joewein
Maximum Pace
- Oct 25, 2011
- 3,532
- 3,693
As mentioned on TCC about a month ago I will be doing an autumn leaves viewing ride from Chichibu to the Nichitsu ghost town in the mountains to the west of Chichibu, Saitama this coming Saturday, assuming the weather will be OK (otherwise might postpone to Sunday).
Total distance is about 95 km with some 1400 m of climbing. If you've done Tomin no Mori or Yabitsu you should be OK for this one, but definitely not a beginner's ride. Here is the route:
Last year on the same first November weekend the autumn leaves around there were beautiful, so I hope we won't be disappointed this year either.
Meeting point
In front of Seibuchichibu Station, Saitama. Departure at 10:10.
I will be riding to Chichibu via Komae (rendezvous possibility at Rt 19/Tsurukawa highway bridge east side, near Yanokuchi station at 05:00) and Oume, then Yamabushi toge on this route. I'm planning to have a break at the shopping centre on the east side of the 140/299 crossroads from 09:30-10:00 and then head over to the station. There's a "Seibu Red Arrow" from Ikebukuro Station via Ikebukuro line that arrives in Chichibu at 09:52. Alternatively you could ride to Chichibu from Tokyo on Pete's (@Yamabushi) route along the Arakawa (here).
We'll have a break around noon near a lake and a dam. There's a michi-no-eki before the lake and also a bento shop. After that we pass the most scenic part of the route, with some pictures, then the lower tunnel, then the ghost town. We should be at the top of the mountain around 14:00-14:30, then through the tunnel, another break, then the descent and return to Seibuchichibu (mostly downhill). Beware, the descent from the tunnel has a lot of debris (small rocks and leaves), can't go too fast until we get back onto the main road.
Temperatures and clothes
The maximum elevation is 1200 m so expect it to be some 10 C colder than near Tokyo. You'll need warm clothes particularly for the descent and also the return to Chichibu. At the minimum bring leg warmers, a long sleeve jersey, a wind breaker and full fingered gloves. I'll wear my winter tights and bring my winter jacket and gloves to wear during the descent, but will wear less until we get up there.
Other equipment
Bring a helmet (of course), a spare tube or two and some lights in case we don't make it back before sunset. I expect we'll get back to the station around 17:00, but depending on the overall pace and the number of picture stops this could change.
Contact
joewein at gmail dot com (e-mail me for phone number!)
Credits
Kudos to Pete (@Yamabushi) for the excellent route!
Total distance is about 95 km with some 1400 m of climbing. If you've done Tomin no Mori or Yabitsu you should be OK for this one, but definitely not a beginner's ride. Here is the route:
Last year on the same first November weekend the autumn leaves around there were beautiful, so I hope we won't be disappointed this year either.
Meeting point
In front of Seibuchichibu Station, Saitama. Departure at 10:10.
I will be riding to Chichibu via Komae (rendezvous possibility at Rt 19/Tsurukawa highway bridge east side, near Yanokuchi station at 05:00) and Oume, then Yamabushi toge on this route. I'm planning to have a break at the shopping centre on the east side of the 140/299 crossroads from 09:30-10:00 and then head over to the station. There's a "Seibu Red Arrow" from Ikebukuro Station via Ikebukuro line that arrives in Chichibu at 09:52. Alternatively you could ride to Chichibu from Tokyo on Pete's (@Yamabushi) route along the Arakawa (here).
We'll have a break around noon near a lake and a dam. There's a michi-no-eki before the lake and also a bento shop. After that we pass the most scenic part of the route, with some pictures, then the lower tunnel, then the ghost town. We should be at the top of the mountain around 14:00-14:30, then through the tunnel, another break, then the descent and return to Seibuchichibu (mostly downhill). Beware, the descent from the tunnel has a lot of debris (small rocks and leaves), can't go too fast until we get back onto the main road.
Temperatures and clothes
The maximum elevation is 1200 m so expect it to be some 10 C colder than near Tokyo. You'll need warm clothes particularly for the descent and also the return to Chichibu. At the minimum bring leg warmers, a long sleeve jersey, a wind breaker and full fingered gloves. I'll wear my winter tights and bring my winter jacket and gloves to wear during the descent, but will wear less until we get up there.
Other equipment
Bring a helmet (of course), a spare tube or two and some lights in case we don't make it back before sunset. I expect we'll get back to the station around 17:00, but depending on the overall pace and the number of picture stops this could change.
Contact
joewein at gmail dot com (e-mail me for phone number!)
Credits
Kudos to Pete (@Yamabushi) for the excellent route!
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