{"id":2580,"date":"2015-05-28T23:42:54","date_gmt":"2015-05-28T14:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-05-28\/2580"},"modified":"2015-05-29T06:41:15","modified_gmt":"2015-05-28T21:41:15","slug":"a-day-of-vertical-climb-cycling-abuse-in-western-kyoto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-05-28\/2580","title":{"rendered":"A Day of Vertical-Climb Cycling Torture in Western Kyoto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

The problem with adding a new hobby is that it takes time away from other things. I've been cycling a fair<\/span> amount lately,\nbut still must devote time to family and my Lightroom work<\/a>, so what\nfalls behind is my blogging. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n\n

Yesterday I led a\n100km<\/span> extreme-mountain cycle ride<\/a> with some friends from Cycling Kyoto<\/a>. I was the<\/span> slowest\/weakest of the five guys, so “<\/span>lead”<\/span> was only in the map\nsense, but I purposefully<\/span> made a route<\/span> in the mountains of western Kyoto\nwith as much vertical climb as I could<\/span> fit in.<\/p>\n\n

It ended up being a hot, brutal day. (Cyclists apparently love to use words like “<\/span>brutal”<\/span> and “<\/span>hard”<\/span>.)<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>550 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStarting Out<\/span>\n7:43am - taken while moving at 26 kph (16 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Because I knew it was going to be a tough<\/span> day, I didn't<\/span> bring my heavy camera... just my phone...\nso I don't<\/span> have any good photos.<\/p>\n\n

I didn't even think I'd actually do much of the ride because I had<\/span> cold\nsymptoms from the previous day, and I would<\/span> have bailed on the whole thing\nhad I not<\/span> been the leader. As it turned<\/span> out, the hard effort seems to have pushed the cold aside, and\nI got<\/span> through the whole day.<\/p>\n\n

We started with a warm-up 160m (525') climb, then moved on to Koshioyama (\u5c0f\u5869\u5c71)<\/span> and the 570m (1,870') to its top....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>3600 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNot From the Top<\/span>\nfrom 415m (of 600m) up Koshioyama (\u5c0f\u5869\u5c71)<\/span>\n9:14am - taken while moving at 2 kph (1 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>120 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Top<\/span>\nSalvo Manino, Thomas Busch, Gorm Kippenberg, Manseki Kanemitsu\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We were quite the international group, with folks from Italy, Germany, Norway, Japan, and America.<\/p>\n\n

The road to the top is a dead end, so we headed back down the way we\ncame, moved to the next mountain road to the south, and headed up it. On the way<\/span> I noticed<\/span> a monkey<\/span> in a tree,<\/span> only the second time I recall<\/span> seeing\na monkey<\/span> in the wild. It just sat<\/span> there not giving me much though, so I had<\/span>\ntime to take a picture,<\/span> but of course the iPhone camera doesn't do a good<\/span>\njob so you can barely differentiate it from the branches....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nManseki and Monkey<\/span>\nthe monkey is in the far upper right\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The second big climb had a pause halfway through at the Konzo Temple\n(\u91d1\u8535\u5bfa),<\/span> which I posted<\/span> about six years ago<\/a>,\nand also here<\/a> and here<\/a>. A the time<\/span> I wrote<\/span> those, never in a million<\/span> years would I believe<\/span> I could<\/span> ride a bicycle<\/span> there, but there I was.<\/span>..<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 + iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPause at the Konzoji Temple (\u91d1\u8535\u5bfa)<\/span><\/span>\nphoto by Thomas Busch<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We then continued up the mountain, which includes a couple<\/span> of short (350m long) segments of extreme\nslope... not as bad as the 21% slope<\/a> that I posted<\/span>\nabout the other day, but almost as bad. We plowed<\/span> through them, then mostly down for a long<\/span> enjoyable ride through scenic countryside...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMountain Countryside<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Somewhere along the way I broke one of my spokes. Luckily Manseki had a Band<\/span> Aid with him,\nso we used it like a piece<\/span> of tape to hold the spoke inside the wheel, to keep it out of the way and unmangled...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>120 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBicycle First Aid<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We eventually came into the mountains of northern Takatsuki City, and\ntook a detour<\/span> to the Honzanji Temple (\u672c\u5c71\u5bfa).<\/span> This involved a 350m<\/span>\n(1,150') climb over 3,100m (2mi) of road, giving an average slope of more\nthan 11%, but it was the final 730m (half mile) that set this segment<\/a> apart... it\nhad a fairly-consistent, average slope of almost 19%.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>40 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nManseki Going Straight Up<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The photo above of course doesn't show the slope well, they never do, but it was ridiculous<\/i>. When taking the photo above, I was standing<\/span> still,\nhaving stopped on a big<\/span> climb for the first time since a month<\/span> earlier<\/a>\n(after which completing climbs without stopping<\/a> became a specific<\/span> goal).\nManseki also stopped for a moment,<\/span> the first time I'd ever seen him stop on a climb.<\/span> It was tough<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

But we all made it.... eventually.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>120 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 50 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nResting at the Top<\/span>\nHonzanji Temple (\u672c\u5c71\u5bfa\uff09\nTakatsuki, Japan\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>120 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 40 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCooling Down<\/span>\nManseki douses himself with water\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

In Japan, convenience stores and drink vending machines seem to be ubiquitous, so one gets used to relying on them. But on this<\/span> course, there were long sections without drink vending machines, and most of the course without a convenience<\/span> store,\nso those who didn't heed my warnings about lack of services got tuckered out for lack of energy.<\/p>\n\n

So after finally making our way down the mountain and into Nagaokakyo\nCity, we could stock up on food for the first time since the early morning. I ate a<\/span> lot, and drank even more.<\/p>\n\n

So with bloated stomachs, we made our way to the toughest climb of the day, up to the Yoshiminedera Temple, and then beyond.<\/p>\n\n

Overall the route we took entailed 420m (1,400') of vertical climb over 4,400m (2.75mi) of distance, yielding\nan average slope of 9.5%, but this includes a long<\/span> section of relatively-mild leadup. Some sections of road\nwere considerably more steep.<\/p>\n\n

We paused at the entrance to the temple.\nWe didn't go inside, but I've posted it about it many times before, including\n\nhere<\/a>,\nhere<\/a>,\nhere<\/a>,\nhere<\/a>,\nhere<\/a>,\nhere<\/a>, and\nhere<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

As I mentioned before, photos never seem to show the steepness well....\nthe section of road leading up (on the right) was really Really\nREALLY<\/i> steep....<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>140 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooks So Flat<\/span>\nbut was anything but\nparking entrance to Yoshiminedera Temple (\u5584\u5cef\u5bfa)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The particularly tough thing about this section of road was that it wasn't the end...\nthe next sections would be even worse.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>15 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooking With Trepidation<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 40 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCooling Off<\/span>\nDipping a towel into the river\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I headed up first, and stopped part way up ostensibly to make sure no\none took a wrong<\/span> turn at an intersection I'd forgotten to explain, but\nmostly that was just an excuse to stop. It was tough<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

Here's Thomas coming up after me...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>30 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 40 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHe's Down There<\/span>\ntoward the right\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>30 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 40 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill Going<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Despite these steep climbs, it only got worse.<\/p>\n\n

Eventually we all made it to the top...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\niPhone 6 Plus + iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f\/2.2 at an effective 29mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>350 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 32 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHappy at the Top<\/span>\nManseki wearing Gorm's sunglasses, which Gorm had dropped along the way and Manseki had found\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

When I arrived at the top to find Gorm waiting with a worried<\/span> look, he\nasked me whether I'd seen his sunglasses. I had not<\/span>. The look on<\/span> Gorm's\nface said everything.... \"I really<\/span> want my glasses, but I even<\/span> less want to\ngo down looking for them if that means having to claw myself back up here.\"<\/p>\n\n

Luckily, Manseki had found them so there was no need to go back down.<\/p>\n\n

The original plan allowed for one more steep climb, but we were all exhausted, so we called it a day<\/span> and headed\nback into the city.<\/p>\n\n

I processed my ride data (as per “<\/span>The Voodoo of\nElevation Gain and Strava<\/a>”<\/span>) and uploaded the correct data to Strava,\nyielding this\nreport<\/a>. All in all<\/span> it was 99km of distance, but the real number is the\n2,500m (8,300') of vertical climb. By a little<\/span> bit, it's the most I'd ever done in a day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

I slept well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The problem with adding a new hobby is that it takes time away from other things. I've been cycling a fair amount lately, but still must devote time to family and my Lightroom work, so what falls behind is my blogging. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>

Yesterday I led a 100km extreme-mountain cycle ride with some friends from Cycling Kyoto. I was the slowest\/weakest of the five guys, so \"lead\" was only in the map sense, but I purposefully made a route in the mountains of western Kyoto with as much vertical climb as I could fit in.<\/p>

It ended up being a hot, [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,2,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580"}],"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=2580"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}