{"id":2707,"date":"2016-06-24T21:38:30","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T12:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-06-24\/2707"},"modified":"2016-06-24T21:38:30","modified_gmt":"2016-06-24T12:38:30","slug":"unintended-gravel-adventure-with-gorm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-06-24\/2707","title":{"rendered":"Unintended Gravel Adventure with Gorm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWet Gorm is Wet<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It's the rainy season in Japan, which means that when it's not hot and humid, it's hot and humid and wet.\nEarlier in the week Gorm and I had<\/span> a wet<\/span> ride in the mountains north of Kyoto that turned into a bit<\/span> of an adventure.<\/p>\n\n

We started off by cycling up to Hanase Pass, which is a litmus<\/span> test of a climb<\/span> that always strikes fear into my heart. It was my<\/span> 21st time up, the first having been my crazy first ride a year<\/span> ago February<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n

For Gorm, who is just visiting from Norway, it was his 5th.<\/p>\n\n

I was happy to make a PR on the benchmark segment<\/a> by almost a minute<\/span> and\na half,<\/span> down to 30:40. I've still got a ways<\/span> to go to break 30 minutes, or to beat Gorm's PR (30:19) for that matter.<\/p>\n\n

Due to the light rain and feeling quite chilly, I was fairly<\/span> miserable on the descent down the other side<\/a>, but it was really beautiful. You'll have to\ntake my word for it because I only<\/span> had a crappy<\/span> waterproof camera with me.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMisty<\/span>\nfrom both the rain, and fog on the camera lens\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The descent saw the sun come out occasionally, which along with my drying off did wonders for my mood.\nAfter a hot<\/span>-coffee stop, I was feeling<\/span> good.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMisty Selfie<\/span>\n10:18am - taken while moving at 9 kph (6 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We weren't in any particular rush, so we took the time to try a little<\/span> road I've wanted to check out for some while,\nwhich leads to The Bujoji Temple (\u5cf0\u5b9a\u5bfa<\/span><\/a>). The short<\/span> two-kilometer road is lovely, but the apparently-pretty temple<\/a> is not visible from the paved road,\nand we weren't dedicated enough to make the hike from the road.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBeware of Bears<\/span>\n“<\/span>bring a bell<\/span> or other noise-making device”<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBeautifully-Stacked Wood<\/span>\nis a common sight in the mountain communities\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSad<\/span>\nthat the photo does nothing to convey how wonderfully splendid an area it is\n10:24am - taken while moving at 27 kph (17 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCafe That We'll Keep In Mind<\/span>\nbut it was a Tuesday and they're closed on Tuesdays\n\u5c71\u83dc\u6599\u7406\u6842\u96c5\u5802<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBig Hunks of Granite<\/span>\nin front of a dilapidated barn\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDilapidated Barn<\/span>\nbehind big hunks of granite\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nJune 1981<\/span>\ninspection sticker\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 125 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We then rode over Sasari Pass (\u4f50\u3005\u91cc\u5ce0).<\/span> The climb<\/span> is shorter than Hanase Pass, but it does\nhave its steep sections<\/a>. I'd done it<\/span> only two other\ntimes, and not for a long<\/span> while. Especially since this was my first time to climb it since\ngetting a real<\/span> road bike<\/a>, I expected<\/span> to make a PR,<\/span>\nand I did<\/span> by over two minutes, down to 23:39.<\/p>\n\n

It was Gorm's first time, and he clocked in thirty seconds faster than I.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPretty Side Road<\/span>\nthat we opted to avoid, as it was all gravel and we were on road bikes with road tires\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After the lovely descent<\/a> down the other side, we took a gamble<\/span> on\na route<\/span> we hadn't taken before. I'd heard<\/span> that it was fully paved, so it was worth a shot,<\/span> but we'd have to backtrack if the road\ncondition was too bad.<\/p>\n\n

The photo above isn't the road we were considering... just a side<\/span> road we took a peek<\/span> at. Yet still....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMoments Later<\/span>\nfirst flat since this day of many flats<\/a>.\nafter about 800km (500mi) on the new Michelin Pro4 Endurance\nphoto by Gorm Kipperberg<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I don't know what caused the flat, but I don't<\/span> think it was a rock.<\/span> The hole was<\/span> very small.<\/p>\n\n

In the photo I'm wearing ThinOPTICS tiny clip-on reading glasses<\/a> that I keep<\/span>\nin the seat bag. They're very tiny and light, and also very useful so that I can<\/span> actually see what I'm doing. I'd think<\/span> that any\ncyclist of a certain<\/span> age would find them quite handy when needed.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOn Our Way<\/span>\nup a road that I thought I was told was fully paved\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>30 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>10 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEffects<\/span>\nof a low-quality camera at 14 kph (9 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>10 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTechnically Still “<\/span>Paved”<\/span><\/span>\nthough so full of wickedly-sharp rocks that we walked this section\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOf Questionable Quality<\/span>\nbut otherwise a lovely, beautiful ride\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>40 sec, f<\/span>\/5.4, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/3.9, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBurning the Candle on Both Ends<\/span>\nhuge tree trunk floating above an eroding mountainside\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGorgeous Views<\/span>\nthat these photos just don't do justice \ud83d\ude41\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAt The Pass<\/span>\nwhere the public road crosses a pseudo<\/span>-private forestry road\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I've ridden on this forestry road a couple<\/span> of times with my Trek cross bike, which is more appropriate for gravel than my Rose\nroad bike. The forestry<\/span> road alternates between gravel and pristine pavement, but the gravel makes it off limits for today's\nbikes. The road up<\/span> was pretty spotty, but I knew<\/span> that the road down the other side had some areas that were much worse.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoad Down The Other Side<\/span>\npretty, but starts out with gravel\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSame Area Last Year<\/span>\n\u53bb\u5e74\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Last year the entrance to the road had signs saying “<\/span>Road Closed”<\/span> and “<\/span>due to landslide All Lanes Closed”<\/span>. By the time<\/span> I'd\ngotten to this place along the long forestry road with absolutely no services, I was tired<\/span> and thirsty, so I took<\/span> my chance going\ndown the closed road in the hopes of reaching civilization, or at least something to drink. After all, it's often easy for\nbicycles to get by obstacles that cars can't, like this<\/a> or this<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

On that trip last year<\/a>, the road was in really bad shape...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Road Last Year<\/span>\n\u53bb\u5e74\u306e\u4e21\u9762\u72b6\u6cc1\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWhy The Road Was Closed Last Year<\/span>\n\u53bb\u5e74\u306e\u901a\u884c\u6b62\u3081\u306e\u7406\u7531\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

That road was well and truly impassable, at least without rappelling gear. I had to<\/span> re-climb more than 200m (660') of vertical\nascent just to get back to the main forestry road, and continue another 10km until the next chance to exit.<\/p>\n\n

This year I thought would be better, since I knew<\/span> others had ridden it recently and told me, I thought,<\/span> that it was all paved.<\/p>\n\n

It's not all paved.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAll Gravel<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill Pretty<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill Gravel<\/span>\nrare photo of Gorm riding on gravel\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The sections of bad pavement I'd seen last year were replaced by gravel, so it was all gravel for 15 minutes until we finally\ngot to some pavement, which was then very nice.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFinally Nice Pavement<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNew Not-Washed-Out Road<\/span>\nwhere the road was impassable last year\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 125 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nReally Pretty Areas<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

On the way home, we stopped by a cafe<\/span> I first<\/span> wrote about six years ago<\/a>,\n“<\/span>Yama no Ie Hasegawa”<\/span>, for sustenance.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic DMC-TS3 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/3.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGood Food<\/span>\nYama no Ie Hasegawa (\u5c71\u306e\u5bb6\u306f\u305b\u304c\u308f)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Gorm had deep-fried shrimp and fish; I had<\/span> bacon-wrapped hamburger. Both were tasty, and washed down with Cokes.<\/p>\n\n

The ride ended up\nbeing 114km (71mi) with about 2,000m (6,500') of elevation gain<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

This was the second ride in a row that I'd ridden in the rain (the first having been a short<\/span> ride<\/a> to search, unsuccessfully it turns out, for an old iPhone I'd\nlost on a ride<\/span> the day prior<\/a>) so the bike was full of grime splashed\nup from the road.<\/p>\n\n

So I spent the next day washing it, and after cleaning the relatively-new tires was horrified to find plenty of bits of gravel\nand such wedged into the rubber. I dug them<\/span> out, but don't feel they'll last all that much longer, so I've already ordered another\npair of different tires. We'll see.<\/p>\n\n

The sheer amount of grime on every surface of the bike was stunning, and depressing, so even though I don't<\/span> mind riding in the\nrain, I've avoided it since. It looks<\/span> like I'll be able to get out on Sunday... I'm thinking<\/span> to ride to Himeji, a ride<\/span> of\ncomparable distance to last week's ride to Nagoya<\/a>, but one where the route\nlooks much more appealing. We'll see.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It's the rainy season in Japan, which means that when it's not hot and humid, it's hot and humid and wet. Earlier in the week Gorm and I had a wet ride in the mountains north of Kyoto that turned into a bit of an adventure.<\/p>

We started off by cycling up to Hanase Pass, which is a litmus test of a climb that always strikes fear into my heart. It was my 21st time up, the first having been my crazy first ride a year ago February. <\/p>

For Gorm, who is just visiting from Norway, it was his [...]","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\/2707"}],"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=2707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2707\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}