Jeffrey Friedl's Blog » Alexis’s Tour de Kyoto

by Jeffrey Friedl Sat, September 9th, 2017 7:01pm JST (6 years, 3 months ago)

Alexis Turcas in the mountains northwest of Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Alexis Turcas
in the mountains northwest of Kyoto, Japan

Alexis, a cycling Frenchman living in England, contacted NORU for a private bike tour around the far-flung mountains of Kyoto. Joshua set him up with a bike and took him around, while I tagged along for photos.

Making Our Way through quiet streets towards the mountains -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Making Our Way
through quiet streets towards the mountains

Side Loop through the Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺) -- Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Side Loop
through the Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺)

Obstacle Course -- Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

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

Greeting Some Schoolchildren -- Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Greeting Some Schoolchildren

Minor Little Lane -- Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Minor Little Lane

Myoushinji Temple Complex (妙心寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

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

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

Along Hirosawa Lake a lake seen in this post a couple of years ago -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Along Hirosawa Lake
a lake seen in this post a couple of years ago

Rice Looks About Ready for harvest -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rice Looks About Ready
for harvest

Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Bit of Bamboo -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bit of Bamboo

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Ugly Trees but they'll make nice ornamental lumber -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ugly Trees
but they'll make nice ornamental lumber

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Quaint Area north of Arashiyama -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Quaint Area
north of Arashiyama

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Quintessential Photo Op in front of a restaurant coincidentally featured prominently in this week's NHK's Core Kyoto episode “ Ayu Sweetfish ” -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Quintessential Photo Op
in front of a restaurant coincidentally featured prominently
in this week's NHK's Core Kyoto episode “Ayu Sweetfish”

Right after this photo is the first real test of cycling ability, a short, steep climb that averages 10% over 760m (half a mile), but has some 17% sections.

When you're contacted out of the blue by someone for a bike ride, you're not really sure of their level and what would be appropriate/fun/challenging/daunting for them, so this initial climb would be a bit of a “trial by fire” to gauge someone's level.

In this case, Alexis' demeanor on the bike on the steepest sections remained unchanged from when casually cruising among the flat rice fields, as if the effort that was a challenge for me was not at all an effort for him. He seems ridiculously strong, but not particularly interested in using that strength during this ride. This was lucky for me, because the subsequent longer climbs that he was happy to just casually enjoy ended up at a pace that I could, with effort, maintain.

Enjoying the Views on the short descent after that initial climb -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Enjoying the Views
on the short descent after that initial climb

Very Twisty Very Steep -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Very Twisty Very Steep

Challenging to photograph on the move on this steep a descent ( taken at 13 kph / 8 mph ) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Challenging
to photograph on the move on this steep a descent
( taken at 13 kph / 8 mph )

Bottoming Out -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bottoming Out

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos

More Views above Japan Rail's Hozukyo Station -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — ¹/200 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
More Views
above Japan Rail's Hozukyo Station

Entering a Small Village -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/1000 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Entering a Small Village

Steep Section he looks much more relaxed than I do, let me assure you -- Kameoka, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Steep Section
he looks much more relaxed than I do, let me assure you

Top of the Atago Climb -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Top of the Atago Climb

Terraced Rice Fields a lovely view seen better in this shot from the other day -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 30mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Terraced Rice Fields
a lovely view seen better in this shot from the other day

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Doesn't Look Like It, But... this was taken at 57 kph (35 mph) -- Nantan, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Doesn't Look Like It, But...
this was taken at 57 kph (35 mph)

Nantan, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Hiyoshi Dam (日吉ダム) -- Nantan, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Crossing Hiyoshi Dam with the “ velodrome ” in the background -- Hiyoshi Dam (日吉ダム) -- Nantan, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Crossing Hiyoshi Dam
with the “velodrome” in the background

“足湯” ( ashiyu ) foot hot-spring -- Hiyoshi Dam (日吉ダム) -- Nantan, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/250 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
“足湯” (ashiyu)
foot hot-spring

Heading Back into the mountains -- Nantan, Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/60 sec, f/8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading Back
into the mountains

Finally finally a photo that captures what a steep climb feels like ( it's easy to inadvertently bump the settings on my cycling camera ) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 0.4 sec, f/8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Finally
finally a photo that captures what a steep climb feels like
( it's easy to inadvertently bump the settings on my cycling camera )

Another camera-setting mistake -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/5 sec, f/8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Another
camera-setting mistake

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

mu +sports! mimicking Joshua's sales-pitch pose from this spot two years ago -- せせらぎ -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — ¹/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
mu +sports!
mimicking Joshua's sales-pitch pose from this spot two years ago

Lovely Little Climb taken during a short descent section at 55 kph (34 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lovely Little Climb
taken during a short descent section at 55 kph (34 mph)

taken at 44 kph (28 mph) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
taken at 44 kph (28 mph)

Drink Refill -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Drink Refill

Drink Refill of a more-natural kind -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 35mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.3, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Drink Refill
of a more-natural kind

Descending “ Nasty ” notice the 21% Grade sign in the background -- Nasty 21% Slope -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 44mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Descending “Nasty”
notice the 21% Grade sign in the background

Fringe of the City just outside of Shouzan (しょうざん) -- Shouzan (しょうざん) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fringe of the City
just outside of Shouzan (しょうざん)

Almost Done passing by the Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Almost Done
passing by the Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine (北野天満宮)

Safely Back to NORU -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Safely Back
to NORU

All in all, Alexis had done 89km with about 1,750m of elevation gain. He seemed to have enjoyed his time, and I enjoyed both his company and that I didn't slow them down too much.

After Alexis bid us farewell, Joshua and I headed east across the city heading to our respective homes...

Shortcut across the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所) -- Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shortcut
across the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所)

Here's my full ride at Strava:

May	25th,	2015	Kyoto's Nasty 21% City-Bike Hill Climb
June	4th,	2015	Miyama Cycling Tour with Joshua and Manseki, Part 2
June	16th,	2015	Informal Camera Comparison: Panasonic LX100 vs. Nikon D4
August	3rd,	2015	Morning Calm at Kyoto's Hirosawa Lake
January	3rd,	2017	Reflections on my 2016 Cycling Year
August	27th,	2017	My Cycling is All “Fasted” Recently, and I Don't Know Why (But I'm Not Complaining)
September	26th,	2017	Joshua's Eclectic Birthday Ride

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