there is no "I" in cyclyng

With Christmas ‚only‘ three months away my children have started drawing up lists to tell Santa Claus what they would like to receive. The lists are now stuck all around the apartment, including at eye level for both positions a gentleman assumes in the lavatory. So I thought perhaps I should send a letter to Santa explaining that I ’need‘ another bike and, as he is likely to be convinced by my reasoning, perhaps he could see to it that it is a Pinarello Dogma frame size 56.

So why do I need a second bike? This weekend the family and I headed up to our place in Tateshina in Nagano Prefecture. I had been there last weekend as well, driving around to map out future rides. Now was the time to try out some of these rides. Once the luggage, bike, wife and dog were in the car there would be no room for the children. Even leaving the wife behind would not have freed up enough space for both children so we had to take 2 cars. No question of leaving Humphrey (the dog) behind as he loves the long walks and swimming up there. So I reason, I need a bike to leave up there so that we do not have to exaggerate the family carbon footprint. By the way, there is something very satisfying about getting off the Chuo Expressway at 12:05am on a Saturday morning and seeing the toll is only Y1,000.

On Saturday, I left the house down a treacherous hill to join the Venus Line at Tateshinako. From here I rode up a few kms and then branched off on a road linking to the Marchen Kaido (Rte 299). The ride was an extremely pleasant 20km climb up to Mugikusa-Toge (2127m).

This is a very nice climb with only light traffic. The gradient varies between 6-8% and then becomes easier nearer the top. All the motorbikes were those of sensible middle-aged men out for a ride, rather than lunatics on hotted-up racing bikes (I would meet these the following day on the Venus Line). At the top I pulled up along side a Harley Davidson whose owner was photographing the sign to signal the top of the pass. He seemed non-plussed by a lycra-clad gaijin (why should he be?) but when I identified his bike as a Fat-Boy he was impressed and decided that despite my attire I was worth a quick chat. He explained that the newer model Harleys are much quieter and thus less interesting to him. When I then explained that I have a 1978 Ducati 900ss he became wildly excited as these bikes are well known for a great sound. We parted as buddies: he made his way back to Nagoya while I did a U-turn home to get home for lunch as promised. For some reason, on the way up the long climb I started to dream of a curry. Great descent but for the last 1-2km climb back up that treacherous hill to the house. As I pulled up to the house I was met by my fan club. Later I had that curry.

The following day (Sunday), I took the soft option and drove the 17km along the Venus Line to Shirakabako and parked. I then rode up Rte 152 and on to Rte 155. Instead of climbing up Rte 67, a steep climb up to the Venus Line, I chose a new route (Rte 142) which took me up „The Other Wada Toge“. This is a beautiful climb. About 550m elevation gain at a steady 6-7% gradient. I stopped counting the curves but a sign near the top was for Curve No. 70 – I think I started around Curb No. 20). Some beautiful views and a nice old open fronted thatched building for what purpose I do not know other than to offer shelter to cyclists and hikers.
This is no witch house!
From here I rejoined the Venus Line, turned left and rode to Kirigamine Highlands and on down to Shirakabako again. Being a holiday weekend the Venus Line was busy up here. Young bikers riding like lunatics and overtaking across yellow lines and various car clubs (a convoy of Mazda Miatas etc) took away some of the pleasure but the views were breathtaking.
When in a car one doesn’t always notice the gradient but in arts where I thought I would be riding along on a flat road I was in fact riding up a 6% slope and into a headwind. Had I had the time I would have turned right instead and gone on to Utsukushigahara Kogen. I drove this road last weekend. There is an 8km Alp d’Huez style series of steep switch-backs which look to be an interesting challenge.
These rides were for discovery purposes. Next time I will ride from the house to in a loop taking in Alp d’Huez v2.0 to Utsukushigahara Kogen and back along the Venus Line. About 110km with 3,000mm of climbing.

As I write this I strikes me that I have 2 motorbikes, neither of which I ride now, but only one road bicycle. Will Santa rectify the situation I wonder.

Jerome and I enjoyed a beautiful day and, as planned, made it to Karuizawa (183 km or more distance and 2748 meters of total elevation gain) in time to hop the train home for dinner.

As usual, we started out fast and averaged just under 30 kph to Oume.  After a quick stop (too early for Aurore) we continued on to the Holy Fountain and then over Yamabushi.

Through Chichibu City, some prefer to swing SW on Rte 140, heading out to town as if their goal was Mitsumine Shrine … before cutting over to Rte 299 via Rte 37 … or going way high and way West via Rte 201.   Others prefer turning right and just slogging along Rte 299 through its congestion and following as it dips way down to cross the river and climbs the other bank, typical sprawl until clearing Ogano, when it becomes a very nice road.  Today Jerome and I tried a middle path — going straight, which took us to a big suspension bridge (which had a nice view back to Chichibu) and into the the Chichibu City „Muse“ park. 

The park is on top of a ridge that provided an extra little climb, very pleasant road, and we ordered a quick plate of curry and rested some at the „stained glass“ cafeteria before heading on our way, a fast descent down the back side of the ridge and then joining Rte 299 having skipped the worst of it.

What had been a very fast trip to Chichibu and the park slowed to a long slog, as we both started to show our fatigue.  I showed it more.  Jerome usually pulled way ahead, then waited for me.  The stops and rests grew closer together.

Jerome waited for me, resting, at Shigasaka Pass tunnel entrance.

I rested on the way up, taking a photo looking back along Rte 299 — where we had been.

The mountains of the Gunma border — impressive as always.

I thought Jerome was just being kind, waiting at regular intervals and being a good sport about it, except I realized he actually needed the rest when I caught up to him waiting at the side of the road at a nice stop at Uenomura (gifts, crafts, very nice new building with river and bamboo down the hill in back and a much better place to rest that the typical convenience store, if without much of the food — I think called the Uenomura „fureai-kan“ or something similar). 

He motioned me to the side of the road and told me we needed to stop at the rest area.  I was looking unhealthily pale and covered in sweat much of the day — my muscles okay but my body generally and circulatory system tested by the fatigue.  Here in Uenomura (just at the beginning of the climb to Jukkoku Toge and before the turn off from 299 in Gunma onto Rte 45, toward Shimo Nita („the city that Konnyaku built“) as we rested and recovered yet again, we pondered the time — somehow the hours had passed by on Rte 299 west of Chichibu City, our fast start squandered.  We still had over 50 km left to Karuizawa, and some big hills, first Shio-no-zawa Pass (not Shiozawa Pass — the next road East), then the long climb from Shimo Nita (Elev.  260 meters) to Wabi (和美) Pass (Elev 970 meters) and into Karuizawa, with some very steep short bits (13-14% or more).  We decided we would see how we were doing at Shimo Nita and make a decision then.

An unnecessary conversation as it turns out.  We climbed from the Uenomura rest area (Elev. approx 590) over maybe 5 kilometers up to 740 meters elev, then found the mouth of the tunnel that bypasses Shio-no-zawa pass.  Inside the tunnel, we continued a gradual climb for about 20 seconds, … then the road pointed downward at what seemed like a decent 2-3-4% grade.  We went very fast the next 3 km inside the tunnel, and the descent on a wide, well designed road, just beyond it, at probably our fastest speed with least work all day.  At Shimo Nita we turned for Karuizawa without hesitation.

More mountains of Gunma

The climb to Karuizawa was painful because of some very steep parts, reasonably heavy traffic for a true country back road, and one section where you go under the expressway … soaring what seemed like very far above us, cars zooming by on two bridges that appear from a tunnel on one side of the valley, and disappear into another tunnel.  At one point I needed to rest, and the most comfortable (least uncomfortable) place was the slightly inclined plane of the retaining wall next to the road.

But we made it to the top in one piece, then a victory ride down the hill and into Karuizawa … cut short by a huge traffic jam about 3-4 kilometers south of the station … everyone in Japan (well, every one who drives a late model German car or Japanese copy) was heading back from golf or out for a meal in central Karuizawa, or trying to get to the one underpass where they can go from the South to the North side of the shinkansen tracks.  We slipped through the traffic watching for car doors, but it was surreal — cars just sitting, red tail lights as far as the eye could see.  I hope they enjoyed the weekend!

70 minutes back to Tokyo station, by shinkansen.  Another successful P.E. tour, in the books.
http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/49616761

„The bike, then the car, and then the wife. In that order.“ – Sean Kelly

And before anyway gets too PC you don’t want to mess with Mr. Kelly. He is one of the hardest men around. Probably eats nails.

The photo below comes from the marvelous Big Ring Riding blog-site.

www.lifecyclesfilm.com/ Beautifully shot.

Another weekend, another Saturday ride … this time with a plan (achieved!) to return by the Noon hour.  Aurore bakery in Oume was closed, so we took that as an omen not to go into Nariki and approach the Holy Fountain or Yamabushi Pass.

Instead, we went via Ikusa-bata (Battleground), over the forest road climb to Umenoki Pass (approx 650M elevation) and Tsuru Tsuru onsen.  We took a slight detour to swing by Stephen and Ryoko Coady’s place near the bridge at Ikusa-bata.  Ryoko’s familiar bright red VW was parked outside and there were signs that the house is in active use (but it was early Sunday morning and no signs of activity stirring inside, so we moved on after a few minutes rest in the shade on their porch.)  Is Stephen still in Switzerland?  Back in Japan?  I’ve lost his cell number when my last phone died and was replaced, the data unrecoverable by normal measures.

At the top of Umenoki Pass, another in my series of photos of Jerome resting on concrete road surfaces:

My Cervelo … still with the bulbous saddle bag from last weekend’s Brevet:

The onsen is 2.8 km from the top of the climb.  The lower stretch of this descent on the S. side of the ill, after passing the Onsen, was one of the most delightful roads I can remember within the Tokyo prefectural limits, a classic 2-4% grade along a river/stream with very little traffic and lots of green.  It must be spectacular in April/May.  The climb up the North side had nice variety, mostly shaded, some very steep stretches but none that lasted for long, almost entirely in the shade, and on a closed forest road with no traffic yet a decent road surface (for climbing, anyway).  I’ve known about this for several years, but never managed to try it until now. (The entrance is not obvious from Yoshino Kaido on the N. side — you would miss it if you did not know where you are going or have a good map.

This may help for anyone who wants to try it and does not know where the entrance is:
http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/48576767

Jerome met me on Saturday the 4th at 6AM as planned and we drove out the Tomei Expressway and then through early morning traffic jams of trucks on Rte 16 to Sagamihara, finding the  god-forsaken, hot stretch of gravel along a riverbed where we could park for the Brevet.

Jerome was on his smart looking new Look 565 — replacement for the stolen 2004 Look 585. As an „unofficial“ entrant, Jerome made a good showing — with reflective vest, lights, etc.

We suffered through the first leg to Itsukaichi, made a short stop, then suffered through the heat on the way up the lower Akigawa.  Jerome took a break for a plunge in the river before the climb to Kobu tunnel, while I pressed ahead slowly and waited for him at the tunnel exit.  After a quick trip to Uenohara, we took an unscheduled convenience store stop in a desperate attempt to cool down.  To no avail.  I made my slowest ever ride up Rte 20 to Otsuki and was fortunate to have Jerome go ahead and scout out a route through several farmers‘ fields and down to the Katsura-gawa, where we could get into a river pool by climbing down a rope.  Temporary relief.

After only 10 minutes on the bike again, I felt just as hot as before.  We stopped at another convenience store past Tsuru, … no shade and heavy traffic on the climb up Rte 139 to FujiYoshida.  Time passed and we saw fewer and fewer Brevet riders, as we slipped to the back of the pack.  Jerome waited for me several times and we finally limped into the Kawaguchiko rest stop at 3:05PM, just ahead of the 3:15 cutoff.  At least it was cooler there at 900 meters elevation and with a few clouds.

After a long rest (almost an hour), we pressed on in the cooler climate, partially recovered and rehydrated.  We persuaded one Japanese rider, Hiroyuki, not to „retire“ and to continue with us.  Once we climbed up to Saiko, and rejoined the main road, we made good time to Motosu-ko, which was beautiful, with a breeze for the windsurfers on the far side, and some haze and clouds mixed with blue sky.

We then had a nice, fast, long descent down to the Fujikawa at the base of the western side of Mt. Fuji.  …. where it was again HOT and HUMID, even as the sun set.

We slogged on with Jerome pulling me and Hiroyuki much of the next 50 km, into a light headwind in the dark.  At Fujinomiya, I said my farewells and boarded the train home.  The combination of heat, serious sleep deficit and lack of training over the past 4 months, having defeated me.  Lacking a „rinko bukuro“ („bike bag“), I used my windbreaker as a „modesty cover“ for my bicycle on the train, at least to shelter passengers from any chain grease — which seemed enough to keep the train staff from complaining on a quiet Saturday night.  I recovered enough on the train to ride home the 15km from Shin-Yokohama, and at last got a decent sleep at night.

Jerome made the long climb up to Fuji Skyline at night (spectacular, as I had expected and hoped to enjoy …), saying goodbye to Hiroyuki and another Japanese rider after waiting repeatedly for them on the lower stretches.   He enjoyed the descent into Gotemba and then slogged back down Rte 246 to Sagamihara, getting there at 4:30AM, 30 minutes after the cutoff, but when there were still 5-6 other cars awaiting returnees.

Even if, for the first time in 6 attempts, I failed to complete a Brevet, at least I managed a ride of more than 125 km for the first time since my mid-May injury, and thanks to my riding partner I went far enough into the event so I don’t need to completely write off the idea of the two longer Brevets in October.