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Hello from a Newbie

Andrew Deane

Speeding Up
Aug 17, 2007
121
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I have been checking out the BBS for several weeks now, so I have just about nerved myself up to tapping out a few brief words of introduction.

I am also a "Brit-born Canuck". However, I lived in Hiroshima for several years about a decade ago, and I moved to Tokyo from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, August '06. Currently, I teach at an international middle school in Moto-Azabu, and my wife and I live in Yotsuya, near Shinjuku-gyoen. Sadly, my Nihon-go is amari jouzu-nai...

I have loved cycling ever since I got my first ten speed way back in 1975 - a lime-green neanderthal with paleolithic componentry. It was second-hand and far oo big for me, but I couldn't ride it ften enough. Since then, I have cycled on and off, road, touring and mountain, but I have never developed into a really competent rider in any of these disciplines. I used to think of myself as a serious amateur, although I am hesitant to claim that after reading about some of your "weekend" rides heading into the 200 clicks range. Also, the combined cycling knowledge of he contributers to this BBS is truly formidable!

I brought my road bike back to Tokyo this August, and I have already encountered some of the thunderously frightening traffic. I ride Saturday mornings, usually along the Tamagawa, but I am only up to a modest 45 km so far.

Maybe I'll stretch it to 46.5 next Saturday... if I survive the roads!

Cheers,
Andrew
 
Welcome Andrew . . .

I am a Brit born Brit - but I have family in Canada and enjoy skiing there :D

I started cycling this year - so you have a lot more experience than at least one of us! My first ride was around Miura with Travis (YellowGiant). He has a real gift for organizing tours and somehow manages to ensure everyone keeps together and everyone is looked after. I suggest you do the same. Travis is arranging a tour around Miura on Saturday, Oct 20th. It is 110km but with Travis you will be fine.

Cheers,

Philip
 
Hi Andrew! I'm hardly qualified to be piping people on board as I only signed up 2 weeks ago myself, but as the other brit-canuck hybrid I thought I'd say "Welcome!" anyway!
 
My first ride was around Miura with Travis (YellowGiant). He has a real gift for organizing tours and somehow manages to ensure everyone keeps together and everyone is looked after. I suggest you do the same. Travis is arranging a tour around Miura on Saturday, Oct 20th. It is 110km but with Travis you will be fine.

Cheers,

Philip

Philip,

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, it sounds like I should hook up to a club ride soon. Unfortunately, my parents are here over the 20 Oct ride, so I'll be in Nikko.

How do you find out about club rides, and what is the protocol for joining them? Are there any Saturday morning riders who prefer the 40 to 60 km range? There's probably a place on the site I should go to for this info, but I am new to BBS sites.

Thanks,
Andrew
 
Hi Andrew! I'm hardly qualified to be piping people on board as I only signed up 2 weeks ago myself, but as the other brit-canuck hybrid I thought I'd say "Welcome!" anyway!

Phil,

Thanks for he welcome! Hope to have a pint with you one day! (There seem to be quite a few "English" pubs in Tokyo, and I'm sure there's a Mapleleaf Bar somewhere...)

Andrew
 
Welcome!

You gotta do the Okutama/Tomin No Mori ride with Thomas sometime!:eek:uch:

Phil,

Thanks for he welcome. What's with all the "Phils" in the TCC? Should I change my name?

Yes, I intend to extend my paltry repertoire of rides. Last ear I hiked several times in the Ome valley, and thought that it would be great for cycling. Don't know where Okutama / Tomin no Mori is though. Or who Thomas is...

Thanks,
Andrew
 
Who is Thomas???

Thomas is:

  1. Top poster on TCC website
  2. Tallest member of TCC
  3. Owns the most bicycles of any TCC member (8 at last count)
  4. Highest weekly mileage of any TCC member
  5. Most TCC tours completed
  6. Most puncture prone TCC member

Oh! I nearly forgot - he is the co-founder and owner of TCC :rolleyes:

Philip :D
 
Hi Andrew,

welcome aboard! :welcome:

  1. Top poster on TCC website
  2. Tallest member of TCC
  3. Owns the most bicycles of any TCC member (8 at last count)
  4. Highest weekly mileage of any TCC member
  5. Most TCC tours completed
  6. Most puncture prone TCC member

2. And fastest, in terms of growing waistline. :warau:
3. Just 5 at last count, since the city has confiscated my rusty mama-charri.
6. You and Christoph are definitely catching up. Haven't had a punc in weeks. :D
 
Hi Andrew,

welcome aboard! :welcome:



2. And fastest, in terms of growing waistline. :warau:
3. Just 5 at last count, since the city has confiscated my rusty mama-charri.
6. You and Christoph are definitely catching up. Haven't had a punc in weeks. :D

Cheers, Sir Thomas! Looking forward to meeting such a venerable and distinguished enthusiast!

P.S. Thanks Philip, for the original list!
 
Hello Andrew.

>Philip: Thanks for your kind words
>Andrew Deane: As Philip mentioned, even if the distance is longer/further than you're used to, we never leave anyone behind, so of course you are most welcome to join us on the 20th.
>Phil: Your write up of "Chiba" was great, and I hope you can make it too.
>jam: you too!

Hopefully, there will be 3 "Philip"s on the ride;
Philip: British masochistic Tri-athelete.
Phil Harris: Long time member, and "long-ride" specialist.
Phil: New to the site, but old in experience.
Rubber down!
Travis
 
Hopefully, there will be 3 "Philip"s on the ride;
Philip: British masochistic Tri-athelete.
Phil Harris: Long time member, and "long-ride" specialist.
Phil: New to the site, but old in experience.
Rubber down!
Travis

Looks like this ride is Phil-ling up! :)

Sorry.

Welcome Andrew, hope to see you on 20th October.
AW.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the kind welcome!

Wish I could ride with you on 20th October, but my parents are here (their first - and probably last - visit to Japan, as they are quite old), so I'll be away from Tokyo.

But, I will make an appearance soon, I hope. (Don't give up asking, please!)

I'm thinking of riding to Ome Valley tomorrow (Sat 22 Sept). Are there any others riding that way tomorrow (via Tamagawa)? How do we find out about rides? Is there a post for them?

By the way, anyone running the Terry Fox run around the Imperial Palace on Sunday (23 Sept)?

Any way you slice it, rubber hits the pavement every weekend!
 
Ride along Tamagawa

Hi

I was considering riding along the Tamagawa tomorrow too, what time are you planning on riding? maybe we could join up?

Drop a reply here if you want some company.

Greg
 
Hi

I was considering riding along the Tamagawa tomorrow too, what time are you planning on riding? maybe we could join up?

Drop a reply here if you want some company.

Greg

Hi, Greg,

I was thinking of heading out of Shinjuku around 8:30 am, heading down Route 246 to Tamagawa. There's a train station this side of the bridge, but I can't remember what its called. It's about 13 km from my place to the Tamakawa bridge on Rte 246, so I'd plan on being under the bridge on the cyclists' path(south side) around 9:00 am. My bike's a blue & white Trek & I cycle in a dark blue sweater & blue Giro helmet.

If you're interested, I'll wait under the bridge on the cycle track until 9:15, then start up the river. Not really sure of the route north of Yanaguchi...

Hope to see you - and anyone else interested - tomorrow,
Andrew
 
Hi Andrew . . .

The name of the town/station where R246 crosses the Tamagawa is Futako Tamagawa :)

Cheers,

Philip
 
Saturday tamagawa...

Timings good for me. I'll aim to be ther 9:00 ish

Easy to spot bright red specialized and the helmet's pretty recognizable - Bright yellow.

See you in the morning.

Greg
 
Welcome Andrew. I am from Toronto and got transfered to Tokyo last December. I spend 80% of my time travelling abroad for my work and only partcipated one ride with TCC guys. But I managed to ride from Tokyo to Kobe few months ago and two weeks ago rode Kobe to Fukuoka. I am not a road cyclist and not planning to and if you are interested let's organize a 50-100K ride.
 
Hello, Toronto! This is Vancouver Island Calling...

Welcome Andrew. I am from Toronto and got transfered to Tokyo last December. I spend 80% of my time travelling abroad for my work and only partcipated one ride with TCC guys. But I managed to ride from Tokyo to Kobe few months ago and two weeks ago rode Kobe to Fukuoka. I am not a road cyclist and not planning to and if you are interested let's organize a 50-100K ride.

Donny,

Thanks for the message! Great to hear there are more Cannucks here. If your schedule permits a Saturday ride, drop me a personal message and we can hook up for a ride!

I'm super impressed with your rides from Tokyo to Kobe, Kobe to Fukuoka! Wow! Long, but how were the roads? I have a wild pipe-dream to ride the length of Japan - Cape Sata to Cape Soya.

Andrew
 
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