{"id":2903,"date":"2021-11-17T16:55:47","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T07:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2021-11-17\/2903"},"modified":"2021-11-17T16:55:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T07:55:47","slug":"my-first-visit-to-the-suzuka-circuit-enduro-races","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2021-11-17\/2903","title":{"rendered":"My First Visit to the Suzuka Circuit Enduro Races"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 340mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Chicane<\/span>\nSuzuka International Raceway\nSuzuka, Japan\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I attended a cycling event this weekend that was really fun, even though I didn't<\/span> ride in it.<\/p>\n\n

The Suzuka Circuit, best known for hosting F1 and motorcycle grands prix, also sometimes hosts bike racing. The entire<\/span> event is officially called\n“<\/span>The Suzuka 8<\/span>-Hour Enduro”<\/span>, though currently races are only three, four, and six hours.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nArriving at The Track<\/span>\n7:27am\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

It's really more of an “<\/span>event”<\/span> than a “<\/span>race”<\/span>, where you can challenge yourself to do as many laps as possible within the\nallotted time. Those trying for more laps than anyone else are racing, but it's perfectly okay to just plod along and have fun.<\/p>\n\n

Each time range (three hours, four hours, and six hours) has two kinds of race: solo and team.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSetting Up in Our Pit<\/span>\nthese are the same pits used by F1 racecars\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 210mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/6, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPit Lane<\/span>\n340m of bikestands\n2½ hours before the races start\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 7+ + iPhone 7 Plus back dual camera 3.99mm f\/1.8 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>32000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 25 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFinish Line, Just Outside Our Pit<\/span>\n(finish line for motorsports)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 210mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/6, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNancy<\/span>\nthe bundle of positivity that invited me\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Kyoto riding buddy Nancy has been doing triathlon training hard for the last year, and her cycling (the part that I see<\/span>) has\nimproved by leaps and bounds. She had originally<\/span> planned to ride the three-hour solo event, but after\nshe signed up for that, members of her triathlon team asked that she join their four-member six-hour enduro team for Suzuka.<\/p>\n\n

While chatting during a ride a couple of weeks ago, she was lamenting having to leave one race entry unused, so\nI suggested<\/span> that she invite Kata to ride it.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 58mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/4.8, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nKata<\/span>\nfinally confirmed that she can race\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Kata was also on this same ride a couple<\/span> of weeks ago, which is where both Nancy and I met<\/span> her. Making small talk with me as we rode, she had mentioned that she used to do triathlons back home in\nHungary, so when Nancy mentioned that she wasn't sure what to do with her Suzuka entries, I suggested<\/span>\nthat maybe Kata could ride one of them.<\/p>\n\n

And that's what happened. Kata was allowed to use Nancy's registration for the three-hour solo, while Nancy then joined the six-hour team race.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 58mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/4.8, ISO 2800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nReviewing Course Information<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 95mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAS Kyoto Triathlon Team<\/span>\nSuzuka entry\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Before the race, I wandered around the pit area a bit.<\/span>..<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 140mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nColor Coordination On Point!<\/span>\n(the guys in blue in the background ended up taking #2 in their race)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\niPhone 7+ + iPhone 7 Plus back dual camera 3.99mm f\/1.8 at an effective 28mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>3200 sec, f<\/span>\/1.8, ISO 20 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEntering the Home Stretch<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The cycle event runs the course in the opposite direction to how the motorsports run it, so for F1 and the like, this is where they exit<\/i> the grandstands.<\/p>\n\n

I guess that they run it backwards in order to make the run up Pit Lane be slightly uphill instead of slightly downhill. When\nF1 and other motorsports are running, they don't let just anyone<\/i> wander around the pits, so one can expect a certain<\/span>\ncompetence among crew and racers. Here, anyone can wander around, making the pit lane a bit<\/span> dangerous. Lowering the speed perhaps\nmakes it safer. That's my guess.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 240mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFiling Toward the Start<\/span>\nlots and lots of cyclists\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 340mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe “<\/span>Four-Hour”<\/span> Group<\/span>\nwaits to start\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe “<\/span>Three-Hour”<\/span> Group<\/span>\nwaits to start\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Those riding the six-hour events start first at 10:00am. Then the four-hour events start two minutes later, and two minutes\nafter that, at 10:04, the three-hour events start.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHead of the Six-Hour Group<\/span>\napproaches to the close of their first lap\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The course is filled with riders of all skill levels and speeds. The rule is<\/span> that faster riders ride on the right, while\nslowest riders are on the left. (This is, not coincidentally, the same rule on Japanese highways.)\n The lead group<\/span> for each time range gets a motorcycle<\/span> escort in front, reminding slower riders to\nstay to the left because fast riders are coming up quickly from behind.<\/p>\n\n

It seemed to all go quite smoothly.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nKids Can Join<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCouples Can Join<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/14, ISO 1100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBirds on Mamachari<\/i> Can Join<\/span>\n(“<\/span>mamachari<\/i>”<\/span> are the heavy, usually-rusty, mostly-indestructible city bikes ubiquitous in urban Japan.)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>800 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nI Finally<\/span> Spot Kata<\/span>\nin time to take a photo, as she finishes her fourth lap\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The photography did not start out well. I had brought<\/span> the Sigma 50mm-500mm zoom for its versatility,\nbut I hadn't<\/span> really used the lens in many years, and had forgotten that its autofocus and image-stabilization features were broken<\/a>. So I was<\/span> stuck trying to manually focus on approaching cyclists with a razor<\/span>-thin\ndepth of field. The vast majority<\/span> of shots were out of focus.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 290mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 450 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTypical Shot of the Day<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Also, standing in the marshals' area between the pit and the racetrack, looking up the track trying to spot a specific<\/span> rider\napproach among the crowd, it was very difficult to recognize them in time to take a photo.<\/span> Over time I learned<\/span> to set a stopwatch<\/span>\nso that I could<\/span> estimate when they would next approach, concentrating my concentration to that limited window of time helped, and\nover time, I got better<\/span> at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 95mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNancy on the Ready<\/span>\nto start her first turn\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 380mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEvent Staff<\/span>\nI think this lady, dressed up as an anime maid, was part of the event staff\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 210mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 140 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNancy's Teammate Rolls In<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 65mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPassing The Baton<\/span>\nwhich is really a sensor on a leg band\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The rider coming in rolled to a stop,<\/span> and one person takes it off his leg and passes it to another who puts it onto Nancy's leg.<\/p>\n\n

After watching various teams do this, I see some<\/span> areas for improvement. For example, Nancy should already be completely clipped in, with\nsomeone holding her saddle to keep her upright. The guy coming<\/span> in should take off the ankle bracelet himself and pass it directly to the\nperson that will put it onto Nancy's leg. Another person should stand well in front of Nancy and slightly to the side, to ensure that no\nother rider coming into pit lane will be too close to Nancy when she starts out. She can then<\/span> start out and pedal a few<\/span> times before needing\nto check traffic. This could all save five to 10 seconds each lap (which over the course of their 36 laps could have added another lap).<\/p>\n\n

The rules for the mixed-gender teams are sort of bullshit. If even one<\/i> lap is done by a woman,<\/span>\nit qualifies as “<\/span>mixed gender”<\/span>, and apparently teams that really want\nto win will have a woman<\/span> do exactly one lap, leaving the big powerful men to ride for the next 5h50m.\nNot so for<\/span> Nancy's team, where they split the work pretty much evenly, mostly riding in three-lap\nshifts (though scheduling is a bit<\/span> complicated by the fact that pit row shuts down for about half an hour twice during the race, so\nwhoever's out at that time has to stay out until pit row is reopened).<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 210mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/8, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOff On Her First Lap<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNancy Finishing Her First Lap<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Nancy didn't start her stint until an hour into the races, and by then the many riders were strung out over the 6km course, so\nit was much easier to spot her coming.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 210mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooking Relaxed<\/span>\n11:19am\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 340mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1600 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 180 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBeing Silly<\/span>\n11:21am\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I eventually realized that I could move to another part of the course.... in fact, I could<\/span> wander around anywhere on the entire course. I wish I<\/span> had known this earlier!<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAnother Mamachari<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 116mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nA Different<\/span> Perspective<\/span>\nOf Kata, 2½ hours into her race\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 290mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOn The Next Lap<\/span>\ndifferent yet again\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 2500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThis Guy Bothered Me<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Every time I'd see him in the crowd at a distance,<\/span> for a moment<\/span> I thought<\/span> that someone was crashing, and that's a horrible,<\/span> horrible feeling.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 2200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEnjoying the Downhill<\/span>\non her last lap\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Kata won 9th place among all women in the three-hour race!<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 3600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe “<\/span>Real”<\/span> Racers<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I didn't realize it at the time, but the guy center right in the photo above, in the light-blue kit, is Ryo Inoue<\/a>, a name<\/span> I've seen many times at the very top of Strava\nleaderboards. I had figured<\/span> that he's some young collage kid with incredible power, so I was<\/span> surprised to see in a photo<\/span>\nof him on the podium (he got #3 in the premier six-hour solo race) that he's a fair<\/span> bit older, with two kids. With incredible power. His average<\/span> speed for the six hours was 40.4kph (25.1mph).<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 58mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nA Long,<\/span> Gentle Descent<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNot as Bad as it Looks<\/span>\neven those tiny tires would be fine on the supremely-smooth tarmac of the racetrack\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 2200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFast Descent<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>2000 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 1100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nGuts<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This guy, out there cycling while I'm just strolling around with the camera, reminded me of\nThe Competitor<\/a> that I wrote<\/span> about in cyclocross.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 240mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1000 sec, f<\/span>\/6, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNancy on the Descent<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 78mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n8th Place<\/span>\nmixed-gender six-hour team race\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Kata came in 9th in her race, and Nancy's team came in 8th in theirs, great efforts!<\/p>\n\n

All and all, it was a really fun day. I'll go next year, to ride.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I attended a cycling event this weekend that was really fun, even though I didn't ride in it.<\/p>

The Suzuka Circuit, best known for hosting F1 and motorcycle grands prix, also sometimes hosts bike racing. The entire event is officially called \"The Suzuka 8-Hour Enduro\", though currently races are only three, four, and six hours.<\/p>

It's really more of an \"event\" than a \"race\", where you can challenge yourself to do as many laps as possible within the allotted time. Those trying for more laps than anyone else are racing, but it's perfectly okay to just plod along and have [...]","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\/2903"}],"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=2903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}