Category: The Ride
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Turkey Digestion Ride 2023
The weather was beautiful today, warm and sunny, but with a strong wind. I was fighting the wind all the way to the Tamagawa and for a good part of the way downriver. I was worried when I crossed over into Kanagawa prefecture that I’d be riding directly into the wind, but the buildings sheltered…
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Fujisan and Takaosan Dawdle
I had an easy-going ride on Sunday, setting out in single-digit temperatures (Celsius). Nana had not made any onigiri, so my first stop was at a convenience store for some food to keep me going throughout the day. I’d replaced the disc brake pads on Saturday. The front pads, which had been squealing for a…
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Grasshoppers and Snakes
I woke up thinking I’d just have an easy-going day and then ride tomorrow. But when Nana got up and we started talking about the weekend, I realized we’d made plans for tomorrow. So I decided to get in a ride today, while the weather is so nice, even given a late start. There was…
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Two Badges
I might have skipped the cycling commute the last two days and just rested if it wasn’t for something I noticed after my 100km ride on Sunday: I was at 550km for the month. With another two days to go in October, a couple of commutes would bring me just over 600km. I’ve had a…
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Pinarello Pinarello Trek Merida
The forecast for the weekend had been favorable, cloudy and mild with a slight chance of rain Saturday night. I had a doctor’s appointment Saturday morning and so I decided to ride on Sunday, planning on an early departure (following the world cup finale) and a long ride. When daylight broke Sunday morning, though, it…
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Auntie Clockwise
I’ve ridden Biwaichi — the route around Biwako, Japan’s largest lake — once before, in 2014 with Fearless Leader Joe and Sanborn. I’ve had a number of invitations to join rides since then, and finally decided my holiday this week was a good chance. José hadn’t done the ride before and quickly agreed to join.…
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Windy and Flat
I have a big ride coming up with José next weekend, and he hasn’t been getting in a lot of miles on the bike. So we took advantage of today’s weather — mild and sunny — to get in a ride. I told José I’d meet him at his flat at 8 and we left…
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Change in Forecast, Change of Plan
I told Nana I was leaving at 7 this morning, with the intention of getting in quite a long ride, a metric century and then some. But when I checked the forecast this morning, it had changed. Not only is there a good chance of rain in the afternoon, but we’re expecting thundershowers as well.…
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Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
I got an unexpected bonus following my morning commute: a Mid-Autumn Festival badge! Nana and I got up at 4 a.m. to watch Japan triumph over Samoa in rugby. So when I set out this morning I was lagging. I had the legs, I had the lungs, and I had lots of green lights in…
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What A Long Hot Road It’s Been
Today marks the record-breaking 85th consecutive day where temperatures in Tokyo exceeded 30C, and that’s not expected to change for at least another four days. I’d been watching the forecast for the weekend, and a few days ago it showed a high of 32C for today, and that’s pretty much my limit. I asked José…