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Chap from Okayama here.

okayamaPaul

Speeding Up
Jun 18, 2011
72
1
Good afternoon everyone,

My name is Paul and I currently live in the lovely little town of Kurashiki in Okayama prefecture. I work as a translator and have been in the country for three and a bit years.

I had the fortune recently of an acquaintance selling their road bike after doing a leg injury and as I had wanted a road bike for ages, I didn't hesitate in buying it. It is a Specialised, I have no idea of the model etc., but it is about 10 years old. It is nice and fast and the funnest bike I've had to date.

I got a nice pair of shoes for the clip in pedals and have been riding it properly for just over a week now. I aim to do two quick rides of an evening during the week and one big ride during the weekend every week. Fortunately I have some mountains and coastline all within a 40-60km round trip which is great. I hope to keep punishing myself with hills and get better at climbing.

Anyway I have been floating around on the forum for a while and some of things posted have helped with various things. I hope to pick up some more things if possible from the experienced amongst you all.

I have attached a picture of a place called Washuuzan, 鷲羽山, next to the beginning of the Seto Ohashi that goes to Shikoku. (Unfortuantely no bike access)

Safe riding,

Paul
 
Paul welcome to TCC and that is a cool looking location. Bike looks very fast as well so remember to keep the rubber down.
 
Welcome Paul! :D
 
Greetings from down in Kochi. If you don`t know, there are a few local organisations you can check out that have some events/races if that interests you. Also try sportsentry.ne.jp, funride.jp, cyclesports.jp

Okayama cycling association
http://www1.megaegg.ne.jp/~oca/main.html

Not sure of the name of this one!
http://www42.tok2.com/home/t3354912/#
I`m tempted to try the hill climb in October but having enough trouble getting to the one here in Ehime, so don`t know about that.
 
Thanks for the welcome everybody.:)

Sikochi, thanks for the links. I will possibly try and participate in something in the future.

By the way, Kochi I imagine would be nice for riding. There is that lovely road that goes all the way through Muroto up until Tokushima. I quite enjoyed doing that on my motorbike. I imagine there are some nice climbs around too. Also it's not too far of a train ride from Okayama.
 
Kochi is the best place I have lived for cycling. Road surfaces are the best I`ve encountered and once you are off the main arteries, can forget about the cars. 20-30 mins to the sea from where we live and a choice of flat or endless mountains right on the doorstep. It`s not far from Okayama, but the train is painfully slow - 2 1/2 hours. I haven`t been as far as Muroto yet - my fitness wasn`t up to it last year but keep meaning to give it a try. I wouldn`t recommend thinking about it `til late September at the earliest, as the seafront here is 2-3 C hotter than in the town and with it being exposed, you could easily be looking at (perceived temperature) 40 C along coastal roads - my computer was reading 36 C yesterday cycling along by the river (heading inland).
 
Rode the coast road from Hiwasa through Muroto to Kochi as part of Golden Week tour. The Minami Awa Sun Line was really nice, even in the rain.

Somehow the wind stayed in my face all day. :confused:
 
Welcome and keep on exploring Shikoku, which I found amazing for riding, especially when you go inland. I would love to go again, this time with gears...
 
Not sure of the name of this one!
http://www42.tok2.com/home/t3354912/#
I`m tempted to try the hill climb in October but having enough trouble getting to the one here in Ehime, so don`t know about that.

I've done a few of the events from this association (?) - all very well run and good courses. The hillclimb in October is not on the scale of Norikura, Mt.Fuji and the like, but the first half is very tough. The start is next to an onsen and train station.

I live in neighbouring Hyogo, but not far from the border with Okayama.

A similar group in Hyogo

http://tatunomtb.blog74.fc2.com/

Lots of well-run events, including road, MTB and even cyclocross. There's a hillclimb in October up the other side of the same ridge as the Okayama one. Also a new event in September - 76 km of off-road.
 
I've done a few of the events from this association (?) - all very well run and good courses.

Thanks for the info. Will have a look at the other link you gave.

The hillclimb in October is not on the scale of Norikura, Mt.Fuji and the like, but the first half is very tough.

Yes, that was the other reason why I was just `thinking` about it!
 
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