{"id":2582,"date":"2015-06-01T00:20:30","date_gmt":"2015-05-31T15:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-06-01\/2582"},"modified":"2015-06-01T00:20:30","modified_gmt":"2015-05-31T15:20:30","slug":"miyama-cycling-tour-with-joshua-and-manseki-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2015-06-01\/2582","title":{"rendered":"Miyama Cycling Tour with Joshua and Manseki, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nJust Another Day at the Office<\/span>\nwould rob us of this experience\n— Joshua Levine rides through the countryside of Miyama, Japan —\ntaken while riding at 9 kph (6 mph)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

A week ago, I did a nice long bicycle ride in the mountains north of\nKyoto (route and\ndata<\/a>). Manseki\nKanemitsu<\/a> and I tagged<\/span> along with Joshua Levine<\/a>\non a route<\/span> that he does often.<\/p>\n\n

It totaled out at 131km (81 miles), making it my longest ride so far.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nReady to Roll<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The route took us up the mountain toward Hanase Pass (\u82b1\u80cc\u5ce0),<\/span> a 500m<\/span>\n(1,650') climb that holds a special<\/span> place in my heart as my first real mountain\nclimb<\/a>, and every time I've done it since I've done it faster than the\nprevious time.<\/p>\n\n

That would not happen this time, as we paused before the pass at a\nnatural<\/span> spring where I sometimes<\/span> see folks filling up water jugs.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFill'er Up<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Josh mentioned early on that we'd stop here, so I somewhat<\/span> slacked off the whole\nclimb knowing the pause would kill the time-to-the-top measurement. So later<\/span> when\nI checked<\/span> the data<\/a> for\nthe climb, I was shocked<\/span> to realize that had I not<\/span> stopped, I would<\/span> have easily broken my record.<\/p>\n\n

Part of the attraction of cycling is the joy of seeing and discovering\nthe countryside at a slower<\/span> pace, but also part of it is the feeling of\naccomplishment I get<\/span> when I make<\/span> a new<\/span> PR (personal record) on a section<\/span> of\nmountain. It's quite<\/span> superficial, I know,<\/span> but I was<\/span> inept at physical\nactivity for the first 47 years of my life, so I'm simply amazed that I can<\/span>\nnow do some of these things. If someone<\/span> else does it, I think<\/span> “<\/span>well sure,\nbecause they're normal people in good shape and it's natural for them”<\/span>, but\nfor me, it's like a dog<\/span> making scrambled eggs: it's not the accomplishment\nitself so much as who's doing it.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, we went down the other side of the mountain, past\nCowbell<\/a>, and farther north until eventually\nwe got to a road<\/span> I'd never been on. It's always<\/span> nice to ride a road<\/span> for the first time, and since\nJoshua was leading, I didn't<\/span> need to pay attention to the route at all. It was nice<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

I finally had to stop and pull the camera out when we passed a rice<\/span>\nfield being planted completely by hand. I would<\/span> have loved a lens<\/span> with more\nreach, but this is what I got<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 2200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRice Planting, Old-School Style<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It's a bit hard to see what's going on, but the adults are in the paddy\nplanting rice seedlings one by one, and the kids are penned off under the\ntent to the right.<\/p>\n\n

Two of the adults have infants strapped to their back.<\/p>\n\n

The road eventually worked its way back up to another climb, this time toward Sasari Pass (\u4f50\u3005\u91cc\u5ce0).<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 4000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSteep Section<\/span>\n10:14am - taken while riding at 7 kph (4 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 1800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFlying By<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Josh showed me a spot to stop and photograph a wonderful<\/span> vista, but the photos didn't end up well.\nI'll just have to go back and try it again.<\/p>\n\n

Cresting the 735m pass earns you a long,<\/span> lovely downhill. It was a<\/span> bit\ndicey at times trying to juggle the camera, brakes, and steering while\nplummeting down the mountain, but I wanted<\/span> photos showing the lean of the\nbike in a curve.<\/span>...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\ntaken while riding at 24 kph (15 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 1800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\ntaken while riding at 30 kph (19 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\ntaken while riding at 31 kph (19 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTakin' it Easy<\/span>\ntaken while riding at 19 kph (12 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Breakaway<\/span>\n10:48am - taken while riding at 35 kph (22 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After the descent the road mostly flattened out for a\nlong<\/span> while, and Josh stepped on the gas a\nbit.<\/span> Manseki noticed this and kept up, refusing to be left behind,\ndrafting just inches behind Josh's rear wheel. I was\nslow<\/span> to notice, and even if I had,<\/span> I wouldn't<\/span> have been able to keep up.<\/p>\n\n

Josh just kept going faster, and Manseki just kept staying right with\nhim. Two minutes<\/span> later they were almost out of sight...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n10:50am - taken while riding at 35 kph (22 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

... and half a minute later they went around a curve,<\/span> and I'd not see them again until they stopped 10 minutes later.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBye-Bye...<\/span>\n10:51am - taken while riding at 34 kph (21 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCornucopia of Architectural Styles<\/span>\n11:01am - taken while riding at 16 kph (10 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFriendly Wave<\/span>\nthere were a lot of cyclists out that day\n11:03am - taken while riding at 32 kph (20 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFixing a Flat<\/span><\/span>\n11:03am - taken while riding at 33 kph (21 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDrafting<\/span>\n11:07am - taken while riding at 30 kph (19 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I tried drafting with them for a while,<\/span> but especially with my long\nhistory as a driver<\/span> (car and motorcycle), I felt uncomfortable<\/span> with so\nlittle time buffer in front. I understand<\/span> why professionals do it,\nbut I'm not a professional.<\/span> Perhaps I'll try again after I get<\/span> a suitable<\/span> amount\nof experience (and after I put<\/span> the camera down \ud83d\ude09 ).<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMiyama Japan<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We rode through the quaint village of Miyama (\u7f8e\u5c71),<\/span> which reminded me\nof Gokayama<\/a> and Shirakawago<\/a>, all three\nbeing villages with a lot<\/span> of old thatched-roof houses.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPretty Streetsign<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We continued on for another 15 minutes before stopping for food.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>3200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nShortcut<\/span>\nthat didn't work out\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWell-Earned Treat<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

By this time we'd traveled only 72km (45mi) with only 1,200m (4,000') of\nclimb, but I was<\/span> wiped out. Bad calorie-intake management (I didn't<\/span> eat\nenough) combined with trying to keep up with them left me drained. So I was<\/span>\nhappy to stop for food, drink, and rest. And ice cream<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

It was a good lesson, and it prepared me for the much harder ride that I\ndid<\/span> a few<\/span> days later (“<\/span>A Day<\/span> of Vertical-Climb\nCycling Torture in Western Kyoto<\/a>”<\/span>). That ride was harder and on a day<\/span>\nwith much more heat, but having learned my lesson about making sure to have\nenough calories throughout the ride, that tougher ride ended up feeling\nmuch easier than this one.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTime To Get Going Again<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>3200 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPicturesque Stacking Style<\/span>\n12:11pm - taken while riding at 32 kph (20 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2500 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPicturesque Scenery<\/span>\n12:11pm - taken while riding at 33 kph (20 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nReally Steep<\/span>\nthe uniformity of the farmed trees really exposes how steep the mountain is\n12:12pm - taken while riding at 36 kph (22 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMore Curves<\/span>\nmore butt pictures\n12:14pm - taken while riding at 33 kph (21 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTaking the Road Less Traveled<\/span>\n12:26pm - taken while riding at 11 kph (7 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We didn't want to go through the tunnel, and did want to have more\nclimb, so we tried an alternate route. It did not<\/span> disappoint.<\/p>\n\n

Continued here...<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A week ago, I did a nice long bicycle ride in the mountains north of Kyoto (route and data). Manseki Kanemitsu and I tagged along with Joshua Levine on a route that he does often.<\/p>

It totaled out at 131km (81 miles), making it my longest ride so far.<\/p>

The route took us up the mountain toward Hanase Pass (\u82b1\u80cc\u5ce0), a 500m (1,650') climb that holds a special place in my heart as my first real mountain climb, and every time I've done it since I've done it faster than the previous time.<\/p>

That would not happen this time, as [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1,2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582"}],"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=2582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}