Our friend Hayato Higuchi decided to take 4 days off during the Christmas holidays to explore some new roads, fighting ice, snow and an unusual cold wave with his Strada in southern Japan
TEXT BY HAYATO HIGUCHI , PHOTOS BY HAYATO HIGUCHI – 01 FEBRUARY 2019
“SHIWASU” is another name for the month of December in Japan. Means Teachers runs because busy.
Year’s End party, Year’s End clean up and Year’s End work : everything must end by New year Eve! Rapha’s “#festive500” is the most difficult challenge to get goal in Strava. Because of “Time”, “Snow” and “Cold”.
There are fighters who ride 200-300km/day or 500km only in one day! . But my plan is 4days, and ride 100-150km/day.
師走。教師も走るほど忙しいという意味を持つ12月。 忘年会、大掃除、仕事納めと多忙を極め、時間的制約の影響や、雪や気温といった天候の影響 を受けやすい12月に行われる #festive500 はSTRAVAのチャレンジの中でも達成が難しいイベン トだ。
1日に200km~300km、はたまた1回のライドで500kmを走る猛者も現れるこのチャレンジに、2018年は4日間の行程で、1日100km~150kmを目安にRIMBYとして走る事にした。
Day 1: 150km North part of Kyoto – www.komoot.com/tour/54711912
My #festive500 plan is doing those 500km in four days.
2 times 250km/ 2days. 2 sets of 150km on 1st day and 100km 2nd day, this is my initial plan at least. Day 1, 150km ride started.
It was December of a mild winter, but Christmas cold wave came in the last week. Cold wave came at start day of #festive500 to be exact….
At 7AM, 5 degrees Celsius in the pass. I run to “Miyama” north part of Kyoto in not too cold weather even if the cold wave was already here. During the summer, there is road race here in Miyama. It is popular for cyclist to ride in the season.
At 6AM, still in the dark, I start from my place. The sun is rising from the mountains when I passed some descents and ascents and get to the Kyoto prefecture.
There are a lot of signals and traffic lights around here. I don’t care about cold legs by waiting for traffic signal. It’s the best route for #festive500.
It was gloomy weather when I got to Miyama. I climbed the “Kukigasaka-pass” which is the famous for its Mountain viewpoint. I had to have some energy after that much climbing. A “Rice ball” is the most popular energy food for cyclists here.It made me full and I had a cup of coffee to get warm. It was heavy raining when I was on the next pass. It’s too tough to ride in cold rain. I was back to rest house and got stove until cloud was gone. Once the rainy cloud had gone away, I passed Kyomi pass and had some more coffee at a café in the forest.
After ride some distance and rest, I got my place. I finished 150km of 1st day. Job done!
美山に入り曇り空の下、ロードレースでも山岳の名所として知られる九鬼が坂峠を登り、エネ ルギーを補給。日本の補給食定番であるおにぎりでお腹を満たし、サイクリストの必需品コー ヒーで暖まり再スタート。次の峠を目指して走り出すと雨が強く降り出した。気温が低い時の 雨の中のライドはタフなので、先ほどの補給ポイントまで戻ってストーブの近くで雨が止むの を待った。 雨が上がり峠を越え、カフェで再度コーヒーを補給して身体を温める。その後も適度な休憩を 取りながら帰宅。初日の150kmを終えた。
Day 2: 110km Sasayama, Hyogo – www.komoot.com/tour/54711943
I had to ride in -3 degrees Celsius. I used warm up cream before ride and stretched my body, too.
There are usually many cyclists in “INAGAWA” to “SASAYAMA” . But I couldn’t find any cyclists today because of the cold wave.
2日目は寒波到来の影響で氷点下3度でスタート。アップクリームをしっかりと塗ってストレッ チをしてから走り出した。普段はサイクリストも多い猪名川から篠山に抜ける道も寒さのせい か、サイクリストを一人も見かける事がなかった。
I didn’t need to care about rain today, but cold wave made my fingers and toes feel like inside a freezer.
I stopped after 50km ride to get rest. I had another rice ball and a coffee, same as on the 1st day.
I rode a bit around the suburbs of Kyoto and got some extra elevation gain. I finished 110km of 2nd day.
初日とは違い、雨の心配は無かったものの、気温は低く手足はすぐに冷えた。50kmほど走って篠山で補給のため休憩。この日もおにぎりとコーヒーを摂って再度走り出す。 京都方面を廻り距離と獲得標高を稼ぎながら、2日目の110kmを終えた。
Day 3: 140km North part of Kyoto – www.komoot.com/tour/54711961
Today was the toughest day in this #festive500. The weather started with a gentle rain at the starting point but turned into snow while riding. Sometimes the rain would stop, but I already got very cold fingers and toes by that time.
Fortunately, my STRADA run well even in the snow storm. I used 30c wide tires and STRADA saved me with its disc brakes!
This spec is the best for bad conditions riding, stable on wet road and advancing fast in the head wind with the aero frame.
トンネルを抜けると、そこは雪国だった。
3日目は、この#festive500 期間中、最も過酷な日となった。出発時点は小雨になるかならない かの天候も、行程を進めるにつれて冷たい雨や小雪が舞うコンディションに。時々小雨もやむ ものの、だんだんと手足は冷たく痛くなってきた。幸い、ディスクブレーキと30Cのワイドタ イヤ、そしてエアロフレームといった機材面では悪路に強く、濡れた路面でも安定し、向かい 風の中でもSTRADAは前に進んでくれた。
In the Fukui pass the conditions get worse and as I look at the sky, the snow continues to fall heavily. It’s dumping.
With such cold hands and wet feet, I decided this is starting to get dangerous, and decided to come back. However, I still enjoy the landscapes with the snowy mountain and I’m having fun!
I challenged the cold wave and finished with snow conditions today, and the #festive500 its already on its 3rd day with a mileage of 400km.
気持ちは途切れていないものの、福井県に入る峠を前に進行方向の空を見ると雪がさんさんと 降り続けている。雪解けの水で濡れた手足という事もあり、このコンディションは危険。と判 断して、戻ることにした。しかし、雪の山を見るのは冬を堪能できて楽しい。 寒波にプラスして雪コンディションとなった #festive500 3日目を終えて、400kmに到達した。
Day 4: 100km North part of Osaka – www.komoot.com/tour/54711976
The snow of the day before is also present in North Osaka, as I stay on the top of a road and the area is wrapped in cool winter air.
I shoot some pictures of the sunrise in the morning and aimed at the “Rice terraces of NAGATANI”, that was one of 100 selections of Rice terraces in Japan.
The scene with all the snow snow was very unusual and beautiful, and I enjoyed the amazing scenery for a while, even if still on the 85km of the 500km, and being the last day of my challenge. I think I was very lucky that it snowed but not so much as not being able to ride. The landscapes were amazing in white, and the road was still rideable, enjoying it!
前日の雪が大阪北部でも薄らと道路や家の屋根に残り、辺りは冷えた冬の空気に包まれている。 朝は日の出の撮影も兼ねて棚田百選の一つである長谷の棚田を目指した。 日本代表する里山は、雪がかかっている光景も綺麗で、500kmまで残り85kmとなった最後の日 の中でも、滞在時間が長く景色を楽しんだ。寒波ながら大雪にはならなかったコンディション で、ここまで来れたのはラッキーかと思う。
After photography of the sunrise, I rode the last part of the route . My Strada specs “30c wide tires”, “Disc brakes” and “Aero frame”, which in my opinion are the best choice for winter riding. The vibration absorption is noticeable, without arms and hands getting tired, critical when riding 500km. The vertical gain was 5,880m and the number that I could be satisfied with! Looking forward to next year challenge!
日の出の撮影の後、走り慣れた峠道を走行。やはりディスクブレーキ、30Cワイドタイヤ、エ アロフレームは冬のロングライドには最適。登り下りを繰り返しても腕や手は疲れる事無く、 振動吸収性も相まって腰回りにも優しい。4日間を通じて無理のない走りができたおかげで合 計500kmを達成。期間中の獲得標高も5,880mと満足できる数字で2018年を締めくくった。
2018 #Festive500 STRADA SPECIFICATION from ASAHI
STRADA TEAM SIZE: S
CHAIN RING: 46T
CASETTE SPROCKET: 11-32T
TIRES: KENDA VALKYRIE 700x30c
BIRZMAN PACKMAN FRAME BAG / TOPTUBE BAG GUEE SL
GEO BARTAPE