Monday August 24th, 2020
96.7km (total ascent 2,196m)
Starting at the Yatsugatake Natural Country Park, ride around the foothills of Yatsugatake and then an 19km slog, ascending just over 1,000m over the peak along the Marchen rode. Absolutely beautiful landscape and the views from the top were breath taking. After a rest, headed down the mountain to Saku. Then ride along the hills (lots of short ups and downs) towards Kobuchizawa and then returned (in light rain) to the country park.
Saturday 15th August
105.2 km (total elevation 888m)
Another ride with fellow members (different team) of KIWL. Same route as on July 24th… but on a MUCH hotter day! So back up the Tama River Cycling road from Yanoguchi, up to Hachioji and then over Mnt Takao. Around Sagamiko and then up to the Shiroyama Dam which was absolutely exhausting! Back to Hachioji in order to return via the Tama River Cycling road, which due to lack of shade was equally as exhausting. An endurance event if ever there was one!
Sunday August 2nd
102.4km (total elevation 1,532m)
Starting at Ome station, head up into the mountains towards Chichibu. The ride down to Chichibu was superb – excellent road surface and wide roads so I could descend with little or no brakes. After a quick break, set off again into the mountains for Higashi Chichibu. The route lead me to a closed road which appeared to be OK for bikes but not cars. But half way through the metalled road turned into gravel and then eventually deep crevices so I finished that path carrying the bike! Lunch at a local convenience store chatting to the very friendly (elderly) owner. Finally, as the temperature increased, I cycled through the valleys to Hidaka and then back to Ome.
Friday 24th July
106.3km (total elevation 896m)
Ride with fellow members of KIWL. Started on the Tama River Cycling Road near Komae and then headed up to Hachioji. After a quick break, cycled over Mount Takao and then down into Sagamiko. Stopped at the Zebra Cafe at Tsukui Lake and then headed back to Hachioji in order to return via the Tama River Cycling road. Finished with a lovely beverage at Cross Coffee which is another superb venue for cyclists.
September 8th, Fuji Speedway Circuit
I joined the Japan Lotus Day on September 8th at Fuji Speedway, which also happened to be the event at which the press launch of the Evija took place. So not only did I get to spend a day with similarly fanatical Lotus owners, walk unrestricted through the pits (full of classic cars) and have a race around the track, I also had a chance to get close up to Lotus’s new hyper car!
The track experience was excellent, albeit a little tame – as I don’t have a track license and so had stay behind the pace car. But even then I could test the incredible cornering ability of the Elise.
And to top it all off, we get a chance to be the first people in Japan to see the Evija.
25th~29th August 2019
Drive to Oarai to catch the night ferry to Tomakomai on Hokkaido island (boarding at 6pm and arriving around noon the next day).
From Tomokomai, drive towards Otaru and up to the Sheraton hotel at the Kiroro resort.
Then, a few days driving around the southern end of the island. Some spectacular scenery and views but also some extremely bumpy roads (cracked by the extremes of the weather).
On the last day, I took the south western coast road back to Tomokomai. The weather was changeable but the view from the coast road was breathtaking.
Sunday July 12th
83.2km (total elevation 1,307m)
Drive to Itsukaichi station and set off by 8am. Long ascent to Furosato Mountain Village and then – after a short break – on to Oku-Tama lake. Quick bite of lunch and then down towards Ome. One last hill before getting back to Itsukaichi.
Sunday July 5th
102.9km (total elevation 1,235m)
Early drive in the sun from home to Futtsu Cape, on the Chiba Peninsula. Then set off into the mountains and over to Kamogawa. At about almost exactly half way, the heavens opened (at first just a few spots of rain but that turned into a torrential downpour!) It rained for the whole of the second half of the ride but nonetheless, the coast road back to the Cape was spectacular.
Monday June 29th
96.9km (total elevation 1,151m)
First long ride for a month. Early morning ride to Sagamiko (same route as ridden in May) but this time on the new Specialized road bike. Paying more attention to riding technique (taking the advice of the Sports Physio). In particular trying to pedal “forwards” rather than “down”. Huge difference on hill climbs but using very different muscle sets so after the first Sagamiko climb my legs were more tired than normal! Anyway, knocked off about 10 minutes from the previous ride but can do better.
Sunday May 31st
111.2km (total elevation 1,458m)
Set off from home and head towards Mnt Takao and then onto Sagami lake. Quick ride through the town and then under the Chuo Highway to ride up Mnt Jimba. According to my riding partner, we rode up the “easy side”… didn’t feel like it! But glad to make it to the top. Then an almost clear run down back through Hachioji and home via the Tama river.
