Archiv der Kategorie: 2008

I just came home from the Cycle Mode exhibition in Makuhari which will still run until Sunday and before I forget I think I pin down some of my observations:

1. Today I met a lot of famous people: Eddy Merckx. And David Merx, no David Marx actually.
2. One Italian pro was handing out autographs: Maurizio something. He was not as famous as Eddy or David.
3. The longest waiting line to testride bikes was in front of the Colnago and the Pinarello booth. This is brand-consciences Japan after all.
4. To my surprise and joy there was also a line for the Cervelo bikes.
5. A lot of stuff for fixies was on display.
6. I checked out for stuff that is a) orange and b) can be useful somehow. I found this Bont.
7. To my surprise there is an orange version of the Selle SMP saddle. Hm. Shall I?
8. I liked the orange Vodoo Rada bike. For my son.
9. I also liked the Cherubim bikes. In particular the Uli Master. Check out the brake positioning.
10. The new Shimano Dura Ace 7970 Di-2 was on display. That was more impressive than the 11 speed Champagnolo Super Record.

Summary: There was nothing that I would really need. OK, the Selle SMP saddle. And the Bont shoes. and perhaps another bike.

Ludwig and me had the same idea: to take off one day in the week an go biking. I originally planned to ride up to Tomin no mori but luckily Ludwig convinced me to check out Chichibu. I became curious after reading lately much about Tom’s trip into Chichibu, but I didn’t went there so far for several reasons:

• No idea where to go, afraid to get lost
• Much too many dumber trucks, I have heard
• No opportunities to ride with someone there
• General prejustices concerning everything related to Saitama
• Too late in the season to try something new

So we met at 8 AM at the Tamagawa and rode leisurely up to Ome where I introduced Ludwig to one more traditional Positivo Espresso place: The Aurora bakery and its famous royal milk bread.After a short break we continued to ride over the mountains North of Ome and along road 53 in direction Yamabushi Toge. The weather was wonderful and the dumper trucks few. We climbed Yamabushi Toge and then took a detour to the top of Shomaru Toge. But instead of going down on the other side, we return to road 53 and continued to ride to Chichibu city on road 299.

Chichibu city is remarkable unremarkable.We had an unremarkable bowl of soba (Ludwig: Yamakake, me: Kamo) and continued then along road 140 in direction Sadamine and Shiraishi Toge.
A very nice climb indeed, very gradual, nice view of the mountains and not very demanding. Then we proceeded to Shiraishi Toge, also very gradual climb. This is a good hill climb for beginners and it is a pity that you need to ride out app. 90 km from Tokyo (or come by train).Then we went down on the other side of Shiraishi. Now we could understand why this is a famous climb, because this side is much steeper and demanding. Some time later we boarded the train back to Tokyo from Odagawa. A half day of cycling brought me back home at 6 PM.

Again this day showed me that it is good to break out of predefined boundaries and do something new. Chichibu will become a major destination for many nice rides to come.http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=e4340bad5c44475838d9b68d51172a4c&u=m&t=ride

Through TCC I was forced to use the Map My Ride Software. Which was actually good, because it is a very convenient tool to outline cycle tours on the PC, without needing GPS hardware. There might be better systems available, I don’t know but I would recommend this one to outline weekend tours and use the data for communication on the Positivo Espresso Blog.

Here is a typical example, outlining the approach to Matsuhime Toge from Okutama. I think James also used something similar when posting the tour next weekend. One can also embed the maps into the blog which I will try, hopefully it will work out.

Matsuhime North Approach
Find more Bike Rides in Tokyo, Japan

And here is Tom’s favorite OHSMK-loop (Otarumi, Hinazuru, Suzugane, Matsuhime, Kazahari):

TOM\'s favorite OHSMK-Loop Otarumi (Makime) Hinazuru Suzugane Matsuhime Kazahari
Find more Bike Rides in Fuchu, Japan

After the Cervelo Wolf SL fork product recall, I became somewhat interested in failures of carbon frames and other bike components. Is carbon the equivalent to kryptonite [superman] or just shitty plastic [Asako]? Well, the boring answer might lie inbetweeen, but the cycle industry certainly did a good job of marketing material which is essential plastic, as a high-quality wonder-thing called carbon, given it a totally different image.

One has to be aware that carbon bikes are not made foreever and that sudden failure cahracteristics are different from steel and aluminium. Cozy Beehive and other blogs have some interesting notes about carbon component failures.

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/10/inspection-of-daves-carbon-fiber-road.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/10/easton-ec-90-slx-handlebar-failure.html

http://lagunacycleryshop.blogspot.com/2008/07/ronscrashed-colnago.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/09/broken-kestrel-rt700-frame.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/09/ax-lightness-daedalus-seatpost-failure.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/08/wolf-sl-fork-failure-2.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/06/zipp-b2-handlebar-failure.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/05/wolf-sl-fork-failure_28.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/05/broken-fork.html

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/04/corey-colliers-destroyed-cannondale.html

Some photos, courtesy of Allschrott from the miserable weather, miserable place JCRC Yokkaichi race. Plus Ciclo performance chart (not miserable).