Panasonic Beauty

I still belong to some Google Groups I joined in preparation for the two 1200km randonnees I rode in  the U.S.A. and Canada during summer of 2012.  I enjoy seeing what is going on from time to time in these groups, with whom I hope to ride again.

Last month, there was a post from a group member asking for help getting in touch with a Seattle-based framebuilder.  The member had paid a deposit months earlier ... and had not heard any update or even gotten an email response from the builder in months.  He said another customer was in the same predicament.  Was the builder sick?  bankrupt?  Left town on a multi-month bike trip without a smartphone or email?  or just unprofessional?  Well, the builder's reputation is pretty much burnt toast after several other individuals joined the thread with "I also have not had any word from him in 6 months", each message blast on a grouplist with hundreds of local randonneurs/would be randonneurs.  And then even after the builder responded to the group that the situation was complicated and he would explain to each customer off the group list ... a week or two later someone else revived the "where is he" thread.

This kind of thing is not unheard of.  Framebuilders do not go into the business because they are good at accounting, highly organized, or want to live a regimented existence in a large organization.  They are sole proprietors and free spirits.  Of course, framebuilding is a business, and customer interaction is the key in sorting out who among those that attain a core level of craftsmanship actually survive and prosper.

I am building up a bike for a Japanese friend/colleague.  He and I agreed that steel is most appropriate material in this case, so I consulted Hiroshi at C Speed about the best way to go about getting a nice steel frame in a 52-53cm size.  Hiroshi suggested Panasonic's order made frame service.  The frame is not "custom".  But it is "order made" from a wide range of options -- standard geometry, but several different tubesets, and sized to the single cm (in this case a 53cm C-T seat tube, not 52cm nor 54cm).  Also there are many options for paint, logo size/placement, and an optional owner/rider name on the top tube.  Hiroshi tells me that Panasonic -- which has made great frames for many decades -- has a team of 6 builders on staff.  And it is Made in Japan.  国産.

(By the way, new cars in Japan also are "order made" -- not purchased from dealer inventory, but manufactured at the factory exactly to options selected by and for the specific customer.)

Panasonic offers delivery within 1 month of the order.  The cost, including frame, fork and threaded headset, is around $1000 (less for heavier steel, a bit more for Tange Prestige or Reynolds 8630; a lot more for titanium).

UPDATE:  The final bike can be seen here.

Panasonic Tange Prestige Cro-Mo steel frame -- with optional paint in Panasonic signature colors.

The only downside, from my perspective, is the "Panasonic" logo, which I associate with electronic goods, not bicycles.  But Japanese remember the Panasonic/National frames of days past and so do not have the same issues with the brand.

As for the wheels, Hiroshi had sitting in his shop a beautiful (barely) used rear wheel, with Dura Ace 7403/Hyperglide freewheel hub, Hoshi 1.8mm spokes and Mavic Open Pro blue rim.

This week, I built up the front wheel (Wheel No. 00015) -- a blue rim to match (Kinlin X Keymet XR240), with a (500 yen closeout sale) Tiagra hub and 3X 32 DT Revolution spokes.  Not quite the same level of components as the rear wheel, but the color matches, and I hope my colleague will like road cycling enough so that this is not the last wheel he ever uses.

Wheel No 00015

Wheel Set -- now with Panaracer 700x26 tires and Ultegra 6600 12-27 cassette.  And Panasonic rim tape.

And Panasonic will not likely go incommunicado before delivery (.. despite the parent company losing more money in each the past 3 fiscal years than the entire profits of all bicycle manufacturers since the beginning of history).  I look forward to taking delivery of the frame and getting work on the build before the end of the month!

UPDATE:  The final bike can be seen here.

Ekiden Ride

On January 2 we did the traditional Ekiden Ride, along the course of the Hakone Ekiden to Odawara.

I rode with my sons, who had no problem keeping reasonably close to me this year.  We made it to Route 1/Route 16 in time to catch the TCC group, led by Fumiki and Delta Force, and rode with them through Totsuka.  Fumiki ignored the police waving us onto the side road, but the rest of us meandered via Totsuka Station and rejoined the Route 1 bypass at the top of a hill, at the Ekiden's Totsuka checkpoint.  Soon after, my boys and I pulled off at a convenience store and the rest of team TCC went ahead.  We made it to Odawara, enjoyed lunch and hopped the train home.

It looks as if Fumiki made it up to Ashinoko and over the Tsubaki Line climb, and back via Oku Yugawara, Manazuru etc.

Weather was spectacular, the roads were crowded, and we ended up steering off course to get a few more kilometers riding directly on the water's edge.  Surfers were heading out to enjoy the sunshine.

Rest in Winter

Jerome invited Misako and me to join the family Bouhet for a dinner of steamed mussels in garlic broth last month in his neighborhood.  Special guests at the dinner were Yukiya Arashiro and his significant other, Miwa Iijima.  It was a fun event, with plenty of mussels, fried potatoes (French fries? Freedom fries?) and beer followed by several bottles of wine.

Yukiya went straight from Ishigakijima to rural France at age 19 to pursue his dream of becoming a pro cyclist, and has made it as far as being Japan national champion, first Japanese rider -- with Fumi Beppu -- to complete the Tour du France (and first to have completed both the Tour and the Giro), a member of the Europcar Pro Tour (now World Tour?) team, "most aggressive rider" in a stage of the 2012 Tour de France, and winner of the 4 day Tour du Limousin in 2012.  He is now 29 and so could have his peak years just ahead.  He is a popular, aggressive/attacking rider, more than capable of winning a stage in a Grand Tour.

My theory is that one reason he has been so successful is that he went straight to France.  For awhile there was a theory of multinationals that would try to succeed in Asia by "Japan passing" instead of "Japan bashing" -- going straight to other markets in Asia without worrying or complaining about the difficultiies of succeeding in Japan.  Arashiro-san has done the opposite by going straight to the world.  He is kind of like those intrepid Japanese high school students who reject the entreaties of their "sempai" and skip Tokyo University to instead study abroad at Yale, MIT, Harvard, or Oxbridge.  If you want to play on a world stage, best to get out of the Japanese "system" as soon as possible.  Yes, Arashiro-san now has Japanese sponsors and fans, but he was able to develop in relative obscurity for awhile, and far better than anyone who had stayed in Japan longer, he is able to speak fluent French and to fit in well on a French (might one say a VERY French) team, dominated by Thomas Voeckler and now Pierre Rolland.

In any event, he told us that in the December off-season he could relax and enjoy life, without worrying about training.  He would soon be off to Thailand to start preparation for the 2014 season, but Nov/Dec offered a period of rest and recuperation, even an opportunity to eat mussels and drink alcohol without worrying about the next morning's early departure.

We all need a break like this, even amateur cyclists such as Jerome and myself.  So here we are, already 22 hours into the New Year, and my 2014 kilometer log shows a big goose egg -- zero.  Today was a day devoted to family and food, with a little blogging and online shopping mixed in.

Starting tomorrow, we ride again.  But only for fun, with my sons, on the lowland portion of the annual Ekiden Ride. 

I already have in mind my 2014 cycling goals, so there is plenty of time to map out my training plan for 2014, then implement.  For now, I rest.

Shimano Brifter Blues

I've got the Brifter Blues.  What are "brifters"?  Combined brake levers and shifters.

First implemented by Shimano for road bikes in 1990 as "STI" or "Shimano Total Integration", it was pretty cool to be able to shift gears without your hands leaving the brakes -- indeed, while braking.  Eventually Campy brought out their own different "Ergo" brifter, and SRAM "double tap" is a third.  Now there are made-in-China brands such as Microshift.  

But brifters, at least the Shimano version, are not perfect.  Indeed, the versions I have used in the past 10+ years (5600, 6500, 6600, 7700, 7800) have a way of eventually slicing through the shifter cables.  (I have never lost the brake cable, fortunately.  The brake cable is significantly thicker, and its motion much simpler inside the brifter).

Usually a sliced shifter cable just means a ride home with dramatically reduced shifting (only one derailleur working).   And it is possible to fix the gear so you can even get over hills in a decent gear.   Randonneurs try to avoid this problem preventing them from completing a long event by carrying a spare shifter cable, to change in a pinch.  

So on the 29th I did not think much of it when my rear shifter cable broke just as Jerome and I headed down the last descent on Onekansen Doro.  Indeed, I thought "great, only a flat stretch between here and home, then I can change the cable and be good to go again."  

But when I got home, and inserted the new cable (careful to push the small paddle many times before inserting the cable so that the brifter was in the "outside" gear position), ... the shifter did not work.  No take up at all when I tried to shift.  I tried lubrication (CRC-56) and rethreading the cable (multiple times).  I played with the shifter, shook it upside down, etc., etc.  No luck.  It is non-functional.  Just as non-functional as the rear brifter that ceased working last year during Rocky Mountain 1200.

My dead Shimano Ultegra 6600 Brifter

These things are very expensive, and there is no way to fix them once they blow up like this.

My dead Shimano Dura Ace 7800 Brifter from last year

Is there a better solution?  Do the newer brifters (6800, 7900, 9000?) work better, with their different routing of the shifter cable along the handlebar under the bartape?

As I was heading over the C Speed today, I happened to pass Gunnar riding a beautiful looking cyclocross bike built by Equilibrium Cycle Works, a Shinagawa-based foreign custom builder.  He had shifters I had never seen before -- Retroshift CX2s.   A better solution?  I may need to give them a try!

Early Winter Ride

Looking over hidden Lake Tsukui to the North Shore.  Early winter version.

Looking out from the high point of the North Shore road at tunnel entrance.  Sun glistens on the water. 

Looking SE into the Kanagawa sprawl of Sagamihara -- what I rode through to and from Yugawara

I awoke early Sunday.  Jerome had suggested we ride at daybreak (well ... 7AM) ... as he needed to get back early.  I was happy to accede, but next time he suggests an earlier-than-usual start I should place a wager -- something like "if you show up on time, free coffee and pastries; if you are more than 5 minutes late, you owe me 1000 yen."  If I had 1000 yen for each time ...   This is why I like starting our rides at my house.  If someone is a bit late, I can go inside and read the newspaper and sip coffee.

Anyway, he sent an SMS around 645AM noting that he was just waking up and far behind schedule, so even before I went outside I was able to have a second cup of coffee.  I  made some tweaks to the bike, and headed out alone around 730.

Mt. Fuji over the Asagawa

The entire day went at a slower-than-usual pace, my body conserving its energy in the cold.  I pulled off at a Mini Stop before Hachioji on the way to Takao. More SMSs and a phone call with Jerome indicated that he was on his bike and about 20 minutes behind me.   Another rest in Takao at the Family Mart (sunny side of the street -- winter alternative to the shaded 7-11) and he seemed to be closing the gap.  But I was getting cold waiting and so started the Otarumi climb alone.  Although it was now after 10AM, the Route 20 roadway temperature gauge part way up the climb, in direct sunlight, stated 2 degrees celsius.  Barely warmer than when I left home.

Mt. Fuji and Cyclists from Otarumi Pass

Jerome and I finally met up on the far side of Otarumi Pass near the Sagamiko train station, and rode the remainder together -- Tsukui-ko, the Tank Road and Onekansen -- and one more convenience store stop, back into town.  It was a decent 110 km ride on a sunny winter day.

Mt. Fuji from Otarumi Pass

Festive 500; Annual 14000

Recently over on MOB's blog I saw mention of the Rapha/Strava "Festive 500" challenge -- ride 500 kms over the 8 days between December 24 and 31.

TCC also had thread about this challenge.  I signed up, and was happy to see that after uploading my trip to Yugawara and back, I was ranked #21 out of 353 Japan-based participants.  Of course, the ranking will fade quickly, but still I hope to complete this challenge.

The ride to Yugawara and back also pushed me over 14,000 kms cycling for the year, based on my mileage log.  Time to start thinking about cycling goals for 2014 ...

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Afterword:

Well, I completed the Festive 500.  I ended up at 509 kms, ranked 4407 out of 26565 (as of the evening of January 1, Tokyo time), and 158 out of 688 on the "leaderboard" in Japan.  If only I had switched on my GPS timer when I left home for the office on December 26, I could have moved way up in the rankings for a top 130 finish in Japan.

On the morning of December 31, despite requests from my spouse to help with year-end window cleaning and shopping, I played hookey in the morning, rode to Tsukui-ko and back, to get the last 84 kms I needed. Except that it turned out I had needed almost 88 kms.  So after the housecleaning was done that afternoon, I turned on the GPS once more and made a quick spin over to C Speed and then a loop through my neighborhood.

It was exhausting to record in-town rides on my GPS and upload them to Strava, something I do NOT plan to make a habit.  And silly to be riding toward a fairly mindless goal of just getting in a few more kilometers on the last day of the challenge, as opposed to actually training, or riding socially, or because I wanted to ride somewhere.

So I will not join any more of these challenges.  Except ...

I happen to see a "Gran Fondo" challenge for January (repeated for each subsequent month).  The challenge is to ride at least ONE ride of 130 kms during the month.  Piece of cake.  In 2013 I did so in each month except December ... and this challenge will not require me to record my commutes.

The Gran Fondo prize?  A "digital finishers badge" and the chance to pay $109 for a special jersey ... with a different color potentially earned each month.  What a privilege!

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Further update:

Well, I completed the January, February and March "Gran Fondo" challenges, but have yet to purchase a jersey.  For April, I looked forward to blowing away the challenge, riding a 24 hour Fleche and other long events.  At the end of the Fleche, I uploaded the data expecting to move way up the leaderboard ...  to around 25th place out of 45000 participants!   But nothing.  I had failed to "reset" the Garmin after 23 hrs and 58 minutes of Fleche, and kept the same data recording as continuous ride between the Fleche finish and the post-ride party at the Kamakura Prince.  So Strava must not recognize it as a ride of less than 24 hours.  Ouch. 

At least I am 10748 out of 57751 participants in the Spring Classics challenge ... and should move way up after this weekend's 300km Brevet, and my SFC 76 km commute on Wednesdays.

Yugawara

My wife planned an onsen ryokan (hot spring inn) trip for our family, just an overnight on Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning with our two sons back in town from university for the holidays.  She found a place in Yugawara.  Yugawara is a town on the coast between Odawara and Atami, just at the gateway to the Izu Peninsula from the eastern (Tokyo) side.

As the weather was nice, and I needed to stop back at the Keio SFC campus to teach a class on Wednesday afternoon (Christmas is NOT a public holiday in Japan), of course, I decided to ride my bicycle.  I had wanted to take Yabitsu Pass, but my start was delayed until just before 1PM, so I headed straight out Route 246.  This meant I would traverse the entirety of Kanagawa Prefecture and its sprawl in each direction.  Not my favorite place for riding, but if I need to do it, best in winter.

I turned south off Route 246 somewhere around Yamato as 246 got completely clogged up, with the shoulder too narrow at places to pass the cars and trucks at anywhere near full speed.  I hunted and pecked my way to the coast, through Samukawa and to Hiratsuka, names I recognize but cannot quite place.

As I rode along the coast, at one point I saw a sign for the "Pacific Coast Bicycle Path" and headed about 200 meters off Route 1 to find a bike path adjacent to the Seisho By-Pass.  I had seen the sign before, on ekiden rides, but never tried it.  The bike path was passable, but only continued for 2 kms and ended in a sandy cul-de-sac.  I needed to dismount through the sandy patch, then remount and head back up a neighborhood street to Route 1.  (On the way back, I also took this path, and managed another 500 meters or so in the eastern direction to confirm the entire length.  The eastern end also dumped out into a bit of sand.  Slower than Route 1, pathetically short, but good to know of.

Mikan orchards between Odawara and Yugawara

Route 135, the coastal road from Odawara to Yugawara offered its benefits, despite the traffic volumes.  The fresh air and views were a relief, both in late afternoon and the following day.

The last surprise was finding the onsen.  I got to Manazuru, just north of Yugawara, around 430 or 445PM.  Only then did I try to identify the exact location of the onsen.  It was not in Yugawara, but at the far edge of "Oku Yugawara", more than 5 kms beyond Yugawara station and at several hundred meters elevation.  I arrived in the dark, after 515PM.  The attendant took my bicycle inside and to a luggage room, no questions asked.  I wanted to go straight to the room and meet my family, but was told "no", the correct order was that I first rest in the lounge and be served a bowl of "macha" tea.  This happened very quickly, I downed it in one gulp, and was led to the room.  Greetings, then off to a hot bath and a gorgeous meal.

Trying to get a photo without a car in it ...

Was a bit of a challenge.

Yomiuri V Dori

It was a cloudy, cool day, and not too much time for a ride given the various tasks.  So Yomiuri V Dori beckoned.

I should make this a regular destination in the colder months. ...

Six ascents ... none very fast.

Tokyo Metropolis Guide to Tokyo Cycling

There was an interesting article online in English language Tokyo Metropolis magazine recently entitled Roads Scholars.  You can find it here.

Did you know that Tokyo is ranked as the 10th most bicycle friendly city in the world by "Copenhagenize"?  I did not.  That 14% of everyday trips in Tokyo are by bicycle?  (14% sounds about right, given the bicycle's dominance as a mode of transport here for local shopping and to/from station and school commuting.  That compares to 2% for London and 3% for San Francisco.)

Just as important, the article highlights other English language resources and groups on cycling, including TCC, Half Fast ... and this very blog:  "a venerable blog with postings on routes around Kanto and other useful resources, which once featured hilarious posts by the blogger known as MOB, who left Japan several years ago."

Yabitsu Pass in December

Most places in the northern hemisphere December 1 is long past time for riding over passes.  Not in the area around Tokyo, where we are blessed with relatively dry, sunny weather and fall foliage in late November through December.  Today was no exception.

My tire went flat here on the lower Yabitsu climb. I could enjoy the view while I changed the tube!

I took one of the shorter classic Positivo Espresso routes, just under 120kms -- out Onekansen Doro, the "tank road", Machida Kaido, the south to briefly join Route 413, then looping around the North side of Lake Tsukui, winding my way to Lake Miyagase, then up and over Yabitsu Pass (Elev 760m -- approx 2500 feet), and down the South side to Hadano.

Instead of taking the slow Odakyu train home, I rode in another almost 20 kms on Route 246, then hopped the Denentoshi Line train from ChuoRinkan Station.

Often photographed -- the Michi no eki and park at Lake Miyagase.

Both bike and rider rest at the top of Yabitsu.

Today's ride.  118 kms distance ddddand 1400 meters climbing logged.

"Cycling"

Last week when I crested Wada Pass and chatted with a group of Audax riders seated at the cafe, I asked (jokingly) if they were on a brevet.  One of the women said that no, they were "cycling".  I guess this is Japanese (among Brevet riders, at least) for a more relaxed ride ... as opposed to training, racing, etc. (all of which I would consider "cycling").

Today I went cycling in beautiful weather.  Out One-kan, the North side of Tsukui, Kanagawa Routes 517, 518, Makime Pass, then across Doshi Michi and through the countryside North of Miyagase, then winding my way toward Atsugi for a quick hammerfest along Route 246 as far as Yamato/Chuo Rinkan, and home via train.  Spectacular weather and a nice ride.

Fall at Lake Tsukui

Fall along the road to Makime Pass - Kanagawa Route 518

Fall as the climb steepens

a 1MW solar power project just over the south side of Makime Pass

The Route

LEL Jersey

I had not planned on ordering a commemorative jersey for London Edinburgh London 2013 ... but upon seeing them in July at the event, I changed my mind and joined the "post event" order.  Mine arrived on Friday.

Full zipper, of course.  Zippered waterproof back pocket, of course.

Left shoulder

Right shoulder

Lots of nice details, like this area at the back of the neck.  And of course it will be a perfect fit next year, when I lose those few kgs. ...

Cycle Polo -- Komazawa Park Wednesday Nights

Jerome and I had dinner with Laurent last night near Omotesando.  Laurent had a car parked in town, but Jerome and I were on bicycles and rode home.  As we passed Komazawa Park, in the shadows on the opposite side of the road we passed what looked like an organized cycling event of some kind.  It required a closer look.

It looks like a younger man's (and woman's) game, with a requirement for track stands, bunny hops etc. to be any good.  But the mallet does provide a third point of support, and everyone seemed to be having fun!

One of the guys recognized me (and my bike) from Above Bike Store.

Wednesday nights.  9PM on ...

This video gives a better idea of the light conditions and the action.

Reverse Paul Jason -- Kobu Tunnel, Golf Course Hills and West side of Wada

It was a beautiful day today, perfect for cycling.  Jerome and I did a longer half-day ride -- 140 kms of the "reverse Paul Jason" ride, one of our classics.  Up the Tamagawa and Akigawa, over Kobu Tunnel, the "golf course hills" of Uenohara, and back over Wada Pass.

We left my house a little around 7:45AM, and I was back around 2:20PM.  Unusually, I was well ahead of Jerome at the top of Kobu Pass and Wada Pass (he stopped for a drink at a vending machine on the ura Wada climb).  Jerome was ahead of me through the golf course hills, more in form.  Beautiful weather the entire way, some headwinds coming back into town, but we have been in worse.  We met a group of about 10 regular Audax riders who were resting at the Wada witch's son's cafe.

Not really a lot to say about this ride, except "beautiful!"

Heading up the Tamagawa -- lots of walkers and cyclists out today.

Just about to start the descent into Yamanashi from Kobu Tunnels

Mt Fuji barely visible from the back side of Wada Pass, now snow covered.

Clif Bar in Japan ... at an almost reasonable price

My longtime favorite energy bar for cycling is the Clif Bar.  Back when others were inedible and full of preservatives, Clif Bar stood apart as really tasty and easy to digest.  And the little tale on each bar about how the brand started out, won me over.  Clever marketing.

But it was not available in Japan, until quite recently.  And once it became available in Japan, the prices were very steep -- well over $2 per bar.

So I was very happy to see a variety box of Clif Bars featured at Costco in Kawasaki yesterday evening.  18 bars for under 3000 yen.  Arount $1.60 per bar.  Still not U.S. pricing, but much better.

The end of an institution -- no more 7-11 on the Tamagawa in Fuchu

When I first started cycling in Tokyo back in 2004, it was a rare ride that did not include a stop at the 7-11 along the Tamagawa, a few kilomters past Sekidobashi and just beyond the Yotsuyabashi (Pref Route 20) turn off to head out toward Takao.

Even if it is only 20 kms from my house, that is not too far for a morning stop after saddling up without a full breakfast or coffee.  And it is 30-35 kms for riders who come from central Tokyo.

A few years later, after Y's moved its Tamagawa store up the river to a building next to the 7-11, this intersection (Yotsuya 5-chome) became an unofficial mecca for road cyclists in western Tokyo.  On any sunny weekend midday, you were pretty much guaranteed to see not just serious road cyclists staging for a trip into the mountains, but some "potterers" and at least a few MAMILs with expensive road bikes -- including one slightly overweight guy posing on his Colnago with rear disk wheel -- stopping for food and drink before heading back into town to complete a flat, sub-50 km ride.

Jerome and I rode up and down the river today, and I am sorry to report that the 7-11 is gone.

Wouldn't this be a great place for a cycle shop/cafe?  Maybe something a bit different than Y's?  If interested, you can call the real estate broker a the phone number on the window!

Shimano SPD pedal self destructs?!?!

I started my commute to work on Friday morning and quickly headed via Kaminoge Dori toward Meguro Dori taking the fast route rather than the more relaxed Komazawa Dori.  I was using my standard Azabu-and-back commuting rig -- the Yamabushi, with SPD pedals and Shimano cycling sandals -- comfortable, easy to change out of at the office.

But soon after I got onto Meguro Dori and up to speed, I felt am odd slippage on my right pedal, my foot sliding off the pedal entirely.  Somehow, the pedal had come entirely off its spindle.

Left pedal, still in one piece; Right pedal, useless

What triggered this?  I have no idea.  I guess nothing lasts forever, and these are more than 5 years old, with heavy usage over the past year or two.  But it was a bit disconcerting, since I am using other SPD pedals (with a platform) on longer rides, and would hate to have the same thing happen during a long randonee.  I am not about to start traveling with spare pedals!

Gando Toge! 厳道峠

Jerome and I headed out around 8:15AM on a beautiful early November morning, without any set route plan.  When we got to Tamagawahara bashi, the light was red and so I suggested we head across the bridge and continue out Onekansen Doro, the first time in quite awhile.  We saw lots of cyclists, especially on this stretch.

After a quick trip out Onekan and then along the Tank Road and Machida Kaido, we were just about to turn onto Route 413 when we saw a familiar face and bicycle.  The bicycle was a Cervelo R3 SL with Lightweight wheels, impeccably maintained and clean as usual.  

The rider was Laurent, on a last training ride before next week's 210km Tour de Okinawa.  

The river along Doshimichi at Ryogoku Bashi

We rode together around the north side of Lake Tsukui, and decided to head up Doshi Michi.  At a rest stop at the 7-11 before the first real climb of Doshimichi, Laurent suggested that Jerome and I might want to try Gando Toge -- a new route for both Jerome and me -- though Laurent could not join as he needed to head back into town more quickly via the Route 76 loop.  

Too many cars and motorcycles on Doshi, as we try to turn into the rindo entrance

We found the entrance to the rindo (forest road) and were glad to leave Doshimichi with its heavy holiday car and motorbike traffic.

Rindo entrance for Gando Pass -- within a kilometer of the fountain where people fill water bottles

I remember Laurent once telling me that his favorite climb is Nokogiri, a relatively steep grade with plenty of rocks and debris on the road surface.  The south side of Gando also started relatively steep and with plenty of rocks and leaves on the road surface.  Within a kilometer of the entrance, I rode over some sharp gravel and heard a hissing sound.  A flat tube, and worse a nice slice on the sidewall of my tire. I fitted a folded 1000 yen note inside the tire at the tear and managed to inflate a replacement tube without it protruding through the slice.  A few meters further, the road became much clearer, and stayed that way all the way up.

The climb took us from 500 meters elevation at the entrance up to 800 meters elevation at the pass, with the grade usually in the 9-10% range.  So much easier than Nokogiri or Wada.

At Gando Pass

Then it was a nice descent to the north, ending up at Akigawa Onsen. 

We headed back in along Pref Routes 35 and 517, then 76, to Fujino.  We made one wrong turn and ended up at Fujino Onsen, a day hot spring that seemed teeming with visitors on this Sunday in the middle of a 3-day weekend.  The hot spring building looked nice, and we stopped to eat a snack on the benches in front. 

Fujino Onsen

Unfortunately, the views of nearby mountains and river were largely blocked by the huge hospital/nursing home facility just down the hill.

Then it was out onto Route 20, over Otarumi (with a stop for ramen at the pass), down past Takao and on the roads through Hachioji and home!

A classic Positivo Espresso ride, over 140 kms and a few good climbs, as well as a new route, discovered by Laurent and passed along to us.  Thank you, Laurent!

300,000 visits

It has taken awhile, but Positivo Espresso has now had 300,000 pageviews/visits, according to Google's web statistics.  Congratulations.