{"id":2745,"date":"2016-11-01T23:11:51","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T14:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-11-01\/2745"},"modified":"2016-11-01T23:11:51","modified_gmt":"2016-11-01T14:11:51","slug":"a-solo-version-of-the-recent-social-ride-to-onyu-pass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-11-01\/2745","title":{"rendered":"A Solo Version of The Recent Social Ride to Onyu Pass"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nReally Windy<\/span>\nnote the completely-horizontal wind sock just right of center\n( it's actually a koinobori<\/a>, but still blown horizontal by the wind )<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After the really pleasant social ride to Onyu Pass<\/a> most of the way toward\nthe ocean, far north of Kyoto the other day, I thought<\/span> to more or less do the same ride again by myself, to do some things that\nwould be inappropriate on a social<\/span> ride: ride fast, and pause to explore tangential areas.<\/p>\n\n

I started off zipping up and over Hanaore Pass the 40+km (~26 miles) to the village of Kutsuki in about an hour forty five minutes\n(as opposed to two and a half<\/span> hours on the social ride), then immediately lost any gains in the schedule to some exploring...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoad Off to the Right<\/span>\nI wonder where you go...\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I knew from previous geeking over satellite photos that there were some roads in this area that appeared to climb up into the\nmountains a short<\/span> while, and that this was one of them. Other than that, I didn't<\/span> know what to expect, so just took it to find\nout.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nUp Up Up<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I used the in-camera indicator to make sure the camera was exactly level for this picture,\nand perhaps if you remind yourself that while staring at the center of the frame, the steepness\nof the road will become apparent. Or maybe<\/span> not.<\/p>\n\n

It turned out to be 1km at 10%<\/a>, which is steep but not crazy.\n(The segment is 994 meters long, which of course in Strava's weird-math universe<\/a> rounds to “<\/span>0.9km”<\/span>.) The road surface was lovely.<\/p>\n\n

The road abruptly ends at what looks like two gravel parking lots, and continues as a gravel<\/span> path up into the mountain.\nThe two “<\/span>gravel parking lots”<\/span> are really the former locations of buildings (some kind of prefectural nature center),\nbut now that the places are cleared, they really<\/i> don't want folks parking on them... they blocked off the entrances\nwith a mound<\/span> of dirt, bollards, and rope:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEntrance Denied<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Bird photographers were parking along the road to then walk up the gravel path. It would<\/span> have been nice to have these areas open.<\/p>\n\n

Just a little bit before the end of the pavement, there's a tiny<\/span> road running off to the north....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 27mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nI Wonder<\/span> Where This Goes<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nVery Steep<\/span>\nbut at least it's wet and slippery\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/2.1, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDescent into Richness<\/span>\nthe area had such a lovely, earthy mood, with wonderful light\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

And then suddenly...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSuspension Bridge<\/span>\n\u30aa\u30b0\u30e9\u30b9\u5c71\u540a\u6a4b\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 65mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill Windy<\/span>\npath-marking ribbon fluttering horizontally\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 50mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAs Thick as my Arm<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooks Like a Toy<\/span><\/span>\nlack of small details make this huge anchor look like a toy<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 67mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBridge Plaque<\/span>\n“<\/span>Ogurasu Suspension Bridge”<\/span>\nMarch 1990\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOld Instructions<\/span>\nThe “<\/span>400m to the right”<\/span> place is now an unaccessable parking<\/span> lot,\nso what will I find 600m to the left?\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Let's find out...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nUp Up Up<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFlattening Out<\/span>\nbut still feels like the middle of nowhere\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 25mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCivilization<\/span>\nopens out into a park area with a baseball<\/span> field\n\u30b0\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30d1\u30fc\u30af\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.1, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAwesome Climbing Area<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBocce-Ball Players<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoller Slide!!<\/span>\nsmaller version of this kind of awesome<\/a>\n( sadly, it looks too small for me to even try )\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMassive<\/i> Structure Covering.... Nothing<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

So, that was a fun place to explore. Heading back toward the bridge, I came to<\/span> a place<\/span> where\nthe road diverged in the yellow wood...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The first time by I'd looked down the other path as far as I could<\/span> to where it bent in the undergrowth, but left it for another day,\nbut now that I was<\/span> right back here, I thought<\/span> I'd actually take it. It did not<\/span> disappoint.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFabulous Toilets<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSpacious Rest Area<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoad Turns to Gravel<\/span>\nso I turned around\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I retreated back across the bridge, up the short super-steep super-wet section (somehow safely), then\ndown the initial “<\/span>where does this go?”<\/span> climb, and continued on matching the route from the other day's social ride.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCrossing Into Kutsuki Village<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After a short stop at the only convenience store for miles around, I\nmade the Ohikodani climb<\/a> a bit<\/span> faster\nthan on the social ride, though at 23½ minutes, still more than two minutes slower than Ionut did.<\/p>\n\n

A hiking trail crosses the at the road pass, climbing up the mountain on both sides of the road. I climbed<\/span> up the\nsouthern side for a bit,<\/span> yielding a nice<\/span> view:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nimage data<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After descending back down to the main road, I made the<\/span> 10km slog mostly up hill to the base of the day's main event,\nthe climb to Onyu Pass. I gave it<\/span> a good<\/span> go. It was quite<\/span> windy on the open road, but during the climb\nthere was wind only on some of the hairpins, dropping off soon after. Wasn't too bad.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 52mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOnyu Pass<\/span>\n\u304a\u306b\u3085\u3046\u5ce0\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I was very happy to better my previous time by two minutes,\nsetting a new<\/span> PR at 22:22<\/a>. Overall it's only 20th best,\nthough out of all riders 85kg (187lb) or above, I'm the better<\/span>. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStandard Onyu View<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNew Sign<\/span>\ngorgeously crafted with obviously high skill\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\nThe only other time I'd done the descent alone and not stopped for photos along the way, I'd not thought<\/span>\nabout doing it quickly... I just descended<\/span> to get home.... but I still<\/span> ended up\nsetting the KOM<\/a> (“<\/span>King of the Mountain”<\/span>... the fastest registered time)\nby a wide<\/span> margin. This time, for the first time, I consciously<\/span> thought about doing it quickly, and so improved\nmy time by a minute,<\/span> to 8:01<\/a>. It's a fun<\/span> descent,\nbut would be much more fun without so many rocks strewn all over the road.<\/p>\n\n

At the base of the climb, instead of returning directly home, I thought<\/span> to explore a road<\/span> that heads off to the west. I was rewarded<\/span> with a lovely,<\/span> quaint village...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 27mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 41mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 38mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoad Continues Up Into the Forest<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEnd of the Road<\/span>\nfor me... I'll leave gravel for others\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

For the most part it wasn't too hard a day.<\/span>.. lots of relaxing periods punctuated by some more-earnest efforts. But on the<\/span> way\nhome, at about the 125km (77mi) point, I realized<\/span> that something I carry<\/span> in one of the bike's bottle cages was missing. I was sure<\/span>\nit had bounced out during one of the horribly-rough parts of the descent from Nomi Pass. I was running<\/span> out of time to get home,\nbut what bounced out included a battery<\/span> for my headlight that I needed<\/span> to get home, so I had<\/span> no choice but to return to look for\nit.<\/p>\n\n

The battery was in a black case, and in the enveloping dusk it was getting quite dark under the thick forest treecover. Worse\nyet, there was a strong<\/span> likelihood that if the thing bounced out while I was<\/span> speeding down the mountain, it wouldn't stay nicely\non the road for me to find, instead flying off into the river that the road parallels.<\/p>\n\n

Without the battery I was worried I'd have trouble getting back in the imminent darkness. A word to<\/span> St. Anthony set things\nstraight, and there it was right in the middle of the road below one of the bumpy sections.<\/p>\n\n

Now that I'd be able to get home in the darkness, my worry turned to the time. I had to<\/span> meet someone at 7pm,\nand from experience I knew<\/span> he'd come exactly<\/i> as the clock struck 7pm, and not 30 seconds earlier or later. I dropped<\/span> the hammer and raced toward home.<\/p>\n\n

Between me and home was Hanase Pass, and I thought<\/span> for sure I'd make a PR<\/span>\n(personal record) on it, but it turns out that at\n30:41<\/a> I missed<\/span> my PR by 45 seconds. I would<\/span> have been stoked to PR Hanase\nat the end of a century<\/span> ride (a ride<\/span> exceeding 100 miles, which this one was\ndestined to), but it wasn't to be.<\/p>\n\n

Being pitch black and having only my bike like, the descent down Hanase into Kyoto was not a time<\/span> for speed, so\nthat was slow and safe, but once back in the city I was<\/span> zippy zippy zippy.<\/p>\n\n

I arrived home at 6:59. While standing in front of the door to my building catching my breath, the guy I was<\/span> supposed to\nmeet walked up. As they say<\/span> in Japanese, “<\/span>Safe!”<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

Overall the ride ended up being 165km (102.5mi), with 3,140m (10,300') of elevation:<\/p>\n\n