Chuck
Maximum Pace
- Feb 7, 2011
- 1,617
- 1,877
Planning a summer biking excursion from the west side of Tokyo to Niigata. For those folks who've done this, a couple questions...
I don't care about speed and am hoping to find nice roads that aren't too busy with traffic, and make frequent stops to explore interesting things along the way. So... would I be better to go up to Ome and take 299 towards Chichibu and onward, (faster but perhaps not as scenic) or.... bike over to the Arakawa and meander up toward Niigata that way? It would be a bit further, but I've never been over to the Arakawa and a bike book I bought says there are some nice things to see along the Arakawa. Advice?
Second question... I'll be doing this in summer. I plan on camping mostly with the occasional stop at pensions when convenient. I have a tent and am hoping to get away with no sleeping bag... just a liner. If I camp in the mountains, will that be enough warmth for evenings?
Finally, rain gear. I have the heavy duty stuff and some lighter stuff. I generally don't mind long periods of riding in the rain ( a couple hours) so figure the light stuff would work. OTOH, I've never tried to ride for 5 or 6 hours in the rain and wonder if that might be a better choice. So, you old hats, best to take the heavier stuff or the light stuff?
Thanks in advance.
I don't care about speed and am hoping to find nice roads that aren't too busy with traffic, and make frequent stops to explore interesting things along the way. So... would I be better to go up to Ome and take 299 towards Chichibu and onward, (faster but perhaps not as scenic) or.... bike over to the Arakawa and meander up toward Niigata that way? It would be a bit further, but I've never been over to the Arakawa and a bike book I bought says there are some nice things to see along the Arakawa. Advice?
Second question... I'll be doing this in summer. I plan on camping mostly with the occasional stop at pensions when convenient. I have a tent and am hoping to get away with no sleeping bag... just a liner. If I camp in the mountains, will that be enough warmth for evenings?
Finally, rain gear. I have the heavy duty stuff and some lighter stuff. I generally don't mind long periods of riding in the rain ( a couple hours) so figure the light stuff would work. OTOH, I've never tried to ride for 5 or 6 hours in the rain and wonder if that might be a better choice. So, you old hats, best to take the heavier stuff or the light stuff?
Thanks in advance.