Shonan Coast Beauty

Today I did my 4th ride of the "Festive 500". Ride 500kms from Dec 24 to Dec 31. As of evening of Dec 28, I am at 419 kms. So should be easy peasy from here ... as long as I can avoid injury of last minute mechanical failure.

Nils, Andrew and I planned to meet at Minami Machida station on the Denentoshi Line at 8AM. I left home around 640-645am and made very good time, arriving around 8:05. They took the train from Futako Tamagawa and arrived a few minutes later. Andrew had picked Minami Machida because it is very close to the Sakaigawa, a river that has a bike path along it 95% of the way to Enoshima. This is as good a way as any to get to Shonan Coast - train to Minami Machida (to avoid racing trucks on Route 246 as I did early this morning), then down the riverside.

After a few kms we joined the route that I once rode on my commute to teach a weekly class at Keio SFC campus. I was leading the way this morning, knowing each corner, where there was traffic or not, where a rider needed to slow or even unclip from one cleat to get through a barrier, having ridden this probably 50 times over a 3-year period. 

The first stretch was nice and semi-rural, lots of fields. Then there was a more suburban section. Then there was a section of depressing public housing. And more variety, then we were in the town of Fujisawa, across Route 1, in an urban area, and finally to the water! Wow! It was glorious today.

We snapped plenty of photos, then headed west, trying to ride the sandy-but-paved path along the beach as much as possible, instead of the faster, but less scenic, road. I have never seen the Shonan coast as beautiful as it was today. Dramatic clouds and sun, waves, surfers, Mt Fuji partially visible in the distance. What a scene!

Anyway, we stopped for lunch about 14 kms before Odawara Castle at one of Andrew's regular haunts for a delicious, reasonably priced lunch, then continued on to Odawara and toured the castle grounds by bicycle (no other cyclists riding around ... but no one stopped us).

Andrew and Nils continued on toward Atami. I rode up to Hakone Yumoto and checked out the beginning of the Kyu-Tokaido, just to think about using it on upcoming rides out of Odawara this Winter/early Spring, when weather permits. Then it was back to Odawara 103kms total, and a quick (27? minute) 3000 yen shinkansen trip back to Shinagawa. Almost too easy, too glorious.

GPS track is here.

Map below.

Exploring NW Izu -- 2018 December version!

Mt Fuji from Numazu, near the mount of the Kanogawa (Kano River)

I love cycling Nishi Izu. The road along the coast ... all the way from Numazu to Minami Izu and Shimoda ... belongs in any proper collection of "best rides" in the entire world for road cyclists.

Mt Fuji from above Osezaki

Please, friends from outside Japan, come and ride it, and tell me if you disagree:  Low traffic, spectacular views of Mt. Fuji and appropriately dramatic coastline, mikan (citrus) orchards, small, quaint towns with fishing and yacht harbors, onsen (even a public "foot bath" at Toi Onsen), special local crab at Heda harbor, and on and on.

Last December I did the ride to Shimoda. And it is a very long and hard day to go from Mishima/Numazu through to Shimoda and then return by train to Tokyo ... really it would be better done as an overnight trip, with an onsen ryokan as the reward for cycling up and down all the hills on the further stretches of the coast. In May tried a shorter version ... but a broken crankarm (I must be too strong for SRAM Rival?!) meant a long way back out from Heda to Shuzenji by taxi after a missed bus then a train home.Today I again tried a shorter version, 100kms, but without much climbing and at a relaxed pace.

My route -- barely scratches the surface.

Mt Fuji from one of many small harbors on the Suruga Bay

First embankment ride of the trip.

The mouth of the Kanogawa

Birds (geese, ducks, others) at an interspecies concrete resting place with view of Fuji

So I am still looking for ways to do this as a day trip more easily, and I found one. I did not leave Shinagawa until a 936AM Kodama shinkansen, which dropped me off at Mishima an hour later (4000 yen or about $35 each way). Even with a shopping stop to pick up some ceramics at a place that caught my eye, I was back at the station shortly after dark and in Tokyo around 6PM.

Working harbor at San-no-Ura

This boat was in my photos last year also! Cannot resist the framing of Fuji with the hills on left and right of the harbor.

After de-rinko-ing the bike at Mishima, I made my way through the crowded town and eventually to near the mouth of the Kanogawa in Numazu. I had planned to go up the Kanogawa along the path atop an embankment, then go back to the coast at Kuchino (口野) where the river's 口野放水路 cuts through the hills and allows access, but having just ridden DOWN the river embankment the last few kilometers, I decided instead to take the coast road (National Route 414) from there. I knew it was a congested, no shoulder road, but I've ridden it before and was comfortable that in a few kilometers I would be free of the traffic.

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The joy begins at Kuchino Hou-Sui-Ro 口野放水路 intersection, where National Route 414 turns inland, and Shizuoka Route 17 continues along the coast. I stopped at the Numazu Cycle Station at the former Shizu-ura Higashi Elementary School ... but it was closed.

Still, this facility is part of Numazu's efforts to promote cycling tourism, and has the benefit of being a great place to park a car if you wanted to drive from Tokyo and ride from here. Because I was on their list from having joined a Shizuoka Audax brevet that started here last January (and headed NW/West to Fujieda and back), they sent me a map of cycle trails and proposed routes in this part of Izu. It was what gave me the idea of taking the embankment trail.

Anyway, I rode as far south/west on the coastline as the hill between Osezaki and Heda. Having climbed to several hundred meters elevation and gone through the tunnel at the top, I decided to turn around and go back down to the North, as I knew that if I went down the hill again to the South, the routes to central Izu further south all involved going over the mountains. I retraced my route as far as Uchiura Mito. (内浦三津）

From there I did a short climb over a low hill, and through a short tunnel, and could descend into the central Izu valley of the Kanogawa, emerging near the bottom of the ropeway that goes to the top of Mt. Katsuragi. From here I took a road that hugged the eastern side of the valley, until it veered left and brought me to the Kanogawa.

Looking back at Uchiura Mito ... only a bit more to the tunnel through the hill.

Crossing the river, I joined the path on the embankment, and took it South, up the gradual valley. I've taken the road up this valley before, and I can say that the path is far better. No traffic! Wide, flat, smooth, with minimal interruptions as far as it went. After about 5 kms, I switched to the road where the path seemed to end ... but on my return, I realized that the path in fact continued: it re-started and went several kms further, only a few hundred meters of interruption. At many places, I could see heavy traffic on the highways, standing in lines at each signal. I was glad to be on the bicycle, and on the path instead of the road.

After Shuzenji Station, I somehow ended up going up a tributary -- the Omi River -- and turned around after 3PM. I thought about continuing up the Kano River after doubling back, maybe a stop to say hi at Baird Beer, But I already have some beer in the fridge at home, and cannot drink on this kind of ride. And the day was getting short (actually it was cloudy and quite ominous looking weather) so I just headed to the North and toward the station at Mishima. This time, I stayed on the path along the embankment for a full 20 kilometers of beautiful, stress-free riding. In the future, the path is my way from Numazu/Mishima into central Izu.

I will be back again soon! Next time, I will push further -- through to Toi onsen, climb over the pass and come back down the Kanogawa -- adding another maybe 30 kms and some serious hills -- for an ideal training ride in winter when the mountains north and west of Kanto remain icy.

Not much daylight left!

Otarumi - N Shore Tsukui Loop

Mt Fuji from the top of Otarumi Pass. Beautiful reward for the climb.

Thursday was a beautiful, sunny, and not-freezing early winter day. Nils and I headed out for a morning ride. He has wrapped up his year-end projects and is trying to get in 4500kms this year, and must ride on average 60km per day through 12/31 to get there.  I was scheduled to co-teach a class in the evening (actually, a double class, to avoid one next week), but had no commitments through mid-afternoon.

I have not been tracking my mileage closely this year ... but while way beyond 4500kms, am probably not over 10,000km. I will try the Rapha "Festive 500" -- 500kms between 12/24 and 12/31--as in many past years. I hope that 2019 will be a big cycling year for me. After lots of academic travel this year, I am adjusting and will try for more personal and cycling travel in 2019 ... Tasmania (tdt.bike) in February, Europe (including Paris-Brest-Paris) in August, Pacific NW in early September. Japan the rest of the time.

We decided to do the classic half-day (or a bit more) loop out past Takao, over Otarumi pass, then back via the North side of Lake Tsukui, and back to the Tamagawa via Onekansen Doro.

The Tamagawa at our rendezvous point.

Nils was a bit late leaving home, so we changed our meeting place from Futako Tamagawa to the bridge over the river at Setagaya Dori, just beyond the Odakyu Line. Once we met up, we made decent time upriver, and into a headwind.

One of the "one hundred views of Fuji", sponsored by TEPCO Power Grid

Our first stop was at Takao (50kms from home for me). After a quick snack and responding to work emails, we made the climb. I felt pretty lethargic the whole time, including on the climb. But a reward waited at top--a beautiful view over hilltops and trees to a snow-covered Mt. Fuji.

Everything went well as we descended the west side of Otarumi, turned SE and headed back toward town, then took our planned detour across Lake Tsukui and climbed to the rindo.

Early winter farmland near Lake Tsukui

I got a flat on my rear tire just after entering the rindo. Okay, I probably rode over a rock hidden under leaves. Nothing suspicious at all, and I quickly changed my tube. I made it to the other end of the rindo ... when I got a second flat,

We stopped just past the "Columbian drug lord" house as I put in my second spare tube, this time checking VERY carefully for any glass or wire stuck in my tire. Nothing. As I started to change the tire, a call came from an older lady at the house below the road. "Daijyoubu desu ka?" "are you okay?"  Yes, Nils assured her. Just changing a flat tire. Do you have the tools you need? Yes, no problem. This answer was obviously not good enough. Two tall westerners must have been the most exciting thing on their street in awhile. The couple came up to chat. Then the husband went back to get his electric air pump. We reassured him (in Japanese) that we had a hand pump and had it covered. He brought it anyway. He realized there was no outlet to plug in the pump, so the wife drove their little car up the drive and onto the road ... I guess they might have had a 100volt outlet somewhere in the car, though it looked unlikely. Anyway, in the end we had to refuse their help, the tire change was already done and the re-inflation completedly. So instead the brought us to cold beverages in PET bottles. We thanked them and accepted the liquid -- I was grateful since my water was empty and it was another 5kms at least the next potential convenience store.

Anyway, the third tube went flat when we were on the "tank road" in Machida. My replacement tubes were "light weight" thin and, it turned out, useless. I applied one of Nils' patches to my original tube -- having identified the pinch flat holes. With that, I made it down the tank road and almost to Onekan ... but it was still clearly losing air, so we parted ways and I went to Sagamihara Station and hopped the train.

A good ride ... 90 kms in winter, but a reminder that even on one of these shorter half-day rides I need to carry equipment that gets me home.

Positivo Espresso Retro Wool SS jerseys

Positivista David J. of Mallorca/London wants to design and order some retro merino wool jerseys for the club. Expected pricing (short sleeve) is €114 each plus shipping. Design will follow confirmation that we have at least six tentative orders, and firm orders will be sought after design is completed and available.

Proposed supplier:
https://www.soigneur.co.nz/page/192551?nav=ccy

If you are interested please contact David J. or me via email, FB messenger or, if you do not have our contacts already, leave a comment below telling us how to reach you.

A glorious autumn day for a ride ... to Fussa and back

Positivistas David J. and Juliane P. have returned to Tokyo for the first time in over four years. We celebrated their visit with a ride to the Fussa Beer Hut at the Ishikawa Brewery for a delightful meal, and return to town. 92 kms on a lovely, brisk autumn day. Strava is here. The pictures tell the story.

Out Meguro Dori -- too early to catch Nagai-san at Positivo.

Before we knew it we were at Fussa -- Tama Jiman branch

Sake barrels and post box.

The beautiful courtyard at Ishikawa brewery

Was this where romance first bloomed for David J. and Juliane P?

Bikes leaning during lunch.

An 'Merican rider.

On the return - still spectacular weather

David J. and Juliane P. wait while I take the photo.

The Perfect Paul Jason* Ride

Spectacular view of Mt Fuji from the west side of Jimba Kaido/Wada Pass

Satoyama bliss from the golf course hills of Uenohara

I love the lower stretch of the Wada climb via Daigo Rindo, beautiful stream, trees, traditional farm houses.

Today was just spectacular cycling weather. Cool enough to climb with ease, warm enough so I could descend without putting on a wind shell (though close at times). Clear blue sky, babbling brooks, like a dream sequence in a movie.

I did the Paul Jason* route -- out over Wada (but taking the Daigo Rindo - no traffic - route that climbs to the North and somewhat above Jinba Kaido, then the "golf course hills" of Uenohara, then Kobu Tunnel, and down the Akigawa. Since I rode out from Takanawa, I hopped the train back from Musashi Itsukaichi.

(gps track here)

I thought if I planned it right I might ride up the Tamagawa with the Tokyo Cranks, then catch a group that was leaving Takao at 8:15AM to do pretty much the same route. I was too late for the Cranks, and I think I passed the other group on the "golf course hills", as they took a longer (and flatter) route through Uenohara. I did meet two foreigners on road bikes as I approached Kobu Tunnel. They were named Paul and Jason. What luck!

Actually, they were named Alex (if I remember correctly) and Paul. They had been resting and photographing at a spot within a few hundred meters of the tunnel entrance, so I said my hellos and powered by as they started up. I did wait at the bottom of the descent from the tunnel and chatted a bit with Alex when he arrived. They were doing a "Half Fast" route, but said they were late to the start and on their own ... sounded familiar.

Crossing back over the Tamagawa just before hospital hill.

Crossing again at Prefectural Route 20 to take the Asagawa paths toward Hachioji.

The views of Mt. Fuji were so spectacular, I really thought that major companies should sponsor a photographic exhibit.

These would be some of the TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Company) sponsored viewpoints:

Sponsored by TEPCO -- they own the wires!

TEPCO - we obscure the whole horizon, not just Mt. Fuji!

And this one could be sponsored by the Keio Railway company:

Sponsored by Keio private railways -- that's our train in front of the mountaing!

And this and many other could be some of the Toyota ones:

Mt Fuji - Obscured by Toyota!

Anyway, not much more to say except that I felt good, did not push too hard, and loved every minute of the ride.  Yes, still too slow on the climbs, but better than during the brevet two weeks back, and the roads were so much better. The rest I'll tell with photos.

Baseball and fall cosmos flowers

Cosmos

At Wada Pass!

Hikers' guidepost.

After the golf courses, descending toward Yamanashi Rte 33.

On the Route 33 climb

Looking back down the Route 33 climb

This is actually the road angle ... but it is a side street off of Route 33.

*Positivo Espresso did this ride first as a group on a sweltering hot day back around 2006 or 2007, joined by a new Australian cyclist in town, Paul Jason. The climbs were brutal in the heat. He ended up horizontal in a shaded stairwell of an apartment building next to what is now the Lohas coffee roaster/cafe by Y's Road, at the time a 7-11. He did not come back to ride with us again, so we named the ride after him.

Some earlier reports of this route, from 2016, 2013, 2012, December 2010 and both summer 2009 and winter 2009.

Update. A few days after the ride, I moderated a presentation on Japan's energy policy by the editor / co-author of a new book on the topic. The cover photo was another "Mt. Fuji, Brought to you by TEPCO, We Own the Wires" photo. Laugh out loud, as they say!