rAfcddo50soimK9W1MtnSwol2chnn3Qa3KmEBIpsW" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="932" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD8J-kdUQDygdxdvValAL0c1m7eY4XxPAjRsOaoCJM0iMLpXYORvIemgP4CwQEvpsjQAC02ZHqrE6JCHlBaHKUpHm309TIAX32lQ9065L7kC0po1061KR_cS-H7sc8IOpeSNeyDy8_FZL6j77rAfcddo50soimK9W1MtnSwol2chnn3Qa3KmEBIpsW=w533-h640" width="533" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kashiwazaki Kariwa - TEPCO's complex in Niigata</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I had passed close to about half of Japan's nuclear reactor fleet at this point, and enjoyed a nuclear-free zone for quite awhile in Yamagata and Akita. <p></p><p>Aomori, on the other hand, has placed a major bet on the nuclear fuel cycle, with the massive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokkasho_Reprocessing_Plant">Rokkasho-mura reprocessing plant</a>. Construction started in 1993 and, 30 years and $20 billion plus later, it still is not done. But that money has contributed a lot to the economy of the Shimokita Peninsula. And there have been attempts to promote other energy businesses -- the biggest onshore wind farms I have seen in Japan, some massive solar PV facilities, a big oil tank farm, one completed and one under-construction nuclear reactor at Higashidori, etc., etc. <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPlk__ts69fOhbhBhdpY9P4AlEq9nSzlI_sPnK5MgetwxTK3DdIHXZeDl-4_6tJQTPE7K8Dtvs3CUzId92cWu4NtIUCujSJL-fPzpw5YNcibZ_iulvRF95ocgyFy8zf204yuZ7Y4R079yQ0N1FBlCwJ7OZYteyl6G69aQP3GIBnUZbVORCtWX1iC8a" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1455" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPlk__ts69fOhbhBhdpY9P4AlEq9nSzlI_sPnK5MgetwxTK3DdIHXZeDl-4_6tJQTPE7K8Dtvs3CUzId92cWu4NtIUCujSJL-fPzpw5YNcibZ_iulvRF95ocgyFy8zf204yuZ7Y4R079yQ0N1FBlCwJ7OZYteyl6G69aQP3GIBnUZbVORCtWX1iC8a=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rokkasho village reprocessing plant, solar, tank farm, etc.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_Dt6EvacqJNQpA38ttSPfoHd1XYJgHEOULVnBSLKTFKRRYYWjfL_ChkqZHILYTkSGWHLYRBNJZfnxoNIM6Vf6qaq1YjvGDgTSRalLTSj5YO7A4Nvi-nHkD65aYIXoHQT9SyGotBdV9LyNQxlmcM7KHSF8qegMsIm9vnmBR4newcayxo1xIZd-hosQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="784" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_Dt6EvacqJNQpA38ttSPfoHd1XYJgHEOULVnBSLKTFKRRYYWjfL_ChkqZHILYTkSGWHLYRBNJZfnxoNIM6Vf6qaq1YjvGDgTSRalLTSj5YO7A4Nvi-nHkD65aYIXoHQT9SyGotBdV9LyNQxlmcM7KHSF8qegMsIm9vnmBR4newcayxo1xIZd-hosQ=w584-h640" width="584" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Higashidori plant and (further north) construction site. East of Mutsu.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>I don't know that passing all these facilities changed my views about nuclear power in japan, but they do really show how much time, money, and resources, were poured into the technology during the decades leading up to 2011.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-87951595642183573662023-05-09T10:43:00.002+09:002023-05-09T14:08:07.279+09:00The Kamikaze - a Tailwind along the Sea of Japan<p>I don't have any photos of the low point of my ride. That was around 4AM in pitch dark and pouring heavy rain, when my rear tire flatted. </p><p>On this ride I was running new Schwalbe Pro One 700x30 tubeless tires, with sealant, but wherever the leak was that night, the sealant did not work -- air quickly left the tire again when I tried to pump it back up. I added some IRC "Respawn" foam sealant ... and the tire still did not reseal. Eventually, completely soaked and digging around in my bag for the needed tools, I managed to take off the rear wheel, remove the tire, remove the valve for the tubeless setup, insert a tube, re-inflate the tire and get the wheel back on the recumbent (which is somehow much more difficult than on my road bikes). But it took quite awhile, and I lost a pair of bone induction earphones somewhere in the dark by the side of the road. </p><p>The rain continued hard and I was in extreme exhaustion/panic mode until I reached my very basic hotel around 630AM, over an hour later than I had planned. I was soaked. I was worried that my iphone might suffer water damage (indeed, I needed to "override" a caution warning to allow it to recharge when moisture was detected in the charger area). Everything I had was wet. I paid an extra 1000 yen at the front desk for an 11AM rather than 10AM checkout, on Sunday morning, warmed in the bath, and slept a few hours. </p><p>When I left my hotel room at 11AM, the rain had stopped. I cleaned the bike ... especially cleaning and re-lubing the chain. I did not ride away until nearly 11:45, and stopped for a ramen lunch after around 8 kms of my ride. So it was a slow start to the day, but at least a real reset.</p><p>My weather app showed that I would have a nice tailwind for the next segment -- a "kamikaze" or god wind to push me forward. And it proved accurate. The ride to Murakami was nothing special, but as soon as I came out onto the coastline north of Murakami just before 4PM, I could feel a very strong tailwind and see the beauty of this coastline in late afternoon. The next stretch -- overnight to Akita City -- was one of the best of the entire ride, especially the late afternoon-sunset period. I was on Route 345 along the coast, while Route 7, the "main road" up the Sea of Japan coast, takes an more internal path. There was relatively little up and down, there were spectacular rocks jutting up out of the coastline ... that the road went right through via tunnel. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ-Wo595Los32TsgWzwdn9hNVyWveoej1LMgHok_xQv1Ul0TdH13xc8iwj46xAYHSOMpDZTjZrwpOfyiV8fv6ayM1UC8lzFi5QFMuLfF_MZ_MSZAvBfwB-fj5vtU2cU882-0pjb6coXmOmWo_vjFYe_Ezqt-cL-faNpNO7ICQvD4OLkFzfqWMIdAAg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ-Wo595Los32TsgWzwdn9hNVyWveoej1LMgHok_xQv1Ul0TdH13xc8iwj46xAYHSOMpDZTjZrwpOfyiV8fv6ayM1UC8lzFi5QFMuLfF_MZ_MSZAvBfwB-fj5vtU2cU882-0pjb6coXmOmWo_vjFYe_Ezqt-cL-faNpNO7ICQvD4OLkFzfqWMIdAAg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rest area just north of Murakami</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQk0a2E47vw5neJyKuZJ2Hpu2SO_zvttm9cYJheMP4N-upzp6vWb8LNzQPcrChnMfuhz7oblWjw5W94IeBwZlKKJpA7nWN_UaxQkLSfqDzIvFF9UBUf5DL4nJc011JiSIwwL3-qygCzyDYZUq-kFKLyGk3JEaI2w6Iu4XJwI_Bpd_i5trgWFB2Jp53" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQk0a2E47vw5neJyKuZJ2Hpu2SO_zvttm9cYJheMP4N-upzp6vWb8LNzQPcrChnMfuhz7oblWjw5W94IeBwZlKKJpA7nWN_UaxQkLSfqDzIvFF9UBUf5DL4nJc011JiSIwwL3-qygCzyDYZUq-kFKLyGk3JEaI2w6Iu4XJwI_Bpd_i5trgWFB2Jp53=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south from just north of Murakami</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrwo9HVEZsF6AripLDOembo6b6wN1pHS5--CYDKNCkpsdqnGsOG8c0j6By6K20BjPDDbrAcKXtXdp-gc_n6P0MUSwkd5nVdjX9O1Z_Uhn2xBrYmv9MtPREayRACay5J_wIItIo6XDEp1iLDchfSVeIUksPbkpx4iRnpW3PZ6UqRU1bpYicTq2qXhlk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrwo9HVEZsF6AripLDOembo6b6wN1pHS5--CYDKNCkpsdqnGsOG8c0j6By6K20BjPDDbrAcKXtXdp-gc_n6P0MUSwkd5nVdjX9O1Z_Uhn2xBrYmv9MtPREayRACay5J_wIItIo6XDEp1iLDchfSVeIUksPbkpx4iRnpW3PZ6UqRU1bpYicTq2qXhlk=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There seemed to be dozens of little coves with rocks and small islands offshore</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzQhbzSp4i6ZiyeysuoIZidFXKKgFnryi8w16oKfqn4zDnyev0KrWuSJhwmlbaPrDoddYX3sh1Lkv1FntyOZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggdrvG19wCsFhkm8rDJUSO0syogRY8RYiWAy8Lf7mLndQVCbfviH-yuWSQ6GH8U6VQNnwUfH5HYFTjrcl4B5zCX7rbfEuyX-b4TtrLyM70RE-E8sfLvDpYZ2j7X640X2kLStQVpjIfTKYJ48GzEnyKjipfOjQKlPu4AVQjlqKLyookzrR4_IGFtGCM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggdrvG19wCsFhkm8rDJUSO0syogRY8RYiWAy8Lf7mLndQVCbfviH-yuWSQ6GH8U6VQNnwUfH5HYFTjrcl4B5zCX7rbfEuyX-b4TtrLyM70RE-E8sfLvDpYZ2j7X640X2kLStQVpjIfTKYJ48GzEnyKjipfOjQKlPu4AVQjlqKLyookzrR4_IGFtGCM=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical light before sunset</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2j2sWpV1EZpPXj9ElsMH9s01t3yvT6N2xET02gzjOKuMX2AvVisng0B3T6jicChINEW4yfNkqNbrk8Or19w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipB_vd5nypEcz2YXn9Y2eTVFigOaMxPQMfGViAefuyLQmyUv6QWP-RDlCgvBaea4YOtzvD4qPCNh4kFkKccEztE8mMyyZagUyxC1gAHued-JGNEiegU5LgB3DgYZ_91VAg0KJz2CwVXBUB8Y31gU2NaFst0Za2fx6ssi1wzYjMJUfhh4DnsBeKyg8d" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2058" data-original-width="2961" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipB_vd5nypEcz2YXn9Y2eTVFigOaMxPQMfGViAefuyLQmyUv6QWP-RDlCgvBaea4YOtzvD4qPCNh4kFkKccEztE8mMyyZagUyxC1gAHued-JGNEiegU5LgB3DgYZ_91VAg0KJz2CwVXBUB8Y31gU2NaFst0Za2fx6ssi1wzYjMJUfhh4DnsBeKyg8d=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lighthouse visible on a line of rocks offshore.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAaXqKSTTkqZqxdP2mQZzRqzmS-tyteasc_f87yCYz0g2dwGm-l1JTFNBIIoT9ZE0_hswUlPChz9WPUnvXM2hMf25Q7CmVS8ACxXLO_aW5AxkpuYLTUEX-O1ET0e39RCxKgXmAnmJZs4zcXRGJ82QCFCMuOvfddqzTZUNopxo9HwjVlSjboWqgpHRA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAaXqKSTTkqZqxdP2mQZzRqzmS-tyteasc_f87yCYz0g2dwGm-l1JTFNBIIoT9ZE0_hswUlPChz9WPUnvXM2hMf25Q7CmVS8ACxXLO_aW5AxkpuYLTUEX-O1ET0e39RCxKgXmAnmJZs4zcXRGJ82QCFCMuOvfddqzTZUNopxo9HwjVlSjboWqgpHRA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonlight, 11PMish.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I rode all night, along the Niigata, Yamagata, and southern Akita coastline. I stopped a few times at convenience stores, had a late night meal at Gusto in Sakata, and napped in a few bus stops further along. The total was 258 kms from my Niigata hotel to a stop in Akita City. With the wind at my back, I never had difficulty and never thought about quitting. And by the time I got to Akita City, I was around 80% of the way through the ride. Now it was just a matter of willing myself over the last few segments.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgfEdfpOKOg3CXu1lk3Rb1P0ZGIdODmHEplGYVnqVM-IqcHoEX5mOWCiTpQ5qi30e4MmDNdbxzL86zxeZudeix6dBFIlhwqRgOv18Lvmw3P00x-hD76VgFtklzANsMF6N9u9bVfR9tqEQMOItjNvPJwspQ8GY6vbLm7N4eJHGI9S9kwMdABP8te6bs" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgfEdfpOKOg3CXu1lk3Rb1P0ZGIdODmHEplGYVnqVM-IqcHoEX5mOWCiTpQ5qi30e4MmDNdbxzL86zxeZudeix6dBFIlhwqRgOv18Lvmw3P00x-hD76VgFtklzANsMF6N9u9bVfR9tqEQMOItjNvPJwspQ8GY6vbLm7N4eJHGI9S9kwMdABP8te6bs=w376-h640" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kamikaze</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></div></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-90457557032197908862023-05-08T11:01:00.004+09:002023-05-08T11:12:41.194+09:00Magic Hours on the Honshu End-to-End ride -- Early Morning in Hyogo, Early Evening in Niigata<p>Many of the most mysterious, spectacular moments I have enjoyed in long-distance cycling in Japan come around the beginning and end of daylight. The light can give a special glow or mysterious feeling to even an ordinary landscape, though it is not always easy to capture this in photographs. Also, these times of day offer a hope of solitude and little-to-no traffic not likely to be found in mid-day.</p><p>On my end-to-end ride, my first experience of such a "magic hour" was around dawn of April 28, as I rode through Hyogo Prefecture -- Kasai-shi, Kato-shi, and Nishiwaki-shi.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CtnHZgpLbH1N011PJzPFL5-o_ACZH8fS93cpkXRz_Lkc_rtsPV3tKZh8jdq5N49TL3q8pus_8j24gZSJIpF0F8rGOYlDaoSp61udSamLSIcW9yAF3ApRdDHnYiT5NOA-nqFWVqyh5BXEs1ukF3Cuh7f7udrY0MKstnscysV5S8KGuPN8TeZAPb0X/s4032/IMG_9233.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CtnHZgpLbH1N011PJzPFL5-o_ACZH8fS93cpkXRz_Lkc_rtsPV3tKZh8jdq5N49TL3q8pus_8j24gZSJIpF0F8rGOYlDaoSp61udSamLSIcW9yAF3ApRdDHnYiT5NOA-nqFWVqyh5BXEs1ukF3Cuh7f7udrY0MKstnscysV5S8KGuPN8TeZAPb0X/w480-h640/IMG_9233.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Himeji, just before heading Northeast</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCEtFGPuQz97L8_AqYlhYnTBwj-KGN6BjKk41q5qzb_mBfKf4OZCNJ7eLAxwRV4BfY9MKGOKLt6Nj-9beEeVrvFEnagg_8KdGfiXCkqRFiZGwPDfbAda9K7CBheKQchV3b3U-XRxfQmF1OxLIV8LZte_JuFeG4h88_gyutBOYPi2AHSb78zioV260/s2814/IMG_9236.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="2814" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCEtFGPuQz97L8_AqYlhYnTBwj-KGN6BjKk41q5qzb_mBfKf4OZCNJ7eLAxwRV4BfY9MKGOKLt6Nj-9beEeVrvFEnagg_8KdGfiXCkqRFiZGwPDfbAda9K7CBheKQchV3b3U-XRxfQmF1OxLIV8LZte_JuFeG4h88_gyutBOYPi2AHSb78zioV260/w640-h382/IMG_9236.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn at Kasai-shi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScxTPXOBewZSl2768w-CdGZHcVmiwVSoyeQj11qHRBIXqgKbCB0bZ3RoypnyZCvYhwZ3Dfhnnf_rX1tLsOho7TV3bwHxrn5aAIrk2B1xaSNYO-V7ulxaHBIOZIpwBz32Pe7ymSGAxP7K6PZo2iF4DigkFTLD0LvCxY9ynPRtnMLC0Vmc3hRHUHrd9/s4032/IMG_9237.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="4032" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScxTPXOBewZSl2768w-CdGZHcVmiwVSoyeQj11qHRBIXqgKbCB0bZ3RoypnyZCvYhwZ3Dfhnnf_rX1tLsOho7TV3bwHxrn5aAIrk2B1xaSNYO-V7ulxaHBIOZIpwBz32Pe7ymSGAxP7K6PZo2iF4DigkFTLD0LvCxY9ynPRtnMLC0Vmc3hRHUHrd9/w640-h264/IMG_9237.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wider angle view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ot1e5Pugr7kNdLT9Xdo7z3k0ehNjIbcxwGTF2ZeCi8FKK_igv3m69BH0tGLC7T1AnHWeWnLACrjxKCyusMpDwSvImm-8XfBIAs3UIzEUfsrw0orFiEcCIDpoxKVAl9vK9FxVvOeJtwCadwScrBM4KExz4kDSv9EZlpUq_J4Z7JrL1PIcz_yhu4kL/s4032/IMG_9238.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ot1e5Pugr7kNdLT9Xdo7z3k0ehNjIbcxwGTF2ZeCi8FKK_igv3m69BH0tGLC7T1AnHWeWnLACrjxKCyusMpDwSvImm-8XfBIAs3UIzEUfsrw0orFiEcCIDpoxKVAl9vK9FxVvOeJtwCadwScrBM4KExz4kDSv9EZlpUq_J4Z7JrL1PIcz_yhu4kL/w640-h480/IMG_9238.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These flowers actually belong to a house out of the photo on the righthand side ... </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LlpqXK4xCFPanpCzlPeaTfeKHuQozYYj8cFWziBn5ejMUDw3247-xVDZCk9GQGUsPok7mQExG2LvFmmwk6tMKKrBTbmeGvv7p8j1LUg7MBvGi1XxQ-BZFMKEa7AqG1fvJ7XvulwEaiiNjePlWJl2uhVgqyisRr61UutY3Fwav_WnIuCfI0JJALJe/s4032/IMG_9240.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LlpqXK4xCFPanpCzlPeaTfeKHuQozYYj8cFWziBn5ejMUDw3247-xVDZCk9GQGUsPok7mQExG2LvFmmwk6tMKKrBTbmeGvv7p8j1LUg7MBvGi1XxQ-BZFMKEa7AqG1fvJ7XvulwEaiiNjePlWJl2uhVgqyisRr61UutY3Fwav_WnIuCfI0JJALJe/w480-h640/IMG_9240.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low traffic cycling!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxyw8wIlJJ4J3orgxtIobcrH1dkaEDYy1qsE48c-HPN7yDBGw3UVjrJ0CVfD5cULJnfLjEHo-2bGAKd-OaPSH-EFtxTUBrmQO1jyo4uKBaV9AuoRvTNCUaCjPkkBWuIRytrBh-4ETFdIZEKFZaqTWBEvouTtVkUTkOju3_nKTtTpO_RiHplkvB7ho/s4032/IMG_9242.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxyw8wIlJJ4J3orgxtIobcrH1dkaEDYy1qsE48c-HPN7yDBGw3UVjrJ0CVfD5cULJnfLjEHo-2bGAKd-OaPSH-EFtxTUBrmQO1jyo4uKBaV9AuoRvTNCUaCjPkkBWuIRytrBh-4ETFdIZEKFZaqTWBEvouTtVkUTkOju3_nKTtTpO_RiHplkvB7ho/w640-h480/IMG_9242.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEpqZz-vIxH5QgAuk_PvM-_Zxg7m4WIjyu252gSkuC9dcslJf5A0ygqAwlcVD1EagWwwsUsCdaoUSUHrOpoN0sqAACPAtLoTTBN1EsW8-o7KKk6zxdpZSUtu4lOoM429PrLxB4yCF20TOyE7i4GsWo2w2PvTMCLsNWVcUpe-OCqBwEDgapj4HLYjY/s3880/IMG_9243.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3880" data-original-width="2910" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEpqZz-vIxH5QgAuk_PvM-_Zxg7m4WIjyu252gSkuC9dcslJf5A0ygqAwlcVD1EagWwwsUsCdaoUSUHrOpoN0sqAACPAtLoTTBN1EsW8-o7KKk6zxdpZSUtu4lOoM429PrLxB4yCF20TOyE7i4GsWo2w2PvTMCLsNWVcUpe-OCqBwEDgapj4HLYjY/w480-h640/IMG_9243.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering Kato-shi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEaB80iYZpw6f4Wi0Db8eEegfpkRNdcYYTkVg14cThoMM5XYwM9EXijgMmJQI510QF74HO1iBzmYmQQN6vizhSHfmLGAfhN1p-xiCZ9ct7ywErG67sA_3FGEnUcdqt8OcuqSyzykyLntAC11XSVUZ42fXZn81IbfmTEYuZUFiNZo1BZm5B7nBEGu-/s3996/IMG_9244.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="3996" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEaB80iYZpw6f4Wi0Db8eEegfpkRNdcYYTkVg14cThoMM5XYwM9EXijgMmJQI510QF74HO1iBzmYmQQN6vizhSHfmLGAfhN1p-xiCZ9ct7ywErG67sA_3FGEnUcdqt8OcuqSyzykyLntAC11XSVUZ42fXZn81IbfmTEYuZUFiNZo1BZm5B7nBEGu-/w640-h334/IMG_9244.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the Kakogawa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIh2JolxRkQNPfmYjPS9Z56h9A4DOmSmtKn1e-ZiHv_cIgiQ6CzGzfRp0yMC8_ugpkSlhxX46tDzKL2XFLJo81x-C8ssOnS_XTH3Aa2KtwuQ3H6Xu4QfoXAh20Mevi-Q0ae63sGVKd0d3zreL_9FUbQHJp_6h_5R_RcTzy1DAFvzfaxdVx_STskjv7/s4032/IMG_9245.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIh2JolxRkQNPfmYjPS9Z56h9A4DOmSmtKn1e-ZiHv_cIgiQ6CzGzfRp0yMC8_ugpkSlhxX46tDzKL2XFLJo81x-C8ssOnS_XTH3Aa2KtwuQ3H6Xu4QfoXAh20Mevi-Q0ae63sGVKd0d3zreL_9FUbQHJp_6h_5R_RcTzy1DAFvzfaxdVx_STskjv7/w400-h300/IMG_9245.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike and rider take a photo rest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrq2qKjOwv9O1NNeE1NlS7MYJJT3GsmnrvsBDfoj9PseliRF4CxIyClI8NGtyirQsvueGruDe5eivEurNwIBLWLEobPkCv0o7gr3EzBPNJYFClt3gYMPaBQ9sdRVKbkrIH07bW7jSfm-PSYNcZmK7OEDIpo_FKlZr28nGVZBeOpiFdrHaGh2j5t_Z/s3845/IMG_9246.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2884" data-original-width="3845" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrq2qKjOwv9O1NNeE1NlS7MYJJT3GsmnrvsBDfoj9PseliRF4CxIyClI8NGtyirQsvueGruDe5eivEurNwIBLWLEobPkCv0o7gr3EzBPNJYFClt3gYMPaBQ9sdRVKbkrIH07bW7jSfm-PSYNcZmK7OEDIpo_FKlZr28nGVZBeOpiFdrHaGh2j5t_Z/w640-h480/IMG_9246.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River fog nearby, a high voltage tower emerges</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy3CqICIcSqx-bk_OD97Xe0sDj-TBbS39lgFxWDIVcNMQOXBxzHBiHl78VWrD8dmtF8ngQDNEigjaIR6L2dLw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fog along the Kakogawa, cranes resting on rocks in the river</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczpnLjrBPPF8_YwkVbqGmxABfM4PyIgSr_Xc5BPxz_dUA8LuqQi4WvQyT5jToYqXqtqWrtOxkiJ-_lVZezEVS1Yiq4y0v4v25NWPpgj5Ap8gDPFJ8qcSojJbLMy6h3tFATbCAlD8lSl6oGPnvMhrzvY0zTQ-1Y1Szwym7F6ZF3Faci32CWyKmZ8L8/s4032/IMG_9249.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczpnLjrBPPF8_YwkVbqGmxABfM4PyIgSr_Xc5BPxz_dUA8LuqQi4WvQyT5jToYqXqtqWrtOxkiJ-_lVZezEVS1Yiq4y0v4v25NWPpgj5Ap8gDPFJ8qcSojJbLMy6h3tFATbCAlD8lSl6oGPnvMhrzvY0zTQ-1Y1Szwym7F6ZF3Faci32CWyKmZ8L8/w640-h480/IMG_9249.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last of the fog, less than an hour later.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNMR_KjG9THWiQxzA8PHhzHdFUOmrPHnp4MyAh4DvA7QuGaCFqN7UpYggm_677eiKTCjQHk9IGasNpmXnCqn7yneq84XIlP4bqxEwA00wiQmmlurzaufB_PHXcP773p9qR8A0Olaqf8efWq2iEdh3pwXph3x1u01AM_6G7Q9lSUy1zQv5W34LtKGm/s3787/IMG_9251.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2343" data-original-width="3787" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNMR_KjG9THWiQxzA8PHhzHdFUOmrPHnp4MyAh4DvA7QuGaCFqN7UpYggm_677eiKTCjQHk9IGasNpmXnCqn7yneq84XIlP4bqxEwA00wiQmmlurzaufB_PHXcP773p9qR8A0Olaqf8efWq2iEdh3pwXph3x1u01AM_6G7Q9lSUy1zQv5W34LtKGm/w640-h396/IMG_9251.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azaleas in bloom ... but the magic hour is past.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />That evening, as I passed through southern Niigata, after enduring the tunnels west of Itoigawa, I caught just a bit of magic at Benten-iwa, a shrine on a rock just offshore. But rain was approaching and I was not only exhausted but trying to make decent time before the rain caught me, so could not enjoy the moment as much as I might have.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwgteoX_5fc2-MYP8LBGxGsR_8GNg9flq9PM-sLwagfpS8BP_XzTUPILn721YUtc8TxqL3voIWpB_sTAnYmZcNO709DNMRTjlTql0Ppul6Hpif_Wsgfr7tZeQWK0pnhy0qN069lbrAt-1MVF2kCQxXzvLztjrViVmWlvSiZVMEIvLEoXrJ9gKe8Ns/s4032/IMG_9322.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwgteoX_5fc2-MYP8LBGxGsR_8GNg9flq9PM-sLwagfpS8BP_XzTUPILn721YUtc8TxqL3voIWpB_sTAnYmZcNO709DNMRTjlTql0Ppul6Hpif_Wsgfr7tZeQWK0pnhy0qN069lbrAt-1MVF2kCQxXzvLztjrViVmWlvSiZVMEIvLEoXrJ9gKe8Ns/w640-h480/IMG_9322.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at Itoigawa from the bike path that led to the East for a few kilometers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6ANXZ-9m72Xuo8N3p2qcDuWiCZuUzKBZCOgF6uS6cu4Tdbmzl5JPdhOeDdA-9-BMOw2yB5sRP9gcZp3TSC5ZuNKIzEt1BFRVNT22WOZCT-ubOcEpz56ZnpO9uDrTKNhlRofR9W_PBUJio440CoV9g1P0fPv4tNtap5dfThdgn5iTC5IARPG1moMl/s4032/IMG_9323.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6ANXZ-9m72Xuo8N3p2qcDuWiCZuUzKBZCOgF6uS6cu4Tdbmzl5JPdhOeDdA-9-BMOw2yB5sRP9gcZp3TSC5ZuNKIzEt1BFRVNT22WOZCT-ubOcEpz56ZnpO9uDrTKNhlRofR9W_PBUJio440CoV9g1P0fPv4tNtap5dfThdgn5iTC5IARPG1moMl/w640-h480/IMG_9323.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Benteniwa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8pxX4njI1h3nXGhdpWebe3LwPjuSF7jkcdXLraqQnYbS-g2vp8VuhX-sBKNq0l1Qf558ylv3Si9KjCBnbDwzOuzQe1o1Z3SUX9KCbR_5ifc0awpwBOven9owzL39lZCavg1tsoxemikHP9_K2sjTI3SshH-OtX774k2vCe1_IMWex1TD_o28KpLb/s3719/IMG_9324.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2324" data-original-width="3719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8pxX4njI1h3nXGhdpWebe3LwPjuSF7jkcdXLraqQnYbS-g2vp8VuhX-sBKNq0l1Qf558ylv3Si9KjCBnbDwzOuzQe1o1Z3SUX9KCbR_5ifc0awpwBOven9owzL39lZCavg1tsoxemikHP9_K2sjTI3SshH-OtX774k2vCe1_IMWex1TD_o28KpLb/w640-h400/IMG_9324.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This time without the rain in the foreground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJqMLEXDUfEpN_3vSJA6RR_lRfXSgtiiW8pvkLhRVTTzzrgqB21wKpkJ1T48q6diYgV0tLTU_wgtsEgBokmShhtxRa6KR4HWN8TNYBcm3TYa29NvEfsusVFctrkyWoeX7vp6aRuMBa61RaHTjWeiFGiKIDW54h8r8210lJzARs3U0usFYdae34ADS/s4032/IMG_9325.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJqMLEXDUfEpN_3vSJA6RR_lRfXSgtiiW8pvkLhRVTTzzrgqB21wKpkJ1T48q6diYgV0tLTU_wgtsEgBokmShhtxRa6KR4HWN8TNYBcm3TYa29NvEfsusVFctrkyWoeX7vp6aRuMBa61RaHTjWeiFGiKIDW54h8r8210lJzARs3U0usFYdae34ADS/w640-h480/IMG_9325.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wider angle, darker image</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p><br /></p></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-7357428649899478742023-05-07T13:25:00.007+09:002023-05-19T11:37:10.154+09:00Shimonoseki->Ōmazaki Unsupported Honshu End-to-End Challenge<p>I completed my longest ride yet over the first half of Golden Week (starting a few days early). I left Shimonoseki (at the SW corner of Honshu) shortly before 9PM on April 26, and 1667.22km later reached Cape Oma (Omazaki) just before 2PM on May 1. That is 5 days and 17 hours later. I rode the Pelso, so the route was designed to be as flat and direct as practical, at the expense of riding a number of major, congested roads. (Routes 2, 4, 7, 8 among others, though not in that order). I rode the first few segments as much as practical at night. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4liwGxX8anaanzEatPHZavwzZhdQyGqIi91sJZo3Gm9mRYMFfZhWVxzStGnzEVj9CzDoRTm2Vp6sd49c0CZiVkjlZwmSRw_vNCRix46-ywvUmT-s2qjZMn8QzPq8vxUosfOz6PGLTeHXYKdiIK6YBzK8k04qRmbM_4WTUvze41lLhYL4Us263MdMO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4liwGxX8anaanzEatPHZavwzZhdQyGqIi91sJZo3Gm9mRYMFfZhWVxzStGnzEVj9CzDoRTm2Vp6sd49c0CZiVkjlZwmSRw_vNCRix46-ywvUmT-s2qjZMn8QzPq8vxUosfOz6PGLTeHXYKdiIK6YBzK8k04qRmbM_4WTUvze41lLhYL4Us263MdMO=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Omazaki - furthest North point of Honshu</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxehX76G3rlZTpRrvr8KWl3Z83323af7O2O1b4Fqz7hy2nXvMyGxYzrmhtZJ_v5RgMx8UcPGVal-E76hJPG8zb_5RpSsHWjlM8KMYYAFfBGsSbkLkg5o3eQBPC2W850nYC4etD03xYPBqZ-3I7B7tpvtSF7sZQQ4c0qyyRw2jpteJf2d-1SKKplxlr/s4032/IMG_9387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxehX76G3rlZTpRrvr8KWl3Z83323af7O2O1b4Fqz7hy2nXvMyGxYzrmhtZJ_v5RgMx8UcPGVal-E76hJPG8zb_5RpSsHWjlM8KMYYAFfBGsSbkLkg5o3eQBPC2W850nYC4etD03xYPBqZ-3I7B7tpvtSF7sZQQ4c0qyyRw2jpteJf2d-1SKKplxlr/w640-h480/IMG_9387.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Better view of the bike -- Pelso Brevet.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A few days later, starting on April 29, Jerome joined the Tokyo Randonneurs' similar ride for around 40-50 randonneurs. They took a somewhat hillier and less direct route (1900kms) than mine, and it took about one day longer.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_6QdjmsZeBEGk2g7kzvOuXyH9DJj7C7yzio2W415PTpN_Rv59KwpcEZ5eNSibEKqGTeqMAB4l2sT0Cx1oZMhscXsHK472D029xYroSuixZtFZl7MAUOsQe0faVQNGeL3UvXkk9o2H4fJSzwm3fFTMtsrJOyKeLpP0kV3F6dLHYRVQlbhjhwlYjG0/s1055/341985357_1205919656776595_4606482148476382154_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1055" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_6QdjmsZeBEGk2g7kzvOuXyH9DJj7C7yzio2W415PTpN_Rv59KwpcEZ5eNSibEKqGTeqMAB4l2sT0Cx1oZMhscXsHK472D029xYroSuixZtFZl7MAUOsQe0faVQNGeL3UvXkk9o2H4fJSzwm3fFTMtsrJOyKeLpP0kV3F6dLHYRVQlbhjhwlYjG0/w400-h381/341985357_1205919656776595_4606482148476382154_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerome along the Akita coast with Mifune-san</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>I will add some details of the ride in subsequent posts.</p><p>Here are the maps of my 5 "days" as uploaded to Strava.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizTfUJVztzy3NVYn426hXfYzXvkvitfUS-2OBJkO10-NdUGDYofkn0YhGGOCEUqkL1ld5kwahnvDb6zfeBQUvXuxMCTSHvU3pL1OGgMAkR1jLnoju7dVOHRTohZV4zcaT5_rkSZV-oYPtAtYdGEQ89aHV4_lG3A5fGoji3deUcOuTXqwo8ZL6xHYh-" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="2468" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizTfUJVztzy3NVYn426hXfYzXvkvitfUS-2OBJkO10-NdUGDYofkn0YhGGOCEUqkL1ld5kwahnvDb6zfeBQUvXuxMCTSHvU3pL1OGgMAkR1jLnoju7dVOHRTohZV4zcaT5_rkSZV-oYPtAtYdGEQ89aHV4_lG3A5fGoji3deUcOuTXqwo8ZL6xHYh-=w640-h368" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmJuxbsKdUbwzbdroDBI37wg0WB__CSOQsW14vCYBDRdEyJCFqbFBhZIOk0008UtoOlvSZRmPBj5Ux_JRT77U4-IWOCK8dcctMzRmTmcG9MycaWLEBr3lUnCRxbPlBJOmAqjz_-bma5lhIlHaSbtRRsnAOSOrWuCDCaC2ye_xpTJ51UZ73fD3AFzOQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1916" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmJuxbsKdUbwzbdroDBI37wg0WB__CSOQsW14vCYBDRdEyJCFqbFBhZIOk0008UtoOlvSZRmPBj5Ux_JRT77U4-IWOCK8dcctMzRmTmcG9MycaWLEBr3lUnCRxbPlBJOmAqjz_-bma5lhIlHaSbtRRsnAOSOrWuCDCaC2ye_xpTJ51UZ73fD3AFzOQ=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJndPVmlgUkRoujD7arekhkYwIdi9h56u9RaBEjuuCh-TEvVGYDyyL5b6M6a47yL9YojZSuH5QNMZF-CezIUy1dAo8Jvf7NEoUc9hmYaq2xeKXWIPabB9doElRLESjaHR_PXnmO18AZA8pb6DOtZRLVTr_GHEoYI6Rjgc7yypVD1bBjU9ymOS4gHY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2196" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJndPVmlgUkRoujD7arekhkYwIdi9h56u9RaBEjuuCh-TEvVGYDyyL5b6M6a47yL9YojZSuH5QNMZF-CezIUy1dAo8Jvf7NEoUc9hmYaq2xeKXWIPabB9doElRLESjaHR_PXnmO18AZA8pb6DOtZRLVTr_GHEoYI6Rjgc7yypVD1bBjU9ymOS4gHY=w640-h446" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7WJURiDxbWDgWnasZ35f0J9Vw5nhvuwe3PJvHxJZRv_10q7M5zp5uKbq0XKYkETkdkj-mlOXRwh-XYwNXy_u6fTsPANUiz3zxF5oW2Dc6Rvoz5XhxkAILXUwy8SNNWV0uhV8PUbPT7f3_JIi5ae3v0pxiVewklfaTwy139oR9Da2KCxLb07Z1p88P" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1684" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7WJURiDxbWDgWnasZ35f0J9Vw5nhvuwe3PJvHxJZRv_10q7M5zp5uKbq0XKYkETkdkj-mlOXRwh-XYwNXy_u6fTsPANUiz3zxF5oW2Dc6Rvoz5XhxkAILXUwy8SNNWV0uhV8PUbPT7f3_JIi5ae3v0pxiVewklfaTwy139oR9Da2KCxLb07Z1p88P=w640-h553" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4 Part 1</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiATYvj8Q8uLZh2GkcXRUV_UmDLNiZvIu18u3bm5jwdGW-rg2kQDtdEg67fqfsxjur5AprXdqgxorZEU3F5ODvIMtBefLPX_0vhPkboC_mZL8Ol7z3Ws6bZSCctv5dtZjjldX1IKzG0x-V1OV_gKeuuzNxnsyrl9Ol6GQK3Q4XPS_6OwW9tp1_4woLh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1522" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiATYvj8Q8uLZh2GkcXRUV_UmDLNiZvIu18u3bm5jwdGW-rg2kQDtdEg67fqfsxjur5AprXdqgxorZEU3F5ODvIMtBefLPX_0vhPkboC_mZL8Ol7z3Ws6bZSCctv5dtZjjldX1IKzG0x-V1OV_gKeuuzNxnsyrl9Ol6GQK3Q4XPS_6OwW9tp1_4woLh=w640-h612" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4 Part 2</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv6FKh6KPDTA9jzTAuPNZkZuUZ9mxEsryRprI8sdiYgnj6972pHrnK_2Q82hkLw_iac_oQi9iLpaTV0CjPAI4YJ-vTZJI0EWNTtoalfSqW1eTPsFvEi3vMEXDwtOULKVrgbgUtsILs58lcfDSbYgJj6RxsxJa02NsPlK3EpSJYztHpqNrGcxLfv7ka" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv6FKh6KPDTA9jzTAuPNZkZuUZ9mxEsryRprI8sdiYgnj6972pHrnK_2Q82hkLw_iac_oQi9iLpaTV0CjPAI4YJ-vTZJI0EWNTtoalfSqW1eTPsFvEi3vMEXDwtOULKVrgbgUtsILs58lcfDSbYgJj6RxsxJa02NsPlK3EpSJYztHpqNrGcxLfv7ka=w616-h640" width="616" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5 Part 1</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5TvrzK7sFiDx7i5KlAz-Ygc2QQlaMDjTEuOlu6RoILo-_-NJN9mxbKaQKxS3NHuf3d-XfdSZnHFxpEOnUrj1p8VgCOxokaHctNz2SJxjLsrUjV240El1vqgbWMjYKYqs_-H-rnA3T6gOsAONSRIIeF8nbmesggHks3-moiunf1PolgBhpfcLfjaxB" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1252" height="571" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5TvrzK7sFiDx7i5KlAz-Ygc2QQlaMDjTEuOlu6RoILo-_-NJN9mxbKaQKxS3NHuf3d-XfdSZnHFxpEOnUrj1p8VgCOxokaHctNz2SJxjLsrUjV240El1vqgbWMjYKYqs_-H-rnA3T6gOsAONSRIIeF8nbmesggHks3-moiunf1PolgBhpfcLfjaxB=w640-h571" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5 Part 2</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsp8qFPiRfTOWNsxONz-FNZ7XwTw-nQPE7NlM4OfVOG7JC4BJGQRyRIXVIEAQ3S4KkeVYUq-9ozFsIhdlr-xBBO4ht7GZK5Gkf8ELaOmNtTBA6XWlZ6h7OAkdSIsXJ6FC3U2hY8xtpE0p3beU5n52SjUaAiuPaLa4MV5YGuEqDEZA2tv9Dyo7qbKzw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1848" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsp8qFPiRfTOWNsxONz-FNZ7XwTw-nQPE7NlM4OfVOG7JC4BJGQRyRIXVIEAQ3S4KkeVYUq-9ozFsIhdlr-xBBO4ht7GZK5Gkf8ELaOmNtTBA6XWlZ6h7OAkdSIsXJ6FC3U2hY8xtpE0p3beU5n52SjUaAiuPaLa4MV5YGuEqDEZA2tv9Dyo7qbKzw=w640-h507" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 6 stub</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Continued posts:<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/magic-hours-on-honshu-end-to-end-ride.html">https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/magic-hours-on-honshu-end-to-end-ride.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-kamikaze-tailwind-along-sea-of-japan.html">https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-kamikaze-tailwind-along-sea-of-japan.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/japan-energy-tour-down-solar-memory.html">https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/japan-energy-tour-down-solar-memory.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/world-record-and-if-i-had-to-do-it-all.html">https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2023/05/world-record-and-if-i-had-to-do-it-all.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-46513331055309908462023-04-24T11:23:00.003+09:002023-04-24T11:23:51.790+09:00A Better Rinko Bag!<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3zKofW3Ndqr7nvOfdvVqBq3Gu-YAwcpI9IWWFCF0yYZErSiN_c7Zo4m019k-bkH1PDy1b1Gbx4MySye9cl7TU-IoLLNs9XMP1P8nFqqR4WkVoDmBXHzLghiAvbG7HoISRQDL1rd04zN0BYzPzGSFIU5D-TfViCHwJURPKcv19-f9bg8Fw1cAEle-g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3zKofW3Ndqr7nvOfdvVqBq3Gu-YAwcpI9IWWFCF0yYZErSiN_c7Zo4m019k-bkH1PDy1b1Gbx4MySye9cl7TU-IoLLNs9XMP1P8nFqqR4WkVoDmBXHzLghiAvbG7HoISRQDL1rd04zN0BYzPzGSFIU5D-TfViCHwJURPKcv19-f9bg8Fw1cAEle-g=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rinko'ed bike waiting as I purchase a shinkansen ticket.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In Japan, cyclists need a "rinko bukuro" or rinko bag in order to take their bicycles on trains. The basic idea is to take your wheels off, clip them to your frame, put it in a lightweight nylon bag, and attach a shoulder strap. This way you won't get grease or other grime on other passengers, the train, or yourself, as you carry the bike. It works for all but the most crowded rush hour trains, especially if you choose a car at either end of the train. It works on the shinkansen, where you stow your bike behind the last row of seats in a car (or, in a pinch, in the area between cars). Now the shinkansen has reservations for seats that have extra space behind them at the rear of some cars for "extra large luggage", but in most cases, even on the shinkansen, you can still just take a bike in rinko with you, no extra reservations, no extra fees. Rinko bags generally roll up into a stuff sack that fits in a bottle cage, so you can ride with your bag on your bike. </p><p>Although some old school types like a rinko-specific bike with fenders that split in two, etc., and you can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBbGI4HPBVY&t=198s">study a 30 minute youtube video by the "rinko master"</a> who will show you the right way to do every step of securing your bike in a rinko bag for maximum safety, stability, etc. ... most regular cyclists favor a minimalist approach. But I want to just clip my wheels to my frame, pull up the bag, attach the shoulder strap, and run for the train. I can be careful not to bash my exposed rear derailleur, and nothing else is particularly vulnerable. Some people opt for rinko designs that even leave the rear wheel attached. These result in very bulky packages, in my view, especially if you ride a large frame as I do, so I avoid these. I trade some grease and grime from taking the rear wheel off and on, in exchange for more easily stowing my bike on the train without bothering other passengers or getting requests/lectures from the train staff. </p><p>Ostrich is the leading Japanese rinko bag maker. I have used their bags for many years. Giant, Tioga, and others make the "leave the rear wheel on" type. But for all of these, there is a dilemma for a long distance cyclist.</p><p>I would like to have a rinko bag with me in case I need it mid-ride. If I DNF and need to take the train home, wouldn't it be nice to have the rinko bag with me? But I need my bottle cages for hydration, and I don't want to carry a rinko filling up significant space and adding weight to a rear or front bag. Once, I <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2014/08/sr600-nihon-alps-first-attempt-flood.html">tried the SR600 Nihon Alps and was blocked at Gero by a massive rain storm that washed out roads</a> (okay, I was ready to abandon anyway). I ended up riding to Nagoya, buying a rinko bag that was too small to really fit my bike, and going home with a protruding bike. I had left my rinko hidden near Kobuchizawa to pick up at the end of the ride ... oh well. </p><p>Now ... a solution! One of the Japanese randonneurs who did Cascade 1400 last year (and goes by PEKO-chan) is selling a better rinko bag. It is much lighter weight ... but still very strong ... material. An "extra large" size is available. Instead of needing to carry in a bottle cage, it easily slips into a rear jersey pocket. And it feels feather light. At 3000-3500 yen, these rinko bags cost far less than the "leading" brand. All in all, a better product. </p><p>They are available for sale <a href="https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/view/peko/">direct on PEKO-chan's website, here</a>. But don't expect her to be accepting orders during Golden Week. Rumor has it she will be off on a long ride.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbxIJCMoIw2T5NwrfwtepxM45qV_yq9sWnhUgkD-i6cgftiPWl8EZCqRwbjjm9L4LEOh-EwL6NYjPwdM1mVUEmWHQBALIH4SvOniz-OKObpawZw_EQ0arA02ynepLzRegjM24nDpiCf2-VOu9TVUhWG1G0sVtAaCirqPpfa69NjpiN2n5-rRRtkhIs" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbxIJCMoIw2T5NwrfwtepxM45qV_yq9sWnhUgkD-i6cgftiPWl8EZCqRwbjjm9L4LEOh-EwL6NYjPwdM1mVUEmWHQBALIH4SvOniz-OKObpawZw_EQ0arA02ynepLzRegjM24nDpiCf2-VOu9TVUhWG1G0sVtAaCirqPpfa69NjpiN2n5-rRRtkhIs=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left - my Ostrich rinko bag, right - my "otesei" rinko bag</td></tr></tbody></table><br />With this product there is no excuse not to carry a rinko bag on a long ride ... or even on a shorter one if I think I might want/need to hop a train home.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw_r_BgS4hPnMrdfStlhZYccxdU_ubN5Sia4NpKtKhrMGbUQv7GczBynWeY1svyWOTwcOgNVWod5Kp_syl1fbZZubsT60lm390xysSgpGCQwG4m8QdZQuttmp7pUQlKdG3j2rQWmroTTeMCsu1wKv1ywo_5l8W1c3YsUdx_xUaxj0FK10zdoFtD_c8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw_r_BgS4hPnMrdfStlhZYccxdU_ubN5Sia4NpKtKhrMGbUQv7GczBynWeY1svyWOTwcOgNVWod5Kp_syl1fbZZubsT60lm390xysSgpGCQwG4m8QdZQuttmp7pUQlKdG3j2rQWmroTTeMCsu1wKv1ywo_5l8W1c3YsUdx_xUaxj0FK10zdoFtD_c8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used 2 of PEKO-chan's bags for my 160cm long (plus protrusions) recumbent frame</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-71834638531056360752023-04-20T14:10:00.003+09:002023-04-20T14:31:50.049+09:00600km RAMAX ride in Osaka, and Nara, and Kyoto, and Mie (Ise, Kumano), and Wakayama ... in Rain and Wind <div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmpRJEeLKnYrLAWOOHtT6hzTs4Zb_KWBMgCEaI1BxMEqeA1Dn4NGR4ZJfbpYs-po59xr6PUzbuk-DmCYeRrk0X_WPYVZdrqlrlma7VjKJr2c4CJOHDhRd8YWOEW-2gBqXF1TCHBq9LRAo0ZJ6OKzHArgZ0kfnzMtOU5GcvEhGYolAsP1F1J62BygK1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmpRJEeLKnYrLAWOOHtT6hzTs4Zb_KWBMgCEaI1BxMEqeA1Dn4NGR4ZJfbpYs-po59xr6PUzbuk-DmCYeRrk0X_WPYVZdrqlrlma7VjKJr2c4CJOHDhRd8YWOEW-2gBqXF1TCHBq9LRAo0ZJ6OKzHArgZ0kfnzMtOU5GcvEhGYolAsP1F1J62BygK1=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wazuka, in southern Kyoto Prefecture. Famous uji-cha fields. 800 years of tea growing,<br />a designated cultural artifact.</td></tr></tbody></table></div>My final ride needed to qualify for PBP was a 600km brevet. I had choices of an April 15 Audax Kinki event in Kansai, around the Kii Peninsula, or an April 22 Audax Saitama one in Kanto, up to Fukushima and back. The April 22 event was a lot closer to home, and looked a bit easier. But schedule issues around the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd pushed me to commit to the earlier ride in Kansai. And that approach left me with at least some possibility of a backup, just in case I DNF'ed.<div>The ride looked on the difficult side. Jerome had tried a similar course once 4-5 years ago, and did not finish. He started tired and suffered in heat and headwinds along the coast. Still the course was nothing like the 600k with 8000 meters of climbing that we did once, nor did it look as tough as the Seattle "summer gravel grinder" I did back in 2016, nor as difficult as the Tasmania 600k from 2019. In fact, I realized, I have a pretty good track record at 600k brevets.<div>Then again, so does Jerome, and the fact that he DNF'ed a similar course previously was a caution. Last year when we did our 600km brevet to qualify for Cascade 1400, Jerome started 2 hours after me and caught up eventually so that we could ride the final 1/4 of the event together. And he has been "waiting at the top" for me on climbs when we ride together the past few years. So I signed up for the 6AM start, and Jerome did for the 7AM. I thought he would probably catch me by the first evening, and we could start together on day 2.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyah4lLSGFrPx4WOmIHKcXOM7H3kHc-inbIqzfGPlCvNAK_80H8MBWDNuZJ1IFrmOqIa7OzNf-Y3xcoo0QqnC78mMrBku2AM-U40TfbD5dO3seMTq7NnKMFK_WBFha6Y4B3S3RnTpfp0kFj5OPIWJBUBdwfw_9aZeD2FLue0VARKNQ1aIyHpeXiAqz/s707/Screenshot%202023-04-20%20at%2014.13.00.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyah4lLSGFrPx4WOmIHKcXOM7H3kHc-inbIqzfGPlCvNAK_80H8MBWDNuZJ1IFrmOqIa7OzNf-Y3xcoo0QqnC78mMrBku2AM-U40TfbD5dO3seMTq7NnKMFK_WBFha6Y4B3S3RnTpfp0kFj5OPIWJBUBdwfw_9aZeD2FLue0VARKNQ1aIyHpeXiAqz/w620-h640/Screenshot%202023-04-20%20at%2014.13.00.png" width="620" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>The weather forecast looked bad. Rain on day 1, sometimes heavy, and nasty headwinds on day 2. But at least it would be 10 degrees C warmer than the cold and rainy 400km ride I just did in March ... so I knew even if I got wet, I would not be as cold. I could dress a bit lighter. I decided to trust my thin, more breathable cycling rain jacket, fairly tight-fitting but still comfortable. And I used my "chaps" style Rain Legs, instead of full rain pants. A pair of standard "Sealskinz" rainy weather cycling gloves, rather than REI Goretex mitten shell I had used over the Q36.5 Amfib gloves last month. And for the headwind on day 2, I decided to try a Nalini skinsuit (one piece top and bottom) that I got last year but have not yet worn for anything longer than a 2-hour ride. If it was reasonably comfortable and would save me a few watts of drag on a long upwind slog ... why not? </div><div>I rode the Ramax, with Raceblade front fender and my rear saddle bag to protect my backside from rain splash. The Ramax is very comfortable and a perfect choice for this ride. I continue to enjoy the bike, and love my GS Astuto wheelset and the 700x32 Schwalbe Pro One tires that I have been running tubeless over the past many months. I topped up sealant before the ride ... and had no flats, again. Fast, comfortable, stable on the wet pavement, and unlike the Pelso, I can climb OK on this bike.</div><div>In any event, we got out of Tokyo in good time Friday mid-afternoon, made it to our lodging at a minshuku in Sayama City, about 7kms from the start in Mikkaichi-cho. The theme of the minshuku was "art" and "aesthetics" -- 美学. The woman who welcomed us gave some explanation, and it was at least novel and a comfortable place to stay. It also was the ONLY place to stay within 15kms or more of the start at Mikkaichi-cho Station. We had a decent meal of Japanese pub food and beer and were back at our lodging and ready to sleep around 9PM. Jerome remarked repeatedly how nice it was not to be rushed getting to an event, for once. And it was.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT02LpYtvDo0fzguSPa1gvA-TugU6Kz0DlrjmmWHct2l4bGWSxiEfvqiPIGvCAyI7xh2vrTDRE2UNZwCo59rMIPYRV3zWVmZ3WIcCVuzku8y71LvmlmndPZXUrP0TTFqyQEteVSPpNawUM8_k4qX5ueGpbx6gGI9EtLH1ZXXDl7lNvOiue2hQ7otOK" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT02LpYtvDo0fzguSPa1gvA-TugU6Kz0DlrjmmWHct2l4bGWSxiEfvqiPIGvCAyI7xh2vrTDRE2UNZwCo59rMIPYRV3zWVmZ3WIcCVuzku8y71LvmlmndPZXUrP0TTFqyQEteVSPpNawUM8_k4qX5ueGpbx6gGI9EtLH1ZXXDl7lNvOiue2hQ7otOK=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A work of art ...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKxFOMO7GjLMyFXrsu0MvkSwdxYaQxvnpcLUua-k-c95ij3SExxTOf2ST_0GR3XnXy4kgSBLlPoZSYwhXKtuyKT6g1-7MHUx0Mbiue54IDEnNPsP_mjjJCYwSvX3wOPgQch6hYVOkkeE7U-XcLHKf2Vq8duMbsLp4s8p8cLScXFI0ZTkZVuaafuqH7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKxFOMO7GjLMyFXrsu0MvkSwdxYaQxvnpcLUua-k-c95ij3SExxTOf2ST_0GR3XnXy4kgSBLlPoZSYwhXKtuyKT6g1-7MHUx0Mbiue54IDEnNPsP_mjjJCYwSvX3wOPgQch6hYVOkkeE7U-XcLHKf2Vq8duMbsLp4s8p8cLScXFI0ZTkZVuaafuqH7=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cannot imagine this would survive intact in many big city neighborhoods around the world.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqdGd43NuIMY9s9oQKLujUQWtZrks2wI-btW-te4UNHwaESNR5TgpDRj_Kxhcn_wPsuwkg-sqz2_7Xahkkt2U6oKPhWiPHIonaLbgthEmXNxShDzuKQhqB3fkm7Q32ArLdGIIwySwHz6Tr-jMNgwKz_XNhJUJXaCxMfEOD2Nzwtup1CbQ957scenlD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqdGd43NuIMY9s9oQKLujUQWtZrks2wI-btW-te4UNHwaESNR5TgpDRj_Kxhcn_wPsuwkg-sqz2_7Xahkkt2U6oKPhWiPHIonaLbgthEmXNxShDzuKQhqB3fkm7Q32ArLdGIIwySwHz6Tr-jMNgwKz_XNhJUJXaCxMfEOD2Nzwtup1CbQ957scenlD=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>Our lodgings</div></div><br />It started to sprinkle rain drops as we returned from dinner, and was a serious, pretty hard rain when I awoke. Jerome also was awake and said he would go with me to the start area for my 6AM start, even though he would need to wait for an extra hour. We left the minshuku just before 5, navigated the dark and wet streets, and were at Mikkaichi-cho Station before 530AM. After a walk over to 7-11 to get some modest breakfast, the briefing was already underway when we returned. Only a few riders were there. Actually, a total of 55 signed up for the event, but only 20 rode (including the two organizers who did a pre-ride last week). Most saw the weather forecast and decided not to join. Just like last month's Chiba 400km. Two riders, Dee and Henry, had come from Hong Kong and did not speak any Japanese. I jumped in a bit to interpret for them. Another rider, Kuramoto-san, said he worked for Shimano and had at one point earlier in his career been on assignment in Irvine, CA, but now was at the company HQ in Osaka.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSMaRQCH-RQYW8W83DPlQnPAU1vWXHJ3Mrqqh7wtVRbWzA5hM03WzuBj48G7y-R--CiLOVQj5UgdWQWyCr9cH8CZqf5qcMPCwrS31IvZHF4ZZw4JAQgWsiYKqjFcAxRDRnNwFr2WXsfyL56iIvI0MtUoh_vfJ8Kd7B88H7oeqiJn78WXRl_PifcOFz" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSMaRQCH-RQYW8W83DPlQnPAU1vWXHJ3Mrqqh7wtVRbWzA5hM03WzuBj48G7y-R--CiLOVQj5UgdWQWyCr9cH8CZqf5qcMPCwrS31IvZHF4ZZw4JAQgWsiYKqjFcAxRDRnNwFr2WXsfyL56iIvI0MtUoh_vfJ8Kd7B88H7oeqiJn78WXRl_PifcOFz=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerome ... dressed for serious bad weather, or an ocean going fishing vessel?</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-_KbW-Ap2LkZ7RbYpfvm4DaSiW-xbz5JRQYHs8CJprjWyr6Hu9EOAADJHMWasnBMmap0o1GiHWZRenC-xyf0OoAAyOMkHgGSUUviSo6SN_2rXJiEYKE2-fUReMrM1-iMQbcuK_qriMY9pPGUiB0ORhE-0spqfek4uy8M7Ee7pIEuQk4TUxfjZqPj_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-_KbW-Ap2LkZ7RbYpfvm4DaSiW-xbz5JRQYHs8CJprjWyr6Hu9EOAADJHMWasnBMmap0o1GiHWZRenC-xyf0OoAAyOMkHgGSUUviSo6SN_2rXJiEYKE2-fUReMrM1-iMQbcuK_qriMY9pPGUiB0ORhE-0spqfek4uy8M7Ee7pIEuQk4TUxfjZqPj_=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikka-ichi-cho Station</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7l59fYTey5OHPoknujJpv1LtyjAktihnKKOFZI5CRvTA1mwoY3C9mvv7-Bj918QCRS_uRTJBcd0P0t9iWCz0eFVo_sx_m7ndhh8zSiufAyTrEzxuvrP-p5b0AdamVpt5tc2-jjhPs9Io164ePn7gg-elKS8Hs1wm3MhmhzN33irGbIdmLUDGd3QBp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7l59fYTey5OHPoknujJpv1LtyjAktihnKKOFZI5CRvTA1mwoY3C9mvv7-Bj918QCRS_uRTJBcd0P0t9iWCz0eFVo_sx_m7ndhh8zSiufAyTrEzxuvrP-p5b0AdamVpt5tc2-jjhPs9Io164ePn7gg-elKS8Hs1wm3MhmhzN33irGbIdmLUDGd3QBp=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organizers and 5 of the 7~8 who started at 6AM.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirUx5AeyoBZP9-6gTZXAC7GZYY1cE6i3NWVac7F3z2J57RR33p63nJuUe5rtWD0ssR677GVwm2YE50NJQbv2pVv3t8ykAUhRqP7umM8XSj-mBw_zLvSb8HY5upxakZxNm-48vxyu80H-7NWLiPiSAiT7EhL_zYiFFPmUpaKYDI8w2lKC2vEROZ58LO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1482" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirUx5AeyoBZP9-6gTZXAC7GZYY1cE6i3NWVac7F3z2J57RR33p63nJuUe5rtWD0ssR677GVwm2YE50NJQbv2pVv3t8ykAUhRqP7umM8XSj-mBw_zLvSb8HY5upxakZxNm-48vxyu80H-7NWLiPiSAiT7EhL_zYiFFPmUpaKYDI8w2lKC2vEROZ58LO=w400-h271" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry and Chi-Fung (aka Dee) from Hong Kong</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd-q3nkCLCqZn9cNY-Um_KIAgS9kw98D31LgHFBhMa05udw9DLbbCj-n2uX8pTVObwNwRKWBnSbSWLI1i-ieRj85tKuj1xbEYDVZ8ZjcnJ0VTWmh0AMA4oBqtlMuPgUkwBZu0lApXsr0razkM3JIOaWIDDr6QexeGB9pWVjq-pBxC5cR2vcK1t_i4M" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd-q3nkCLCqZn9cNY-Um_KIAgS9kw98D31LgHFBhMa05udw9DLbbCj-n2uX8pTVObwNwRKWBnSbSWLI1i-ieRj85tKuj1xbEYDVZ8ZjcnJ0VTWmh0AMA4oBqtlMuPgUkwBZu0lApXsr0razkM3JIOaWIDDr6QexeGB9pWVjq-pBxC5cR2vcK1t_i4M=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo thicket across from the station.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div></div></div><div>Anyway, they let us go a few minutes early and I was the first rider through the bike check. The course went up a hill for the first few kms ... and I was surprised to look back and not see anyone gaining on me. Oh well, I would just ride. And ride I did. No one caught me until I was about to head out from PC1 at 39kms, as 4-5 riders (basically the entire 6AM start group) pulled in. I chatted with Kuramoto-san and mentioned that my feet had stayed dry for 15kms. No longer. At least I had warm socks. Wet, but not cold, at least not too cold. He seemed a bit non-plussed by my comment, as he was in solid rain gear, probably not wet at all, yet.<br /></div><div>The rain continued, a bit less steady ... but as the course turned north, the wind started to push against my progress. The route was nothing exceptional here, a mix of country and town, plenty of old, pre-Meiji (Edo or older) structures. </div><div>And, sooner than expected, I was in Nara! The course went right by the famous Nara deer park and the main tourism sights. There was a huge Starbucks across from the park area, next to the city hall. I got off in the park to snap a photo or two, then continued. Not a moment to lose. I did not get close to the deer.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZiUxM7FRVUHwVKe7r5DMzDadgZr7Kt4W1LtmUjLtdSDv2wLY-T1Xw_fN0xDL5vBIdiqK5bxcA_5ZcbZZGxzLHkmgrs65OdAPoj2Jd946ro_ou3xE_As-YPGw_mt7f47XhL98SmvUMznxbZSmDzoOE7IDzD3fnypzs6VVNMAZfbUlTurGBZRHjCtjg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZiUxM7FRVUHwVKe7r5DMzDadgZr7Kt4W1LtmUjLtdSDv2wLY-T1Xw_fN0xDL5vBIdiqK5bxcA_5ZcbZZGxzLHkmgrs65OdAPoj2Jd946ro_ou3xE_As-YPGw_mt7f47XhL98SmvUMznxbZSmDzoOE7IDzD3fnypzs6VVNMAZfbUlTurGBZRHjCtjg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAMAX leans at Nara</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixDpSJKsz3ZJsTSEasM8nK0wqDHkxVNtk_U1KZBsVyI2HpjTWgkmlLntBX0pEaxVCPQmQSc7xo8xiM7aNS3ldS6KOdFSO38Tk8PbxJr86lcJTVUx_raIZ6p095X3EeRy4_8YpwD8XSSAQdpdnxBaoaLBMdGBDreJNO7ccDY7W7qi_dJvi58i7X31Hm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixDpSJKsz3ZJsTSEasM8nK0wqDHkxVNtk_U1KZBsVyI2HpjTWgkmlLntBX0pEaxVCPQmQSc7xo8xiM7aNS3ldS6KOdFSO38Tk8PbxJr86lcJTVUx_raIZ6p095X3EeRy4_8YpwD8XSSAQdpdnxBaoaLBMdGBDreJNO7ccDY7W7qi_dJvi58i7X31Hm=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Park at Nara</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div>I soon entered southern Kyoto Prefecture and the tea growing area of Wazuka. I was on a lovely road. Finally over a small summit, and down to another control point. This time, essentially the same group of riders showed up only a few minutes after me. We were into Mie Prefecture. This is where things started to get really hard. I thought this would be an easy stretch, but the next 30kms was a killer, with the wind having strengthened and swung around to our East. I could not even keep 20kph speed. It was a slow, slogging, energy draining, and wet struggle to get, finally, to a long (2km) tunnel and onto a long descent to the city of Tsu. This reminded me of last month's 400km struggle. Another epic event.</div><div>At least from here we were done with the wind, for now, and also done with any heavy rain. We took the old Ise road ... as I had done on an Ise 1000km ride many years ago ... until that road merged with a newer, clogged highway. I rode along a line of cars at many intersections, and finally got to the Ise checkpoint. By now lots of riders had arrived ahead of me, including a couple from the 7AM start. Jerome seemed to still be an hour or more behind. Dee and Henry had arrived before me. Henry was shivering in the cold. I explained the idea of seeking refuge (and drying out wet socks/gloves etc.) in a coin laundry. They asked if people booked hotels or not on a 600km. I gave them my hotel info ... still 135kms further up the course. They booked rooms, and we all pressed on. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY5tGBhKcDh3Lgsdw13TswdKOKrnpCuPWmDqq6frWl3xTQ5ReQNU4VSJ7TM9JOmw1sUixMnlGTT9qYnWVgmlC7OmzXx6RWSa7bawJ0f7fQAOnVpxvycDq5f-skY5BM7DHPqRc1lTYF-MqXnUSabFy8Gm_SKaUGS-lzrPQf9S0bQPTSwWuoivFcuOMt" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY5tGBhKcDh3Lgsdw13TswdKOKrnpCuPWmDqq6frWl3xTQ5ReQNU4VSJ7TM9JOmw1sUixMnlGTT9qYnWVgmlC7OmzXx6RWSa7bawJ0f7fQAOnVpxvycDq5f-skY5BM7DHPqRc1lTYF-MqXnUSabFy8Gm_SKaUGS-lzrPQf9S0bQPTSwWuoivFcuOMt=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Ise Shrine ... but not a moment to lose!</td></tr></tbody></table>After a brief, gradual climb out of Ise to the WSW, we followed the south bank of the Miya river for quite awhile, eventually the local highways turning into a kind of rindo (forest road). It was dusk now, and I was glad there was still some natural light as I went through the twists and turns, avoiding the occasional piles of forest debris and puddles of water. </div><div>I got a note from Jerome announcing his arrival at the Ise PC, letting me know that he was low on phone battery and so switching it off, and asking that I re-send the coordinates for the hotel I booked. It seemed he was still more than an hour behind me. He had struggled on the same stretch after Wazuka as had I.</div><div>Shortly after the rindo returned to a normal countryside highway, the route turned left/south onto National Route 42 ... the course for nearly all of our next ~200kms around Kii Peninsula.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4bYgSMTc6MyFoUGt4DkqL2TVgN0HRh1PIUq8vOjC1u1KWI2zPUs11cBNPyR0J-7YgGgZt_W7LKgF-od-aJ5r0Am_voCnG_w-4hMjQf_nww63oYjRgC6h_5DoafXZvqNGMOQFEG88V5cAFtDf-YKatzbxpLPAeAf87OzntwIZ8X5TtWYKbgPW1tU5X" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4bYgSMTc6MyFoUGt4DkqL2TVgN0HRh1PIUq8vOjC1u1KWI2zPUs11cBNPyR0J-7YgGgZt_W7LKgF-od-aJ5r0Am_voCnG_w-4hMjQf_nww63oYjRgC6h_5DoafXZvqNGMOQFEG88V5cAFtDf-YKatzbxpLPAeAf87OzntwIZ8X5TtWYKbgPW1tU5X=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More tea, WSW of Ise</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2WBEAwzk-VZwuB0DGdKfTNkNChVR3eVewWRpMCOTiPXoUgWuxWnTUqVQzo5hCXUfSe2lar7BFWAobrR7STdXK_29SngBGqtwtXBVkqxNT2HHH-VjXTx7igtmTKXC4Fs2rGG3HvaX8PHssLjR-0A5PYoqet3zVDCChdrPPC4N-AL68FEwN1hScKneY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2WBEAwzk-VZwuB0DGdKfTNkNChVR3eVewWRpMCOTiPXoUgWuxWnTUqVQzo5hCXUfSe2lar7BFWAobrR7STdXK_29SngBGqtwtXBVkqxNT2HHH-VjXTx7igtmTKXC4Fs2rGG3HvaX8PHssLjR-0A5PYoqet3zVDCChdrPPC4N-AL68FEwN1hScKneY=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAMAX leans at a deserted bus stop.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>It was night now, the rain had stopped, and the road was relatively quiet and getting more quiet. At one point, we touched the seashore and I could hear the calming sound of the waves. If I had not been so tuckered out from the earlier sections, I would have really enjoyed this ... but I wanted to press on the the next PC, in Owase. I finally made it to the the town Owase and looked for a Family Mart. I pulled off at one on the left side after I entered the main part of town. There were no riders, and I got out my brevet card, which gave a different name and said the PC was out by an interchange. The second and third Family Marts also were not the PC ... no riders and no "interchange" in the name. I headed out of town and after about a kilometer, as the long climb up to 400m elevation had started, I finally reached the correct Family Mart. There were some other riders. I thought it a bit strange that Owase supports 4 Family Marts, but none, that I could see, of the other major convenience stores. Maybe they felt sorry for the delivery drivers who came through town, or decided cooperation would be easier than competition?</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3ayhkRiPW-7RaytnOtFBX_0L7AxZtZSpteKDrKAtFtbBWrCe0emtxBfSqgb94x57mYVaKrq8dkbfVS7x0C6MM6bXzyEUFt_8kcIcDHfvfnMstV3y_F_n9W_4OfssPhyYcF3WsKC0V-nLunNsxiflskY6CpCAWPAXfEFDFNdGEL0xcGjti0za2ORau" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1432" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3ayhkRiPW-7RaytnOtFBX_0L7AxZtZSpteKDrKAtFtbBWrCe0emtxBfSqgb94x57mYVaKrq8dkbfVS7x0C6MM6bXzyEUFt_8kcIcDHfvfnMstV3y_F_n9W_4OfssPhyYcF3WsKC0V-nLunNsxiflskY6CpCAWPAXfEFDFNdGEL0xcGjti0za2ORau=w400-h256" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me (blue rain jacket and headband) in background next to Henry and Chi-Fung</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>The climb that followed was difficult for me, already exhausted after nearly 300kms. I've had that experience before -- I do a miserable climb at the tail end of a long day, and don't realize that it is actually not such a big climb until I somehow get a chance to ride it with fresh legs. (This was the way I felt about Fujimidai on the Koshu Kaido on the border between Yamanashi and Nagano -- it was really tough when riding from Tokyo ... but easy when you start your ride from Kofu or Kobuchizawa.) </div><div>The two Hong Kong riders passed me and zipped up the hill, both much younger and lighter than I. Another rider passed. Others had passed me after Ise, so I felt I was now near the back of the pack. But I just took the climb in low gear, eventually reached the top, and descended down to the seacoast again.</div><div>The Hotel Nami was just off the road within a few hundred meters of the bottom of the climb. It was 11:40PM. The box of fresh (dry!) clothes I had sent was there. I felt sorry for the staff when I left the box full of wet stinking clothes upon my departure before 4AM, with "chakubarai" (COD) form completed for return to my house in Tokyo. I saw a note from Jerome that he had arrived at the Owase PC at 11PM, 1 hr 20 min after me ... about the same time gap as at Ise and earlier.</div><div>Anyway, the Hotel was having exterior wall maintenance done and was covered with a scaffolding -- perfect for randonneurs who arrive after dark and leave before first light, just needing a shower and a place to sleep. And they had 24 hour reception policy--did not lock the front door and turn out the lights at midnight, as do many places in the countryside.</div><div>I showered, lay out everything for the next day, and was asleep by 12:15AM. I set my alarm for 3:30AM, but woke 10 minutes earlier and, when I felt there was no way I would get another brief nap, got up. I saw that Jerome had sent a note that he would be "arriving soon" at 12:48AM. I messaged him that I was up and would head out ... and he responded that he also was awake and getting ready. I guess he could not sleep well. I was downstairs a few minutes later, waited 10 minutes, and he did not appear. ... so I told him I would head to find a convenience store and get breakfast. I stopped at a Family Mart 3 kms away, got some food and consumed it. A 12 minute stop and still no Jerome. I headed out, telling him I was taking a banana for him.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5jMApRMO_7tRrYhLKsXvipbyDP4-bj2hEncodgLHuUI3LjiF11mULhyUTVWrndIcfw052_Dtug42bYi80MZiUaewRcxU5zUlLOQQeZz6FS6IAku53dhtPZXkdFZ8RO6RUpWfu55QK4NlVlQrdX6SFYeoIdTTkr8F6q_9ncpx53cegBGFYXXtRuyHr" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5jMApRMO_7tRrYhLKsXvipbyDP4-bj2hEncodgLHuUI3LjiF11mULhyUTVWrndIcfw052_Dtug42bYi80MZiUaewRcxU5zUlLOQQeZz6FS6IAku53dhtPZXkdFZ8RO6RUpWfu55QK4NlVlQrdX6SFYeoIdTTkr8F6q_9ncpx53cegBGFYXXtRuyHr=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First light near Shingu</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYr4ehFSyaVwLqUdI-2IKKjlpuSI0-DJsGWmzpwCJbcV7B4E1yda9DhkkL6uLHVO76-08wvPOdP2N9X6lUqcwnVUdJt2WVUnLOqAZM8k6hlHiMOL3p5ve3e_2BJNXhi5FlOwXMQq8TfLCBQB7y1ZBsuJ5CLCOTLqr9QykXAM1pEFN1yQsgwbIiuemN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYr4ehFSyaVwLqUdI-2IKKjlpuSI0-DJsGWmzpwCJbcV7B4E1yda9DhkkL6uLHVO76-08wvPOdP2N9X6lUqcwnVUdJt2WVUnLOqAZM8k6hlHiMOL3p5ve3e_2BJNXhi5FlOwXMQq8TfLCBQB7y1ZBsuJ5CLCOTLqr9QykXAM1pEFN1yQsgwbIiuemN=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous "Kumano Kodo" ... looks much tougher than Route 42</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsIarLbK_LSqbtiJs-xP-K9CmBaLRusQGsWVh4ev5cHnWDLsGEljXlKlmVpjNfzkqVKOKAAjb5H2qcIANfvOP66-ssLQFfveGkPZNn3wLo3-IjSB6nA7S-MwyCs9qYktaevdZxMOxktjU7giXozEN876Pe7CUllwrCtAlT27l25aufH09W60Ym51dv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsIarLbK_LSqbtiJs-xP-K9CmBaLRusQGsWVh4ev5cHnWDLsGEljXlKlmVpjNfzkqVKOKAAjb5H2qcIANfvOP66-ssLQFfveGkPZNn3wLo3-IjSB6nA7S-MwyCs9qYktaevdZxMOxktjU7giXozEN876Pe7CUllwrCtAlT27l25aufH09W60Ym51dv=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Sunrise!</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /></div><div>I made acceptable time heading for Kushimoto at the southern tip of the peninsula. We were protected from the wind by mountains to our west in many places. A couple places where it was more exposed, and we headed west ... in Shingu to get to a bridge crossing a river ... the wind slowed me to a crawl. Some of the sea coast was very pretty, as the sun rose. The mountains also looked densely forested and a bit mysterious.</div><div>The only word from Jerome was a note 80 minutes after I left the breakfast convenience store that he needed to eat and was stopping to do so. I got to Kushimoto at 7:21, 13 minutes ahead of the notional cut-off time of 7:34AM. There were 4-5 other riders at Kushimoto, including Henry and Chi-Fung. One rider was basking in the sun at the side of the Lawson PC when I arrived. He said he also had started at 6AM Saturday, but had not slept at all. He looked very fatigued.</div><div>I had had 3 hrs and 40 minutes of "savings" when I got to the 4th Family Mart in Owase the previous night, and used up all of that and more at Hotel Nami to get decent sleep. I think I cannot do a decent 600km brevet without a sleep stop. So I was happy to be back on track at least. The Kushimoto time was only for our reference, not an enforced time limit. By the time I left Kushimoto, it was around 7:45AM, so more catching up to do by the first real time limit in Tanabe, 69 kms further on. </div><div>As soon as I turned the corner of the peninsula, the wind hit. It was not gale force, but it was a steady headwind, and it slowed my pace from maybe 27kph to 22kph. A few places where the route bent toward the east to go around an inlet ... I found myself going 37kph for the same effort. I pushed on, and soon passed the rider who had been basking in the sun (he DNFed, it seems). I traded places back and forth several times with a number of riders ... I guess mostly 7AM starters. I kept going with no long stops, only a few brief times pulled off the road for a toilet stop or an energy bar or onigiri that I had brought along. The coastline was beautiful, but there was not a moment to lose. The elevation gain was a lot less than RidewithGPS has indicated, with lots of tunnels through the top of hills in at least some segments. I made it the 69kms to the Tanabe PC 25 minutes before the cutoff time. I had a message from Jerome that he was hopping a train and had DNF'ed. It was not to be helped. He had not ridden at all while on a long business trip, and it seemed he did not sleep that much Friday night, and barely at all on Saturday night at Hotel Nami. And he needed to get to Kyoto on Sunday early evening, which was not going to happen on his (or my) current trajectory. Henry and Chi-Fung were at Tanabe again. Henry asked me if I thought we would finish on time. Of course we will! Indeed, I can think of only one time I DNF'ed a brevet of 600km or less, out of approximately 70 attempts. We were done with most of the bad wind, and had only a few significant hills ahead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhFWzibw1-G9y4N9Qde_KBcqT7NuWTmKA5Sd36FyMZ1IffNyOWsuljucdOCl9SEGCZ7oFiXkPKjM916szTIQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>There was more traffic on Route 42 as we rejoined it after leaving Tanabe, and it was now early afternoon Sunday. It was a lovely day, but we were still heading more west than north, with the wind still a significant factor. I felt confident that I would finish if I just managed my time okay and did not suffer any disastrous mechanical trouble or have problems with my body. The biggest threat of the latter was my feet, as I started to experience some significant, painful "hot foot". I had moved my cleats back a bit at Tanabe, but that did not seem to help. I tried to spin and not grind, pull rather than push, on the pedals, ride one leg drills. It was painful, but I could continue. After Gobo we finally headed away from the coastline and nearly due North, the wind fading and no longer in front!</div><div>Before the 522km PC, there were two climbs of around 3kms each. The first one was less than 100m elevation and not so steep. The second one felt like a vertical wall. I could see a tunnel entrance up on the hill. I rode to within a couple hundred meters, then stopped for a sip of water in the afternoon heat, snapped a photo, and rested my feet just a bit. I decided to walk to the tunnel entrance. Every tunnel up to now had been the top of the climb, had been level/flat inside, and had led to a descent. But this was different. The climb continued in the tunnel! I remounted and crept up the inside of the ~600m long tunnel. At least it was cool inside. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizAU3gWKpe_hKRFazjp6hFbtJkT2cZkZMa62DznrDaKnSV2yyUnotz8TqhHwAOib1_4P8NSIyzGSOsJkLF-Z7h6r0ApuQ8L_NI0mb-iR9KBIFCAcBoNduSlBrlNiGq4Je9WCEh3sieSsi0NSHGJoAF0Scz7cLHb1Akcd17IbROjh1-fwQiIZh3zXTo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizAU3gWKpe_hKRFazjp6hFbtJkT2cZkZMa62DznrDaKnSV2yyUnotz8TqhHwAOib1_4P8NSIyzGSOsJkLF-Z7h6r0ApuQ8L_NI0mb-iR9KBIFCAcBoNduSlBrlNiGq4Je9WCEh3sieSsi0NSHGJoAF0Scz7cLHb1Akcd17IbROjh1-fwQiIZh3zXTo=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the top.</td></tr></tbody></table>I dismounted again at the top of the tunnel, admiring the view on the other side of the hill. But my GPS told me not to go straight, down the hill, but turn right and head up another slope that looked steeper yet. The road finally leveled out and continued around the mountain, giving a view to the North that was actually a pretty good reward for the effort!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihXNquqgtsII1rYYRKC0tnq_FPrmYa93O9JouiP7z_ZAySVqp4WlCQ2o9N_hWL597dHDRUB2aPY3KGL9Hi41ojoeFJ9CB_9YYmrAeXi58KKA6863zF5JTtQ-NZU_92Ue2YcnvO60CYxGTlkd1q-oh8thrQdxF7nzWXOPJYA6APKHsqI-DQgVB_10RZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihXNquqgtsII1rYYRKC0tnq_FPrmYa93O9JouiP7z_ZAySVqp4WlCQ2o9N_hWL597dHDRUB2aPY3KGL9Hi41ojoeFJ9CB_9YYmrAeXi58KKA6863zF5JTtQ-NZU_92Ue2YcnvO60CYxGTlkd1q-oh8thrQdxF7nzWXOPJYA6APKHsqI-DQgVB_10RZ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuiXjmI3jSUJkF1Ppwgt9Iq1XXQFIVz6KgYzcFeWFLYHDdek7jZEHzKe92R6fDhbkMfn88Grt1uiIElkt8ADsuZOta_jc1fKv5zmRQ-q4ApbyWbVdoGZmwOm9OHn-iRJfUSNuz35cFrzj3hz1VG7hdzRp3BTYIQNm6YTOdn4F3wAEspoPf-FE50PsI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuiXjmI3jSUJkF1Ppwgt9Iq1XXQFIVz6KgYzcFeWFLYHDdek7jZEHzKe92R6fDhbkMfn88Grt1uiIElkt8ADsuZOta_jc1fKv5zmRQ-q4ApbyWbVdoGZmwOm9OHn-iRJfUSNuz35cFrzj3hz1VG7hdzRp3BTYIQNm6YTOdn4F3wAEspoPf-FE50PsI=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div>I got to the 522km PC in Arita with 25 minutes to spare. Chi-Fung was there but nobody else. I got some spaghetti, coffee, water for my bottles, and sat down to eat and to put my receipt (proof of passage) into my brevet card. The receipt was for a Family Mart ... but the brevet card said the PC was a Lawson! I immediately hailed Chi-Fung -- this is not the PC! At first he did not believe me, looking at his prep materials, but eventually he recalled that they had changed the PC after he did all his preparation, and had told us at the pre-ride briefing. 522 kms is a long way to remember something like that! I loaded my water bottles, handed the coffee back to the clerk for disposal, and balanced my heated but still sealed spaghetti container in one hand as I hopped on the bike. We rode the 1~2 kms and found the Lawson, still 10 minutes to spare for getting our receipts. Whew. My "hot foot" was still an issue, so I bought a second pair of thin white Lawson socks to go inside my thick wool socks. The slight additional "compression" worked and my feet partially recovered and felt a lot better.</div><div>We were no longer heading into the wind (which seemed to have weakened a lot in any event). But I noticed that the last 20 kms of the event would have our biggest climb of the day ... up to nearly 400m. So I needed a decent headstart. I wanted to leave the 382km PC at least 20-30 minutes ahead of the cut off. <br />7 or 8 kilometers out of the PC, our route turned left, then right, headed up a ridge on a small road that crossed over to the northern side where it had a nice view across a bay to Wakayama City. At one point I passed in front of a bench on which sat four elderly ladies. They smiled and cheered me on ... they must have seen most of the other riders pass over the previous hour and were enjoying the spectacle. Eventually the route went down the north side of the ridge and headed along a river. There were plenty of short ups and downs over the next 40-50kms, the ups pretty hellish at this point, but the downhills and flat sections fast. A few drops of rain were falling and it was getting dark. </div><div>I made it to the final PC with nearly 30 minutes of leeway, and left after a 6-7 minute pitstop ... that included adding yet another pair of thin socks. I thought that if I just kept moving, I would be able to do the final 20kms, including the climb up to around 400m elevation, within the allotted time. The first part of the climb was painful, on a busy road. I chose the wide sidewalk rather than having cars whiz by me. The upper part of the climb was far better, on a quiet road, eventually a forest road, and not seeming as steep. I could see one rider ahead and I gained on him. When I almost caught him, I pulled over and ate a snack, sipped water, and rested for a couple minutes. I was within 100m elevation of the pass and confident I was on schedule. I remounted and, a few minutes later, passed the rider struggling slowly. Soon he was out of my sight behind, his light around a bend in the road, then two bends back. I got to the top and let out a whoop, and started the descent.</div><div>As I descended, the road surface was wet and the descent winding. I could not go as fast as I had expected. Then my light started to slip in its bracket. I readjusted it several times after it slipped down, and ended up just holding it between fingers in my right hand. After what seemed like a long time, the road I was on finally ended at a larger highway that was not pitch black. I switched on my backup light and stopped worrying about clasping my main dynamo hub light. Just a few more kilometers, and I was back in KawachiNagano City pulling into yet one more Lawson, a few blocks from the train station where we had started. Henry had finished already, Chi-Fung pulled in at the same time as me. My time was 39 hours at 52 minutes, out of an allowed 40 hours. </div><div>A 39 hour and 52 minute time for a 600km brevet does not really inspire confidence about my ability to complete Paris-Brest-Paris. But then again, this brevet had 55 registrants but only 20 who started in the pouring rain, and 16 who completed. Those who rode were tougher than average randonneurs, I have no doubt. Yet out of the 16 who completed 13 rode with times of 38 to 40 hours. Only 3 were faster than 38 hours, and the fastest time was 33:07, second fastest 34:51. A typical good group of Japanese randonneurs, on a typical course, would have the fastest time well under 30 hours, and plenty of finishers in the 34-38 hour range. So this was a brevet under difficult conditions. At least my track record on completing 600km brevets is very good even if I use most of the allotted time. I like to get at least 3 hours of sleep, I like to get a shower and clean up and to take a few photos, to chat a bit with other participants. And usually I prefer not to punish my body any more than is necessary to finish. After all, it is not a race. There is no prize for being first. Some of my most memorable brevets and longer rides have been the ones where I took nearly the entire time limit. This one falls into that category. Memorable. Even, dare I say, ... epic?</div><div>I hope I get to ride the Kii Peninsula again ... ideally downwind!</div></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-17793654503023501092023-04-18T12:35:00.004+09:002023-04-18T12:36:13.050+09:00MOB's Book is Out -- The Founding Story of Positivo Espresso (and More)!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKxGn7ujmtsrYshA1f3WjeG3iKBhYOEpkxQuxxisuNnElLg-Xh6m51hxWSwq8AzTR44Oa94aiqSegMqmOlsZ5rRxdrhQEJzhY3Ry5kN4VB6_2N4nqGnkixF0V7LwCOxseZcNTdp7mqq5q9cqFmxNX60cV5gS0iU6vo0WluycztdlBtJ7Uz-wRVo8TM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3881" data-original-width="2745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKxGn7ujmtsrYshA1f3WjeG3iKBhYOEpkxQuxxisuNnElLg-Xh6m51hxWSwq8AzTR44Oa94aiqSegMqmOlsZ5rRxdrhQEJzhY3Ry5kN4VB6_2N4nqGnkixF0V7LwCOxseZcNTdp7mqq5q9cqFmxNX60cV5gS0iU6vo0WluycztdlBtJ7Uz-wRVo8TM=w283-h400" width="283" /></a></div><br />Michael O.B. Kraehe, the esteemed founder (or at least principal co-founder) of this blog long ago and not so far away, who was also our leading contributor until he returned to his homeland of Germany more than a decade ago, has written a book about his experience cycling in Japan. The book title translates as roughly "The Day before Yesterday in Japan: No training, no talent, and several extra kilos visible, my incredible path to become the Japanese cycling champion." <p></p><p>The prestigious publisher, Covadonga Verlag, is known for German language editions of cycling-related best sellers as Jonathan Vaughters' "One-way Ticket", Tim Moore's "Vuelta Skelter" and "Gironimo", Geraint Thomas' "Radsportberge Und Wie Ich Sie Sah", Charly Wegelius' classic "Domestik", David Millar's "Auf der Strasse", the German language version of Jan Heine's "The All-Road Bike Revolution" and all of famed American coach Joe Friel's training books (essential reading for serious cyclists and triathletes)! They even have a book about 6-time RAAM winner Christoph Strasser and his world record ride of over 1000 kms in 24 hours (though I am not sure how interesting it could be to talk about someone riding around and around the same track, peeing into a bottle). Covadonga is so essential to German road cycling that they published the German language edition of "<a href="https://www.velominati.com/comment-page-8/" target="_blank">The Rules</a>" (Die Regeln) by the Velominati. So now Covadonga will be known for books about G. Thomas, C. Strasser, and MOB Kraehe.</p><p>I don't read German, but I think it is a fair wager that MOB's tales of our Positivo Espresso team-time-trial effort at Lake Saiko (back when we were racers), and his year of attending and not getting lapped by the field in JCRC races in order to win the D class JCRC championship, are at least funnier, and offer more insights about a nation's culture (Japan), than any of these other Covadonga classics.</p><p>Congratulations to MOB! </p><p>A few photos from the book (most of which, truth be known, have appeared previously on this blog), are below.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihkjcX_PoLyWih_Sa9gR4kV70Xig784CK5MvCMwU3VGuVFJevpdp5sZVCPpJIS7KjCUQ_ehu4nGlIMRQ0WTOy1wSYiM-sGefru5bac32SUvu0NKmJ_tp2OxUPMqoulBP5_gxzDaondzkUvsWx3xOPNAsL3iLrAM9QFaPYLWCLVG_kfA11kgJDvjD-Z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2393" data-original-width="2925" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihkjcX_PoLyWih_Sa9gR4kV70Xig784CK5MvCMwU3VGuVFJevpdp5sZVCPpJIS7KjCUQ_ehu4nGlIMRQ0WTOy1wSYiM-sGefru5bac32SUvu0NKmJ_tp2OxUPMqoulBP5_gxzDaondzkUvsWx3xOPNAsL3iLrAM9QFaPYLWCLVG_kfA11kgJDvjD-Z" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUjCEF3kLvOpcN3OHwbFJNysgwyLySbmKLOQC8d4ya1d0njozA76ZvGdQfh4gXeiddKt7qfzAsHUn6jSJWmI7m0ixF0PMUkWAsvmQiUp0G6y_nS3KgzOQpiYjDW_xvrQZm8G__C2itewBfPa6UorZpiaJ9zLVa_YCHbg9jmr9oNoSXQa6RSur31iHd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUjCEF3kLvOpcN3OHwbFJNysgwyLySbmKLOQC8d4ya1d0njozA76ZvGdQfh4gXeiddKt7qfzAsHUn6jSJWmI7m0ixF0PMUkWAsvmQiUp0G6y_nS3KgzOQpiYjDW_xvrQZm8G__C2itewBfPa6UorZpiaJ9zLVa_YCHbg9jmr9oNoSXQa6RSur31iHd" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSE6YCWkdMaiJB5q7j8DJaA0ysZ2RYpfSy5bbjNLc89ZTYtuTLfXPcYvJnNY269jQYRGS5jq4Wo-wRwGs5BA4C63mIoE9rEmaT8Hq-sPtQ5Oo_e605fbik-c1gQ_oYSK25FruzYlwB-7G2fXT89KesdsTTlvAPNynRnOYZ4qXlPf9eR-3QkFLOVnJ6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSE6YCWkdMaiJB5q7j8DJaA0ysZ2RYpfSy5bbjNLc89ZTYtuTLfXPcYvJnNY269jQYRGS5jq4Wo-wRwGs5BA4C63mIoE9rEmaT8Hq-sPtQ5Oo_e605fbik-c1gQ_oYSK25FruzYlwB-7G2fXT89KesdsTTlvAPNynRnOYZ4qXlPf9eR-3QkFLOVnJ6" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEinZxO7l-DeRgAprXBGCw4xrMrgOYafJ9ZtkZwticLWw5N4PQJpYh2bkkpgMIYlbL9XYK90RXbdLEnDU2HeFcVvhKMSPm8_YpW2bPr5GC9VipRJ9lHuldvqVyirSnzHZf6wtC6yA8pcR--z8EzjiEeKk7tya85aKggXzInEyF5BCXeIxLKW4vl_TH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2079" data-original-width="2872" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEinZxO7l-DeRgAprXBGCw4xrMrgOYafJ9ZtkZwticLWw5N4PQJpYh2bkkpgMIYlbL9XYK90RXbdLEnDU2HeFcVvhKMSPm8_YpW2bPr5GC9VipRJ9lHuldvqVyirSnzHZf6wtC6yA8pcR--z8EzjiEeKk7tya85aKggXzInEyF5BCXeIxLKW4vl_TH" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_z7ceiJ8u1sP5VyUuRPwyFeY62HIko2FDRUyTJ7eEJMC-l9PyljiCd1oQIzkJaQjGEwNE3RjJFSbCsqhlWgrKEOrq8kvT38iuwV1Wcf-6c7uBvVusujCYEt46t-JJCm6SrAfO0q8-uC--2vJYeYkpTC5D1y28x3Pp5RlCoRa5RsizGxmc_J2Cl6r9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3095" data-original-width="2913" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_z7ceiJ8u1sP5VyUuRPwyFeY62HIko2FDRUyTJ7eEJMC-l9PyljiCd1oQIzkJaQjGEwNE3RjJFSbCsqhlWgrKEOrq8kvT38iuwV1Wcf-6c7uBvVusujCYEt46t-JJCm6SrAfO0q8-uC--2vJYeYkpTC5D1y28x3Pp5RlCoRa5RsizGxmc_J2Cl6r9" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0dyxSd9WQezObCe2Y3C7vhbKnx7-zSD_TwENImVmVl4vx-UKv6KL9YhWEHw-iUkJ4laJFTdIQyGTNhLBhOEzUPQl8aT2IkFfh1rywpKoUJ-7GhClM3kImG0H49icZqGr9lJci47851885mxfyAQVU5kB7_oflhrFlgLEQxpUuXHReQR_38vSFN4QI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3187" data-original-width="2858" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0dyxSd9WQezObCe2Y3C7vhbKnx7-zSD_TwENImVmVl4vx-UKv6KL9YhWEHw-iUkJ4laJFTdIQyGTNhLBhOEzUPQl8aT2IkFfh1rywpKoUJ-7GhClM3kImG0H49icZqGr9lJci47851885mxfyAQVU5kB7_oflhrFlgLEQxpUuXHReQR_38vSFN4QI" width="215" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-70044933865261280492023-04-14T08:04:00.002+09:002023-04-14T08:14:20.834+09:00Upcoming Big Rides<p>Jerome and I plan to ride our 600km PBP qualifier this coming weekend. We have signed up for an Audax Kinki event -- clockwise from an area South of Osaka, through Nara, Ise, then down the Kumano coastline and around the Kii Peninsula, and back up through Wakayama Prefecture<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXGjriCEGaQEhqdHu-6a2tpm37kisJhiTwJ09m3SkRjV-Fg34PO2O8RR6K5WSOKo6DE75bTXEIrNvHJIVhaZx1c3Kpt87Rslpi1iZL9NaHu9HaBLhmEbsH_jO-I0ETaK672vKdtGMfSMoBe5RGKSsQD9fl_08oXbSkFD8UORyPDyY1M4QJF571TAq_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="657" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXGjriCEGaQEhqdHu-6a2tpm37kisJhiTwJ09m3SkRjV-Fg34PO2O8RR6K5WSOKo6DE75bTXEIrNvHJIVhaZx1c3Kpt87Rslpi1iZL9NaHu9HaBLhmEbsH_jO-I0ETaK672vKdtGMfSMoBe5RGKSsQD9fl_08oXbSkFD8UORyPDyY1M4QJF571TAq_=w400-h384" width="400" /></a></div><br />It looks like a great course. Plenty of challenge, but no more than 1000m of elevation gain for each 100km of riding, so a typical day in the countryside for Japan.<p></p><p>Unfortunately, the weather forecast for Saturday is heavy rain, with only a modest let-up after noon, then more rain until evening. In the evening at some point the rain should, it must, stop. At least it will be 10 degrees C (18 F) warmer than during the rain last month on the Chiba 400km to Shirakawa and back.</p><p>The weather forecast for Sunday, when we will be heading SW then NW along the coastline, often fully exposed to the wind ... is for stiff headwinds from the west. </p><p>So this may be a difficult event to complete. We shall see.</p><p>--------------------</p><p>Separately, I am planning for my big Golden Week adventure. I have registered with the World Ultracycling Association to attempt a Honshu end-to-end ride, from Shimonoseki to Cape Oma in Aomori. This should be around 1650kms, and should take me 5 days or so. And I will be doing it on the Pelso, via the flattest route possible.</p><p>I have been tweaking the bike -- swapped in a new pair of Schwalbe One Pro TLR 700x30 tubeless tires a bit lighter and lower rolling resistance than the Schwalbe One version I have been using on the bike for the past 18 months. I've switched dynamo lights to a better/newer model and changed the mounting position so it does not protrude so much. <br /><br />I wanted to get rid of the large mirror protruding from my right handlebar and get something a bit less of a sail. I ordered a set of two smaller cheap ones on Amazon ... but they are a bit clouded and not so nice. So I finally found one that is a good size, a clear mirror, and attaches close to my handlebars and so should have a wee bit less wind drag. Every little bit counts.</p><p>Left -- too big and protrudes into "clean air".<br />Right -- too small and cloudy.<br />Middle -- just right for the Pelso!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh679uHtXQ6DwwVqxAqsDoa33iMCjwVm7sVGvpq9KODwXzGNh3mVqnAbL3hKgO-bTDIZ_dXteHHkFwqgdQe8bvO52AjRg_HLq0yrbhXxWLfXOTo_F3idohGtpUh3baV1TGzgY0eCm-UqM75ny2KzuaOMZbR8-V7c0TvbOKYoZRoToDaxXYTMe41dCtY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2818" data-original-width="3789" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh679uHtXQ6DwwVqxAqsDoa33iMCjwVm7sVGvpq9KODwXzGNh3mVqnAbL3hKgO-bTDIZ_dXteHHkFwqgdQe8bvO52AjRg_HLq0yrbhXxWLfXOTo_F3idohGtpUh3baV1TGzgY0eCm-UqM75ny2KzuaOMZbR8-V7c0TvbOKYoZRoToDaxXYTMe41dCtY=w400-h297" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-33038359400277274622023-04-09T08:17:00.001+09:002023-04-09T08:33:22.174+09:00EF Education … SVB>?!<p><a href="https://efprocycling.com/"> EF Education</a> is one of my favorite world tour teams. The Alt Tour [de France] was more enjoyable to follow than the real tour in a recent year. And they have a very multicultural group including some promising riders … most recently featuring American Neilson Powless. They picked up Richard Carapaz, who, with Roberto Uran and Estaban Chavez, showed last week … they were not in top form nor ready to keep up with J Vingegaard at the Basque Country stage race. But the <a href="https://efeducationtibcosvb.com/">women’s team</a> EF-Timco-SVB, Canadian Alison Jackson, just won the women’s version of Paris Roubaix with an awesome effort. </p><p>I think the women’s team may be looking for a new secondary sponsor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXu8y3QF3H_K4ls0zJRlWRNn380X0y4TCqydXt4aYW8KLjU-OEiHvBuFR5K7B9c78N-2lge7gKi3VGLs1vDMDBcpSXWXDeTd-FSUbrD-FiWVVrAk1Tm66WGEigQ3jSf_E6Ow59G8bMpWqKgvIQK004rjL-K09wryWYjbOYA-L1GXSPciDD-ycvbbu/s929/78A4706F-12C1-49D9-92A2-46C230F74A3B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="929" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXu8y3QF3H_K4ls0zJRlWRNn380X0y4TCqydXt4aYW8KLjU-OEiHvBuFR5K7B9c78N-2lge7gKi3VGLs1vDMDBcpSXWXDeTd-FSUbrD-FiWVVrAk1Tm66WGEigQ3jSf_E6Ow59G8bMpWqKgvIQK004rjL-K09wryWYjbOYA-L1GXSPciDD-ycvbbu/s320/78A4706F-12C1-49D9-92A2-46C230F74A3B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkESC3N-mX2zGavmYpc9Uh6UsNiZm2FPQmNhFsTFUB0uIXxekdpFV9BqMHbYIYQrPEDZPfDcVf1aQm2j5DiDVOj33ZuQc_ZfugYFFkkxL9UOAXaU0iJ5bzO6W4kelNjusgEuW7I2fp3cJD9PE7IZ3iW_CBsXPF4zops75i9HhyCKn8ozA54rhE8_2V/s1456/F72310CD-9211-449B-80CF-B4AF5909235A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1456" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkESC3N-mX2zGavmYpc9Uh6UsNiZm2FPQmNhFsTFUB0uIXxekdpFV9BqMHbYIYQrPEDZPfDcVf1aQm2j5DiDVOj33ZuQc_ZfugYFFkkxL9UOAXaU0iJ5bzO6W4kelNjusgEuW7I2fp3cJD9PE7IZ3iW_CBsXPF4zops75i9HhyCKn8ozA54rhE8_2V/s320/F72310CD-9211-449B-80CF-B4AF5909235A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-83174336038506794202023-03-21T14:45:00.009+09:002023-04-03T19:33:54.039+09:00400km with Chiba Audax on the Worst Day of the Year* ... on the PelsoIn order to qualify for the quadrennial Paris-Brest-Paris randonee, to be held this August, I must complete a full series of 200, 300, 400, and 600km brevets by early June. Having done the 300 and 200km events in December and January, respectively, and another 200 in February while visiting the USA, I want to clear the remaining qualifiers relatively quickly, so I have plenty of time in case I need to redo one of them.<div>After all, things can go wrong: things like a mechanical issue or minor stomach upset that result in a DNF. Or bigger things, like an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster that stop all train services and result in cancellation of Audax rides for at least a few weeks. Or even a pandemic lockdown that stops all Audax rides for awhile.<div>Over the years things HAVE gone wrong. At this point in my randonneuring career, I've seen it all, or at least most of it. So I know I should plan ahead and try to consider contingencies.</div></div><div>It was in that spirit that I signed up for the Chiba Audax March 18 400km "GO Shirakawa" brevet. The course started from Abiko -- same location as <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2022/04/400km-springtime-ride-all-around-chiba.html">last year's Chiba 400km around Boso Peninsula</a> -- but it headed in the opposite direction, north through Ibaraki and Tochigi as far as Shirakawa in southern Fukushima Prefecture, then back along an almost parallel North-South route somewhat further east, eventually, reaching the Pacific coastline at Oarai near Mito, then eventually looping back to Abiko.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd-T0C1Dfy3zGeMu-Q1rGuHThqGSXfQFuRmtWIgww8icE_j3sPlgRjI6l0bSAv5p87Q0uffYbl2eWOdP6ayoVN6kyEKAovmiivgyqoUSkCWvibWSsRgIw8ulGuZ_mE9dCd3WPLTVnR6KO2KkPUqKsch5sULRDmApPEdmeZDAWTuXZBOP4LdgoBA41e" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1164" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd-T0C1Dfy3zGeMu-Q1rGuHThqGSXfQFuRmtWIgww8icE_j3sPlgRjI6l0bSAv5p87Q0uffYbl2eWOdP6ayoVN6kyEKAovmiivgyqoUSkCWvibWSsRgIw8ulGuZ_mE9dCd3WPLTVnR6KO2KkPUqKsch5sULRDmApPEdmeZDAWTuXZBOP4LdgoBA41e=w600-h640" width="600" /></a></div></div><div>The course looked relatively easy. It had no relentless climbing, and no high mountains, only one sub-500 meter elevation pass at the Tochigi/Fukushima border, and the usual ups and downs elsewhere. The final 60kms was pancake flat.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv8CdUaaDGQFi-zyWmpo7zj9BjNwILQ8sbkaN_y_t88jGBHoV4K9xo4sVzMLXCpGcm_Ezaw84y-x04ZCEXgtFSCb93CghhuU2v-1aw8M7gceC7qerO0MW-rQ4QfWyyfGUmEg7MvE8_VqnhWTxONA678dLNFwjr5kVVrYo_Z13yp6I1zEPuavpMbPNp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="2080" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv8CdUaaDGQFi-zyWmpo7zj9BjNwILQ8sbkaN_y_t88jGBHoV4K9xo4sVzMLXCpGcm_Ezaw84y-x04ZCEXgtFSCb93CghhuU2v-1aw8M7gceC7qerO0MW-rQ4QfWyyfGUmEg7MvE8_VqnhWTxONA678dLNFwjr5kVVrYo_Z13yp6I1zEPuavpMbPNp=w640-h198" width="640" /></a></div></div><div>But the course looked at least less boring than a typical Kanto winter ride. Heading north from Abiko, the route was mostly in the countryside. There would be traffic lights, but they would not be endless, and there would be no 20-25km straight agricultural road in the midst of flat fields. And the entire return would be on Saturday night into Sunday morning, with light or even no traffic on some highways that I would not enjoy riding during the day. The Chiba Audax website listed the "difficulty" as 2 stars out of 5. Easy.</div><div>RidewithGPS showed 3800 meters of elevation gain on the 400km course. But a close examination of the route led me to think the actual climbing would be well under 3000 meters, probably closer to 2000. (In fact, my GPS measured just under 2000 meters when all was said and done). The climb between Nasu and Shirakawa, the one almost to 500m elevation, was very gradual, only the last few kilometers exceeding 5%. Most other climbs seemed to be less then one kilometer long, with elevation gain less than 75 meters. </div><div>As the ride date approached, I started to think ... maybe, just maybe, I could do this event on the Pelso recumbent? I cannot climb well on the Pelso, but I can go fast on a flat course -- faster than on my other "diamond frame" bikes. And <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2021/11/brevet-on-brevet.html">I have gone 400km on it before, once</a>. Even if I ended up walking up the last few kilometers of that one bigger climb, and a few smaller climbs later in the course, maybe the Pelso would be as fast as another bike? At least it should be fast enough to complete within the 27 hour time limit. </div><div>So I decided to ride the Pelso.</div><div>As the ride date got even closer, however, the weather forecast started to look ominous. By 2-3 days before the ride, the forecast was showing heavy rain throughout the relevant area of Japan on March 18. Andrei O., who was also riding and is also planning to do PBP, mentioned the forecast. <br />Worse yet, it would be very cold, nearly freezing, and the winds on Saturday would be steady out of the north. In Shirakawa, we might be riding in sleet. To sum it up, we would be riding from Abiko to Shirakawa (165kms) directly into the wind, in heavy rain, and near freezing, winter-like temperatures. I remembered <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2015/03/attack-nikko-attack-beef-line-feebly.html">a brevet in mid-March eight years ago</a>, when Jerome and I rode with Japanese randonneurs in the wee hours through northern Ibaraki, in weather that was much colder than anticipated. I remembered a slog down the Beef Line, barely warm enough to keep going, knowing that to stop would be even worse. I warned Andrei that it might be colder than expected.</div><div>Given the weather forecast, I waffled on whether to go ahead with the Pelso. In the rain, the reclined body position offers full exposure to the elements. Rain hits my face and goes straight into my eyes -- blinding me temporarily if I do not have appropriate eyewear. Sleet would be even worse. And in the rain, my feet tend to slip off of the flat pedals that I prefer for riding the Pelso. </div><div>In the end, I decided to stick with the Pelso. Forewarned is forearmed. I would take a real rain jacket, rain pants, new REI Goretex rain covers for my Amfib Q36.5 gloves, and other appropriate gear. I swapped out the flat pedals for SPD pedals. I would wear SPD/mountain biking shoes. I also would bring spare warm socks, gloves, winter head cover, inner layer, socks, etc., just in case needed during the trip.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfu_-PSYKx7gk4lQ3GIKKkH3ev20LLRmjLyv8NZsQmCEyMVQe2cdY9I26qPzuDvo2f2NjypUG2E8iH7eflEktEfw2pkUuXgq_4Eiy_44UZZfxIvW8bGPMFNxNJrl22iQzpNTi_4uXv7vH3xxy33GKQZOkAcVpxC2Vjc_4fQBID8tk-YFixeK7D2DZ_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1068" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfu_-PSYKx7gk4lQ3GIKKkH3ev20LLRmjLyv8NZsQmCEyMVQe2cdY9I26qPzuDvo2f2NjypUG2E8iH7eflEktEfw2pkUuXgq_4Eiy_44UZZfxIvW8bGPMFNxNJrl22iQzpNTi_4uXv7vH3xxy33GKQZOkAcVpxC2Vjc_4fQBID8tk-YFixeK7D2DZ_=w640-h442" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only 23 out of 90 registrants started the ride. Chiba Audax allowed people to switch entries to a 200km brevet on Sunday if they did not want to challenge the difficult conditions. A dozen did so. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Still feeling jet-lagged and somewhat sleep-deprived from a return to Japan on Monday ... I removed the wheels from the Pelso and fit the beast of a bicycle into my car on Friday evening. On Saturday I woke at 430AM, still not feeling well-rested, and was driving toward Abiko in the rain shortly after 5AM. I arrived, set up the bike in the rain, and proceeded to the Start area. There were about 25 people there, including the organizers. The vast majority of the 90 registrants were marked "DNS" due to the weather. What was left was a relatively hard core group. The organizer told us that this was an easy course ... except for the weather. He also announced that they would not enforce the time limit at the Oarai Kaigan control point (288kms), to offer more flexibility to complete the ride. These messages, an "easy" course, but a need for more time to clear the control over 70% of the way through the ride, seemed inconsistent to me.</div><div>And then we were off. I made it up the first short hill out of the start, my heart racing, and continued making good time over the first hour. One Japanese rider, Kimura-san, passed me with a reflective vest labeled "組長" or "boss". I kept catching up to him at traffic lights over the next 5 kms until he finally cleared one that I missed in Tsukuba. He told me that he was only fast at the beginning. I took this as typical Japanese humility ... but in fact, now see that he finished at the back of the group. </div><div>I needed a bathroom break so pulled off at a Family Mart where our course turned east in Tsukuba at 31.5km. I also got some food, and could see lots of riders passing me by. A few blocks after I started up again, I turned to go up a curb cut and onto a wide sidewalk ... failing to realize that the curb cut was covered in slick metal. Wham, I went down on my left side as the wheels came out from under me. Fortunately, with the Pelso recumbent, this fall was not much worse than, say, rolling off a sofa onto a floor. No injuries to me nor bike (other than a need to re-set my chain and readjust my handlebars), and so I continued.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif7NeRlBkdEHFVUwsol_uWTtyvnRd1BJgglXHaOZZoWlixFzAW9U8EfVFTbUWk-LqdKBaZwfkbq0ptpl_sGqIvaGkExq3UHokjBxLgTR2xXdTDE6g5BulakVdAuD57TrshH_4IMkLnnS20vikA6gGoRFl0_8nehHGrWOSwQGTSztlF7XBuCS9DGGsk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif7NeRlBkdEHFVUwsol_uWTtyvnRd1BJgglXHaOZZoWlixFzAW9U8EfVFTbUWk-LqdKBaZwfkbq0ptpl_sGqIvaGkExq3UHokjBxLgTR2xXdTDE6g5BulakVdAuD57TrshH_4IMkLnnS20vikA6gGoRFl0_8nehHGrWOSwQGTSztlF7XBuCS9DGGsk=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temporary shelter in Tsukuba</td></tr></tbody></table>By late morning, the rain was, if anything, stronger, and the temperature, if anything, colder. And the headwind had picked up ... not as vicious as some Spring winds in northern Kanto, but steady. We crossed from Sakuragawa in Ibaraki into Mashiko in Tochigi. Mashiko is known for its style of pottery, but there were few people out and about today anywhere. This entire part of Japan was familiar to me from my days locating sites for and developing solar projects. Our team ended up with two Tochigi projects further north and west, but also spent endless hours roaming this part of the prefecture with local partners looking at sites that, for one reason or another, did not pan out. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVqvRuAroimbu8j_yhEhw5kLKGbeCUpoxg5RVEFpeu6WMqURxEudomylvANG5IS8ZuPXJm29xupnvtbpm0KdBCntQaUQZJuox5KODHZqCCoKmDIOShoUemcM0zP4TfdBQVeQrZfbFv1cQnxWUqwNx6WwT5uwi7VbjjQ0ZihU4kw_HroOUVx58iym-G" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="2345" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVqvRuAroimbu8j_yhEhw5kLKGbeCUpoxg5RVEFpeu6WMqURxEudomylvANG5IS8ZuPXJm29xupnvtbpm0KdBCntQaUQZJuox5KODHZqCCoKmDIOShoUemcM0zP4TfdBQVeQrZfbFv1cQnxWUqwNx6WwT5uwi7VbjjQ0ZihU4kw_HroOUVx58iym-G=w640-h366" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NW Ibaraki</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>By 145PM, I was at 133kms, slowing down, and really cold and wet. The rain was strong (stronger than the forecast, at least tenki.jp's forecast), the temperature was maybe 3-4 degrees celsius (38F?), and the headwind continued. I pulled into a convenience store for some lunch. There was no "eat in" space. Across the road was Otawara City's "<a href="https://www.city.ohtawara.tochigi.jp/docs/2013082764706/">Kurashi-no-kan</a>" that seemed as if it might at offer some covered space ... but looked very dark and cold. I decided not to head over. Instead, I went outside the store and adjusted my recumbent, raising the seat back maybe 3-4 cms, to try and get more power on the upcoming climbs and to be a bit more stable starting and stopping. I came back inside and ordered coffee. The staff ignored my presence sipping coffee inside the store by the front window ... against the rules. In the end, it was nearly a 30 minute stop but I did not feel much better as I restarted. Still cold and wet and tired. </div><div>As I continued on, I found that my hands were not moving well due to the cold. I could barely move my shifter using my right thumb, even applying all the weight of my arms from an odd angle. I rode for at most 30 minutes/10km before another stop, this one at a <a href="https://michinoeki-tosando.jp/chaya.html">michi no eki in Iono</a>. They were selling some cooked foods ... at a cafe window with seating only outdoors (though at least it was under a roof cover). Eating outside would not help in my current condition. The main indoor area was a vegetable market, selling local produce. I went in and asked if there was someplace warm I could just sit and warm a bit. The woman at the cash register led me to a back area where there was a table and bench, and told me to make myself at home. It was not toasty, but at least it was a lot warmer than outside. After 15 minutes I got up to leave ... but one foot outside and I realized I needed a bit longer. I had a spare pair of winter gloves with me (forewarned!), that I had wanted to save until after the rain stopped. But I realized I would never make it up the next hill without changing into them. The Goretex mitten covers ... would not fit, as these gloves were bulkier than my Q36.5 Amfibs. Anyway, the stop took nearly 30 minutes in total, but at least I headed out with warmer hands and wearing dry, warm gloves. </div><div>Miraculously, the rain started to lighten up a bit after a few minutes of riding. At this rate ... less than 1mm precipitation per hour ... I might make it with my second pair of gloves dry. The road turned up, elevation gradually climbing from 220m elev toward the pass at 460m. I was able to climb okay and make decent time now. This was the climb I had thought I might need to walk, perhaps as much as 2-3kms. In fact, I was doing okay, but I slowed to the point where, for the last 500m or so, I dismounted and walked to save energy. It was already after 4PM, but at least I was at the high point for the entire ride, had done 155kms, and would get some rest on the next section. Andrei O's photo of this stretch from a bit earlier ... as he was now far ahead, is below.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT-uSo98V3waJkIUFLuLY9ilPwPGgKUEASWaQTbQINNnLzLS4VhbTWMmzDZ_y0CDXt6tcCr18PqXkFIFn9lK5DbX2zXD-9RbfZLPLzeM-E921w_rtQoG5QqQRzU5Sf8lUSamaBBDh7EXKLK9tLz8SWV3YjGw7fxdUTe58TPWrESoXgX3XPz8lchwPm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT-uSo98V3waJkIUFLuLY9ilPwPGgKUEASWaQTbQINNnLzLS4VhbTWMmzDZ_y0CDXt6tcCr18PqXkFIFn9lK5DbX2zXD-9RbfZLPLzeM-E921w_rtQoG5QqQRzU5Sf8lUSamaBBDh7EXKLK9tLz8SWV3YjGw7fxdUTe58TPWrESoXgX3XPz8lchwPm" width="320" /></a></div><br />The minute I reached the descent on the northern side of the slope, into Fukushima Prefecture, the rain turned to sleet. The sleet stung as it hit my face. But it was still falling lightly, and the road was not icy. I could descend at decent speed toward the next control point (a photo at Nanko Park in Shirakawa 166km) then to the Tora Shokudo (171km) where the organizers had suggested we stop for food. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsvRRY8PElycqE-IopQENg1PFMiWNiJ-3vZUec-qLR4Wk6Y1sJsnZrtNQgF4tTheFPwRsIqxlkHEc5QOZWnQcqZ4wUlOtt-VJ8oWQf0k2rws7-5VW0Ia1mRNsW8kfIEKqWhUUyzfdEn3557zZW93GgNSNIhKJ7chvVgyBTSe__1qZlhcyRON6YT_aE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsvRRY8PElycqE-IopQENg1PFMiWNiJ-3vZUec-qLR4Wk6Y1sJsnZrtNQgF4tTheFPwRsIqxlkHEc5QOZWnQcqZ4wUlOtt-VJ8oWQf0k2rws7-5VW0Ia1mRNsW8kfIEKqWhUUyzfdEn3557zZW93GgNSNIhKJ7chvVgyBTSe__1qZlhcyRON6YT_aE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Nanko Park in Shirakawa</td></tr></tbody></table>The restaurant's interior was warm, there was room for me to place my wet outer wear next to my seat in a box on the floor, and the ramen tasted better than any I have ever had. I used the toilet and changed from my soaking wet inner layer into my warm, long-sleeved turtleneck Q36.5 base layer. In the end, a 50 minute stop. If I total the 16 min stop at 31kms, 20 mins at the first PC at 88kms, the 2x30min stops in Otawara and Iono, 7 mins at Nanko Park, the 50min stop at Tora Shokudo, and 10 mins a few minutes later to get new batteries for my rear light, ... I must have been off the bicycle at least 163 mins during the first 175 kms. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAwDGgEWHA_2c9v00_C0tv9v2FnPPjaGZ793QfEvzSujbImG4ATruc2RI2mgeBIuyYqW_if_i1y5Quxp9Jdk0T7SpFTTTYdCwBmbkq-9Vtn3Ufks71v805CL_3Svldwh8tn7VuHbknmzN6HMyf7_ee1aREd9NmrGY3Bdd2dZXdY3XGgG7sHNs7JJZH" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAwDGgEWHA_2c9v00_C0tv9v2FnPPjaGZ793QfEvzSujbImG4ATruc2RI2mgeBIuyYqW_if_i1y5Quxp9Jdk0T7SpFTTTYdCwBmbkq-9Vtn3Ufks71v805CL_3Svldwh8tn7VuHbknmzN6HMyf7_ee1aREd9NmrGY3Bdd2dZXdY3XGgG7sHNs7JJZH=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best ramen I've ever tasted?!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUugrHh_SuxpxSMnIs2BwkxMb7Lj22c2akPlzreAcFBT5QbfSDBdUXvJEj-m3l9bXn_9wiyJVBsIt3874k9olKjR957nWrO0lmPU2S_Aun7ywyYH6LXWfYf1GH99hGPBzYfKarRAzRpM1bRXHsJUkfGhf2iIQ1IqNbIPYUSYxULkOAjlzFJ45bAKB3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUugrHh_SuxpxSMnIs2BwkxMb7Lj22c2akPlzreAcFBT5QbfSDBdUXvJEj-m3l9bXn_9wiyJVBsIt3874k9olKjR957nWrO0lmPU2S_Aun7ywyYH6LXWfYf1GH99hGPBzYfKarRAzRpM1bRXHsJUkfGhf2iIQ1IqNbIPYUSYxULkOAjlzFJ45bAKB3" width="320" /></a></div><br />But the rain had almost stopped, and from here (175kms in, at just after 6:00PM) the route would head east, then south, with the wind at our backs. Indeed, I actually made very good time from here most of the way to Hitachinaka, 100kms further on. The temperature indicators by the roadside first showed 1 degree Celsius, then 2 degrees, then finally 3. I could see stars in places now -- my gaze upward as I reclined on the recumbent. By 11PM, I had gone 265kms total. This entire stretch from Shirakawa had started at around 300m elevation, and ended close to sea level. There were a few intermediate climbs, but all of them were short. A few I walked up, if I felt at all unsteady, taking a couple minutes rest from the bike. But most I could ride up. I took one more short stop, then pressed on to the Oarai Kaigan 7-11 control point.</div><div>I got a rice w/ melted cheese and sauce "doria" at the convenience store, heated up. Here, the staff person shooed me outside when I tried to eat it just inside the front door. "no eating permitted inside!" Well, I explained, it was so hot that I got cold waiting for it to cool down to an edible temperature. She was not buying my story, even though it was after midnight and very cold still outside. Ugh. A Chiba Audax staffer had been at the Tora Shokudo, and was here as well at Oarai. I asked if there was any place to rest up ahead ... a coin laundry, internet cafe, onsen, or similar? ... he said there was not much until Kashima, the 337km checkpoint. Another 25-30 mins off the bike, then I pressed on. </div><div>Finally, around km 326, on the eastern side of Lake Kitaura, there was a 7-11 that had a mini-coin-laundry in its parking lot, a small shed with 4 dryers, enclosed with a glass front door/window. You can <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/kYXrbGdHeTojPTNc9">see it here with google street view</a>. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsG35uIsYQRseh1jgyapE-s8isRmzs6EWkeEeSouQYz80jcql5-uw0w-fQrYG7GA4x629CDuX3aChEVlDCpXgDr59gyqpcyl2rdx2K9HZzIkjs0X5vagB2R3Rk-eTonAwISQfCFwSARCvIG5F6FpLSZZsxsiXD98lpAXG69wXsfMjZ2KZqrrbM6Y9x" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="740" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsG35uIsYQRseh1jgyapE-s8isRmzs6EWkeEeSouQYz80jcql5-uw0w-fQrYG7GA4x629CDuX3aChEVlDCpXgDr59gyqpcyl2rdx2K9HZzIkjs0X5vagB2R3Rk-eTonAwISQfCFwSARCvIG5F6FpLSZZsxsiXD98lpAXG69wXsfMjZ2KZqrrbM6Y9x" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 3AM rest shed</td></tr></tbody></table>The space was not heated, but it was protected from the wind. I put all my extra/wet gear in the dryer and set it for 24 minutes, laying down on the floor mat in front. I could feel warmth from the dryer on my hands, and slept immediately, waking to the buzz of the dryer alarm. There was another audax cyclist lying down motionless across in the parking lot in the lee of the 7-11 building. ... it looked cold out there. I added another 100 yen to run the machine another 12 minutes, and slept again until the next buzzer. The rider had moved on by the time I awoke. </div><div>After heading a few hundred meters further and noticing my front light was not working, I stopped to fix the wire ... and two riders passed me and zoomed up a hill, as our route left the Kitaura lakeside. Including both my rest and the repair work, by the time I was back on my way ... it had been another 50+ minute stop, but a much needed and very effective one. I walked up the hill then remounted. Finally, I made it to Kashima Jingu. The shrine looked huge, and quiet. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXVbDFXQjqC8tLjgYZ3uXN-Uv58pXM3Lp-vzokZjFlYuLi0n4q3leP0P-zpymkxWxGlItva3v3DcEQ55zjCkMDtPnElcyNFUZguhu3LjbwPATocKzukI1T6n0OoXhrDiDQbC4WO7nJuQrkPLY1-16ezjxWXjBppjnAYRIu783IsW3l1FknhR5v8A0j" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXVbDFXQjqC8tLjgYZ3uXN-Uv58pXM3Lp-vzokZjFlYuLi0n4q3leP0P-zpymkxWxGlItva3v3DcEQ55zjCkMDtPnElcyNFUZguhu3LjbwPATocKzukI1T6n0OoXhrDiDQbC4WO7nJuQrkPLY1-16ezjxWXjBppjnAYRIu783IsW3l1FknhR5v8A0j=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Kashima Jingu ... bicycle parking</td></tr></tbody></table>It was now just past 4:30AM, and there were two other riders at the shrine, one of whom had asked questions about the Pelso and introduced himself to me earlier as Warabe (based on the start list, last name Shiraki-san), and was the guy who had been resting earlier by the 7-11, I believe. After the obligatory photo as proof of passage and a short rest, it was on toward the next PC ... and now riding into the wind for the last 65 kms. I reached that PC and chatted a bit with Warabe-san. There were two younger riders as well who had zoomed past as I fixed my light connection, one said he was 31 yrs old, the other 38. They looked like college kids. I headed out ahead of them but stopped when the course started to parallel the road along the Tonegawa. I wondered, ... should we ride up on the levy on the bike path (last year's Chiba 400 had taken that in the opposite direction) or stay down on the road? The two youngish riders passed me and stayed on the road. I followed, keeping to the road, eventually passed them, and did not stop again until I got about 30kms away from the PC, only 20km left to the Goal. I could see Audax riders heading down the road in the opposite direction. Apparently they were from <a href="https://www.ar-nihonbashi.org/2022-brm318-nihonbashi400/">a Nihombashi event, another 400k</a> that started 5-6 hours later than we had (and so had had 5-6 hours less rain!). </div><div>I pulled off to the side of the road and removed some clothing ... my rain jacket, winter cap, and helmet cover. And I switched back to the somewhat lighter weight gloves. It was at least 6-7 degrees C now and warming gradually, the sun above the horizon. Indeed, Sunday looked like a lovely day for a bike ride, even if Saturday had not been! I could go noticeably faster without so much gear on. Less wind resistance, I guess? In any event, the finish was so close now, I could taste it. I pushed through, puzzled over which of three 7-11 stores within a kilometer of each other was the official end point, finally needed to consult my cue sheet, google maps, and confirm some kanji readings then loop back to the correct one and pick up my receipt. The two 30-something riders came in just as I entered the store. I checked in at the finish with the organizers, headed back to my car just as Warabe-san came rolling in, packed up my bicycle, ... and napped for an hour before driving home. </div><div>I finished in 25 hours and 33 minutes. There were 23 finishers in all, 6 after me and 16 ahead. Andrei was the first in, in 21 hours and 11 minutes. I think if I had been well-rested, in decent weather, and on a normal bike, this could have been a 21-22 hour event. Amazing that Andrei could do it that quickly despite the conditions (he had similar difficulties in the cold and wet ... and a 90 minute stop to rest and warm up). But then again, if we had had decent weather ... it would not have been an adventure. </div><div><br /></div><div>Postscript: I must say that the recovery from this ride, now 3 days ago, has been much tougher than other recent long rides. At the end of the ride, my butt was very sore where it had been resting on the edge of the recumbent's carbon seat. Usually I ride the Pelso laying on top of the seat, but by changing the seat to a steeper angle, I was effectively sitting on the bottom edge and applying more weight on a narrow edge there. I did not notice it until ... after 8 or 10 hours riding in that position. With the seat elevated and SPD cleats, I could not move around on the seat but was locked in one position. The last couple times I got on the bike ... I really did not want to sit down on it again. Also perhaps from the single position, my knees hurt just a bit during the ride, but not significantly. Spinning in a low gear helped defray the issues of a single position. But the leg stiffness following the ride was much worse than usual. Overall, I was exhausted the next two days. I think I started the ride tired -- both from bad jet-lag and not enough sleep on Wednesday evening, and an early Saturday start with not an early enough sleep on Friday night. Also, climbing on the recumbent I find I am quickly going "into the red zone" -- pushing the pedals at an unsustainable power output. Those repeated "red zone" efforts, trying to get a heavy bike and an overweight rider up a slope, took a toll on my cardio vascular system. I'm being careful to just rest and recover so that now, on Wednesday, I feel ready to re-engage fully. Also, I should add that this Spring the pollen levels in this part of Japan have been off the charts. The rain on Saturday of course kept them down ... but once the rain stopped, and definitely by early Sunday, they must have come back with a vengeance, and pollen levels have stayed high since. I'm on medication, but I think the impact of the pollen has probably complicated the normal recovery. <br /><br />I think next time I try to ride the Pelso 400kms or more, I will stick with my flat pedals, and will try to make sure that I am wearing shoes that will not slip in the rain, rather than going with cleats. And in warmer weather I hope I will be able to avoid the baggy un-aero clothing, and also will be a few kgs lighter!</div><div><br />*Portland Oregon has an annual "worst day of the year" bicycle ride on the last Sunday of winter. This ride, on the last Saturday into the last Sunday, and in these conditions, was close enough.<br /><br />Addendum: I next rode the Pelso on April 2, for around 95kms in pleasant weather -- to get coffee with the Tokyo Cranks, view sakura along the Tamagawa, and then a few errands on the way home. It felt faster. And more comfortable. I had ridden the day before so did not push my pace, but still made decent time. I felt far better than I had on the Chiba 400kms. With flat pedals and some running shoes, and the seat a bit lower down - not "slammed" but not elevated as I had done for the climbing, I could make decent time with less effort and more comfort. Next, I'm going to get some new tires and do some modest maintenance, and I should have it ready for an ultra distance attempt during Golden Week. </div><div><br /></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-87299129361080510412023-03-07T15:12:00.000+09:002023-03-07T15:12:11.864+09:00Size Does Matter<p>I used the same mini-pump for at least the past 15 years. That pump still works, even if it needs to be tightened at times. But it is getting old, and it sometimes slips off the valve, especially if the valve does not protrude far enough from a deep rim.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYO9hHtUBRTwrKDdMtE75XOzSX2_ls1vxmUWUgz6kY_okpYKM2xUjR7JxEpHtnY6R65FOQMEAdjC0uTpZPlfOVnOK58Ky8Srk3lTw3WtHZslbAEdrbALn_2ftkMOmarV3TZMvnHWXf4NxhwFLUEZTIAEZxBWL3yD9fzn0TTtBZes6TR4sjmvEjOvYk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYO9hHtUBRTwrKDdMtE75XOzSX2_ls1vxmUWUgz6kY_okpYKM2xUjR7JxEpHtnY6R65FOQMEAdjC0uTpZPlfOVnOK58Ky8Srk3lTw3WtHZslbAEdrbALn_2ftkMOmarV3TZMvnHWXf4NxhwFLUEZTIAEZxBWL3yD9fzn0TTtBZes6TR4sjmvEjOvYk=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road Drive vs Pocket Drive</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So I wanted to get a mini pump that I could screw on securely to the tube/tire valve, a design that others (including Jerome) use. So last year I ordered a Lezyne "Pocket Drive" pump that had good reviews. It is tiny and fits easily in a back pocket of a jersey. But it is too small. With a 700x28 or 700x30 tire, the tire is still lower than I would like after several hundred pump strokes. Each stroke just does not push through much air. It might work for a 700x23 tire ... but no one rides those anymore. Also, I noticed that when I tighten the flexible hose to the Pocket Drive before affixing to the valve ... the threads are at an angle. It still works, but it shows careless workmanship, something I did not expect from a premium brand like Lezyne.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicLAF-e2gfPmViZznU3P31H919uvnPdykQD6hi9fX3Cb3R2_FhyY4I0fJIpDm8QIqOnqIirCk8wD9fLjOfrcAw4i5Wv7-m4BJDPJ8E5S7gpXJ1e0x_JRpDCf6SYcinM_DGHtQvGJ9q-vTWc7QcvJh8Ya9oOSzROwfs5qWwlGkz9K9BGw4jEc0HSrn6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicLAF-e2gfPmViZznU3P31H919uvnPdykQD6hi9fX3Cb3R2_FhyY4I0fJIpDm8QIqOnqIirCk8wD9fLjOfrcAw4i5Wv7-m4BJDPJ8E5S7gpXJ1e0x_JRpDCf6SYcinM_DGHtQvGJ9q-vTWc7QcvJh8Ya9oOSzROwfs5qWwlGkz9K9BGw4jEc0HSrn6=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off-of-true threads on the Pocket Drive</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When I happened by a bike store last week, I saw some other Lezyne mini pumps. One, the Road Drive, comes in several different sizes. There was one that is just enough bigger than the Pocket Drive to ... actually pump up a tire in 150-200 pumpstrokes. And the workmanship is what I would expect from Lezyne. And it is still plenty small for carrying on rides. Problem solved. I hope this one lasts another 15 years!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBh5QqDoabH8jTspWMAfFZWXFBRZLUmh2ToAcWqNE223tS_4iXpKu4T8jkfW8njLyP336Rn-wEAPEt82Sf2gkI9pB8ueb6M85h5xqFCXnEf6esd3tczHdQ1JE9AHhW-oKFgoHa6QBS26SE4rv0q7M-GaQflj96wlh-al-bRYNHgTUnDA64FgSNKBu8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBh5QqDoabH8jTspWMAfFZWXFBRZLUmh2ToAcWqNE223tS_4iXpKu4T8jkfW8njLyP336Rn-wEAPEt82Sf2gkI9pB8ueb6M85h5xqFCXnEf6esd3tczHdQ1JE9AHhW-oKFgoHa6QBS26SE4rv0q7M-GaQflj96wlh-al-bRYNHgTUnDA64FgSNKBu8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Road Drive is far more functional for my purposes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-57372208500299858432023-03-07T14:51:00.007+09:002023-03-07T14:51:58.120+09:00200km Winter Brevet with the Seattle Randonneurs<p>I arrived in Seattle on Thursday February 9, just in time for a Saturday 200km brevet with the Seattle randonneurs. The ride started and finished in Redmond, east of Seattle. We headed NNE though rolling hills and exurbs, eventually into rural/pickup truck country. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijlaSwlXrS-pcuf7yE7eQEcqV1gcbw1eTt67T-NxDuRu5XMHQgCE_tGh5M2kMyCY41HOHb1zmjX7h4Pr7smHIcaRvo11874Sg2vSyoS8LlIjvCPQ37wdjVOTY-yn5O90ckPEmrT51dxYHqwfZDl5dMBf6xu1EU-l3Dq3zSVjcchNWCJzjQUeSQ7Gz0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1034" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijlaSwlXrS-pcuf7yE7eQEcqV1gcbw1eTt67T-NxDuRu5XMHQgCE_tGh5M2kMyCY41HOHb1zmjX7h4Pr7smHIcaRvo11874Sg2vSyoS8LlIjvCPQ37wdjVOTY-yn5O90ckPEmrT51dxYHqwfZDl5dMBf6xu1EU-l3Dq3zSVjcchNWCJzjQUeSQ7Gz0=w640-h470" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There were lots of riders I recognized from ... Japan, Tasmania, and previous Seattle rides. The ride organizer, Mitch Ishihara, has ridden in Japan as well as that menorable<a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-spectacular-sir-summer-gravel.html"> 2016 600k gravel grinder</a>. Also Hugh Kimball, who pulled me in a vicious headwind on the gravel grinder. Stalwart Vinnie was there. And Rick Blacker, who I think I last saw in Tasmania (he can be seen in photos below giving the finger to the camera lens). ... and many others. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTHKBEDNhHTQ_7bRDRoQ_jlOWI4zIb66OJTLsmrBOEvpRHp17fgcg6lzgj2Ebo6aV9gJp810ED4yMhuTo2Zs4_XX0pyublcqfb8Jrj9bExVg-uF2MsKyoNBeNC8UgVIaBMh2DRqHsUV78SjQUfIWwFFtbFUZGRooet0KaipVnLZY55iDZnnzrITdkK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1089" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTHKBEDNhHTQ_7bRDRoQ_jlOWI4zIb66OJTLsmrBOEvpRHp17fgcg6lzgj2Ebo6aV9gJp810ED4yMhuTo2Zs4_XX0pyublcqfb8Jrj9bExVg-uF2MsKyoNBeNC8UgVIaBMh2DRqHsUV78SjQUfIWwFFtbFUZGRooet0KaipVnLZY55iDZnnzrITdkK=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>On the opening 50km, I settled into riding at the rear of a reasonably fast group, just behind Narayan K., whose hand signals and warnings about upcoming obstacles were exemplary. Narayan said he ran the Camp Mazama (last overnight) control at last year's Cascade 1400 ... which <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2022/07/welcome-back-to-america-land-of-freedom.html">I had hoped to join.</a> .</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuIZ7WYOaXfJDL4SFaTHxIjsRBDqAt4LI83BZ9dzyf58mHyOsqDUiQ929Z5ZPgO2m6FrzAZvBi0nJVIgT8YLpA2m6kINIO_ugEKheUGmkloyP2E8T282-aw0_P2UlTsF_dIYYf4zMaz22ht8Dka2xy3kgG_1LBWAMByjVioh6hqz63XyChx5-c_Dqy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuIZ7WYOaXfJDL4SFaTHxIjsRBDqAt4LI83BZ9dzyf58mHyOsqDUiQ929Z5ZPgO2m6FrzAZvBi0nJVIgT8YLpA2m6kINIO_ugEKheUGmkloyP2E8T282-aw0_P2UlTsF_dIYYf4zMaz22ht8Dka2xy3kgG_1LBWAMByjVioh6hqz63XyChx5-c_Dqy=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQsvEhEte0vtIl3qDhxZ2vxSu5sDIN6akt-D9GRF216T7T7mc3YCVgZkM0z851hY677bv_8aWpyZWo9Y7zscsx_-Fu3YyeL4QNnUMbeswMbcFnytk0hm_X2pRObz920wbKCBwY81A9U4lHc6n6KcOCLxn9csRsy9soQXH7AZgNviMgWsa2Tgy6dO0R" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1146" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQsvEhEte0vtIl3qDhxZ2vxSu5sDIN6akt-D9GRF216T7T7mc3YCVgZkM0z851hY677bv_8aWpyZWo9Y7zscsx_-Fu3YyeL4QNnUMbeswMbcFnytk0hm_X2pRObz920wbKCBwY81A9U4lHc6n6KcOCLxn9csRsy9soQXH7AZgNviMgWsa2Tgy6dO0R=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cannot ask for better weather in winter -- dry, and even some blue sky.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglXySDZ9SoSVBssab0ybBDBIt8PB52LTcQMqqmBOD2RvsE9zE1IIMsJkcXc_gjPLCG15g5uNSRe4aiMWpQjxIYtnnryc4u9r7E2zIL6ff4XQA7-0Ag7N7MnLzJEYDC1p0o0_INe-Z1BqG7BynTQzJtDlwhFawDlPRnAixfxt8vpmD60IZB08nlT09O" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1057" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglXySDZ9SoSVBssab0ybBDBIt8PB52LTcQMqqmBOD2RvsE9zE1IIMsJkcXc_gjPLCG15g5uNSRe4aiMWpQjxIYtnnryc4u9r7E2zIL6ff4XQA7-0Ag7N7MnLzJEYDC1p0o0_INe-Z1BqG7BynTQzJtDlwhFawDlPRnAixfxt8vpmD60IZB08nlT09O=w640-h450" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Roesinger</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEentk_rQPx2xLCRDKBmLkHEvLcJJ_tBMx41DIqVfKpDERMe0wnL_m94-N7PpQtUUdldQ9_wdD9MyZI13BPp0sQXQ5NNp-0l356FquIVnp8ixxZ5wT1N207WTGOUSbjdO1ORiveNChuHF7e6z0d27ojDXP7bYyRv14sXB2j-TJKSBOUmvErBHmaPdU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1064" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEentk_rQPx2xLCRDKBmLkHEvLcJJ_tBMx41DIqVfKpDERMe0wnL_m94-N7PpQtUUdldQ9_wdD9MyZI13BPp0sQXQ5NNp-0l356FquIVnp8ixxZ5wT1N207WTGOUSbjdO1ORiveNChuHF7e6z0d27ojDXP7bYyRv14sXB2j-TJKSBOUmvErBHmaPdU=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riders study a warning sign for the answer to our quiz</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Anyway, the outbound course had quite a few hills, nothing long, and steep for only mercifully short bits. There was an "out and back" section between 50 and 62km, on a near traffic-less road that ended at a small dam below a lake. On the "out" route I could see the first group of riders, who ended up completing the event in 7~8 hours. The climbing seemed to taper off soon after a quiz control at Lake Roesinger just past 80kms. </p><p>I stopped for a quick six inch Subway meatball sandwich in Granite Falls, nearly 100km in. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT5nSstcyc6BmMvzhTgfid4bTrC5pmrfdj3CC_BLefWVelnZkGBnCfnz-4WDR5xvwlk1DxAe5kZt4dVMa_VJEYaDh13VHGc9kj0QqSCFxUdFesFyZZgtSqV-poMbjhDDpNVEC21rwERtEDFmnUHeX76w0LEepverbuBJ4G9b34Ab1jAbwH9rAWL7-p" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT5nSstcyc6BmMvzhTgfid4bTrC5pmrfdj3CC_BLefWVelnZkGBnCfnz-4WDR5xvwlk1DxAe5kZt4dVMa_VJEYaDh13VHGc9kj0QqSCFxUdFesFyZZgtSqV-poMbjhDDpNVEC21rwERtEDFmnUHeX76w0LEepverbuBJ4G9b34Ab1jAbwH9rAWL7-p=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br />The northernmost point of the course, at Bryant, was around 120kms, ... meaning that the 80km return leg must be much more direct/shorter. It also involved less climbing than the outbound. Indeed, for much of the return we followed the Centennial Trail, a rails-to-trails route that meant no more than a grade of a few percent max, even as it climbed from sea level to over 100m elevation, then back down. We did another similar but steeper climb over an elevated section, on roads, between 170-185kms, and finished with flat path along the Sammamish River on the last decent stretch into Redmond. <p></p><p>This was an easy 200km, especially with the second half easier than the the first. I finished in 9 hrs and 16 minutes, an hour or more faster than my typical "winter 200k" time in Japan. I think much of the difference can be attributed to ... lack of as many traffic signals!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5sVrdlrOvYwjMCiCjJa77JAlUtXt8JgIO2p5WsLFn7khZ5R2TshWuA2N4d83wn0lIooE55ixrUd6l3_nexQGTCgQjdR61UkOj341bi7HpXKba9KABH0UBihjxFdCHlF1GzM77gCFj-FTV0KeC0yDumtqKE2o5DjhPB-6YyPpLx5XteDDHzdNaQuUc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5sVrdlrOvYwjMCiCjJa77JAlUtXt8JgIO2p5WsLFn7khZ5R2TshWuA2N4d83wn0lIooE55ixrUd6l3_nexQGTCgQjdR61UkOj341bi7HpXKba9KABH0UBihjxFdCHlF1GzM77gCFj-FTV0KeC0yDumtqKE2o5DjhPB-6YyPpLx5XteDDHzdNaQuUc=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />The ride finished at Post Doc Brewing in Redmond, where pizza and beer were available, and well-earned.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqgvI5wJWz6QZUoargPyMZixf_uRZlNpfx-15EIBtIZIqwDntIyuAzCD1c1bz2l2bLSQNLgSm-7ENHIFdWNY9ezMvqTW4Kxfjfj9E6-t5F5eILPlugiJukO7zf7G3AZt8batnMv5bscr4ltzft5g5gZAuKsrtPavyBYpEdhYO0FRLURG_yNzRBbnmC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqgvI5wJWz6QZUoargPyMZixf_uRZlNpfx-15EIBtIZIqwDntIyuAzCD1c1bz2l2bLSQNLgSm-7ENHIFdWNY9ezMvqTW4Kxfjfj9E6-t5F5eILPlugiJukO7zf7G3AZt8batnMv5bscr4ltzft5g5gZAuKsrtPavyBYpEdhYO0FRLURG_yNzRBbnmC=w403-h640" width="403" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-69735696812565013652023-01-20T14:48:00.008+09:002023-01-20T14:58:14.970+09:00200km early January brevet<p>January 8 was the Sunday of a long weekend, followed by a holiday Monday (coming of age day). Jerome and I picked this day for an R-Tokyo 200km ride, one of our PBP qualifiers. The route was pretty typical for an early January 200km event … the classic/standard R-Tokyo start at Todoroki arena area in Kawasaki, standard route out of Tokyo (Nakahara Kaido then Chogo Kaido, then eventually heading south to hit the coast at Oiso), a ride along the coast road, Miura Peninsula, etc. The weather was good … dry and not much wind, not so cold after the first few hours. </p><p>We met at Kanpachi and Nakahara Kaido around 540AM and made it to the start on time. Jerome struggled with the online Google form check-in system a bit in the cold and dark, so I headed out first. I managed to keep ahead until the first PC at around 68 kms. From there we rode together on the second leg to the tip of Miura. On the third leg home, he was waiting for me to catch up from time to time, but at least I was not far back.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuoey4GEpQ3sRAMDu9fbEovvdeJW0o8rXQd1GXgfm1hZ7LyTlKqsPxKAXAix6RzS_xh7W9D1wcJN0DkY9IFiabXjOs8MNJ6jByNFOeWBRoDbXcg_GAZ8Usma0m6AcS2IHKUl4vtYrwdh8Dz_QiNWNLbhXPrVh8iZIdBwtS7JacUa1EogYnIElL4UJ/s1260/28485DAC-BE10-42D6-9484-454B390A70D9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1260" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuoey4GEpQ3sRAMDu9fbEovvdeJW0o8rXQd1GXgfm1hZ7LyTlKqsPxKAXAix6RzS_xh7W9D1wcJN0DkY9IFiabXjOs8MNJ6jByNFOeWBRoDbXcg_GAZ8Usma0m6AcS2IHKUl4vtYrwdh8Dz_QiNWNLbhXPrVh8iZIdBwtS7JacUa1EogYnIElL4UJ/w400-h384/28485DAC-BE10-42D6-9484-454B390A70D9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />There was traffic. There was a lot of traffic, especially for the middle of a long weekend. <div>And this route requires patience with red lights. Lots of red lights. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ztDC5ePkD4Kvb0yclTZnDMtg5Dj54uebEeZzY_C3hMUY9zlsve0txXj7NPyiSmn0UV3MmePYtMlhkP7l7GZChEV4HU5HaEykqFJYxSr1cuorKXOcP2a34AcJ6VdIDaNZFEQNjcunzhZqm5PqZlzqndWZLBTZcn5lQdOwnT2YJIJWXqY3pJJRAi2Y/s4032/9FFA39A5-0BBC-4254-8343-A8D1A0F7BC72.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ztDC5ePkD4Kvb0yclTZnDMtg5Dj54uebEeZzY_C3hMUY9zlsve0txXj7NPyiSmn0UV3MmePYtMlhkP7l7GZChEV4HU5HaEykqFJYxSr1cuorKXOcP2a34AcJ6VdIDaNZFEQNjcunzhZqm5PqZlzqndWZLBTZcn5lQdOwnT2YJIJWXqY3pJJRAi2Y/s320/9FFA39A5-0BBC-4254-8343-A8D1A0F7BC72.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An upload of this photo was the proof of start.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUETdrvJG-vrbJYjw5ZMDuWDzqoxnvBcEKmQUbGV89QPcw7vB4FR_72jVXvSbmlLzMTCYBRanvgY7y9inNME8JlTdba8yk5dRjWGXNWjEuuTlz-AY7qxuDNWJuOg2PcXtFlG5VrzppGMc2WQWkrwoltkd5seTMn-KoTNAzy6geITTe8hTWM6ujbhw/s3251/50333AB2-5526-4E29-9564-828002B65ECC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3251" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUETdrvJG-vrbJYjw5ZMDuWDzqoxnvBcEKmQUbGV89QPcw7vB4FR_72jVXvSbmlLzMTCYBRanvgY7y9inNME8JlTdba8yk5dRjWGXNWjEuuTlz-AY7qxuDNWJuOg2PcXtFlG5VrzppGMc2WQWkrwoltkd5seTMn-KoTNAzy6geITTe8hTWM6ujbhw/s320/50333AB2-5526-4E29-9564-828002B65ECC.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Fuji views were obstructed and show the smog.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkX-S08ZY0jtPscmSMgx2MAbjwWHN5Cci2QUqKV_xThMhMChW8kESJyXCP1XqUzZ20TWRczz9Nmwn4UpIkBAWAMuth-QIHLndh07dmvstgQerKEo3IWW4zZiJoJ-4z17V8tenIJcDnSlZj2Oo0f1z4Xkv8TJh5PFM6sWQDtH8anNVy-kcuXFr-V5L/s4032/8A0D6854-5DC6-44FE-BD2E-45021A8130D6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkX-S08ZY0jtPscmSMgx2MAbjwWHN5Cci2QUqKV_xThMhMChW8kESJyXCP1XqUzZ20TWRczz9Nmwn4UpIkBAWAMuth-QIHLndh07dmvstgQerKEo3IWW4zZiJoJ-4z17V8tenIJcDnSlZj2Oo0f1z4Xkv8TJh5PFM6sWQDtH8anNVy-kcuXFr-V5L/w640-h480/8A0D6854-5DC6-44FE-BD2E-45021A8130D6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally some car-less stretches heading south toward the coastline.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s19lOvJ8sMlM2XLiqBmK3-HptJ2m8ZHn_p8Hdz0hkqHwMzajQk9PFhFXMwNxVWJC5RpCmReIKYMj4O9qngWb_TEuoruve5FIcPkRWZaWpKIB7gKtvBmbZB0e3J6urKLohljlH_JNuS-_t4JBd2wuCuIz791Upas5n8Nf9kOjWWSnVS2yx4I1Qn2H/s3604/6367E991-291C-4E27-8BF7-3777E70BA40A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2297" data-original-width="3604" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s19lOvJ8sMlM2XLiqBmK3-HptJ2m8ZHn_p8Hdz0hkqHwMzajQk9PFhFXMwNxVWJC5RpCmReIKYMj4O9qngWb_TEuoruve5FIcPkRWZaWpKIB7gKtvBmbZB0e3J6urKLohljlH_JNuS-_t4JBd2wuCuIz791Upas5n8Nf9kOjWWSnVS2yx4I1Qn2H/s320/6367E991-291C-4E27-8BF7-3777E70BA40A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky Blue Parlee in foreground, junkyard in back.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We stopped for lunch in Misakiguchi at the tip of the Miura Peninsula. After lunch, we rode past an incredible line of cars sitting, waiting to get into the town. 5kms long? There were more lines at each bottleneck up to Zushi, where our route turned east. Yokohama, again, was mobbed with people, both cars and pedestrians around Minato Mirai.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7sqQhH6-AOP8wGIl3ZcT6pMCVXSAndP-TVP_Gg9yS9DFgsXJunHs6M84ewvZjLpl1_gE0t239CqBZK5xbPqS9oad7Xz-o_TnNh3uDRDosevs4S-MDdA6hpmW6afiK37YZ2LgP4txGT32AvegmgmeBIToeSlQLtjg17v5vnrBzh78pqSeCa-VHnjX/s4032/28F7C0CA-E45A-4FF3-A6DE-79356D14A733.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7sqQhH6-AOP8wGIl3ZcT6pMCVXSAndP-TVP_Gg9yS9DFgsXJunHs6M84ewvZjLpl1_gE0t239CqBZK5xbPqS9oad7Xz-o_TnNh3uDRDosevs4S-MDdA6hpmW6afiK37YZ2LgP4txGT32AvegmgmeBIToeSlQLtjg17v5vnrBzh78pqSeCa-VHnjX/w640-h480/28F7C0CA-E45A-4FF3-A6DE-79356D14A733.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuji barely visible in the haze and light clouds.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN5Gq-LbiM27BANKPe8YASmn-JwTToFG0qWFn2tPo4s31nKMetZbookbNl5ipTCi-y7OkMKchENP1YSBrEwtcE1wH5oLKLzIsLtqZ-cTZB4yKfqcmCx538BwZva2PVAddHWgxis25XAYe8el99ofpNZg6-mVReqzB7F4KAWeFmH14PW0PdaVktXFw/s4032/B8A97CD2-8BCF-4E2A-BCA4-CDBC9E2AF1D2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN5Gq-LbiM27BANKPe8YASmn-JwTToFG0qWFn2tPo4s31nKMetZbookbNl5ipTCi-y7OkMKchENP1YSBrEwtcE1wH5oLKLzIsLtqZ-cTZB4yKfqcmCx538BwZva2PVAddHWgxis25XAYe8el99ofpNZg6-mVReqzB7F4KAWeFmH14PW0PdaVktXFw/s320/B8A97CD2-8BCF-4E2A-BCA4-CDBC9E2AF1D2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick snack in the sun.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIfkyXL3wKoeu4uJFQ5RtSdIGminbm7cmqeUpNhJIJjdm2Hiu3-Zp4Sz9oGnbNThE36xPi-RXAvCU1ItDFCZP68TgZ_sK21BctvDzRYpmjOfDfs7iA4GM5Ul7aTRrbcowifbp-0J1_MgeXsrsCHuADG428icppmd5Hvse5WRTAUSvb01JPDDKTpQG/s4032/E83BE5A6-1EB3-4B5B-86D5-A88EDF8505F1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIfkyXL3wKoeu4uJFQ5RtSdIGminbm7cmqeUpNhJIJjdm2Hiu3-Zp4Sz9oGnbNThE36xPi-RXAvCU1ItDFCZP68TgZ_sK21BctvDzRYpmjOfDfs7iA4GM5Ul7aTRrbcowifbp-0J1_MgeXsrsCHuADG428icppmd5Hvse5WRTAUSvb01JPDDKTpQG/w640-h480/E83BE5A6-1EB3-4B5B-86D5-A88EDF8505F1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minato Mirai on the return <br />(from here photos loaded out of order)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nNGLN6VGB4zHSA3tp7yzliV8t2Uq7AAE8_6Vmx4FQ_EFyJ39Sac7rxNTJV2r2vBBkGUyN0Wc0zcRVs7rS4S7CbvDaLdsdBO3ZAXjo9ypaT5NgWpVFqfH5jjwkoIkFqVtU7ABZ7TGwtsUTd_I8nWtOHliFpfgg-cFSCdIdGkati4VpEoQh9moYM0C/s4032/DB62AF41-0A3D-4405-9966-69F877245FCE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nNGLN6VGB4zHSA3tp7yzliV8t2Uq7AAE8_6Vmx4FQ_EFyJ39Sac7rxNTJV2r2vBBkGUyN0Wc0zcRVs7rS4S7CbvDaLdsdBO3ZAXjo9ypaT5NgWpVFqfH5jjwkoIkFqVtU7ABZ7TGwtsUTd_I8nWtOHliFpfgg-cFSCdIdGkati4VpEoQh9moYM0C/w640-h480/DB62AF41-0A3D-4405-9966-69F877245FCE.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost done.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPibaV1tTzMB-FVLqJzFXjal-8LUVFZA1yAq3H8X7y6vfVpwCTNp3AXnfS3joFcQfdgOpxw2ouEbidBt_N2o0sFjROLwmz4aT7jC-Fq8NdqYK56wl7HxBQhJrCsXkfqwTFG4wvlxIvuLXTMM9R6xETN3qZ5LMHdUSYjyEhUvoTRpfO-IhiSSkzAWlQ/s4032/9920F435-AD7A-44A3-B5E8-36214077D955.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPibaV1tTzMB-FVLqJzFXjal-8LUVFZA1yAq3H8X7y6vfVpwCTNp3AXnfS3joFcQfdgOpxw2ouEbidBt_N2o0sFjROLwmz4aT7jC-Fq8NdqYK56wl7HxBQhJrCsXkfqwTFG4wvlxIvuLXTMM9R6xETN3qZ5LMHdUSYjyEhUvoTRpfO-IhiSSkzAWlQ/w640-h480/9920F435-AD7A-44A3-B5E8-36214077D955.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic view near southern tip of Miura</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIZU8uvzksN_pbKvWHTQQ2R4OB3cJb_SSlwqZVAf_O5RLLsHRFzeESSnGKaGl00Sw_1BhIrSybaq2pGzGNqpabvF_2NJb18TVw_M3ZCR2xKhP8l4m4qEBzSMEzniAQGERBu4RPbIqHhqaCAnsdw_H6t_c0zAltNloA5Y22Ww1t0GpoMYnRC7Bukx0/s2776/7CDE1042-B4C9-4AF6-AEE9-8DA1B1B04CA0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2322" data-original-width="2776" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIZU8uvzksN_pbKvWHTQQ2R4OB3cJb_SSlwqZVAf_O5RLLsHRFzeESSnGKaGl00Sw_1BhIrSybaq2pGzGNqpabvF_2NJb18TVw_M3ZCR2xKhP8l4m4qEBzSMEzniAQGERBu4RPbIqHhqaCAnsdw_H6t_c0zAltNloA5Y22Ww1t0GpoMYnRC7Bukx0/w640-h536/7CDE1042-B4C9-4AF6-AEE9-8DA1B1B04CA0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minato Mirai crowds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfpDmYNAT7OTDIsAN8or79U5u9QKxhihRL6UzmSWeJ6NDYfGnwOuc8Zg3Prw8D-HNZ0aFWrnQfzRdEiWZR947PKBZolHYJrl0vUcoGwLOdGYI5CijQLcDqZGpHbrjgnqQYa6carD73-bOGlyodfraXidRRVovroNOJHXDp_uupaCquhicg2BFvE8J/s4032/2DA7A487-268B-4BA1-93E7-CA439E790DAB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfpDmYNAT7OTDIsAN8or79U5u9QKxhihRL6UzmSWeJ6NDYfGnwOuc8Zg3Prw8D-HNZ0aFWrnQfzRdEiWZR947PKBZolHYJrl0vUcoGwLOdGYI5CijQLcDqZGpHbrjgnqQYa6carD73-bOGlyodfraXidRRVovroNOJHXDp_uupaCquhicg2BFvE8J/w640-h480/2DA7A487-268B-4BA1-93E7-CA439E790DAB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wish we had ridden through more country like this ... or at least up and down the eastern side of the peninsula instead of slogging through traffic on the western side.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7hx2tsqYujt-fukQto90SK0slGwpgYNZgYAwc1G13bOiNtXXKZ43rd8eZRviTTbMgX2dnqcwshv4zpAdJZ5j_Mpbvgr_ycorm0rPgtgAlGh6-daFWNqNKuBHopdae56zTmQTlTEJH6cY2QT5BBpMO4VXF4maUwf_i3sZ9XH5Fz1spvMZl8m99AIq/s1916/02AD24CD-BEE7-4273-909F-8793F0775FB1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1916" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7hx2tsqYujt-fukQto90SK0slGwpgYNZgYAwc1G13bOiNtXXKZ43rd8eZRviTTbMgX2dnqcwshv4zpAdJZ5j_Mpbvgr_ycorm0rPgtgAlGh6-daFWNqNKuBHopdae56zTmQTlTEJH6cY2QT5BBpMO4VXF4maUwf_i3sZ9XH5Fz1spvMZl8m99AIq/w640-h480/02AD24CD-BEE7-4273-909F-8793F0775FB1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misaki harbor, now searching for a lunch spot. We found a restaurant - Chiritontei - that was just fine!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY0sVF9V1QF0v4euQwdU6z2VMNpNgKeMMjWr3LpuGifNzRqQsw2AsciodtKiyiwW93cP7g4ktEhIe9VZz9SncXXZQsGjV1xDoU04CUJZ5sADgLViFnbPjMk7k61TuiuU0KxMU6FjvMt7BNsbNOQ71Y8jGuv186KLbQsKUrJHCFpeqHXA-ZLHF1eSv/s4032/01F8CBE9-ECD6-44B9-BF8E-8B3772CE2861.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY0sVF9V1QF0v4euQwdU6z2VMNpNgKeMMjWr3LpuGifNzRqQsw2AsciodtKiyiwW93cP7g4ktEhIe9VZz9SncXXZQsGjV1xDoU04CUJZ5sADgLViFnbPjMk7k61TuiuU0KxMU6FjvMt7BNsbNOQ71Y8jGuv186KLbQsKUrJHCFpeqHXA-ZLHF1eSv/w640-h480/01F8CBE9-ECD6-44B9-BF8E-8B3772CE2861.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, too much haze.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>We finished in around 10 hrs 40 mins. If we had not had such a relaxed, sit down lunch, we would have been closer to 10 hrs. If we had not needed to wade through the traffic, then under 10 hrs. Not fast, but not so slow either. I rode 227kms for the day, including to/from the start.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another PBP qualifier out of the way, in the bag, checked off the list, crossed off, wrapped up, completed, and DONE! I've done my 200 and 300, and my 400 and 600 remain. Let's see, that means I am either half way (2 out of 4), or one third of the way (500 out of 1500km) depending on the way you think about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of January I will focus on swimming and also try to ride the Pelso recumbent regularly to regain my "recumbent legs". I'll get back on the road bike in February and beyond!</div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-42126481660377382482022-12-11T22:44:00.005+09:002023-01-20T14:58:04.503+09:00300km in the Land of a Thousand Convenience Stores<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjI0ys4JVz9mitzcUxeHqym97YzEUS8RZ1JJSkWcydwQnN_zVbmYDFIOIJWVmQ_pzrp-ByDXHPkfgTuE0jBqiJcfNl1Ort-LmT7wa-n0Nj7pP2VnUNqHovJx0Ys2NN4JDX9oMXyvgo0dWQ9bDAWwwFQSEe5tHwKxgMZnxZJdxR9UWg-oOPqxITkTH3i" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjI0ys4JVz9mitzcUxeHqym97YzEUS8RZ1JJSkWcydwQnN_zVbmYDFIOIJWVmQ_pzrp-ByDXHPkfgTuE0jBqiJcfNl1Ort-LmT7wa-n0Nj7pP2VnUNqHovJx0Ys2NN4JDX9oMXyvgo0dWQ9bDAWwwFQSEe5tHwKxgMZnxZJdxR9UWg-oOPqxITkTH3i=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon rises over Ibaraki</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Saturday, December 10, I joined the Saitama Audax 300km "Attack Nakagawa" brevet.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I need to do a full SR series (200/300/400/600km official brevets) to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) next summer. I signed up for this event during my US trip last month, but was actually planning to skip it and instead do a 300km Randonneur Tokyo event in January, as it turned out that I had a bonenkai scheduled for yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ... But the Randonneur Tokyo event filled up within an hour or two of registration opening and I missed my chance to sign up. Also, the weather forecast for Saturday looked ideal for an early winter ride. And I really felt the need for a decent endurance ride after several months of travel and abstinence from long-distance cycling. Strava tells me that my conditioning has dropped dramatically due to lack of activity over the past six weeks. My body does not dispute that. I've gained weight and lost muscle. So I went ahead with the ride, skipping the bonenkai.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWqeS-kFtzdPt56uBooW8Zc49hJbtj-tKRN6xxxwopRGXtBC1C579-AXWGD5GiLumDLZbUb8ysJe_QLzwpc1Q3fkMLNINNelU73Iq07vE5a-euBF8HiUmb4sxl_2ttEN4aTDkO_NYu7CGjPrCXNYlNmsvoWk9o5wTx0E1Dz4SOvqBAq8kC-3dcGIwI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWqeS-kFtzdPt56uBooW8Zc49hJbtj-tKRN6xxxwopRGXtBC1C579-AXWGD5GiLumDLZbUb8ysJe_QLzwpc1Q3fkMLNINNelU73Iq07vE5a-euBF8HiUmb4sxl_2ttEN4aTDkO_NYu7CGjPrCXNYlNmsvoWk9o5wTx0E1Dz4SOvqBAq8kC-3dcGIwI" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worked hard to boost fitness in September / early October ... all lost.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Like many Saitama Audax events, it started from Toyomizu Bridge at the Iruma River, where it is easy to park a car for a day or two, and the organizers can set up shop under the bridge to sign-in riders and manage the "goal" without need for a tent or fear of rain. The route headed generally north and east, to Nakagawa (那珂川) in NE Tochigi Prefecture, then back again.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7gZBk1EPbty5ghQw27glR5fp_RLN0vXOFTfNc9HkYX2ABfbO2BP0vtrB3rcpMb1-csdaklHBZAzfAaZUMaYdJIGXqOoXwsQzNZj92cQuCe95gRXcFMiz9SIiEe_hhAD0Zz41TarA17dDtwf6bwgUx5nJrz2mtyye5ziXPEH5tjXO4C-OFskoEi4nJ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="4032" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7gZBk1EPbty5ghQw27glR5fp_RLN0vXOFTfNc9HkYX2ABfbO2BP0vtrB3rcpMb1-csdaklHBZAzfAaZUMaYdJIGXqOoXwsQzNZj92cQuCe95gRXcFMiz9SIiEe_hhAD0Zz41TarA17dDtwf6bwgUx5nJrz2mtyye5ziXPEH5tjXO4C-OFskoEi4nJ=w640-h398" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No trolls under the bridge at Toyomizubashi in Iruma.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The forecast suggested weather would be in between roughly 3 and 14 degrees celsius during the ride. It would be coldest at the start and again toward the finish after dark. But there were no mountain passes and would be no frost nor ice. I made do with a short sleeve jersey and bib shorts, Craft windblock inner layer, arm and leg warmers, double socks (thin inner and wool outer), and my Q36.5 Amfib gloves. I brought a second pair of gloves for the warmer part of the day (which, in a pinch, I could slide on top of the Amfibs if I needed more warmth in the coldest hour -- I did not). And I packed a lightweight helmet-lining balaclava, shoe covers, and a thin/light rain shell just in case. I find the arm and leg warmers are unbeatable for this type of conditions ... winter bib shorts or a long-sleeved fleece lined jersey will feel great the first hour of cold, but will have you dripping sweat as you ride in the mid-day sun. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfOHFfTm8a1jbaXWBsieTPnPv6bSb_lVBjqQeCQou8Ro_bc70yqHlc9UI0nDf4wQypzMZiCNgtYSx3VvPI1M5piB83d1XMnFnWUpXSabAohN8iwspn6VOQYMXzQ3nDdyau_V64yDa-FkR8UBtws8q3x10PiY6XF5Pk2PcIq5Q2E9VGeqCdmWhxos6u" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="948" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfOHFfTm8a1jbaXWBsieTPnPv6bSb_lVBjqQeCQou8Ro_bc70yqHlc9UI0nDf4wQypzMZiCNgtYSx3VvPI1M5piB83d1XMnFnWUpXSabAohN8iwspn6VOQYMXzQ3nDdyau_V64yDa-FkR8UBtws8q3x10PiY6XF5Pk2PcIq5Q2E9VGeqCdmWhxos6u=w640-h618" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route to "Attack Nakagawa"</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I was very pleased with the rest of the weather forecast. No worries about precipitation. And no strong winds. I can remember struggling on plenty of previous brevets north of Tokyo in vicious headwinds ... at their worst in Spring.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>I have really been enjoying the RAMAX, with the wide hookless rim wheels from GS Astuto and my Schwalbe </span><span>Pro One</span><span> </span><span>700x32 tubeless tires, and was eager to ride it to see how fast it was on this type of course. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHa6VOmNzaaqHXAc8Zx7p1t91aPkDMy4iF3AUE6BsXuQHR-2OoOEUE79jFmt7HS1OPzGyGBe27Q1rrmslMINMv6JqjObTFix4Bqr5TWaAb6u8TZ0M40TOVwH7C1sSaMQRSTgpuMWEkHVeQPzanfdLojRd2W4Acb8m6epvrasZQBzZRYvROo41rlxV6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3017" data-original-width="3694" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHa6VOmNzaaqHXAc8Zx7p1t91aPkDMy4iF3AUE6BsXuQHR-2OoOEUE79jFmt7HS1OPzGyGBe27Q1rrmslMINMv6JqjObTFix4Bqr5TWaAb6u8TZ0M40TOVwH7C1sSaMQRSTgpuMWEkHVeQPzanfdLojRd2W4Acb8m6epvrasZQBzZRYvROo41rlxV6=w640-h522" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">RAMAX rests at PC1</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Anyway, I was at the start in time for the 630AM briefing and to head out a few minutes before 7AM. Within a few hundred meters of departure, I was following two other riders who were going at a relaxed pace. Within a kilometer, someone zoomed by, riding in a massive gear. I did not try to follow. But we caught him soon at a red light. This ride had lots of red lights. I think the organizers tried to avoid lights where they could ... but it is hopeless. There were more red lights on this route than convenience stores. By the time we got to this red light, we had passed at least two Seven Elevens and one Family Mart that I recall, and doubtless others. And this was our third red light. All in just over a kilometer.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we left the red light, I passed the relaxed riders and stayed with Mr. Massive Gear. I got a nice pull for awhile, and within another kilometer or two we caught (and were joined by) another rider, probably my age or a few years older, riding a Trek Domane. Both these riders were going hard enough that I could not really pull much, but was just along for the ride. I managed to hang with them, occasionally dropping back but catching up at a red light. We were joined by two other riders. Eventually the Trek rider dropped back, and the two others started to lead ... until they missed a left turn. I was riding 4th of 4 and yelled (and stopped) as soon as we passed the turn. It took them another 50+ meters to stop. Meanwhile, the rider on the Trek Domane had made the turn, ... and I was back and around the corner. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the ordering of our group was reversed, strongest riders at the back, probably one traffic signal behind. Eventually I caught the Trek rider, and we were passed by Mr. Massive Gear. They went ahead, and the two buddies who had missed the turn caught me. I would see the Trek Domane rider again at some PCs ... but not Mr Massive Gear, who presumably finished well ahead. I slotted in behind the two who had missed the earlier turn. We stopped at another red light, where the course turned left. I made a lame joke about making sure to catch the turns. At one point I asked how far it was to PC1. I remembered there was only a single PC while traveling in each direction, plus the turn-around, but not the location. Somehow I thought it was a 72kms in. ... they told me it was at 89kms. I would need another quick convenience store break to make it there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOvMj8sdqICtsXywIw7aTTvE_ZrAC0hBDKy0aSgRECm8vYktetvgLEswysQLE7b8cXOumdvuK6CkaDgfKbuyFeQA31iej6LCTlf4Zz1Lq-OsSzSTJRSuBVRl-7rwz3xv00hjEtfH7FA-uAkVqySlGYs-9pal9BG6jkWercqc-6ZAdis7PbfsYPl3ra" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="3566" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOvMj8sdqICtsXywIw7aTTvE_ZrAC0hBDKy0aSgRECm8vYktetvgLEswysQLE7b8cXOumdvuK6CkaDgfKbuyFeQA31iej6LCTlf4Zz1Lq-OsSzSTJRSuBVRl-7rwz3xv00hjEtfH7FA-uAkVqySlGYs-9pal9BG6jkWercqc-6ZAdis7PbfsYPl3ra=w640-h406" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Typical rest stop view ... dining in front of a Seven Eleven</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />So I took a quick bathroom break and bought a snack at ... a Seven Eleven, then found myself back on the road in a train of around 5 riders. One had "Sugiura" on the back of his reflective vest. Actually nice to have a name prominently placed like that. Anyway, two of the riders dropped off, more joined, and I was able to hang with them for another long stretch. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>The point of recounting all this detail is to convey that I could ride with others, mostly drafting and occasionally pulling, all the way to PC1 at 89kms.</span> The PC was a "quiz point" about the statute/memorial at a park entrance, but many riders had gathered and were resting across the road ... at a Seven Eleven. I pushed on to 120kms, where I stopped, at a Seven Eleven, for a first lunch break, of convenience store spaghetti napolitano. The sauce was orange, very close to the color of my jersey. I could not help but think that the stain might not be visible if I spilled sauce on the jersey as I ate, sitting on the ground outside the store.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP7CkXaAhGylOVCi2eeM-lGDrhCjsX0Sn-ct5URDWwGEsDWjVj4gYjBiwZ8CU6BEfcBXL-0HIxgPENyZ21jCEsaS9PjOCpntOjLxHKljP70Kpqci9QWDINAp1qpRN00re79i2Esl3S2_rF-TnUE0VMWSEQOFZimxc3hvbWk-Y-34j7QswGewRjxnXF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP7CkXaAhGylOVCi2eeM-lGDrhCjsX0Sn-ct5URDWwGEsDWjVj4gYjBiwZ8CU6BEfcBXL-0HIxgPENyZ21jCEsaS9PjOCpntOjLxHKljP70Kpqci9QWDINAp1qpRN00re79i2Esl3S2_rF-TnUE0VMWSEQOFZimxc3hvbWk-Y-34j7QswGewRjxnXF=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PC1 - the tent is not for Audax. Most riders rested across the way at a Seven Eleven.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFYzk6NQ4Ti83wJUbWFxucf3b1Ln0HGwdUc6oL1WkfMLuvqZU3_u3Uf20QlWklcliZfcLg6msax56TAFLWAqprrSSqNcl_maltvYQdKf_zNGfUdoBVeJY5-rylNQnX2nTAahGZx-ooVThpfRV6V12QJI43RsjTzWjFixnXsxvLSVcpU_A9SjqrkTfM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3440" data-original-width="2452" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFYzk6NQ4Ti83wJUbWFxucf3b1Ln0HGwdUc6oL1WkfMLuvqZU3_u3Uf20QlWklcliZfcLg6msax56TAFLWAqprrSSqNcl_maltvYQdKf_zNGfUdoBVeJY5-rylNQnX2nTAahGZx-ooVThpfRV6V12QJI43RsjTzWjFixnXsxvLSVcpU_A9SjqrkTfM=w456-h640" width="456" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">PC1 quiz involved this object</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Up to now, I had not taken out my camera once as we rode. The scenery ... typical Japanese sprawl, just did not seem to offer any photo that I have not already taken before, many times. The red lights were a nuisance, but offered a chance to rest at regular intervals. But I did notice the truck exhaust in places. I could see that a layer of smog hung over the northern Kanto plains, and I began to regret the lack of much wind. There were plenty of trucks on Saturday morning, and I could notice the diesel exhaust in places. I felt as if I could taste the particulate and feel a bit of grit forming on my teeth even. Later in the afternoon, I felt a bit of a sore throad, I am pretty sure from the same pollution. And as dusk appeared, I could see a bit of dust and particles in the beam of my headlight. Overall, not great air quality on the first leg of the ride, or going over the same segment late afternoon. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The environment seemed to improve markedly after we entered Tochigi and swung to the East of Utsunomiya through Moka, Haga, and Nasukarasuyama. The area felt less like suburban sprawl and more like nice countryside. There was even a hilly section. And the air quality felt better -- the wind had picked up a bit, though it was still not strong, and was usually not directly ahead or behind us.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj63KKet00t7qrk7gFJzsflRPzbMhIHVLV0DeXmzEhgpFPLRmIoVgnxDTdZG6DuNmSgpFo9BObBiwy6C0hrjCGyfUydnF5HhRSi-bF9Z4wvUKVU9zCEMqn7zXc9o31uN3fzZHqDSKHeSlnvW36-zYKR1rdxA02hlkps-TKGMhHtZjWFMCPjsIHotN7S" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj63KKet00t7qrk7gFJzsflRPzbMhIHVLV0DeXmzEhgpFPLRmIoVgnxDTdZG6DuNmSgpFo9BObBiwy6C0hrjCGyfUydnF5HhRSi-bF9Z4wvUKVU9zCEMqn7zXc9o31uN3fzZHqDSKHeSlnvW36-zYKR1rdxA02hlkps-TKGMhHtZjWFMCPjsIHotN7S=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8VpOuN0cxCDNVOUq9PBUNxPYA5Wez-yk0xp7UBo3SJR2w2eDNmGWN6LpAOXVP7e2vSvdMXJ9NWosNzq6AHMGYClwRyVepnf7KdhWTAbvCUYV3ROvq-_caHfVi8rg8hkAWmwB0ctSU-LnlLxo5TLWj6WgVNUeXkm41s9OK4bC-D9uYmW2HRLZLpS7A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8VpOuN0cxCDNVOUq9PBUNxPYA5Wez-yk0xp7UBo3SJR2w2eDNmGWN6LpAOXVP7e2vSvdMXJ9NWosNzq6AHMGYClwRyVepnf7KdhWTAbvCUYV3ROvq-_caHfVi8rg8hkAWmwB0ctSU-LnlLxo5TLWj6WgVNUeXkm41s9OK4bC-D9uYmW2HRLZLpS7A=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crossing the Nakagawa just south of Nakagawa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />At the turn around PC, I rested but did not eat much. An onigiri and yogurt drink. I headed out and ... felt good. In fact, I felt great. My body had adjusted to the riding position, my digestion was working well, and fatigue had not set in. I was with some other riders on the hilly section, but pushed ahead after most of the climing was done. I tried to alternate between riding on the bar hoods and in the drops. The more aero position of the drops would boost my speed noticeably. And the RAMAX has a somewhat higher front end than a racing bike, so even when I am in the drops, the position is not that aggressive, and I can hold it for some time without stressing my back. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzmwk3gElC-VZnwXKK5Uy9JqG3q6e05X1Hhz316_wBKfs2ZRtzWJJcpGtxyJnToJEVtHichdwMLAbtnRFm1mwQ87an_XHSItnJZOyP0FinHqHXnwLehpJ9CgOYZwz-eF-_2SwLTwMBrj6aXHHgyPMk1zF8rIlRjMKEMEOH5HV8arIG0cDj5Yjy6O-N" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2588" data-original-width="4032" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzmwk3gElC-VZnwXKK5Uy9JqG3q6e05X1Hhz316_wBKfs2ZRtzWJJcpGtxyJnToJEVtHichdwMLAbtnRFm1mwQ87an_XHSItnJZOyP0FinHqHXnwLehpJ9CgOYZwz-eF-_2SwLTwMBrj6aXHHgyPMk1zF8rIlRjMKEMEOH5HV8arIG0cDj5Yjy6O-N=w640-h410" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scenery at the turn around PC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />We were on plenty of roads that had rough surfaces, especially along the outer edge where we needed to ride. I really appreciated riding 700x32 tires with around 60-65psi air pressure. This gear selection limited the wear and tear on my body. I found that my hands would stay comfortable on the bumpier sections in 3 out of the 4 hand positions that I used regularly. So I would avoid the 4th position on rougher roads. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">At 200 kms I stopped for omu-rice (omelet rice) dish at a Family Mart. I could eat inside, sitting at the Famima Cafe. I had ridden the first 200km at 9hrs and 31 mins (including rests). That is fast for me, for a brevet. On a normal Japan Audax course, usually I will do a 200km brevet in 10-11 hours. The super-hilly Nishi Izu brevet in March took me 12 hours. My fastest 200km brevet was 8hrs and 20 mins (officially 8hrs 40mins as I arrived late to the start) ... That was also a winter event in flat northern Kanto, back in 2014.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0vCXyV3UqgkJWlvrJWYndicLQ34EcOQ3uZAB4kCSrwuu14m7hXJIibHehfXdglPS2HoxX3gYgsw583Zc2eKH0H96zg1BX2SQeffrQc7cboUehjr0mwvRMQiHhoF0ToZfayv1iVnAUkRwnUK1hKiV_yLtKsjt9Dc2_qCvsiJBd7Ds2gRyggO8MOT9R" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0vCXyV3UqgkJWlvrJWYndicLQ34EcOQ3uZAB4kCSrwuu14m7hXJIibHehfXdglPS2HoxX3gYgsw583Zc2eKH0H96zg1BX2SQeffrQc7cboUehjr0mwvRMQiHhoF0ToZfayv1iVnAUkRwnUK1hKiV_yLtKsjt9Dc2_qCvsiJBd7Ds2gRyggO8MOT9R=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Omu-rice</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />After 200km, I still felt ... really good. Nothing hurt, no serious fatigue, and I could modulate my speed well by changing positions. I rode with a few other riders ... but mostly I rode past others. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I continued to make good time to another stop, at the 251 kms PC, a Seven Eleven. I got a lasagna with meat sauce dish. Here I also could sit inside at a counter with chairs. It was now well after dark. The temperature had dropped, and the cold air felt ... really good. Bracing. It kept me alert. My only adjustments had been to pull up my arm warmers so that my arms were full covered, and to switch back from my thin midday gloves to my much warmer Amfib ones.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjccN9NEBgRsymmMiiuk6i3WJ3ethJMFKc_2ooxwX9zMXjhqm4N_8NiAyd-25ZHYskJwLXWLyuGPLIQu8k72_L6U2XbTrvgoAw81qzx5spQmIqw22HPVXrqnVkF3vdQ85dGOaqq1iItzJRBXKQQids_3Kjlr7owJIwOGZ_Ki7fpFy21TA2mhsUQeo4q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjccN9NEBgRsymmMiiuk6i3WJ3ethJMFKc_2ooxwX9zMXjhqm4N_8NiAyd-25ZHYskJwLXWLyuGPLIQu8k72_L6U2XbTrvgoAw81qzx5spQmIqw22HPVXrqnVkF3vdQ85dGOaqq1iItzJRBXKQQids_3Kjlr7owJIwOGZ_Ki7fpFy21TA2mhsUQeo4q=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lasagna with meat sauce</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />As I continued, I caught a rider and drafted for awhile ... until I passed him and gradually pulled away. Once I was in the drops, my speed would creep up and ... he could not hold on. Eventually, a rider did pass me, on a Cannondale, and I jumped on behind him. We were relatively evenly matched and took turns pulling. .... until he pulled off to rest at the bottom of an incline to a bridge over a river, motioning me to continue on. The last 15 kms to the finish, I was entirely alone, everyone either well ahead or behind me. I finally started to feel some fatigue and my pace slowed, but I knew I just had to keep rolling. I rolled in to the goal at 9:57PM, for a time of 14 hrs and 57 mins. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimf7VG5h7pM0yqS3kYcB8YWU1uEjwoynMcrOX_Rbr8_MMmrv0gJ_VBQCkTioRBCR0gq4G0f_uJ5ln0uzxB8eB7_5AAN6TxbK0t4UM5UZcM2jeq95SpSulraaZYsP1_36HjkTIFIl_XoqOO_atPAlX5njwLBajMAcbe85EyeQvI27Z-ZIt7R6dMP8po" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimf7VG5h7pM0yqS3kYcB8YWU1uEjwoynMcrOX_Rbr8_MMmrv0gJ_VBQCkTioRBCR0gq4G0f_uJ5ln0uzxB8eB7_5AAN6TxbK0t4UM5UZcM2jeq95SpSulraaZYsP1_36HjkTIFIl_XoqOO_atPAlX5njwLBajMAcbe85EyeQvI27Z-ZIt7R6dMP8po=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the goal.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Epic? Not really. But a good ride.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, my fastest previous Audax 300km was back in 2014, at 14 hrs and 59mins. It was another flat winter route, with even more traffic signals and heavier traffic, as I recall. This one was better. And I was very pleased to complete within 15 hours, despite plenty of rest stops.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the goal, I checked in, chatted with Sugata-san, the organizer (if I have his name right), then Tak Kawano emerged from the shadows, already changed out of cycling gear. He had done the 6AM start, I learned. (they don't post entry lists anymore, so I did not know he was doing the event).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cold hit me within a few minutes after I stopped exercising. In the end, I put on the balaclava, and sat near a kerosene stove, but was shivering nonetheless. So I heated up the inside of my car, planning to rest for a bit and warm up before heading home. After ten minutes, I was a bit warmer, and still alert and wide awake, so I made the one hour drive home, took a hot bath, and enjoyed a deep, post-brevet sleep.</span></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-78820311619025707732022-10-19T22:08:00.006+09:002022-10-21T10:04:53.760+09:00Glorious Great Ginormous Gunma<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA6H8l2IjBSlKncHFV8_MrVdXYPSP7a34Rk6VKJTmmCsscfKPJrslnNHWZUBd616ksr6QNVcNFQp3pwCHqShsSovkZEZDqF_k3wRfnfbKQ9PCMO4YoqQiQLLux2uF1dWzbtCAoGkYzBTcRABWGBzI2Bq7oHAsU6ImP9wiZTHjzo3D6MxgZZbut98yr" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA6H8l2IjBSlKncHFV8_MrVdXYPSP7a34Rk6VKJTmmCsscfKPJrslnNHWZUBd616ksr6QNVcNFQp3pwCHqShsSovkZEZDqF_k3wRfnfbKQ9PCMO4YoqQiQLLux2uF1dWzbtCAoGkYzBTcRABWGBzI2Bq7oHAsU6ImP9wiZTHjzo3D6MxgZZbut98yr=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Haruna ... after our first 1000m elevation gain.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchbc2TBWe66TRFWhpMdxu9uL1u3EQdV40b7FeXQc-SKnDESFEJEnMn8baIYvdjoexy3Sczop3Vl-HaCGP0Lk1lrXiZNp5qMmLKZ1mgS7KqgtBKTFM9zyR4VJYqkUrd0ol15s8FrcnHQE7dIZaX5Ln1afdIdWXoSJYMEAIYuIXtyKZkMxKmBaUg9eY/s3663/IMG_6128.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2375" data-original-width="3663" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchbc2TBWe66TRFWhpMdxu9uL1u3EQdV40b7FeXQc-SKnDESFEJEnMn8baIYvdjoexy3Sczop3Vl-HaCGP0Lk1lrXiZNp5qMmLKZ1mgS7KqgtBKTFM9zyR4VJYqkUrd0ol15s8FrcnHQE7dIZaX5Ln1afdIdWXoSJYMEAIYuIXtyKZkMxKmBaUg9eY/w640-h414/IMG_6128.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAMAX ready to go. One bag on the frame, plus a rucksack with some light gear.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After my epic ride of the Fukushima SR600 and Covid-19 DNS at Cascade 1200, I wanted to try one more SR600 this year. Jerome said he would join, and we planned it for the week of Oct 10-14 when we would both be in town and hoped to have some time during the week, and I could celebrate my birthday. <p></p><p>I suggested <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2022/10/bikepacking-japanese-style-sr600-joumou.html" target="_blank">AJ-Gunma's new SR600 Joumou Sanzan course</a>, because it is easy to get to/from, and while it goes through an area I am generally familiar with, I have done only small segments of the actual route, and only a couple of the 13 climbs.</p><p>The title of the ride is written in romanized characters, but Joumou is <span style="font-size: x-small;">上毛</span>, a name for the area of Japan that makes up roughly modern day Gunma Prefecture. Sanzan is probably <span style="font-size: x-small;">散々</span> which has various meanings, but I guess here means "more than enough!" "Sanzan" also might mean <span style="font-size: x-small;">三山</span> or "three mountains", or even "lots of mountains". Anyway, the ride covers a lot of Gunma and as an SR600 has well over 10,000 meters of climbing, so more than enough mountains.</p><p>Gunma has plenty of excellent riding territory, including most of this route. Gunma has beautiful onsen (hot springs), including famous ones such as Kusatsu, Ikaho, and Shima, all of which are along this route, and many other smaller onsen of all types -- ancient, rustic, luxury retreats, local day spas, and more! Gunma has lots of mountains that jut up sharply at the top, exposed rock lumps as if stones had been turned on their side and stood upright on top of forested hills ... in a way vaguely reminiscent of, but smaller than and with more rounded and crumbled sides than, some of the Dolomites in Italy, or the mountains of Guilin in southern China. Gunma has dozens of ski areas. Gunma also is very convenient to Tokyo. Takasaki is less than an hour from Tokyo by shinkansen -- and all shinkansen going toward Niigata or Nagano/Kanazawa stop in Takasaki. There are 2 other shinkansen stops in Gunma -- Annaka Haruna, between Takasaki and Karuizawa, and Joumou Kogen, near Minakami in the north of the Prefecture.</p><p>But I think Gunma has an image problem. First, what is Gunma? Some people will think of it as a distant part of the Kanto megalopolis, with low elevation areas of urban sprawl and rice cultivation around Takasaki, Maebashi, and Kiryu that are as hot in summer as adjacent Saitama, and do not have much in the way of physical separation from Tochigi or Saitama. Or is Gunma represented by the mountainous western and northern parts of the Prefecture, where only a small fraction of the population lives?</p><p>Gunma is landlocked. But unlike other big landlocked prefectures, it lacks one dominant headline attraction. Shiga Prefecture has Lake Biwa, a major landmark that dominates its landscape. Gifu Prefecture has Hida Takayama and Shirakawa village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major tourist destination. Yamanashi has, well, Mt. Fuji (at least the northern half of the mountain). It also has the southern side of Yatsugatake around Hokuto city, and a wealth of history including Takeda Shingen, pre-eminent feudal lord who struggled unsuccessfully to unite medieval Japan and many of whose innovations were eventually adopted by the victorious Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tochigi Prefecture has Nikko, a major tourist attraction, as well as Nasu Kogen, where the royal family has a guesthouse. And Utsunomiya, the gyoza capital of Japan.</p><p>Nagano Prefecture has so much, it is difficult to know where to begin. Nagano had its own winter Olympics, for goodness sake. It has its soba, its miso, its apples, its cultural monuments, it has served as the home to many distinguished personages, it some of Japan's best ski areas (Hakuba, to start, Nozawa Onsen to continue, and many others); it has the longest average lifespan in all Japan (recently exceeding Okinawa); it has the fanciest countryside resort towns (Karuizawa, Tateshina), the highest paved road in Japan (up Norikura), and much much more. If people in Japan hear "Shinshu" or "Shinano" (two pre-modern terms for the Nagano area), they think of good things, cultured countryside, valued traditions and foods. Heck, the area around Lake Suwa in Nagano has evidence of some of the earliest (Jomon and pre-Jomon) human settlements in Japan. People in Japan poke fun at Saitama (and Chiba, and yes, Gunma), but no one, not even Tokyo nor Kyoto folk, makes jokes at the expense of Nagano!</p><p>Gunma? Well, Gunma has <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konjac">Konnyaku</a>. Gunma produces more of it than any other prefecture in Japan. It also has the <a href="https://www.visit-gunma.jp/en/spots/konnyaku-park/">Konnyaku Park</a>, a theme/amusement park about ... konnyaku. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIDZLxcUtRjPltT1NPeLzPh0s75UCfb2NjdUi3yMftMitATeOY5u3rFMeBhSJjCOrhmfNZEAfpu7wMO6fIoSvQr2ZQzTeVBsCLgcTd7dUwxl7Po_DeVZNK6Ddeseare2EID5vneeACR2SVKFN-KlSzlZrH3oPlfH2rqAY3xArkyb_fhi_TrZ1HEXN/s1332/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%2016.26.10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="1332" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIDZLxcUtRjPltT1NPeLzPh0s75UCfb2NjdUi3yMftMitATeOY5u3rFMeBhSJjCOrhmfNZEAfpu7wMO6fIoSvQr2ZQzTeVBsCLgcTd7dUwxl7Po_DeVZNK6Ddeseare2EID5vneeACR2SVKFN-KlSzlZrH3oPlfH2rqAY3xArkyb_fhi_TrZ1HEXN/w640-h300/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%2016.26.10.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />And Gunma has Gunma-chan.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFRj34W7Wc8F8Gz257QlNFj6joJzYoM7n3da0bohfnfOmtX7tQ6aZ6aRpkO-KKWeVjJiH2zu3tO6nYcJMFXIhL_8v2qYoaCFcAcdQkcplTItZqsUmt1GXZjdZdbTE335fzKqRIvHqoRhBW5dfdOXQ8NOWnN1fYBl0GjxdBJMd-GVgOMXyD1oYb36s/s1176/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-16%20at%2021.40.57.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1176" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFRj34W7Wc8F8Gz257QlNFj6joJzYoM7n3da0bohfnfOmtX7tQ6aZ6aRpkO-KKWeVjJiH2zu3tO6nYcJMFXIhL_8v2qYoaCFcAcdQkcplTItZqsUmt1GXZjdZdbTE335fzKqRIvHqoRhBW5dfdOXQ8NOWnN1fYBl0GjxdBJMd-GVgOMXyD1oYb36s/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-16%20at%2021.40.57.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunma-chan</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Gunma has some major onsen towns ... Kusatsu, Ikaho, Shima, and plenty of others. Kusatsu is nationally famous ... almost as much so as Gero onsen in Gifu, or Beppu in Oita, or Atami and Hakone in Shizuoka. In some surveys, Kusatsu comes in ranked as the #1 onsen in all of Japan. But just about every prefecture in Japan has onsen of which it is proud. Kusatsu may be in the current lead, but it is not a clear #1, and it is wedged in the NW corner of Gunma, far from the rest of the prefecture.</p><p>If more evidence were needed of Gunma's branding issue, our second big climb on the first day of our ride was from Kurabuchi west up to Nido-age Pass and the plateau in Gunma on the north side of Mt. Asama. Mt. Asama straddles the Nagano/Gunma border. Anyway, this plateau is called "Kita Karuizawa" or "North Karuizawa". The Karuizawa (Nagano) brand is so strong that the neighboring area of Gunma piggybacks on the name, rather than trying to create its own brand. Sadly, Kita Karuizawa is a 45 minute drive, mostly up a mountainside, from the Karuizawa shinkansen station, quite remote. And while remoteness has its attractions, let's just say that it has not been quite as successful at developing the local economy, attracting celebrity Tokyoites' second homes, or boosting real estate prices as the main Karuizawa. </p><p>After this climb, we descended National Route 146 toward Naganohara town. What? NAGANO-hara? They really should rename the town something else. Why not call it "Lower Tsumagoi", or "Kusatsuguchi" (the name of its train station, as the train does not go up the hill to Kusatsu itself)? Why weaken your brand by using the same name as Nagano ... even if it has been called this for a thousand years?</p><p>The next day, I wanted to buy some fruit to send back to Tokyo after leaving our lodgings in Shima Onsen. I was told that the road back down the valley is called the "Ringo Kaido" (the "Apple Highway") and that there were stands where I could buy a box of apples and have them shipped back to Tokyo. We were even given coupons to cover the cost of a 10kg box of apples ... part of the government's support for tourism recovery post-pandemic. After consultation with a lady running the apple stand where I stopped, I decided on a box including 3 different types of apples that she guaranteed were excellent flavor for eating (as opposed to for use in apple pie). The varieties were Shinano Gold, Shinano Sweet, and Youkou. "Shinano" ... is another name for Nagano! Gunma is growing Nagano apples, and selling them even to tourists who are visiting Gunma to explore! Why not Joumou Sweet and Joumou Gold? Or better yet, Agatsuma Sweet and Agatsuma Gold?</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhikWIiODTIrohC3LycXjdbXv8f9RSrHR8tnmwHQ_XzDG9-PE7KpmZjYcJdCwgrNTerA3RHN1VrTHQTU6FBGvKc98ui6DDyb-kgtYU5Nzavdnw8vW6JYZqItp8YlUMNzfGiUJFMPUE0UXIzfvKu1DYfpEYeGDz0A78z81RObjVW2D56bpgdGe6ep0YS" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1661" data-original-width="3419" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhikWIiODTIrohC3LycXjdbXv8f9RSrHR8tnmwHQ_XzDG9-PE7KpmZjYcJdCwgrNTerA3RHN1VrTHQTU6FBGvKc98ui6DDyb-kgtYU5Nzavdnw8vW6JYZqItp8YlUMNzfGiUJFMPUE0UXIzfvKu1DYfpEYeGDz0A78z81RObjVW2D56bpgdGe6ep0YS=w400-h194" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunma-chan appears on the JA Agatsuma apple label and the Agatsuma "Gunma Quality" seal</td></tr></tbody></table> <br />Gunma can be the same apple tree, the same variety as the shinano brand ... but change the name to signify that they were grown in Gunma! Of course, the part of Nagano between Nakano and Iiyama is famous for its apples (as is the area of Aomori Prefecture around Mt. Iwaki and Hirosaki, which also has an "Apple Road" -- actually lined with apple orchards as far as the eye can see). Maybe Gunma growers can sell for a higher price with the "Shinano" variety? Gunma ... is not really famous for its apples, and it definitely is not going to become famous for them as long as the apples are called "Shinano" ... though in fact the ones I ate were delicious.<p></p><p>I think Gunma needs a brand consultant. I would be happy to advise on this topic for a modest fee, slightly less than the 200 million yen that Takahashi-san, the Dentsu alum, charged four companies for "arranging" their Tokyo Olympic sponsorship opportunities. The payoff could be immense, for Gunma.</p><p>--------------------------------------------</p><p>Our plan to ride the SR600 fell apart even before we started. I had suggested taking an early train to Takasaki for an 8AM start on the 12th. But Jerome needed to be back in Tokyo on the 14th during the day, so we decided on a 6AM (later switched to a 5AM) start, with hotel in Takasaki near the station. This meant planning to do the ride in around 48-50 hours, rather than the 55-60 hour plan I had made for the Fukushima SR600 a few months ago. It meant a very aggressive schedule the first day, with the early start and a ride of well over 6000 meters elevation gain and 260kms to get to Shima Onsen. </p><p>(If I had been doing this on my own, I would have done a 55-60hr plan, with the 8AM start, and rested the first night at Kusatsu, after 185kms and 4300 meters elevation gain.)</p><p>On the 11th as we were heading out, Jerome said that he needed to be back in Tokyo sooner than expected, by Thursday afternoon, to prepare for his next international business trip - heading out on Saturday. I could see that he was just too busy to do this ride. I appreciated him trying to accommodate me -- a great birthday gift -- but his work seems busier than at any time since pre-pandemic, and he could not get enough time away to make it practical to really have a go at it. He was doing a lot of business during the ride, taking phone calls and sending emails--which he can do because he rides faster than me. He is not in the shape of May/June, but he is still a beast climbing hills, grinding up in big gears faster than I can spin in my lighter ones. </p><p>If I were to do this ride again with Jerome, I would get to Takasaki early enough to sleep by 830PM (instead of close to midnight), and start a couple hours ahead of him with the idea that he would catch me the first night after 18 hours or so on the road, and we could then ride together the second day. That is what we did on the 600km ride to Hamanako in April, and it worked well -- I started 2 hours ahead, he caught me after 450kms, and we rode together to the finish. Indeed, when we completed the SR600 Fuji back in 2015, I started 2 hours ahead and he and one other friend (Tanaka-san from Aichi) never caught up (except at the brief sleep stop in Ueda), but I was motivated the entire time, and we could celebrate together with breakfast at the finish.</p><p>Anyway, we got to Takasaki after 9PM, and by 930PM had checked into the Route Inn Takasaki Eki Nishiguchi (which is over 700 meters north of the actual station Nishiguchi). We went to the main drag looking for some good food ... but nearly every place was closed except bars that served only "tsumami" (snacks). We ended up settling for fried, somewhat greasy kushiyaki -- not ideal pre-ride nutrition.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJyaYtq-JCZU_Lp5LjDy8x0CpT-FpgpG9EEvSlIrRJhJTwKbW9tS3GVyx9ZMRDJ0amscLvxX-5xhpt6Zl-VfzBRGqFyHOPcpMiJTWvTNhQT0tJC47HYVm61jjnbGdLOH1lpHgR1Pgh0fBXbkKOsxlm2vT0mPA654KDL74XDeGitsSAFrDj0M300Zy/s4032/IMG_6132.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJyaYtq-JCZU_Lp5LjDy8x0CpT-FpgpG9EEvSlIrRJhJTwKbW9tS3GVyx9ZMRDJ0amscLvxX-5xhpt6Zl-VfzBRGqFyHOPcpMiJTWvTNhQT0tJC47HYVm61jjnbGdLOH1lpHgR1Pgh0fBXbkKOsxlm2vT0mPA654KDL74XDeGitsSAFrDj0M300Zy/w640-h480/IMG_6132.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We explore beautiful Takasaki</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70cpLNW4NjcVG4bb_iLnBr3oagmugbfHEbh2F16-WWN0_R2x02SnWis6wUGaFf3QGVtRxVBnWQI6cmd-CC61TzjGfCl7PghiDhfOVOoj1Iou4vNJ_fSAuQljobEydFqAcWYWsbz15uN2-QEOQLGeaOKsC9iBhjr7kGpt5cOS1KrOKbnTtY6OgcYu1/s4032/IMG_6136.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70cpLNW4NjcVG4bb_iLnBr3oagmugbfHEbh2F16-WWN0_R2x02SnWis6wUGaFf3QGVtRxVBnWQI6cmd-CC61TzjGfCl7PghiDhfOVOoj1Iou4vNJ_fSAuQljobEydFqAcWYWsbz15uN2-QEOQLGeaOKsC9iBhjr7kGpt5cOS1KrOKbnTtY6OgcYu1/w640-h480/IMG_6136.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at the station for our 5AM start.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were up before 430AM and at the start ready to go within a few minutes of our scheduled 5AM departure. The route started with a long climb, 25kms to Ihaho Onsen on the NE side of Mt. Haruna. I climbed slowly, warming up and knowing not to push hard because of what lay ahead. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildrprSxePLG08z1su1qXxsrnnpP4o9S7uTLZwRaSkicASErEeqAGhSnNXd-87IFDswAXhGLI09g2b84qLSDXsdYY6zaa-j_byk43TZh7IuXtZ3GsBG1KE7VOyKX6H43woi90G5lV3bPJRINqokZKhpagm68saf92-4Bhevxe0yZP2FGjZy6rsl-cP/s4032/IMG_6138.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildrprSxePLG08z1su1qXxsrnnpP4o9S7uTLZwRaSkicASErEeqAGhSnNXd-87IFDswAXhGLI09g2b84qLSDXsdYY6zaa-j_byk43TZh7IuXtZ3GsBG1KE7VOyKX6H43woi90G5lV3bPJRINqokZKhpagm68saf92-4Bhevxe0yZP2FGjZy6rsl-cP/w640-h480/IMG_6138.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All these photos from the climb to Ikaho</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGCrSonXB19rzSSk_qOE0hihlzv7OUbllZp8zY2K0Ps1VzhYGLRGdg2B7Q_NNzUlJSN9U5QWUHiSa5RCkNUidGGbwmgcQb8ZJenDIwJg6wlRkMC-8SqDAMi0Qs8QyOrLyhz-43Gcrlsk3QMbUW0H2D1I41wT8Umbsa-iV24O0P-N9N0q7CtrOc27p/s4032/IMG_6139.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGCrSonXB19rzSSk_qOE0hihlzv7OUbllZp8zY2K0Ps1VzhYGLRGdg2B7Q_NNzUlJSN9U5QWUHiSa5RCkNUidGGbwmgcQb8ZJenDIwJg6wlRkMC-8SqDAMi0Qs8QyOrLyhz-43Gcrlsk3QMbUW0H2D1I41wT8Umbsa-iV24O0P-N9N0q7CtrOc27p/w640-h480/IMG_6139.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great time of day to be up and about ... once up and about.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispb4zXRALlxqjXg4YQFmPFNuZ_P_CBMhLBxrDFTqaVhQKid6yFgkan1p8haZhpHCRoNglrLQWzwWOtZcT4UhUqHpGsguYwx4QhmHcqC4gLrnRqEvzaSF5pzfhmh8dD2miW2DxFMj8aAk-NcHNgpPMvaDx_TGvbX4Uzpce20DPqQYhA9GcLHUKdvPp/s3983/IMG_6142.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2655" data-original-width="3983" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispb4zXRALlxqjXg4YQFmPFNuZ_P_CBMhLBxrDFTqaVhQKid6yFgkan1p8haZhpHCRoNglrLQWzwWOtZcT4UhUqHpGsguYwx4QhmHcqC4gLrnRqEvzaSF5pzfhmh8dD2miW2DxFMj8aAk-NcHNgpPMvaDx_TGvbX4Uzpce20DPqQYhA9GcLHUKdvPp/w640-h426/IMG_6142.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKYx-3xD74ZEAP2Kej8Xw1OTOjov5vVUHqjpLY_RDGxybNbAtnrrhxTYZ0npqqIqQWk9Gj3kU8jL_ysUegMVQuaBN81IoJwcveFgm0LF3l_Sqt1xywn7K_KMSQKCU-MReLO3UjJMh0BvrF_3hVZ2JWIesa9kwbdeVt2F6aG3mWuX0jgHbe6p8yWQQ/s4032/IMG_6143.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKYx-3xD74ZEAP2Kej8Xw1OTOjov5vVUHqjpLY_RDGxybNbAtnrrhxTYZ0npqqIqQWk9Gj3kU8jL_ysUegMVQuaBN81IoJwcveFgm0LF3l_Sqt1xywn7K_KMSQKCU-MReLO3UjJMh0BvrF_3hVZ2JWIesa9kwbdeVt2F6aG3mWuX0jgHbe6p8yWQQ/w480-h640/IMG_6143.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyZSsv9nJknH0rpBFkCHzv6tz1EDLrX142xmQHFLiesbSFuTYILCShudMzcvw3gMTl0n1HbDx8cWnitwVC4DI5GPQaTeZ9n9gyaiJy3l0yKRUuTodB4Srr3Fn6ykjHjFLmXDTioiDO75RmeSOpaEp7M9f1YMRHWh3HpekQ8KNhQP0JUl70murfLVn/s3963/IMG_6144.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2738" data-original-width="3963" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyZSsv9nJknH0rpBFkCHzv6tz1EDLrX142xmQHFLiesbSFuTYILCShudMzcvw3gMTl0n1HbDx8cWnitwVC4DI5GPQaTeZ9n9gyaiJy3l0yKRUuTodB4Srr3Fn6ykjHjFLmXDTioiDO75RmeSOpaEp7M9f1YMRHWh3HpekQ8KNhQP0JUl70murfLVn/w640-h442/IMG_6144.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FmbxzNue50dJkBpmcVV-YAQk8_JXRU4ivTAHq3qAfkxi2pRmvmzxdRJFCqWyK5Ly4_S-pZ2X2-mGZ7cehOKJEihuHpBGieqemOicqTk_msrpi9omuO7MlJiHskCfYrF_dPMa4P0DR_qk4mZqLVxZn-SaiHeEtiCi2GGzUO48wfysYhV7eShoeKLo/s3461/IMG_6145.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3461" data-original-width="3015" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FmbxzNue50dJkBpmcVV-YAQk8_JXRU4ivTAHq3qAfkxi2pRmvmzxdRJFCqWyK5Ly4_S-pZ2X2-mGZ7cehOKJEihuHpBGieqemOicqTk_msrpi9omuO7MlJiHskCfYrF_dPMa4P0DR_qk4mZqLVxZn-SaiHeEtiCi2GGzUO48wfysYhV7eShoeKLo/w558-h640/IMG_6145.jpeg" width="558" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OW9MNOs8iXReUym4UZPXzkYJTljelLcgdH-wEDNAb9j_Z80I4sH1Cf5HiccAavxPE5NZ1wKIvjpgotRK4DrU7UQv3LH9YvU7sLQmrNniI7p0vTOxkpeTQh9rm8g1DKsh3TfRO1LzujiFeppXlLquqye87osGISl7z3lXtF82PfAiCPTZ-zNL3zw/s4032/IMG_6151.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OW9MNOs8iXReUym4UZPXzkYJTljelLcgdH-wEDNAb9j_Z80I4sH1Cf5HiccAavxPE5NZ1wKIvjpgotRK4DrU7UQv3LH9YvU7sLQmrNniI7p0vTOxkpeTQh9rm8g1DKsh3TfRO1LzujiFeppXlLquqye87osGISl7z3lXtF82PfAiCPTZ-zNL3zw/w640-h480/IMG_6151.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, the checkpoint.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After the checkpoint at Ikaho, I expected a long descent into Annaka. But actually Ikaho is around 800 meters elevation or a bit higher, while the top of the climb was at 1170 meters and at least 7-8kms ahead. Still, it was a beautiful morning, low traffic, and nice views, so I was not in a mood to complain.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbPI4N4IOJrYnwzEKZsaw--hGMwFwnUvqex25al_6q94hrYibsOa-4DBCoiliUfNgNpP3RcylcpXIyogR9cEhRZDQ5V4IJ7B7T0yJnv6jx5GkVtEjds68LvSXvQC9-QdN7EO8-uefFdQAS_idX44NluHPuufbyCk7LBE8clI51MJ_JgS9bgywgI-t/s4032/IMG_6154.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbPI4N4IOJrYnwzEKZsaw--hGMwFwnUvqex25al_6q94hrYibsOa-4DBCoiliUfNgNpP3RcylcpXIyogR9cEhRZDQ5V4IJ7B7T0yJnv6jx5GkVtEjds68LvSXvQC9-QdN7EO8-uefFdQAS_idX44NluHPuufbyCk7LBE8clI51MJ_JgS9bgywgI-t/w640-h480/IMG_6154.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice views from above Ikaho</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Vi7MG9fj0kd0Yy1Kvqo2BO2VsStIQmThMiczG9o2bH-ZNh_-mh6Kjapxa_3hdM5IjXt3wjPwczh0lFFDXlRrq4m9tsZxwpmacDZSAoEN-Hospptd6aqRuJ8SLZ9ZqRKAzYlyus337SJppHj85g_auAnDIvDFwE4ba4RUJ_UYn0hpTJHEFqFrYU-P/s4032/IMG_6159.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Vi7MG9fj0kd0Yy1Kvqo2BO2VsStIQmThMiczG9o2bH-ZNh_-mh6Kjapxa_3hdM5IjXt3wjPwczh0lFFDXlRrq4m9tsZxwpmacDZSAoEN-Hospptd6aqRuJ8SLZ9ZqRKAzYlyus337SJppHj85g_auAnDIvDFwE4ba4RUJ_UYn0hpTJHEFqFrYU-P/w640-h480/IMG_6159.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up on top ... is this the crater?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhSZz2c0Vhwa4z05nbV5apAH0vlvwsa6PyT3y0AgVSDPRqAyI5x66VWMxTeHB68YVAkLj9CiMWtQI0GquVXXkDs-HurWqLh149RanuPidPQ8aXlHHL2A6jxkIbc3so-RUhRsc5-q6hSZY1cLEwUAZ7x_zKjzqqoFXrlHzeuc98hVyAsXpS1bM6n3_/s4032/IMG_6160.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhSZz2c0Vhwa4z05nbV5apAH0vlvwsa6PyT3y0AgVSDPRqAyI5x66VWMxTeHB68YVAkLj9CiMWtQI0GquVXXkDs-HurWqLh149RanuPidPQ8aXlHHL2A6jxkIbc3so-RUhRsc5-q6hSZY1cLEwUAZ7x_zKjzqqoFXrlHzeuc98hVyAsXpS1bM6n3_/w640-h480/IMG_6160.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />After going across the flat crater of Mt. Haruna, then past Lake Haruna, we climbed briefly over the southern edge of the crater, then started a steep descent down to Annaka. We seemed to head SE for a long time, and all the signs said we were going toward Takasaki. And we did go through the Takasaki outer sections, but eventually turned SW and reached the second checkpoint, Annaka Station.<p></p><p>From there, we headed south toward Tomioka, then west toward Shimonita, the third checkpoint, climbing gradually. This section of the ride was the most familiar, as we took roads I have traveled often, though usually heading to the NW or SE, rather than this time to the SW then West. For many sections around here, you take the same road across a valley whether your ultimate intention is SW or SE. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGHDton3Sk7wFwqgFPKKkQXjK-I0CTz872R7VzClp9nrdWCTmcEagVzXZ4rbsElkt9C3HZxWeur9xiTn_r84NOWvo6AcDvmi0neUasYGec14Dww9Uzvc0oDqJ_bj1Q_hPxjzcFju7PZAwTPAwObG14X1AWvsYfGV2FrPgz4JpLL65Zb71QJSb7ipK/s3356/IMG_6165.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3356" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGHDton3Sk7wFwqgFPKKkQXjK-I0CTz872R7VzClp9nrdWCTmcEagVzXZ4rbsElkt9C3HZxWeur9xiTn_r84NOWvo6AcDvmi0neUasYGec14Dww9Uzvc0oDqJ_bj1Q_hPxjzcFju7PZAwTPAwObG14X1AWvsYfGV2FrPgz4JpLL65Zb71QJSb7ipK/w360-h400/IMG_6165.jpeg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checkpoint.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCrstRftNpLa0yotrnDdWyXxCToHEi4DXiVb495zLrePcX_lCs9jrJ5PYlFanzmgpYCOKwlSzroABP8GS5JNsRrFW0WdxRVR1Z5Wi-6V8nnNVWNiOyMdK9BwLpvMkNzvoruBHTuAHv1UQ5INe8VLVQeC6PWPpruY6oreFDgX2vjisD_OTF8oy4G1S/s4032/IMG_6166.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="4032" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCrstRftNpLa0yotrnDdWyXxCToHEi4DXiVb495zLrePcX_lCs9jrJ5PYlFanzmgpYCOKwlSzroABP8GS5JNsRrFW0WdxRVR1Z5Wi-6V8nnNVWNiOyMdK9BwLpvMkNzvoruBHTuAHv1UQ5INe8VLVQeC6PWPpruY6oreFDgX2vjisD_OTF8oy4G1S/w640-h334/IMG_6166.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical Gunma scene - konnyaku field, solar PV, power lines, road.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj4oKiuAR1e2FSvoEvVQYbEIFz9JVZJmMaVE7Pm-UfmSseEsCBAnENHN6FuTid-gokcHVSLqeSFCURYyTecWHSM-ZoOUsdJx3vJdh48reYfwJm95i_ZtFxtnmXOW8QWNH_OCeHlfwKqW_JDqb4zovykAVU7P-08kD0K61uCIku3iiXcDAjo15h35a/s3787/IMG_6168.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3787" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj4oKiuAR1e2FSvoEvVQYbEIFz9JVZJmMaVE7Pm-UfmSseEsCBAnENHN6FuTid-gokcHVSLqeSFCURYyTecWHSM-ZoOUsdJx3vJdh48reYfwJm95i_ZtFxtnmXOW8QWNH_OCeHlfwKqW_JDqb4zovykAVU7P-08kD0K61uCIku3iiXcDAjo15h35a/w320-h400/IMG_6168.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checkpoint.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After Shimonita and a brief section to the west, we did our second real climb, over the shoulder of Mt. Myogi, with the top at Nakanotake Shrine, home to a 20m tall gold statue. This was a lovely climb up and a nice descent to the north, and I will definitely try it again when in the vicinity.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1xKzwt8E2yuvQolJgqfkMRCwvN8N4NleJmHglBe8dWfG9pdQnTQOTU1XFFJjkPI1wp1YnxmzkWM_lUtZcHA-CkgjrskCF_5aa4u14B83MrhVO-1bUrQs_U3K2RllT81e5BBAOHfqK3MX0NH_Zz4rnJs4OVwCHFuz1xYvb71RgCs6ZbxHCgauhvek/s726/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%2016.52.49.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="595" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1xKzwt8E2yuvQolJgqfkMRCwvN8N4NleJmHglBe8dWfG9pdQnTQOTU1XFFJjkPI1wp1YnxmzkWM_lUtZcHA-CkgjrskCF_5aa4u14B83MrhVO-1bUrQs_U3K2RllT81e5BBAOHfqK3MX0NH_Zz4rnJs4OVwCHFuz1xYvb71RgCs6ZbxHCgauhvek/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%2016.52.49.png" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did not actually climb Mt Myogi ... looks quite technical for rock climbers even.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnXAF1wqjI-yutpUQMqKXhMvuNTHlezTeQFy0W2ZLzw0Q0PF5_hHDnpbTgmEjS-ZxuP6jFekE7s8HxfF-8WVts36USL9C8zo_dlM0I3D3iav7-UGe1wOlLM2kE_33XwANCGRAYHjEDQVAScYQJCIe_skqDIo8IrwyIpRjA3WLbLiyLvfWgvp-RbEx/s4032/IMG_6170.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnXAF1wqjI-yutpUQMqKXhMvuNTHlezTeQFy0W2ZLzw0Q0PF5_hHDnpbTgmEjS-ZxuP6jFekE7s8HxfF-8WVts36USL9C8zo_dlM0I3D3iav7-UGe1wOlLM2kE_33XwANCGRAYHjEDQVAScYQJCIe_skqDIo8IrwyIpRjA3WLbLiyLvfWgvp-RbEx/w640-h480/IMG_6170.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turned here onto the Myogi climb</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWjR6tVDgkRAxYPubXUCqUJmvefhEiYB605Y0CRfCR49_4MFr5QgOa69cD8lV-Z130BfNVlMaB6W4ua-jDioSf-Ldvo3_yMb8dpB1CHWvDpi6DzePd8CbopG9E0zsH6q2JTKYxu8_GIm3bDIlKz3hthVIlY25NW9d_kc6tCX9hDsFKHegZTsdcMe7/s3781/IMG_6174.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="3781" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWjR6tVDgkRAxYPubXUCqUJmvefhEiYB605Y0CRfCR49_4MFr5QgOa69cD8lV-Z130BfNVlMaB6W4ua-jDioSf-Ldvo3_yMb8dpB1CHWvDpi6DzePd8CbopG9E0zsH6q2JTKYxu8_GIm3bDIlKz3hthVIlY25NW9d_kc6tCX9hDsFKHegZTsdcMe7/w640-h480/IMG_6174.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top. Side profile of Jerome!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipudJgiJZcAC6uXAjJwarE_B4AKOREeiCG9rrQTfAmD1d5XvhWFy8LV5itUtY8rLrmQnPkU2ccuNkUiGE1MD7fncANLuKw8eIKmm_3yI04ytdU6bLqPSr0177V7CKPBR2_MS1_BKhVSLmTWBetuI34M-IHWOxhs_5C-6UqXhmwSeUik5CdjqbAcmdB/s4032/IMG_6180%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipudJgiJZcAC6uXAjJwarE_B4AKOREeiCG9rrQTfAmD1d5XvhWFy8LV5itUtY8rLrmQnPkU2ccuNkUiGE1MD7fncANLuKw8eIKmm_3yI04ytdU6bLqPSr0177V7CKPBR2_MS1_BKhVSLmTWBetuI34M-IHWOxhs_5C-6UqXhmwSeUik5CdjqbAcmdB/w640-h480/IMG_6180%202.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosmos (flowers) everywhere on this trip!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After dropping into the valley, between Yokogawa and Matsuida, we turned east on Route 18 and passed a hundred meters or so from <a href="https://g.page/gsastuto?share" target="_blank">GS Astuto's Gunma base</a>, now <a href="https://www.gsastuto.com/ridershouse.html" target="_blank">including a rider's cafe and some overnight accommodations, perfect for a stop in the middle of a long ride</a> ... but not at 1145AM after only 6 1/2 hours on the road. We said hi to Tim and Naoko Smith, the proprietors, filled our bottles and accepted some offered konnyaku jelly snacks, and continued on our way. Of course, the bicycle I was riding this trip was my RAMAX all road maximum adventure bike, which was designed by Tim.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg6QGe-5QEJbmbZEPp0RsJW3z5ClJ3G7hNQ_HvnZEJQ-fDlTpK2ynPOf7pO02YWdHUhGbsvuiaVQ9s6Mnl9b9FooWyuAkJ8r6RfWpEBRPN6aZLRltxbnB8ykAEQKo4xjqyo6y7dTGedt2VVo9hqXxxSAmrAU84oj-Owr9R6f0SFXe-0RMjtpIxhle/s4032/IMG_6182.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg6QGe-5QEJbmbZEPp0RsJW3z5ClJ3G7hNQ_HvnZEJQ-fDlTpK2ynPOf7pO02YWdHUhGbsvuiaVQ9s6Mnl9b9FooWyuAkJ8r6RfWpEBRPN6aZLRltxbnB8ykAEQKo4xjqyo6y7dTGedt2VVo9hqXxxSAmrAU84oj-Owr9R6f0SFXe-0RMjtpIxhle/w400-h300/IMG_6182.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim ... with riders' guest room to the rear.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80kgt0r2gYdvoPHl9TDc7ScuaiKDy0DzKd8oudKtZybBDoso1MZWOxzC7HnF5cCW-fRcLpPVJt38tODtjw__UgQLeMtlp0mx7SyC-fLmYSayssitIfTWlTNOKYX7Blq4ZisK7Eap4io3aCLLVi8Ho8gJ1FoWzKwQuKKMNkIFUJm0r2AjaldRHxmH0/s3936/IMG_6183.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3936" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80kgt0r2gYdvoPHl9TDc7ScuaiKDy0DzKd8oudKtZybBDoso1MZWOxzC7HnF5cCW-fRcLpPVJt38tODtjw__UgQLeMtlp0mx7SyC-fLmYSayssitIfTWlTNOKYX7Blq4ZisK7Eap4io3aCLLVi8Ho8gJ1FoWzKwQuKKMNkIFUJm0r2AjaldRHxmH0/w400-h300/IMG_6183.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naoko, with the other guest room behind her.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw1CQvJeAc4LDTzdCXqj9gVE44nuDrw8Hq4MteYgHp4RnvcRYR9c03cIoV3jLUQdzPTIDnmEH7kkYWINF5uqX2e5cehn1KDxdxX0fxhoAXEruf6F8YTtH6tNvsLFKKYRFJo2QVrbBD58kNy34oU4bTnvL-cgAxwPDBJi-bNYdbeo_JFuDF6LEUa_G/s3189/IMG_6184.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3189" data-original-width="2392" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw1CQvJeAc4LDTzdCXqj9gVE44nuDrw8Hq4MteYgHp4RnvcRYR9c03cIoV3jLUQdzPTIDnmEH7kkYWINF5uqX2e5cehn1KDxdxX0fxhoAXEruf6F8YTtH6tNvsLFKKYRFJo2QVrbBD58kNy34oU4bTnvL-cgAxwPDBJi-bNYdbeo_JFuDF6LEUa_G/w300-h400/IMG_6184.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now serving.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />By now it was painfully clear we were behind schedule, and had not a moment to lose.<p></p><p>We headed north on Gunma Route 33, the Shibukawa-Matsuida Line, went over another pass not quite as high as Mt. Myogi's shoulder, then descended again, to Kurabuchi. There we stopped for lunch at a cafeteria in front of the town hall. Now it was time for our second big climb, 22kms, with elevation gradually increasing from 400m to 1400m, ending at Nido-age Pass. It was already well past 2PM as we started. I climbed until 3PM, then pulled over for some food and a 5-minute rest, flat on my back.</p><p>The road was well marked with indicators of the remaining distance to the pass, often every 100 meters or so. 8.5kms to Nidoage Pass, 8.4kms ..., 8.35kms, ... 8.1kms. Overkill. The markers crept by. Around 4.5kms from the top, I adjusted my seatpost, elevating it maybe 5mms. It had felt a bit on the low side, and well into this climb my left knee had started to develop an occasional twinge -- something that is not a normal part of my long ride experience. The slightly higher seat resolved it immediately, and I could kick myself for not having adjusted it hours earlier to get a bit more power and less pressure on the knee.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcn9vVx_swt3ZHF_kkTt9kmLDREvVXMx8yOqQYwhTA1jntpzRKWziY8lLlSLdNCcAdeiJnnpbk5innS-mw3XLL168x653ZWKrLZFPoAfcabptl00u6P1iFE-rwfC2gvi4IcIJ0hNwYDqialNrYAg3PxYh02h4OoceiWnybve3hTuitVavWutvQUWv/s4032/IMG_6189.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcn9vVx_swt3ZHF_kkTt9kmLDREvVXMx8yOqQYwhTA1jntpzRKWziY8lLlSLdNCcAdeiJnnpbk5innS-mw3XLL168x653ZWKrLZFPoAfcabptl00u6P1iFE-rwfC2gvi4IcIJ0hNwYDqialNrYAg3PxYh02h4OoceiWnybve3hTuitVavWutvQUWv/w480-h640/IMG_6189.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only 0.8km to Nidoage Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKTRj1DVZGy7VZKQ8Z6QIWo6yU1QG0H8QQotRozLtNFII8tySpHQNZCzRJmQNsktNZy0HyUJaZWjn7Z9jtFU7yxlwaBlJGHmrv2bLKCKfmahuk8u0Bu2UP8WY0aU_O719hMmUg9w-od5cMEIjYquoJlhfGWm-Iocrp8by7na6cXWBI2XukIIdPACr/s4032/IMG_6192.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="4032" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKTRj1DVZGy7VZKQ8Z6QIWo6yU1QG0H8QQotRozLtNFII8tySpHQNZCzRJmQNsktNZy0HyUJaZWjn7Z9jtFU7yxlwaBlJGHmrv2bLKCKfmahuk8u0Bu2UP8WY0aU_O719hMmUg9w-od5cMEIjYquoJlhfGWm-Iocrp8by7na6cXWBI2XukIIdPACr/w640-h402/IMG_6192.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the pass looking toward enclouded Mt. Asama. Signage for Kitakaruizawa.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWYxWDwMyGmNlXWuswG7f1TjKu46jGcbgNbJykHkLwR5rex6AnpZKBu2e69f3jU-mtDFLTr4ytS_aMKCuDSS1Bu8l96ae3KFKdMUk7_idKYUsm2RxtR3AnNGn-RFDF3UpjTNN2cmxaHh_A2ycN3vOupOSyLkQV6QK4y44rAmoeKRZOnwFg8M6JIco/s4032/IMG_6193.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWYxWDwMyGmNlXWuswG7f1TjKu46jGcbgNbJykHkLwR5rex6AnpZKBu2e69f3jU-mtDFLTr4ytS_aMKCuDSS1Bu8l96ae3KFKdMUk7_idKYUsm2RxtR3AnNGn-RFDF3UpjTNN2cmxaHh_A2ycN3vOupOSyLkQV6QK4y44rAmoeKRZOnwFg8M6JIco/w480-h640/IMG_6193.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the downhill to Naganohara.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I found Jerome waiting at a pull-out in the road, a bit below the pass. Jerome said he had been there quite awhile, not surprising given my pace and earlier rest, as well as the seat adjustment stop. We went together the last few hundred meters to the top and planned our next move.<p></p><p>It was just 4PM, with perhaps another 80-90 minutes of daylight. We would descend nearly 25km and back down to 660m elevation, to Naganohara, reachable around 5PM. From there, the route involved (1) a 600m climb (steep and with traffic) to Kusatsu, (2) an 800 meter climb on National Route 405 to Lake Nozori, (3) a 373 meter climb on Gunma Route 55, and (4) another 380 meter climb up to the dam above Shima Onsen. So realistically, with 600m up, an hour to stop for dinner around 7-8PM at Kusatsu, and nearly 80kms distance and 1600m of climbing after dinner, we were looking at at very, very late night.</p><p>Since we already knew that we would not complete the ride, there did not seem much point. We had already been riding for 11 hours and 3700m of climbing, and we started looking at more direct routes to our lodging.</p><p>We descended toward Naganohara, but took a short cut down the last part of the hill (near Furumori Golf Club) and then continued east on Route 145 to Nakanojo. There we ate a decent and well-deserved meal at a yakitori place. Then we did the gradual climb up to Shima onsen. It was only 20kms, and perhaps 350 meters of elevation gain as we would not go all the way to the top of the dam. My stomach was complaining as I rode up that hill right after dinner, so I took it easy. We arrived at our hotel before 9PM and could actually enjoy the onsen, get a decent night of sleep, and wake in time for a second trip to the onsen, a 730AM breakfast seating, and an 830AM departure.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5POvHjm87t1PhkSy6NWshWSbnSyMZDstfynrFKnaJduv2Ry-G3TCz2NgYMMrZ6YIkiBeSUMIGJyO5RrQ9fPvdZUUTPGkKHLMYd7QKB7vpIRUkayLY5GG3SxPX1YsdAvwSQpE7D8-UdARh_ubvWwY7YYFZ_nLa8U5YLM_AB7Ags123P6yCJlIpKTE/s4032/IMG_6195.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5POvHjm87t1PhkSy6NWshWSbnSyMZDstfynrFKnaJduv2Ry-G3TCz2NgYMMrZ6YIkiBeSUMIGJyO5RrQ9fPvdZUUTPGkKHLMYd7QKB7vpIRUkayLY5GG3SxPX1YsdAvwSQpE7D8-UdARh_ubvWwY7YYFZ_nLa8U5YLM_AB7Ags123P6yCJlIpKTE/w640-h480/IMG_6195.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad -- includes entryway, rotenburo, breakfast, and coupons for shopping,<br />all for 7850 yen, or 3900 yen each. Go to Travel!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdUe6YxKGpBwpyxjF4BfrBLs660zVg_s9jikBmTg5nqObwKrcJ1ahQ3IJf6rxWHcDw5siyKIt_AEnXns6UcMzbUfu3DRYbrP9rFLk4gSaLOz25DqkM7jHT1hbS3GdauZItckl0EMa6FP1MVLPWzndrPB_ej_YQ7OCk8ncjfs2g2sEVzZojosiXZq5/s3088/IMG_6197.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdUe6YxKGpBwpyxjF4BfrBLs660zVg_s9jikBmTg5nqObwKrcJ1ahQ3IJf6rxWHcDw5siyKIt_AEnXns6UcMzbUfu3DRYbrP9rFLk4gSaLOz25DqkM7jHT1hbS3GdauZItckl0EMa6FP1MVLPWzndrPB_ej_YQ7OCk8ncjfs2g2sEVzZojosiXZq5/s320/IMG_6197.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well-rested and ready for day two</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wyDzvTKPj8WEMsiaNoQEy3fG1r-bse_x7FA34Q_S_AWs6iSuz2EUlKrjKkfBMQaB0rp20cL9QapO3X0ivWpcz9RmeANTGjFqRNw8gYx7OzsfpEQbL-lKXz9NaelIg6EAzztYB9WnRegkU3xhcrLv1-3_lcu8O-XFNInxk07DWRcFpCzETYPHu1lX/s2040/IMG_6198.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="2040" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wyDzvTKPj8WEMsiaNoQEy3fG1r-bse_x7FA34Q_S_AWs6iSuz2EUlKrjKkfBMQaB0rp20cL9QapO3X0ivWpcz9RmeANTGjFqRNw8gYx7OzsfpEQbL-lKXz9NaelIg6EAzztYB9WnRegkU3xhcrLv1-3_lcu8O-XFNInxk07DWRcFpCzETYPHu1lX/w640-h452/IMG_6198.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We could not see this landmark looming above us when we arrived at night!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiTGpQrfZvH2YGUq2oaAkhzbL5ya6-VZXrzHlIDwKJ0PkPNIjd4LEqs1m6r3XT-J_XhScGwznFeae4DFKpkcPyAj6jED95AJOKw_N13V-NFO785rI9eE7ZXg1A9DVBth7-XLfmIQlqpkOJJEEgQR7mggeMx5YsGeZq0mpomlizUNS-bsMWz9aWBmW/s4032/IMG_6199.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiTGpQrfZvH2YGUq2oaAkhzbL5ya6-VZXrzHlIDwKJ0PkPNIjd4LEqs1m6r3XT-J_XhScGwznFeae4DFKpkcPyAj6jED95AJOKw_N13V-NFO785rI9eE7ZXg1A9DVBth7-XLfmIQlqpkOJJEEgQR7mggeMx5YsGeZq0mpomlizUNS-bsMWz9aWBmW/w640-h480/IMG_6199.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the town was closed on a weekday morning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf9AjgSBRWJaNfg4z7V8zqRDkBIgbVxRhTBXoc69sZqqhgm6svW6iASXrqyng9wA9JVjRyAqyB8LXH6P9f44SmjKH3x0jrXzgkR0jtHYt61XMXqBdAT6JiWfdaYUl3T4khHZzpksMUMGeFkNjNYjYbJWTMACeRYk_sWpKD2L40ak5wiP92ClMZcr2/s4032/IMG_6203.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf9AjgSBRWJaNfg4z7V8zqRDkBIgbVxRhTBXoc69sZqqhgm6svW6iASXrqyng9wA9JVjRyAqyB8LXH6P9f44SmjKH3x0jrXzgkR0jtHYt61XMXqBdAT6JiWfdaYUl3T4khHZzpksMUMGeFkNjNYjYbJWTMACeRYk_sWpKD2L40ak5wiP92ClMZcr2/w480-h640/IMG_6203.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending the "ringo kaido".</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq_5gh_BpSu4jh7H6VHEvtGmnkCiNf8cM9Llc2Qe6h4exMD3LF0mwvb4alilajsqHFwk5Rz4yKr3j9b5nudwvI7mXSQJAfyPbhrIsPst4DgHY_nCHnXfxE1FOgnqX2FguGfBVv8xSwFlAMQ_3lQ5KgGG2XfYDjTS5PnfTjoTxS1DGn0UAce08jOxn/s3516/IMG_6204.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3516" data-original-width="2891" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq_5gh_BpSu4jh7H6VHEvtGmnkCiNf8cM9Llc2Qe6h4exMD3LF0mwvb4alilajsqHFwk5Rz4yKr3j9b5nudwvI7mXSQJAfyPbhrIsPst4DgHY_nCHnXfxE1FOgnqX2FguGfBVv8xSwFlAMQ_3lQ5KgGG2XfYDjTS5PnfTjoTxS1DGn0UAce08jOxn/w329-h400/IMG_6204.jpeg" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takebuchi ringo-en<br />(I was recommended to go to Saito ringo-en ... <br />which it turns out is another kilometer or so down the road.) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqItixSmZtjW1FOlUJZxRxcGaAaP4yH1Z4vAGs78LHZ0lJPulsKsD8NqYKBUyjQMlsLdTBdVmgKrUepiisFvETaDUVu_29twLEOj8flp6Na5UtFt-sQw2OuilQWNq9qCW1Vhk9_6rf3mvzK9Zohu-XXRa7ocy8v3tzq42jF6HW4Hpn6yc4Vg123yr/s4032/IMG_6206.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqItixSmZtjW1FOlUJZxRxcGaAaP4yH1Z4vAGs78LHZ0lJPulsKsD8NqYKBUyjQMlsLdTBdVmgKrUepiisFvETaDUVu_29twLEOj8flp6Na5UtFt-sQw2OuilQWNq9qCW1Vhk9_6rf3mvzK9Zohu-XXRa7ocy8v3tzq42jF6HW4Hpn6yc4Vg123yr/w640-h480/IMG_6206.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Gunma!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After riding back to Nakanojo, with a stop to purchase Nagano-branded apples, we did a gradual climb up to Lockheart Castle.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-a_HTmm6Rcw93pC-whjcsQYOdb_IvxlGGgYOIYTTmspTADqKGuMpnAWuZq7AnZGTUxaCYmylaEqQ09DqKHh4C5dOV_gjp0PEq-mZc-lFoS9QzdKmYFcMMliJaB1YWbcWHafdECVK6G_Imz8YiN6_V9XyVLqAnHu2ZBqJbYZU-fwXOQoOQUHiFK9a/s4032/IMG_6209.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-a_HTmm6Rcw93pC-whjcsQYOdb_IvxlGGgYOIYTTmspTADqKGuMpnAWuZq7AnZGTUxaCYmylaEqQ09DqKHh4C5dOV_gjp0PEq-mZc-lFoS9QzdKmYFcMMliJaB1YWbcWHafdECVK6G_Imz8YiN6_V9XyVLqAnHu2ZBqJbYZU-fwXOQoOQUHiFK9a/w480-h640/IMG_6209.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the castle entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkHXKwzZYb7DEN-lWX15pO9XMOqnv_uQ0FaNlvqUS5C54QqK0EfWvGLgApO6UDVedWJLvSMTWq0cf7DSGiLQfo_hTJc70Dt63hYwF772Vt2LZ1mJ99fN52CBOG31rvyXyYvwMGNjJhVtvZA4pIBEAT6MrFJWoEMQWEKahK0jLfsNVg2_w8SGpkWFX/s4032/IMG_6210.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkHXKwzZYb7DEN-lWX15pO9XMOqnv_uQ0FaNlvqUS5C54QqK0EfWvGLgApO6UDVedWJLvSMTWq0cf7DSGiLQfo_hTJc70Dt63hYwF772Vt2LZ1mJ99fN52CBOG31rvyXyYvwMGNjJhVtvZA4pIBEAT6MrFJWoEMQWEKahK0jLfsNVg2_w8SGpkWFX/w640-h480/IMG_6210.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />What is Lockheart Castle? It is a Scottish baronial mansion built in 1829 near Edinburgh ... that was disassembled brick-by-brick, shipped to Japan, and rebuilt on the top of a hill in Gunma in 1988 -- near the peak of the Japanese "bubble economy" when life was good, money was free, and Japan was going to party all night long and take over the world. The castle charges admission for curious tourists, and allows Gunma couples from nearby Numata, Minakami, and Shibukawa the opportunity to get married in a Scottish mansion without leaving Gunma. We did not go inside.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtKQREjpyGEUiPkh2clgQ-4TBuCh_uWSAdfmguMSkUC-jyjy3MFEoDdj5tWD9uSgG6ORieIMBjhqO088DRndkcONUKZKQFr0oqTCbJdzGSiIjfGL18RDUfQQikWe7jEdWc3TKpRdwH3eadPo75uxQCkZdNn78QA60tlBBv8SA3Ebj00G6JUTpweFy/s893/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%2019.56.29.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="893" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtKQREjpyGEUiPkh2clgQ-4TBuCh_uWSAdfmguMSkUC-jyjy3MFEoDdj5tWD9uSgG6ORieIMBjhqO088DRndkcONUKZKQFr0oqTCbJdzGSiIjfGL18RDUfQQikWe7jEdWc3TKpRdwH3eadPo75uxQCkZdNn78QA60tlBBv8SA3Ebj00G6JUTpweFy/w640-h442/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%2019.56.29.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the official Gunma tourist guide - Gunma Excellence!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>From Lockheart Castle, it was a steep descent to Numata, then we turned south for another 45 kms of very slight downhill to get back to Takasaki Station. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0reLsgnH4j108NDHBWc3EYvUpRpLTOkoGmj5mBCHpKJ5HjksEIqLWNDPMf9Z7mQFZSQ3HzYk96UqfVkpdOR49U4UhTupMIehcUhCyXOZKDsNxPGqUzpt5KZL8-3Vwx2P9yG9ggiO57ifwzdrfq5LW2CmQ7H9QxK57atcR3hl-o0Z3cUjCFlNm4eAn/s4032/IMG_6211.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0reLsgnH4j108NDHBWc3EYvUpRpLTOkoGmj5mBCHpKJ5HjksEIqLWNDPMf9Z7mQFZSQ3HzYk96UqfVkpdOR49U4UhTupMIehcUhCyXOZKDsNxPGqUzpt5KZL8-3Vwx2P9yG9ggiO57ifwzdrfq5LW2CmQ7H9QxK57atcR3hl-o0Z3cUjCFlNm4eAn/w640-h480/IMG_6211.jpeg" width="640" /></a>Bet</td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between Numata and Takasaki</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The first day was a good, hard ride that was memorable, almost epic. And the second day we enjoyed an easy recovery ride. <div><br /><div>Now I need to go back and to the entire SR600. I won't have another chance before winter, but this is on my list for 2023. "More than enough" Gunma? No. Not enough Gunma!<p>Day 1 <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/7951362039" target="_blank">Strava track is here</a>.<br />Day 2 <a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/7955113685" target="_blank">Strava track is here</a>.</p></div></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-76911877804061903722022-10-14T21:35:00.003+09:002022-10-16T18:26:10.589+09:00A (Future) Star is Met - Ryuki Uga<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP70gTroDRSmrSpdovA1OXJaLzcacR3AGrkUtrvhogRuYC1wrjKhxDf8UnCO1K9j97B_fFawROO5smYrtf34cF-s2e0oz6XlsKxVP1iXTO0SszK9qYkQ3HTiFFtbOUtq4F0dUaRnqHLNyTruk_uTluC63RcYm2u8EKNauQM7YD-dKNEcXc4pBH-rpi" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP70gTroDRSmrSpdovA1OXJaLzcacR3AGrkUtrvhogRuYC1wrjKhxDf8UnCO1K9j97B_fFawROO5smYrtf34cF-s2e0oz6XlsKxVP1iXTO0SszK9qYkQ3HTiFFtbOUtq4F0dUaRnqHLNyTruk_uTluC63RcYm2u8EKNauQM7YD-dKNEcXc4pBH-rpi=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryuki Uga - Pro Cyclist</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A few weeks back, in late September, I took a morning spin on the Pelso Brevet recumbent to, and up and down, the Tamagawa. As I was heading downriver toward Haneda, I picked up speed a bit and eventually passed a young Japanese road cyclist who was riding at a fast but relaxed pace. He did not chase me. But he passed me back at the next location where the path dipped under a bridge and then climbed back up a zig-zag to the top of the embankment. This is pretty typical with the Pelso -- fast on the flats, but slow maneuvering up zig zag climbs. Anyway, I passed him again a kilometer or so later, and stayed ahead until the Torii (shrine gate) at the entrance to Haneda, where he pulled up to say hello.<div>He commented on the recumbent (of course), but he also mentioned the Paris-Brest-Paris jersey that I was wearing. He told me that he was a pro cyclist and would be going to France (based out of Bretagne) from January. I told him that, alas, I am American, not French, but I plan to go back again for PBP 2023. He said his name is Ryuki Uga and he rides (this year at least) for Team Ukyo Sagamihara, a UCI Continental team. I wished him well and he was off, continuing his ride.</div><div>From Strava, I could see that he trains pretty regularly, this year at least, along the Tamagawa and nearby. So I followed him on Strava.</div><div>A few days later, on October 2, <a href="https://www.cyclowired.jp/news/node/378313" target="_blank">he won his first race as a professional</a>, the Oita Urban Classic. Apparently he was racing to support one of the more experienced riders on his team, Yoshioka, and ended up bridging a gap between the peleton and a small breakaway group relatively late in the race as part of that duty. But the peleton never caught up. A couple of the riders dropped out of the breakaway, and with two laps left of the 11km circuit, there were only 3 riders in front. On the last lap, he rode away from the remaining competitor for a solo victory. <br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0jIIlHoXKi-czXgVw4H4oauDakrJKc4XGCojTSbK4wc2i8pHUGVoo8Zs1DiacCez5Ja8v0AoTHMBg2c6jFLfDrTpSO1YV94RTny8ngK_k3A40lUgbIKZwNzgfJ3IO0jNftrsJ6kv5NGT4u6zuAKI5xLba7GOHDqwBOagNcTWMM2dgrfHhmHwxxsuF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1336" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0jIIlHoXKi-czXgVw4H4oauDakrJKc4XGCojTSbK4wc2i8pHUGVoo8Zs1DiacCez5Ja8v0AoTHMBg2c6jFLfDrTpSO1YV94RTny8ngK_k3A40lUgbIKZwNzgfJ3IO0jNftrsJ6kv5NGT4u6zuAKI5xLba7GOHDqwBOagNcTWMM2dgrfHhmHwxxsuF" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even close!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkiTX6unes_bnukS3CzqozZ-QI7wCpu3xwla6oHzGvVJKpXeWvCucJRZpZqMBr5JnY_8GXrAyi_CFhUOKhUxBWAV37--eLpkOAZJeGRTALNGUZFd_Lqp2sTPzxbyv8xQ5UuqGWmj3Ft1P7z5kIe3uxV9ZxtLj4ZEIRqo7keEJC2gqo09qwP8ASKHl/s1281/IMG_0589%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1281" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkiTX6unes_bnukS3CzqozZ-QI7wCpu3xwla6oHzGvVJKpXeWvCucJRZpZqMBr5JnY_8GXrAyi_CFhUOKhUxBWAV37--eLpkOAZJeGRTALNGUZFd_Lqp2sTPzxbyv8xQ5UuqGWmj3Ft1P7z5kIe3uxV9ZxtLj4ZEIRqo7keEJC2gqo09qwP8ASKHl/s320/IMG_0589%203.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div>I guess this is not such a surprise to those who follow Japan cycle racing, given that Uga-san was awarded the "white jersey" (best young rider) award last year for the new Japan Cycling League (JCL), and that he is going to Europe.</div><div>Anyway, I see that this week he is racing the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, an 8-day stage race that features plenty of World Tour teams (though no Pogacar, Van Aert, or Roglic types). Ivan Sosa of Movistar beat Hugh Carty of EF Education on the big climbs of Stage 3 yesterday. But I see that Uga-san is ahead of Van der Poel of Alpecin Deceuninck now in the GC!!! Wow. (Oh, that is David van der Poel, older brother of MVP, not MVP himself.) And today he did a flat 141kms at an average speed of 41.5kph. That's something.</div><div>I'll be looking forward to great things from Uga-san, and watching his development. You can follow <a href="https://www.strava.com/pros/17575205">him on Strava</a> and do the same. Or if you ride along the Tamagawa, you may be able to say hi sometime ... before he leaves for the big show.</div><div><br /></div>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730233429051035621.post-14583689901570922472022-10-10T15:49:00.004+09:002022-10-10T16:11:52.516+09:00Bikepacking, Japanese style - SR600 Joumou Sanzan<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiqxSDz-U47X-NYBuSbt1-YfGPMc4-y-vvuQIqkpjHkzc4qtv16hWBGTpxoOsz4AN7JfT2wc25XGeVZX91UsBPNl4wJr8Fut3Of-zqLYwSucSB9kfwWWtydHdlKgb4lRs1_vPmZUNcKFSmwiyLnCn0uY3x140RYIAdIObPkDNDTQc6S1ehAR3JFbE3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiqxSDz-U47X-NYBuSbt1-YfGPMc4-y-vvuQIqkpjHkzc4qtv16hWBGTpxoOsz4AN7JfT2wc25XGeVZX91UsBPNl4wJr8Fut3Of-zqLYwSucSB9kfwWWtydHdlKgb4lRs1_vPmZUNcKFSmwiyLnCn0uY3x140RYIAdIObPkDNDTQc6S1ehAR3JFbE3=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bikepacking Japan style - I pack and ship a box, and ride my bike.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today (Oct 10) is Sports Day, celebrated since 1964 on the opening day of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Except most weeks in recent years the holiday is shifted to the 2nd Monday in October, to allow a 3-day weekend. This year the calendar lines up with the original day ... which also happens to be my birthday.</p><p>As part of my birthday week, I want to try a second SR600 for the year -- the Fukushima SR600 back in May was such a memorable ride (<a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2022/05/sr600-fukushima-ride-in-wild-part-1.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="https://positivo-espresso.blogspot.com/2022/05/sr600-fukushima-ride-in-wild-part-2.html">Part 2</a> reports). I chose the <a href="https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41102728">Gunma "Joumou Sanzan"</a> course, because, like the Fukushima one, it is easy to get to from Tokyo, and yet will involve plenty of roads that are new to me ... though it also has sections around Takasaki and Annaka that are very familiar. Jerome will also join ... though it looks as if work is getting in the way of him doing the entire ride and at this point he will do the first long day (260km+ and over 6000m of climbing), then head back to Tokyo at some point Thursday from either Joumou Kogen or Takasaki.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9UMud9rHEyXOQOsjvXhtBu54s_DRnBWpnnzT_lyIuN6f0BEIkBOCau3yhNKRnqRwO25AH-a40ujO6DSOMbA6uLkihWpXvqqXM4HxTkU9qpjb_ipI9_xLMKszzr3-rHEvvJF-1iWV7OIrUWoIRHVdEs8h_O_W9e4SPZ6TeRGpFbyIJSxzppVKDVkLy" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1030" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9UMud9rHEyXOQOsjvXhtBu54s_DRnBWpnnzT_lyIuN6f0BEIkBOCau3yhNKRnqRwO25AH-a40ujO6DSOMbA6uLkihWpXvqqXM4HxTkU9qpjb_ipI9_xLMKszzr3-rHEvvJF-1iWV7OIrUWoIRHVdEs8h_O_W9e4SPZ6TeRGpFbyIJSxzppVKDVkLy=w640-h248" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much flat riding on this 600kms. Don't want to carry extra gear!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>How much gear will I need to take for a ride that starts 5AM Wednesday, ends sometime on Friday, between 50 and 60 hours later, involves mountain passes as high as 1600m elevation in autumn, as well as a not-insignificant chance of rain? Well, not so much.</p><p>We will stay in a business hotel Tuesday night near the start, and Wednesday night at the <a href="https://g.page/shima_itoen?share">Itoen Hotel Shima</a> (breakfast included) in a mountain onsen town in northern Gunma. I will send a small box with a change of clothing, extra Clif bars, some spare tubes, and a 10,000 mAh battery, to the hotel. What does it cost to ship a box like that for next day delivery in northern Gunma via the premier delivery service, Yamato Express? 830 yen, or around $5.75.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijPIyyRZs2xMA9yo4q3yd45V_EE6IHC9nG6jJsQeWPlbO7dlkaRkUkC5HKFbIsdblpbt6XpYuetLoqxk3Ktucqztvs2g0UgUpO4kkaTT9guT2Aq0-ETELwFT2-qL3rNyGDgFst3s7A3VOTWIzdBFtpA5kX_MjVo8KUyDNAfW64m3S1Q7I3WD7qT-cZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2467" data-original-width="4026" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijPIyyRZs2xMA9yo4q3yd45V_EE6IHC9nG6jJsQeWPlbO7dlkaRkUkC5HKFbIsdblpbt6XpYuetLoqxk3Ktucqztvs2g0UgUpO4kkaTT9guT2Aq0-ETELwFT2-qL3rNyGDgFst3s7A3VOTWIzdBFtpA5kX_MjVo8KUyDNAfW64m3S1Q7I3WD7qT-cZ=w640-h392" width="640" /></a></div><br />When I get to the hotel to check in, they just hand me the box. I replace items I am wearing or have on the bike with me with what is in the box, and hand the box back to the hotel staff with the pre-filled mailing label that I put inside it when I sent it. That label is for 着払い - payment on receipt - so I don't need to fork over any cash at the hotel or worry if I leave before the front desk opens.<p></p><p>The hotel charge for a tatami room that sleeps 4 (but in this case will be used by the two of us), plus breakfast for two, is around 12,400 yen, or $86, $43 each. And comes with a lovely onsen. Not bad.</p><p>So I will ride with one rear Rixen Kaul bag attached to my seatpost, and a small Deuter Race rucksack. I'll leave my rinko bag in a locker at Takasaki Station (another couple dollars equivalent) and travel light.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4Jq5y2Uts5WbB1cj8NjqkP2F7xtLzomxtLz20ifZFpZJeT9w0_3Rn9zKgZF0lT3KX-MdACrJJpAv4TO6_g2JVnBR1KLnCCtdLnlmhVhGtqRY8GCHMOKchLiEBdAp_546V_FRAJ5OwP7D3CCDBb722B3_2CXnv3ZbGF42ksT2mIcy-CwAmxlVYVyot" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="577" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4Jq5y2Uts5WbB1cj8NjqkP2F7xtLzomxtLz20ifZFpZJeT9w0_3Rn9zKgZF0lT3KX-MdACrJJpAv4TO6_g2JVnBR1KLnCCtdLnlmhVhGtqRY8GCHMOKchLiEBdAp_546V_FRAJ5OwP7D3CCDBb722B3_2CXnv3ZbGF42ksT2mIcy-CwAmxlVYVyot=w640-h586" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much of the course is quite remote ... but start and finish sections are not.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p>David Litthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09821846303393230109noreply@blogger.com0