It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:06 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: A Rising Sun Ride
PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:44 pm 
Offline
Active Participant
Active Participant

Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:18 pm
Posts: 165
Given: 12 thanks
Received: 954 thanks
Bike(s): Intense 6.6 / Spider
Favorite Trails: Palm Canyon
Work has me in Japan for a few weeks so it was about time to get out and hit
the trails. The fall weather here is pretty nice so I opted for a crack of
dawn ride as my Saturday midday was already booked up. The previous day had
been remarkably clear and tomorrow was supposed to be overcast so I was hoping
to catch a window to see Mount Fuji at dawn on top of Ogusayama the tallest peak
on the Muira Peninsula near Yokosuka. It was still pre-dawn when I rolled out
of the hotel at 5AM but not by much. The ride along the city streets was
really quite and almost surreal. It was pretty much just me and the cats along
with couple of early risers like myself.

Image

The street riding to the trails is mostly uphill the entire way. Before long
I turned off the primary streets to smaller and smaller secondary streets as
things became more rural and I started passing little family farms. I was
nearly to the dirt trails when the rising sun joined me on the ride.

Image

In 2004, I spent the better part of year living over here and I rode the Ogusuyama trail
network numerous times so this place is kind of like home away from home dirt.
Fall is just thinking about starting here so the colors are not happening yet
but the leaves on some of the trees are starting to get a little sparse so views
occur a little more often. This typically reveals just how steep some of the
hillsides are that the trails cut across.

Image

I made pretty descent time to the top of Ogusuyama, but there were some
distant clouds so Fuji was in hiding. So while the planned far-view scenery
was not to be had, the nearby stuff was pretty awesome as a clearing near the
top of the mountain was flush with flowers.

Image

After the stopping to smell the flowers break, I opted to continue heading
west down the other side of the mountain to the Segami Bay side of the
pennisula. The trail I took has a lot of fun flowing sections but it makes you
work for them as thier are some really rooty sections that require all of your
bike handling attention. If the roots alone were not interesting enough the
soil in this area is mostly clay and with the rains a few days prior the bare
clay sections had traction qualities that are best described as "I Can't Believe
Its Not Butter". There were many times along this trail where I'm sure my
facial expression would be best described as being that of a "terrified
smile".

Image

Below is one of the sections that was just blissfully fun.

Image

Eventually the trail came out on a tiny litte street about the size of the
golf cart path that feed to a series of other streets each a little wider than
the last until I came out onto the main two-lane street down by Segami Bay. I
did a bit of flat-land street riding to connect up with a another street that
would turn into a fireroad that would take me back up into the Ogsuyama
area. Before getting back into the climbing gears, I had to grab a bit of
morning coffee. The vending machines over have canned hot coffee which are
simply awesome. I am big-time addict of these coffees and being able to grab a
quick fix on a ride is pretty awesome. Coffee Crack in a can -- Good
Stuff!

Image

After getting my coffee buzz on I was climbing back up the mountain. The
grade was a bit steep in spots and it felt good to get some burn in the legs.
Once back up near the top of Ogusuyama I took a different set of trails that
would take me to southeast and down into the community of Kinugasa. As I
rolled off the trail I was quitely in the town which was fully awake now with
lots cars and people fluttering about getting their day taken care of. It was
a little bit taken back by it at first due to the juxtaposition of the
sleepiness of the streets a few hours ago. From there is was quite a bit of
street riding back to the hotel and before long I too was fluttering about
getting the rest of my day taken care. I think I am going to have to do
another rising sun ride before I leave Japan.

_________________
www.MountainBikeBill.com


Top
 Profile  
 
The following 4 users would like to thank MTBBill for his or her post:
Canaan, evdog, OldDogDan, rob240z
 Post subject: Re: A Rising Sun Ride
PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:07 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:35 pm
Posts: 3769
Location: Variable
Given: 5013 thanks
Received: 5052 thanks
Bike(s): Carbine
Favorite Trails: The Googliest
Cool TR and awesome pics as always. We need that hot coffee in a can machine here.

_________________
"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: A Rising Sun Ride
PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:49 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 10:18 pm
Posts: 5442
Given: 14906 thanks
Received: 5738 thanks
Bike(s): Marin Rift Zone 3; Budget SS
Favorite Trails: Cuyamaca; Fanita Ranch
Kimba wrote:
Cool TR and awesome pics as always. We need that hot coffee in a can machine here.


You can have the territory north of the 56 and I'll take the territory south of the 56 -- what a great idea.

_________________
A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: A Rising Sun Ride
PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:06 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:35 pm
Posts: 3769
Location: Variable
Given: 5013 thanks
Received: 5052 thanks
Bike(s): Carbine
Favorite Trails: The Googliest
I like turtles, and coffee in a can.

_________________
"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group