{"id":2517,"date":"2015-01-25T00:34:05","date_gmt":"2015-01-24T15:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-01-25\/2517"},"modified":"2015-04-29T21:16:41","modified_gmt":"2015-04-29T12:16:41","slug":"exploring-the-mountains-of-northern-kyoto-by-bicycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-01-25\/2517","title":{"rendered":"Exploring The Mountains of Northern Kyoto by Bicycle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>4000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPausing for a Quick<\/span> Photo<\/span>\non a bicycle ride in the mountains north of Kyoto\nleft to right: Kumiko Mini<\/a>,\nLianca Van Der Merwe<\/a>,\nAntti<\/a>, and\nRoss McLean<\/a>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Today I made my first “<\/span>real”<\/span> bicycling ride. Normally the bicycle is just for transportation from one place\nto the other, and not my first choice for either exercise nor pleasure, but I recently<\/span> replaced my 10-year-old\nmamachari<\/i><\/a> (“<\/span>Mama Chariot”<\/span>, heavy, built like a tank,<\/span>\nand can carry oodles of kids and stuff) with a lighter<\/span> cross bike.<\/p>\n\n

\u4eca\u65e5<\/span>\u306f\u521d\u3081\u3066\u306e\u672c\u7269<\/span>\u306e\u81ea\u8ee2\u8eca<\/span>\u3067\u30c4\u30a2\u30fc\u30a4\u30f3\u30b0\u3002\u65b0\u3057\u3044\u53cb\u9054<\/span>\u3068\u4e00\u7dd2<\/span>\u306b55\u30ad\u30ed\u306e\u5c71\u5de1<\/span>\u308a\u3002\u5927\u539f<\/span>\u3068\u8cb4\u8239<\/span>\u3092\u898b\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n\n

Through the\nCycling Kyoto Facebook group<\/a> I learned<\/span> that some folks would have a “<\/span>slow\neasy”<\/span> ride today, so I thought<\/span> it was a good<\/span> opportunity to give it a\ntry.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

We ended up going 55km (34 miles) up into the mountains and back. The “<\/span>and back”<\/span> part was easier.<\/p>\n\n

We met up at the Sanjo St. bridge at 11am, and soon headed off...<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCity Riding<\/span>\nheading north on Kawabata St.\n\u5ddd\u7aef\u901a\u3067\u5317\u3078\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>4000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBack Street<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFirst Sight of Nature<\/span>\nalong the Kamo River (\u8cc0\u8302\u5ddd)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMountains Where We're Heading<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHeading Up<\/span>\nit's been a mild ascent the whole 25 minutes it took to get here,\nbut now it's starting in earnest\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOh Deer!<\/span>\nconstruction\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nVillage<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSteep<\/span>\n\u5742\u304c\u304d\u3064\u3044\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It wasn't all that steep as far as mountains go, but it was certainly\nthe most steep road I'd ever taken on a bike.<\/span> It rose 210m<\/span> over about 900m\nlength. Since it was my first ride I decided<\/span> that I would<\/span> always stay at\nthe back. This gave me a great<\/span> excuse to rest if I wasn't<\/span> the slowest, and\nif I was<\/span> the slowest, well, what do you expect from the guy at the back? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n

It turns out that Lianca's normal road bike is in the shop, so she was using a heavy<\/span> mountain bike,\nwhich wasn't really appropriate for this kind of riding. So, I could<\/span> take it easy most of the time. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n

The trip down the other side of the mountain was equally steep...<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCoasting<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We stopped by the Family Mart near the Sanzenin Temple. I've visited that temple\nnumerious<\/a>\ntimes<\/a> in the past<\/a>,\nbut I would<\/span> have never imagined going that far by bicycle.<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoss's New Bike<\/span>\ntaking a break\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We then retraced our path part way...<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>3200 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOhara Countryside<\/span>\n(taken 1-handed at 30kph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This time I thought I'd try to stay with the two guys when we retraced our steps back up the aforementioned steep climb....<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStarting the Ascent<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Coming off an injury, Ross is riding for the first time in a month<\/span> and\nso was taking it “<\/span>slow and easy”<\/span>, and Antti was kind enough to slow down to\nkeep him company. I hadn't<\/span> really been taxed in the 20km we'd done so far,\nbut the photo above was the last I saw<\/span> of them for quite a while.<\/span> They made\nit look effortless, but I can<\/span> assure you it was most certainly not\neffortless.<\/p>\n\n

Still, I made it to the pass without passing out or even stopping, and so I waited<\/span> for the\nrest of the group and tried to catch an “<\/span>action shot”<\/span> as they came by (though I realize<\/span> now\nthat I should<\/span> have set up a bit<\/span> downhill, so they'd have some speed...)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nKumiko<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 140 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLianca<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/16, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSingle-Handed Snapshot<\/span>\nat 50.3kph, downhill\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFlat(ish) Countryside<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Having retraced our steps for 8km, we headed back into the mountains, toward Kibune.<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStaying With Ross<\/span>\n(for a short moment)\n\u8cb4\u8239\u3078\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Somewhere near Kibune we stopped for a quick<\/span> photo, seen at the start of this post.<\/p>\n\n

Sharp readers will of course \ud83d\ude09 recall that the same bridge guardrail appeared on my blog eight years ago,\nat the end of “<\/span>Getting Ready for Summer, in Kibune<\/a>”<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

Then some quick individual snaps...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoss McLean<\/span>\nvery Mc, very Lean\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAntti<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLianca Van Der Merwe<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nKUMIKO mini<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoss's Shoe Covers<\/span>\nwere so incredibly brilliant pink that the camera couldn't capture them<\/a> properly\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nChatting, Oblivious<\/span>\nto the guys already leaving in the background\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Since I wasn't in any of the group pictures, I thought<\/span> I'd at least grab\na snap<\/span> of myself for my own memory, on one of the road-curve mirrors\nubiquitous in the mountains of Japan.<\/p>\n\n

\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n“<\/span>OSHA<\/a> Orange”<\/span><\/span>\nis the color of my windbreaker. I call it<\/span> my “<\/span>Ninja Jacket”<\/span>.\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHitting the Touristy Area<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nShort Pause<\/span>\nat the entrance to the Kibune Shrine (\u8cb4\u8239\u795e\u793e)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSomething Is Just Not Quite Right<\/span>\nabout this shot, as we head a bit farther up the mountain.\nCan you tell what it is, and explain it? (Hint: it's not Photoshop)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHigh Point of Our Trip<\/span>\n410m, at the Kibune Shrine Okumiya (\u8cb4\u8239\u795e\u793e\u5965\u5bae)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill Plenty of Snow<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPlotting The Return Home<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 220 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIt's All Downhill From Here<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Since the ride was done save for returning home, the two guys took off\nat their own speed, and we never saw them again. After getting down into\ntown, I decided<\/span> to pop over to a park<\/span> where I knew<\/span> Anthony was playing with\nfriends. The moment<\/span> I said<\/span> “<\/span>bye”<\/span> to the other two I'd been returning with\nand was on my own in the city, the bike ceased to be fun. It was now<\/span> just\ndrudgery “<\/span>get to Point B”<\/span> work.<\/p>\n\n

So, while I enjoyed the first 45km of the trip, it's the social aspect of it\nthat appealed to me. The last 11k<\/span> was drudgery.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, here's what the Google Earth shows for my ride:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The red arrow is about where this post's lead photo was taken.<\/p>\n\n

Later that evening, I had dinner at Via Transito<\/a>, the Italian restaurant\nlocated here<\/a>\nowned by friend Salvo Mannino<\/a>.\nSalvo had helped me buy my new bike, and had introduced me to the Kyoto Cycling group, so I wanted<\/span> to stop\nby to thank him and report on my ride.<\/p>\n\n

Damien and Kumiko joined me and Anthony for a wonderful<\/span> dinner and conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D3X + Nikkor 14-24mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nChatting with Salvo<\/span>\nVia Transito Italian Restaurant\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I remembered to take a picture of the salad, but then forgot after that. It was tasty<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D3X + Nikkor 14-24mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSalad with Cheeze and Potato<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D3X + Nikkor 14-24mm f\/2.8 @ 23mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMaking a Pizza<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

My neck and shoulders are a bit sore from the ride, but otherwise I seem<\/span> not too much worse for wear. Not sure when<\/span> I'll do such a thing<\/span> again, but it was a wonderful<\/span> day for the experience, made all the better by the company I lucked<\/span> into having.<\/p>\n\n

Was a good day.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I made my first \"real\" bicycling ride. Normally the bicycle is just for transportation from one place to the other, and not my first choice for either exercise nor pleasure, but I recently replaced my 10-year-old mamachari (\"Mama Chariot\", heavy, built like a tank, and can carry oodles of kids and stuff) with a lighter cross bike.<\/p>

\u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u521d\u3081\u3066\u306e\u672c\u7269\u306e\u81ea\u8ee2\u8eca\u3067\u30c4\u30a2\u30fc\u30a4\u30f3\u30b0\u3002\u65b0\u3057\u3044\u53cb\u9054\u3068\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b55\u30ad\u30ed\u306e\u5c71\u5de1\u308a\u3002\u5927\u539f\u3068\u8cb4\u8239\u3092\u898b\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>

Through the Cycling Kyoto Facebook group I learned that some folks would have a \"slow easy\" ride today, so I thought it was a good opportunity to give it a try.<\/p>

We ended up going 55km (34 miles) up into the [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1,2,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}