First Bigish Group Ride in a Long While

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 34mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Ride's Crew
L-R: Arthur, Geoffrey, me, Ionut, Jason, Andy, Kevin, Yifen
( we didn't notic until the ride was done, but other than Ionut from Romania, we're all Americans )

I joined a big group ride for the first time in a long while last week, Andy's LSD (long slow distance) ride. I was happy to finally meet Kevin from Kobe and Geoffrey from Otsu, whom I'd conversed with online but had never met in person.

For me the ride (view at Strava) was 116km (72mi) at mostly an easy pace, though the times I tried to keep up with the others quickly took their toll on me. I've been doing long rides lately, but not much fast and not much climbing, so I'm out of shape.


Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Andy Arrives for Coffee
that his valet, Ionut, has prepared

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 49mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
New People, New Bikes
Geoffrey (at right) on his first ride with us Cycling Kyoto folks

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Caption Contest

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Ready to Head Out
Kevin from Kobe chats with Yifen

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Moving Through The City
taken while cycling at 28 kph (18 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Hotta-san!

As much riding as I do in these parts, it's rare for me to happen across another rider that I know, but I did just that early in the ride when Hotta-san and I crossed paths. I've ridden on a few rides with him in the past, and most recently he was the cycling adviser for a cycling-related movie in which I appeared as an extra.


Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/80 sec, f/2.1, ISO 250 — map & image datanearby photos
Water Stop
as Andy flashes his VOID
at the spring seen in prior posts, here and here

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 — map & image datanearby photos
First Descent
taken while cycling at 25 kph (15 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 35 kph (22 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Plodding Slowly Up
taken while cycling at 28 kph (17 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 35 kph (22 mph)

image data
I'm the Yellow Blur
photo by Ionut Sandu

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Fast Descent
taken backwards, one-handed, while cycling at 63 kph (39 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Stopping To Inspect the Troops
taken while cycling at 21 kph (13 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Tally Ho!
taken while cycling at 20 kph (13 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Crossing a Valley
taken while cycling at 29 kph (18 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Enjoying the Day
taken while cycling at 25 kph (16 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 25 kph (15 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Twins
taken while cycling at 28 kph (17 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Strung Out
taken while cycling at 36 kph (22 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Paceline
taken while cycling at 46 kph (29 mph)

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, drafting as seen in the photo above is a great way for a pair or group to work together to go overall faster than they could individually, but the act of taking the photo caused me to slow down just enough that I lost the benefit, and they quickly pulled away, leaving me to (slowly) fend for myself.


Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Geoffrey's Impeccable Form
taken while cycling at 58 kph (36 mph)

At the races this weekend I noticed several riders wearing the exact same team jersey as Geoffrey, such as this guy:


Nikon D4 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Strada Racing
wearing the same jersey as Geoffrey did
( from this event )

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 60mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
taken while cycling at 58 kph (36 mph)

I've never seen a pro cyclist in person, so I can only imagine what their form looks like in real life, but that mental image became incarnate during this ride when watching Geoffrey descend. His form was like art... I've no other way to explain it. I'd never seen anything like it. It was truly beautiful and mesmerizing.

I doubt it comes through very well in video, but here's a video of a descent we did toward the end of the ride, taken with my Cycliq Fly12 front camera:

Anyway, we stopped for a break at Hiyoshi Dam...


Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos

Ionut took advantage of the 足湯 (ashiyu) hot foot bath, which is apparently fed by a hot spring. It seems to be available 24/7. I've used it before... it's nice, but one needs to remember to bring a small towel.


Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Heading Back
along the northern edge of the lake created by the dam
taken while cycling at 26 kph (16 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Nice Road
that apparently, by the looks of the guardrail, recently had a tree fall across it
taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 49mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.7, ISO 1250 — map & image datanearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 46mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.6, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 52mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Pleasant
taken while cycling at 33 kph (20 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Passing Through a Small Village
taken while cycling at 21 kph (13 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/80 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640 — map & image datanearby photos
Struggling to Keep Up
taken while cycling at 22 kph (14 mph)

This is a lovely road that I've featured on my blog before, here, here, and here. I tried to keep up with the fast folks, and did so for the first half or so, but my legs just gave out. I finished two minutes behind (15 min vs. 13 min).


Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Snow

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/60 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400 — map & image datanearby photos
Pretty Descent
taken while cycling at 45 kph (28 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Post-Ride Riverside Relaxation

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