Bridget and Sarah’s Tour-de-Kyoto, Stage 2
Getting Ready for the Day's Photos Sarah Knights, at the entrance to the Kurama Temple, Kyoto Japan last month -- Kurama Temple (鞍馬寺) -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/3200 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Getting Ready for the Day's Photos
Sarah Knights, at the entrance to the Kurama Temple, Kyoto Japan
last month

Only a month and a half late, I'm finally getting around to posting about Stage Two of Bridget and Sarah's Tour de Kyoto. These two visitors from Australia were introduced in Bridget and Sarah’s Tour-de-Kyoto, Part 1 and Part 2.

Photographer's Crouch as she photographs Manseki Kanemitsu -- Kurama Temple (鞍馬寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Photographer's Crouch
as she photographs Manseki Kanemitsu
Kurama Temple (鞍馬寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — 1/400 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos

The morning had revealed that Sarah's tire did not survive the previous day's puncture-festival, but Manseki kindly loaned her a wheel, so she could ride for the day.

These pictures at the entrance to the Kurama Temple were on our way to the first big climb of the day, Kyoto's big Hanase Pass, which rises 500m over 5.8km for an average grade of 9%. Now that I'm used to it it's not that tough..... unless I try to go fast, which makes anything tough.

I was hoping go fast. At least, I was hoping to stick with Bridget on the climb, but she left me right away and I did not see her for most of the climb. She went on to capture the Queen of the Mountain ranking for that climb, meaning hers was the best time among all females registered with Strava. She beat my best time by more than a minute, and I was slower than my best by half a minute.

Sarah, who is not a climber as much as a downhill and flat sprinter, captured the 5th best overall women's time.

Kumiko was able to complete the climb, making it her first ascent of Hanase:

Kumiko Triumphant Arrival Hanase Pass (花背峠) -- Hanase Pass (花背峠) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Kumiko Triumphant Arrival
Hanase Pass (花背峠)

The climb is well within her abilities, but I think she had a mental block against it because she had to abandon her first attempt, which she'd made when first getting used to riding while clipped in (something that caused me much trepidation until I got used to it).

High Fives -- Hanase Pass (花背峠) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
High Fives
Manseki Arrives he was riding a bike with gearing that made the climb much tougher than it needed to be ( but the bike looked good, which was the important thing ;-) ) -- Hanase Pass (花背峠) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Manseki Arrives
he was riding a bike with gearing that made the climb much tougher than it needed to be
( but the bike looked good, which was the important thing 😉 )

We then returned partially down the mountain, and gave Momoi Pass (West) a try. This is ridiculously steep (more than 16% for more than 400m), so at the time I was concerned about doing this while clipped in. As such, I wimped out and took advantage of my bike's easiest gear, which I had been trying not to do because the new bike that I had on order (and which I've not moved up to) doesn't have such an easy gear. The next time I try it, I'll again feel a bit of hope-I-don't-fall-over trepidation.

Bridget again got the Queen of the Mountain on the climb.

After the climb, on the way down the other side through the pleasant forest...

Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 500 — map & image datanearby photos
Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 42 kph (26 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 72mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 42 kph (26 mph)
Entering a Small Village taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/1000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Entering a Small Village
taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph)
Quintessentially Japanese ( the “ peace ” signs ) taken while cycling at 15 kph (9 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — 1/2000 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Quintessentially Japanese
( the peace signs )
taken while cycling at 15 kph (9 mph)
taken while cycling at 20 kph (12 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — 1/2500 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 20 kph (12 mph)
taken while cycling at 36 kph (23 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 49mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.7, ISO 250 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 36 kph (23 mph)
Sarah Photo Op amidst the moss -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — 1/80 sec, f/2.2, ISO 640 — map & image datanearby photos
Sarah Photo Op
amidst the moss
Bridget's Turn -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.4, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Bridget's Turn
Kumiko -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — 1/80 sec, f/2.4, ISO 500 — map & image datanearby photos
Kumiko
Manseki -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
Manseki
Me ( obviously taken by someone else, but I forget by whom ) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Me
( obviously taken by someone else, but I forget by whom )
Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 47mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.6, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 31mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Colorful the lichen was as rich an orange as the moss was green -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Colorful
the lichen was as rich an orange as the moss was green

After a mini detour in the mountains for the photos above, we headed down from Momoi Pass toward the village of Ohara. It has some very steep sections that on the way up are really tough, but fun on the way down. Sarah really likes to hightail it on the way down, so I asked her to wait a bit to allow me to set up for an action shot of her descending....

Fast Into the Curve -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image datanearby photos
Fast Into the Curve
Faster Out of the Curve -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
Faster Out of the Curve
And Then She was Gone -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
And Then She was Gone

I took photos of the others as they came by the curve, but only Sarah went fast enough to make a fast-looking photo.

Later in the extended downhill ride is a long, fast downhill section that Sarah would have certainly gotten top rank on if she had not stopped too soon. But not knowing the roads, it was probably a smart idea to stop, lest she get lost as she left us all behind.

As it was, Bridget added to her Queen of the Mountain collection.

Bridget Selfie in the Ohara village of Kyoto taken while cycling at 16 kph (10 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/2000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Bridget Selfie
in the Ohara village of Kyoto
taken while cycling at 16 kph (10 mph)
Beautiful Countryside with rice almost ready to harvest taken while cycling at 23 kph (15 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/3200 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Beautiful Countryside
with rice almost ready to harvest
taken while cycling at 23 kph (15 mph)
taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/5000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph)
“ SLOW DOWN ” “ in front of private houses ” taken while cycling at a reasonable 28 kph (18 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 70mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
SLOW DOWN
in front of private houses
taken while cycling at a reasonable 28 kph (18 mph)

One place we didn't slow down was for this downhill sprint on a major road. Sarah, Bridget, and Kumiko all beat the previous Queen of the Mountain time, despite a lumbering bus sitting in our way for the last while...

Lumbering Bus Blocking Our Path taken while cycling at 53 kph (33 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/5000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Lumbering Bus Blocking Our Path
taken while cycling at 53 kph (33 mph)

Even though we had to put on the brakes and I had time to pull out the camera to take a shot, Sarah set a new record time by more than 20%.

Back in the City five hours and 58km (36mi) into the ride -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 32mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Back in the City
five hours and 58km (36mi) into the ride
Noodle Restaurant for Lunch -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/80 sec, f/2.1, ISO 400 — image datanearby photos
Noodle Restaurant for Lunch
Ready to Eat -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 640 — image datanearby photos
Ready to Eat
Mini Dessert great way to end a ride -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 1250 — image datanearby photos
Mini Dessert
great way to end a ride

And so ended Bridget and Sarah's Tour de Kyoto 2015.

Hopefully it's planted the seeds for a repeat next year!


All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

Another great ride report. Everyone is smiling and having a good time while riding up mountain passes. I have a hard time getting a sense of scale to compare your rides. The transition from Kyoto city density to rural forest happens so quickly it makes the distances seem farther. In Seattle it might be 20+ miles from the city before you see that kind of rural scenery.

Also found another of your mystery unfinished road projects. I continued north from your ‘photo op amidst the moss’ using street view and the road ends at a newer section of wide road and bridge to nowhere.

— comment by Rick H. on October 29th, 2015 at 3:35am JST (8 years, 5 months ago) comment permalink

Japan does many things amazingly well, one of them that you have ever so gently touched on is… (brace yourselves, non-nerds) retaining walls.

Each one in your photos is gorgeous. I’m amazed at the geometric patterns of the Japanese retaining walls. They sometimes look lile origami paper. Add to that your climate makes them a magnet for moss, lichens, ferns and all things wabi-sabi.

COLORFUL is a gorgeous shot for moss/lichen nerds. Again, forgive me. Its amazing how depending on where you live some mosses/lichens favor acid environments and some favor base environments. My guess is that orange lichen loves the rich base calcium environment in those concrete retaining blocks.

Out here where I live in North New Jersey you’re lucky sometimes to find similar lichen but bright yellow instead.

So much envy. Amazing how even the mundane stuff looks like something out of a dream of Japan.

— comment by Ron Evans on October 29th, 2015 at 5:06am JST (8 years, 5 months ago) comment permalink
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