Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/3200 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photographer's Crouch
as she photographs Manseki Kanemitsu

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/400 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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:

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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).

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
High Fives

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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...

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 72mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
taken while cycling at 42 kph (26 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/1000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Entering a Small Village
taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/2000 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Quintessentially Japanese
( the “peace” signs )
taken while cycling at 15 kph (9 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — ¹/2500 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
taken while cycling at 20 kph (12 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 49mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.7, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
taken while cycling at 36 kph (23 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — ¹/80 sec, f/2.2, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sarah Photo Op
amidst the moss

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.4, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bridget's Turn

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — ¹/80 sec, f/2.4, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kumiko

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Manseki

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Me
( obviously taken by someone else, but I forget by whom )

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

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 47mm — ¹/100 sec, f/2.6, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 31mm — ¹/160 sec, f/2.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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....

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fast Into the Curve

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Faster Out of the Curve

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby 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.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/2000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bridget Selfie
in the Ohara village of Kyoto
taken while cycling at 16 kph (10 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/3200 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Beautiful Countryside
with rice almost ready to harvest
taken while cycling at 23 kph (15 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/5000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 70mm — ¹/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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...

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/5000 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby 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%.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 32mm — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Back in the City
five hours and 58km (36mi) into the ride

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — ¹/80 sec, f/2.1, ISO 400 — image data — nearby photos
Noodle Restaurant for Lunch

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 640 — image data — nearby photos
Ready to Eat

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 1250 — image data — nearby 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!