{"id":2522,"date":"2015-02-11T19:19:12","date_gmt":"2015-02-11T10:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-02-11\/2522"},"modified":"2017-02-10T08:57:30","modified_gmt":"2017-02-09T23:57:30","slug":"attempting-a-100km-bikeride-in-the-mountains-of-kyoto-part-2-the-last-70km","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-02-11\/2522","title":{"rendered":"Attempting a 100km Bike Ride in the Mountains of Kyoto, Part 2: The Last 70km"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 1100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Road Ahead<\/span>\nis finally downhill\n\u3084\u3063\u3068\u4e0b\u308a\u5742\u3067\u3059\uff08\u64ae\u5f71\u306f\u904b\u8ee2\u3057\u306a\u304c\u3089\u7247\u624b\u3067)\n( taken one-handed while cycling at 11 km\/h )\n
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\n1050×<\/span>1680<\/a>  ·  1200×<\/span>1920<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>2560<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

In part 1<\/a> about\nlast weekend's cycling into the mountains north of Kyoto, I ended<\/span> the story 23km\ninto the journey at the top of the Hanase Pass (\u82b1\u80cc\u5ce0).<\/span> At 769m it<\/span> would\nbe the highest point of the trip (a trip<\/span> that started and ended at an\nelevation of about 60m).<\/p>\n\n

With a nice downhill to look forward to, I didn't<\/span> linger long at the\npass. After a minute<\/span>-and-a-half's rest and a selfie<\/span><\/a>, I carried<\/span> on.<\/p>\n\n

I couldn't let myself build up much speed because the road was quite\nsnowy\/icy, so I dragged<\/span> on the rear brake most of\nthe time. Still, the slow speed allowed me to appreciate the scenery a bit.<\/span> I suppose<\/span> it's\ndifficult to see in this next shot, but at times the ground dropped away\nfrom the road at perilous rates...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooking Off to the Side<\/span>\n\u9053\u306e\u6a2a\n10:58am (23.1 km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 140 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSlick Curves<\/span>\n11:00am - taken one-handed while cycling at 14 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPausing to Look Back<\/span>\n\u632f\u308a\u8fd4\u308a\u306e\u4e00\u6642\u505c\u6b62\n11:00am (23.8km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The big tower seen above is not far from Hanase Pass where I'd been a\nfew<\/span> minutes earlier. The tower<\/span> can be seen from Kyoto (in the hazy clouds\nin the upper left of this photo<\/a>), or up\nclose (here<\/a>).\nWhen I took<\/span> those photos five years ago, I was 100kg<\/span> of out-of-shape\nfrumpiness, and I'd never in a million<\/span> years thought I'd bicycle that far.<\/p>\n\n

The turning point for me came 2½ years ago in “<\/span>Yesterday\u2019s Hike:\nThe Agony Where Bravado Yields, In Spectacular<\/span> Fashion, To Painful<\/span> Reality<\/a>”<\/span>, after which I vowed<\/span> to get in shape. Even just two months\nlater I was<\/span> starting to\nshow progress<\/a>. I've been at it in various ways for 2½ years, and\nnow at 48 I'm in by far the best shape of my life. Whoo-hoo!<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, I soon descended into the little village on the other side of the mountain...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEntering a Small<\/span> Village<\/span>\n11:05am (25.3km), taken one-handed while cycling at 25 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFlyby Shrine Visit<\/span>\nentrance to the Hiyoshi Shrine (\u65e5\u5409\u795e\u793e)<\/span>\n11:05am (25.5km), taken one-handed while cycling at 27 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I'd visited the shrine beyond that gate five years ago<\/a> and had\nthought to do so again on this trip, but didn't. Judging by the amount of undisturbed snow on the path,\n(which goes 250m back up into the mountains to the shrine), it's probably just as well that I didn't.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

In preparing for the trip I imagined a slow<\/span> lazy ride, with many stops\nto check out hopefully-photogenic mountain temples and shrines. When I\npassed<\/span> this shrine it was only 11am, but I was<\/span> already starting to worry\nabout the time: I had<\/span> to get home and cleaned up in time to make it to 5pm\nMass. According to my original plan, I still<\/span> have 80km of unknown terrain left to ride.<\/p>\n\n

One stop I would have made was at the cafe “<\/span>Cowbell”<\/span> moments later. Unfortunately, they were closed:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCafe Cowbell<\/span>\n\u55ab\u8336<\/span>\u30ab\u30a6\u30d9\u30eb<\/a>\n11:05am (25.7km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I would have liked a cup of coffee, but had no choice but to press on.<\/p>\n\n

Fifteen minutes of mostly downhill later, I decided<\/span> to pause to put on some warmer clothes.\nAs expected, I'd gotten<\/span> quite chilly in the half-hour descent. My toes were<\/span> the worst, but otherwise I was<\/span> pretty okay... just chilly. But not knowing<\/span> what to expect going forward, I thought<\/span> it would be prudent to put on another layer.<\/p>\n\n

So, I broke out some things I'd bought in preparation for the trip:\na Uniqlo<\/span> Ultra-Light Down Half Coat<\/a> (it weighs nothing and can roll up into a ball<\/span>) under my windbreaker,\nand Uniqlo Warm Easy Cargo Pants<\/a> (fleece-lined polyester sporty winter pants) over my Under Armour leggings.<\/p>\n\n

I snapped a photo of my legs just to mark the location on my tracklog.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTracklog-Marking Photo<\/span>\n11:22am (29.9km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I continued on, and after 20 minutes of ups and downs, I found<\/span> a place<\/span> to have that cup of coffee.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/13, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFirst Real Break<\/span>\n11:40am (34.2km) - \u4eac\u90fd\u82b1\u80cc\u5c71\u6751\u90fd\u5e02<\/span>\u4ea4\u6d41<\/span>\u306e\u68ee\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 2500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nInviting Scene<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFogged Over Lens<\/span>\nit's what happens when you bring a cold<\/span> lens into a warm<\/span> room\n( the room was actually quite cold until you got near the heaters, which is why I suspect<\/span> the prior photo came out clear )<\/small>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

My shirts were well soaked, so I took<\/span> the opportunity to try to dry them by hanging them over chairs near the heater. I was the<\/span> only customer, yet after a while<\/span> one of the workers came to ask me to use the heater in the lobby (the cafe being\npart of a larger<\/span> semi-public non-profit recreational area), commenting that the cafe was “<\/span>for customers only”<\/span>. I looked<\/span> at\nher incredulously as I pointed<\/span> to the coffee I was<\/span> still enjoying. Geez. She and another<\/span> worker then helped arrange\nmy stuff for better drying.<\/p>\n\n

This was my first real rest since starting in earnest. I was there<\/span> for 29 minutes.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/13, ISO 140 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nA Side<\/span> Road I'll Have To Investigate Some Day<\/span>\nthe map shows a temple about 2km in\n12:21pm (36.4km), taken one-handed while cycling at 21 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/13, ISO 280 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTypical Valley Scene<\/span>\n12:26pm (38.5), taken one-handed while cycling at 12 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTime to Check the Map<\/span>\n12:30pm (39.4km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

A cursory look at a map makes it appear that the road I wanted<\/span> to take\nwas the main path that goes straight here, but in reality it's a\n90<\/span>-degree right turn. I knew I<\/span> wanted to get to Route 367 so I'm sure I\nwould<\/span> have been fine without my iPad's map, but I was<\/span> happy to stop to\nconfirm.<\/p>\n\n

There had been lots of up and down segments — as mountains are apt to do — but I knew<\/span> I had<\/span> another major pass\nto eventually ascend to, and the moment I turned<\/span> onto Route 110 I knew<\/span> the ascent had started...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 110 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStart of the Next Major Ascent<\/span>\nthe next hour would be brutal\n\u3053\u3053\u304b\u3089\u80fd\u898b\u5ce0\u307e\u3067\u306f\u3081\u3063\u3061\u3083\u3072\u3069\u3044\n12:31pm (39.4km), taken one-handed while cycling at 14 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoad Getting Nasty<\/span>\n12:33pm (40km), taken one-handed while cycling at 18 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n12:36pm (41.1km), taken one-handed while cycling at 17 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 720 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSplat!<\/span>\n\u843d\u96ea\u3067\u30d4\u30b7\u30e3\uff01\n12:37pm (41.4km), taken one-handed while cycling at 15 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It was clear weather, but throughout the trip, clumps of snow would fall onto the road from the trees in big splats. My luck in<\/span> avoiding them was gone with the shot above, as it made a direct<\/span> hit on me and the camera. I didn't<\/span> have anything\nto clean the ice off the front of the lens, and didn't want to stop anyway, so I just<\/span> left it.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSnowy Lens, Snowy Road<\/span>\n12:39pm (41.7km), taken one-handed while cycling at 16 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 180 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n12:39pm (41.8km), taken one-handed while cycling at 13 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTough Riding<\/span>\n12:41pm (42.4km), taken one-handed while cycling at 11 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It was difficult to ride smoothly, as the semi-hard snow\/ice\/slush was thick and the tire had to cut through it.\nSometimes it would “<\/span>grab”<\/span> the tire and force it one way or the other as if in a rut,<\/span> so I had<\/span> to spend more effort to\nkeep control.<\/p>\n\n

Still, it was all really quite pleasant, though that feeling wouldn't last long...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/10, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThis is Just Ridiculous<\/span>\nhorrible conditions with a 20%+ slope\n12:47pm (43.4km), taken one-handed while cycling at 7 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I'd been stopping much more frequently than on the initial ascent up to Hanase Pass, and\nthe refreshed feeling from the rest lasted much less. I was getting<\/span> tired.<\/p>\n\n

It eventually dawned on me that perhaps I should<\/span> eat something. So far I<\/span>'d had just a cup<\/span> of coffee\nat home before leaving, and a cup<\/span> of coffee at the cafe. I normally<\/span> don't eat breakfast or lunch; unless a social<\/span> occasion dictates otherwise, I eat when<\/span> I feel<\/span> hungry, not when the clock says everyone should eat. For me that<\/span> means I generally<\/span> eat just dinner.<\/p>\n\n

I'm quite used to doing a day full of heavy exercise without having\neaten anything, and I don't<\/span> know that today was any different. I didn't<\/span>\nfeel hungry and didn't know whether eating something would impact my level\nof energy, but with not knowing what the route held, I thought<\/span> it prudent\nto have a candybar.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBreakfast and Lunch<\/span>\n\u4eca\u65e5\u306e\u521d\u98df\u4e8b\n1:01pm (44.0km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I didn't bring along anything to drink, and Japan's seemingly-ubiquitous\nvending machines were nowhere to be seen in the last few hours, so I ate<\/span>\nsome snow along with my frozen Snickers.<\/p>\n\n

It was a picturesque spot for a meal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I soon felt better, not due to the Snickers, but because I reached<\/span> Nomi Pass (\u80fd\u898b\u5ce0)<\/span> nine minutes later...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>6400 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNomi Pass<\/span>\n\u80fd\u898b\u5ce0<\/span><\/a> at 653m\n1:12pm (44.6km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It took about 42 minutes to get here from the turnoff, 25 of which were actually riding.\nStrava<\/a> says that I am<\/span> “<\/span>KOM”<\/span> (King of the Mountain) for this segment this year, which\nin this case must mean that I'm the first person to do it this year. Others in the Kyoto Cycling group can do it\nfinish-to-end in under 14 minutes, though I suppose<\/span> these snowy conditions might slow even them down a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSmall Village<\/span>\nthe white spot in the center of the frame is a small<\/span> village the road eventually goes through\n1:13pm (44.7km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>4000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSteep Descent<\/span>\nnot exactly your best cycling conditions\n1:15pm (45.1km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEntering the Village<\/span>\n1:24pm (47.6km), taken one-handed while cycling at 17 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nShikobuchi Shrine (\u5fd7\u53e4\u6df5\u795e\u793e)<\/span><\/span>\n1:28pm (49.1km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I didn't have much interest in shrines or temples at this point, but\nlooked around for a vending<\/span> machine. I really<\/span> wanted something to drink and\nI was<\/span> getting tired of eating snow.<\/p>\n\n

There wasn't one at the shrine, nor at the Kyoto City ward office across the street (yes, officially I've been in Kyoto City the entire trip),\nbut happily I came<\/span> across one before leaving the village...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThumbs Up<\/span>\nfor not dying of dehydration\n1:34pm (49.2km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

15 minutes of some ups but mostly downs later, I came to<\/span> Route 367. I was feeling<\/span> great.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nArriving at Route 367<\/span>\n1:53pm (55.4), taken one-handed while cycling at 25 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEasy But Unfun<\/span>\n1:56pm (55.6km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I've driven on this road many times... it gets a lot<\/span> of traffic,\nincluding buses and lots of dumptrucks, but at times it's fairly narrow, so\nI didn't<\/span> think it'd be all that pleasant on a bicycle,<\/span> especially\nconsidering that I'd had to share the entire last hour of road with only\nthree cars and one motorcycle.<\/p>\n\n

But I was feeling great because it's downhill all the way to Kyoto; all the hard work was behind me, and now I just<\/span> had to coast\nhome.<\/p>\n\n

Or so I thought.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n“<\/span>Kyoto 34km”<\/span><\/span>\n2:08pm (58.4km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I don't know why I had it in my mind that it was downhill from here, because it's not at all. It's mostly<\/span> uphill, though\nbroken more or less into smaller ups and downs. The ups felt<\/span> very long, and the downs not very “<\/span>down”<\/span>... I could<\/span> never get up\nmuch of a coast,<\/span> and even some downhills felt like they were uphill.<\/p>\n\n

The mismatch between expectation and reality is what really wore me out. That, and the saddle of my bike.... my rear was really hurting by now.<\/p>\n\n

Then we had tunnels.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOne of Many<\/span>\n2:19pm (61.3km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Not thinking I'd need them on a daylight<\/span> trip, I didn't<\/span> bring my lights.\nThis turned out to be a mistake,<\/span> because at times it was so dark inside\nthat I literally<\/span> could not see what I was<\/span> riding on. With all the traffic,\nI didn't<\/span> feel safe to ride on the narrow road without a light<\/span> (even my\norange jacket became a subdued<\/span> dull gray in the tunnel lighting), so I\n“<\/span>road”<\/span> on the sort-of side curb that was perhaps two feet wide.<\/p>\n\n

The lights in the tunnels are spaced for maximum efficiency,\nwhich is perfect if they're all working. If one goes<\/span> out, it's utterly\npitch black for a short<\/span> segment of road. During these times, I just kept<\/span> my\nhand on the side of the tunnel and felt my way along. It's not a<\/span>\nparticularly fast way to travel, but it has the nice side effect of keeping\nme alive.<\/p>\n\n

More ups (always ups) and downs later, finally at about 2:40, I exited<\/span> yet another tunnel to find a monster<\/span> twisty descent waiting for me. Here\neven coasting I'd pick up considerable speed, but the impressive\nhairpin turns<\/a> made speed dangerous, so I kept<\/span> it relatively slow... I maxed<\/span> out at 57kph prior to the first hairpin.<\/p>\n\n

(I did snap a few pictures while in the hairpins, at a relatively<\/span>-mild 32kph, but they don't really\nshow anything but the “<\/span>caution”<\/span> strips painted across the road, so I'm not bothering to include them here.)<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 140 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nKyoto's “<\/span>I Fall<\/span>”<\/span> Tower<\/span>\nand its flight of 308 steps\n2:45pm (68.6km), taken one-handed while cycling at 50 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

When I came across this big cell tower and its long stairs, I opted<\/span> not to pause to climb to the top\nas I did<\/span> once before<\/a>. Perhaps next time. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n

My original route called for me to turn at Tochu (\u9014\u4e2d)...<\/span> I love that<\/span> name. It's a village<\/span> in the middle of nowhere in the mountains,\nand the name literally means “<\/span>on the way”<\/span> or “<\/span>in progress”<\/span>. Every time I drive<\/span> by I think<\/span> it's well named... I'm on the<\/span> way home, or on the way somewhere. I'm never<\/span> there.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, I had been planning to cut over to Lake Biwa and return to Kyoto\nthat way, but that would add 10km to my trip, and some steep ascents. With\n5pm Mass looming, I didn't<\/span> think I had<\/span> the time, so I continued<\/span> straight on\nRt 367.<\/p>\n\n

If I wasn't pressed on time I would have done my original route. I was tired<\/span>, for sure, but that was part of the point. The only real<\/span> problem I had<\/span> was my rear end did not<\/i> like sitting on the seat any more, so when a downhill<\/span> segment\nafforded the opportunity, I'd stand<\/span> and coast just to get some relief.<\/p>\n\n

My wrists were also quite achy, leaning on the handlebars as I'd been for the last six hours.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 125 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFeeling Closer to Home<\/span>\n3:07pm (77.1km)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This is the convenience store we always stop at when going through Ohara\nwith the family, such as on a family<\/span> outing to the\nSanzen'in Temple<\/a>, and the one we stopped at<\/a> two\nweeks ago when out with folks from Cycling Kyoto on my first “<\/span>real”<\/span> bike\nride.<\/p>\n\n

30 minutes and 14km of mostly (but not all) down-ish later, I was home<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/11, ISO 220 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHome<\/span>\n3:44pm (91.0km), taken one-handed while cycling at 21 km\/h\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I parked the bike and my rear end was happy for the relief. I was dead<\/span> tired, but still shocked at\nhow difficult it was to walk up one flight of steps... I had to<\/span> consciously work to lift myself each step. This was unexpected.<\/p>\n\n

I still managed to snap a photo of myself at the end.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + 35mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTired and Soaked to the Bone<\/span>\n3:49pm\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I dumped everything but the shoes, helmet, sunglasses, and camera into the washing machine, and while a bath<\/span> was\nbeing drawn, ate a bowl<\/span> of cereal.<\/p>\n\n

The tracklog-analysis software I wrote<\/span> for Lightroom after the trip gives the following stats:<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

Distance ridden: 91.3km. (The 90.2km shown at the base of the graph is distance without accounting for elevation changes. To account<\/span> for how much distance was actually traveled, one must bring in Pythagoras and such, you know.)<\/p>\n\n

Total time: 6.8 hours (4.8 riding, 2 resting, though 20 minutes of the rest was before I really<\/span> started). It's interesting<\/span> to note that it took longer to write this one post than it did to do the whole ride.<\/p>\n\n

Elevation climbed: 3,850 meters.\n   \n(Update: it turns out that the elevation climbed was actually only about 1,500 meters, and that Strava wildly inflates elevation gain<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n

Anything with elevation must be taken with a grain<\/span> of salt, because GPS\n(or in my case GPS\/GLONASS) receivers are not very accurate in this\nrespect. It's tempting<\/span> to look at data like this and take it at face value,\nbut even a highly<\/span>-accurate unit set down in an open field will record a\n“<\/span>track”<\/span> drifting around the local area in three dimensions.<\/p>\n\n

One must also consider how a tracklog is inspected. Considering that\nthere's that natural small drift even when stationary, one must make a best<\/span>\nguess at what constitutes “<\/span>movement”<\/span>?<\/p>\n\n

I uploaded my tracklog to Strava<\/a>,\nand their analysis of the distance and time were completely different from\nmine. I've sent them a note<\/span> to ask about their methods.<\/p>\n\n

Aftermath<\/b><\/p>\n\n

My inner thighs<\/a> really hurt... not the kind of “<\/span>I had<\/span> a great<\/span> workout and now I'm pooped<\/i>”<\/span> hurt, but full-on “<\/span>Mommy make it stop!<\/i>”<\/span> pain. A long hot<\/span> bath helped, but I knew<\/span> I'd be hurting the next day.<\/p>\n\n

Except I didn't. I was fine on Sunday, with no aches at all. I even went<\/span> for a bike<\/span> ride with Anthony.<\/p>\n\n

I was fine on Monday as well for my normal workout, starting with a\nwarmup<\/span> of 65 pushups in three minutes, then a group<\/span> workout in the “<\/span>hot\nstudio”<\/span> where Hot Yoga is normally done. Even during the leg workout...\nabout 50 squats<\/a> were not a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

But everything changed when we started to do lunges<\/a>. Wow,\nit hurt. We didn't do that many, but I was<\/span> left in a sniveling<\/span> pile of\npain. It's been several<\/span> days since then, and my inner thighs still hurt...\nthe lunges “<\/span>awoke”<\/span> the pain, I guess.<\/span><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In part 1 about last weekend's cycling into the mountains north of Kyoto, I ended the story 23km into the journey at the top of the Hanase Pass (\u82b1\u80cc\u5ce0). At 769m it would be the highest point of the trip (a trip that started and ended at an elevation of about 60m).<\/p>

With a nice downhill to look forward to, I didn't linger long at the pass. After a minute-and-a-half's rest and a selfie, I carried on.<\/p>

I couldn't let myself build up much speed because the road was quite snowy\/icy, so I dragged on the rear brake most of [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1,2,6,10,25],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522"}],"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=2522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}