{"id":2746,"date":"2016-11-05T20:13:12","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T11:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-11-05\/2746"},"modified":"2016-11-05T20:13:12","modified_gmt":"2016-11-05T11:13:12","slug":"200km-fast-sprint-to-onyu-pass-obama-gonami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-11-05\/2746","title":{"rendered":"200km Fast Sprint to Onyu Pass + Obama + Gonami"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 54mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAutumn Encroaches on Onyu Pass<\/span>\nOnyu Pass (\u304a\u306b\u3085\u3046\u5ce0)\nMonday, Oct 31, 2016\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

So, I made a third cycle ride in a row<\/span> up to Onyu Pass the other day.\nThe first trip<\/a> on a Monday<\/span> was a lazy<\/span> social ride\nof 149km (93mi). Later that week I did<\/span> a faster<\/span> solo ride<\/a>\nthat topped out at 165km (103mi).<\/p>\n\n

This third trip the Monday following the first ended up being 206km (128mi).<\/p>\n\n

I had three goals for the ride. The first<\/span> was to improve my time on\nthe 58km (36mi) mountainous stretch\nfrom the Ichihara area of Kyoto to the top of Onyu Pass<\/a>. This involves a mile<\/span> of elevation gain\n(more precisely, 1,605m or 5,266') including the major climbs up Hanase Pass, Nomi Pass, and of course the final Onyu Pass.<\/p>\n\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>\nAbove Onyu Pass<\/span>\nguardrail at left is the climb from the Kyoto side; at right is down toward the sea\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It's not an uncommon route, I think, but the segment at\nStrava<\/a> shows only 22 matching attempts. I guess<\/span> one needs a high<\/span>-quality GPS unit and some luck for the full 58km of mountains\nto actually match the segment track.<\/p>\n\n

Moreover, the entire segment of three major climbs is not something one would normally try to\ndo in one shot, but rather pause along the way between the major climbs.<\/p>\n\n

I mention all this to explain why I\nhad<\/span> the KOM<\/a> (the “<\/span>King of the Mountain”<\/span>... the fastest\nregistered time) going into this. My time of<\/span> three hours 17 minutes wasn't all that fast and included 16 minutes spent fixing a flat<\/span><\/a>. Still, when I did<\/span> it was better than #2 by more than half an hour.<\/p>\n\n

Fast forward to this past Monday when I started<\/span> this ride, someone had moved to within just four\nminutes of my KOM time. Barring another flat tire I knew<\/span> I'd pull farther ahead, so I\ngave<\/span> it a good<\/span> go....<\/p>\n\n

I thought I might PR (make a new personal record) on the first and biggest climb to Hanase Pass, but I\nactually<\/span> missed it by a\nwhopping<\/span> 10%<\/a>. I didn't<\/span> make PRs on any of the climbs, but did well on the connecting segments\nand didn't make any rest stops (or any stops at all... the wheels on the bike never stopped turning for the entire segment). I finished<\/span> in just under two hours 41 minutes, improving my previous time by 37 minutes.<\/p>\n\n

Any number of my friends could beat this if they made any effort to do so, but at least now it's less of a\nlow<\/span>-hanging fruit.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, I retraced my steps back down from Onyu Pass for a while<\/span> to where I\ncould<\/span> take the photo that leads this post. Last year on my blog I included<\/span> a summer<\/span> view from the same vantage point<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWider View<\/span>\nof the leading photo\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\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>\nDoesn't Quite Work<\/span>\ntrying to get the twisty road in the background and bike in the foreground\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Goal #2 for the ride was to explore the northern descent from Onyu Pass. I'd climbed<\/span> from the south seven times, but had always returned back down the south\ntoward Kyoto. This time I wanted<\/span> to head north, toward Obama and the sea.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGravel Toward the South<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The road turns to gravel at the pass, and I worried<\/span> about trying such a steep<\/span> descent on gravel with 25mm road-bike tires,\nbut lately had been hearing that it was doable, so I gave<\/span> it a shot.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 58mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDiscarded Ribbon<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I was surprised to find that though the descent starts with gravel, there are many paved sections,\nso it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

It also appeared to suffer a lot of guardrail-crushing avalanches.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 44mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHalfway Down<\/span>\nlooking north\n( we'll be passing by the roof in the center of the photo soon )\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOne of the Gravel Areas<\/span>\nthese gravel areas are not bad, road-bike wise\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWater Stop<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Since I had done the dash from Kyoto to Onyu Pass without stopping, I had only<\/span> the one bottle of water with me, which I finished<\/span> off\nwhile resting at the top. Lacking stores and vending machines in the middle of nowhere, I kept an<\/span> eye out for a road<\/span>-side stream I could<\/span> fill up at, and finally found one 20 minutes into the descent (4½ hours into the ride).<\/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>\nFreaky Fake Rock Wall<\/span>\nlikely covering a real rock wall\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 41mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFirst Sign of Civilization<\/span>\nthe rooftops seen in “<\/span>Halfway Down”<\/span> above\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.3, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTypical Rustic Scene<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 32mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMossy Dead End<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I had scoped out the satellite photos for offshoot roads, but all were either gravel, or just\nsort of became nothing like this one.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 34mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHalf a House<\/span><\/span>\nalong the side of the road\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIf Buildings Could Talk<\/span>\nI imagine this one could tell quite a story<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLovely Mountain Road<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/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>\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>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Eventually I emerged from the mountains into the farms surrounding the city of Obama, and quickly made my way to\nthe standard “<\/span>I made<\/span> it to Obama”<\/span> photo spot...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nI Made<\/span> It To Obama<\/span>\nMermaid Beach (\u4eba\u9b5a\u306e\u6d5c\u6d77\u6c34\u6d74\u5834)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 31mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nImpressed With My Stats<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This was my fourth time to ride to\/through Obama from Kyoto. The first<\/span> time was last July<\/a>. The second<\/span> time was this July<\/a>. The third<\/span> time was early last month<\/a>,\nand this fourth time was last Monday.<\/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>\nFarmer Works His Fields<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

On the way home I decided to take the road that goes over Gonami Pass, a road<\/span> I took<\/span> on the way to<\/i>\nObama on my first two trips there, but I'd not yet taken the opposite direction. I took my<\/span> sweet time on it, stopping for photos and such, and generally just going slowly.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPretty Park Area<\/span>\nthat I normally see only in a blur while speeding down this descent<\/a>\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 800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStandard “<\/span>Japan Mountain Road”<\/span> Pretty<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.7, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCresting Gonami Pass<\/span>\n\u4e94\u6ce2\u5ce0\ntaken while cycling at 16 kph (10 mph)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This is normally a spot to pause to rest and take photos (like this<\/a>\nand this<\/a>), but having spent a lazy<\/span> hour making the climb to the top<\/a>, I decided<\/span> to not waste time and\nzip down. Got the KOM for the descent<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

From there perhaps the most direct way home would have been over Sasari and Hanase Passes, but having recently\nclimbed Sasari Pass thrice in one ride<\/a>, and\nhaving recently climbed and descended Hanase Pass in the dark on two recent longer-than-expected rides\n(this<\/a> and this<\/a>), I decided<\/span> to take the only other route available, through Miyama.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 65mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPassing Through Miyama<\/span>\n\u7f8e\u5c71\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Another reason I didn't want to go the other direction is that it would have meant the last 20km or so\nwould have been the same as the first 20km, resulting in the track on the map looking\nlike this<\/a>. (That's Neil Holt's ride\ntwo days before mine, resparking the idea to try the northern descent from Onyu, and giving me the\nidea to return via Gonami.) It's stupid to care what the track looks like on the map,\nbut I prefer<\/span> big loops instead of lollipop-shaped “<\/span>loop on a stick<\/span>”<\/span> tracks.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, two hours later I'm descending into Kyoto from Kyomi Pass, and am surprised to see the lights\nof the city flickering behind a thin<\/span> veil of trees for almost the entire descent. During the day,\none can see the city only through one or two brief breaks in the trees.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 65mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDescending Kyomi<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

By the time I'd rolled into the city I had<\/span> about 200km (125mi) under my belt, and my legs were sore,\nso I stopped<\/span> by Ken-chan's clinic<\/a> for a wonderful<\/span> (and wonderfully-painful)\nmassage. It did wonders<\/span>. While there, I developed<\/span> a craving<\/span> for chicken karaage<\/a>,\nso headed off to a great<\/span> hole-in-the-wall place I had<\/span> been to years ago, after\nthis wine-tasting event<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

My legs felt great, but sadly, the restaurant had closed in the intervening years, so I returned<\/span> to\na place<\/span> closer to home<\/a> and ate two\nfull portions. It was totally<\/span> delicious.<\/p>\n\n