I've learned that when the family is out of town, one takes on some truely brainless feats.
Inspired by Travis' S.S.S.S.S. adventure, Tokyo to Nagoya madness, and Alan and Naomi-san's sea to sea, I decided to give this sea to sea and back in 24 hr madness a go. Route was basically Alan&Naomi-san's coast to coast - taking Arakawa up to Kumagaya, hoping on rte 17, hanging a left at rte 18 at Takasaki, taking rte 18 almost into Obuse, hoping on Chikuma river trail, then back on 18 into the coast.
Forecast called for a chilly night but friendly winds most of the way. Snow? Gotta be off the roads in April - right? Plans looked good.
Took off at midnight from Tokyo station, only to find the wind blowing 180 degrees the opposite direction. Headwinds for nearly 240km of the 340 km - ouch. Did I say chilly night? Once elevation went higher thatn 500m, iit was -5 degrees w/o windchill. Enough to freeze 1/2 of the water bottle... Was not well prepared for this - both mentally or with gear. Climb up to Karuizawa as nice to warm the body up and as the sun came up, things started to look up. Amazing thing, that sun. My left crank kept coming lose every 10 or so km. I think I might have overtorqed thing... Any ideas anyone?
Alan's Chikuma trail was siimply superb. This was the only spot w/ a bit of tail/cross winds.
Got into Joetsu and the port of Naoets around 16:30. 340km. Really unintelligent thing to do.
Inspired by Travis' S.S.S.S.S. adventure, Tokyo to Nagoya madness, and Alan and Naomi-san's sea to sea, I decided to give this sea to sea and back in 24 hr madness a go. Route was basically Alan&Naomi-san's coast to coast - taking Arakawa up to Kumagaya, hoping on rte 17, hanging a left at rte 18 at Takasaki, taking rte 18 almost into Obuse, hoping on Chikuma river trail, then back on 18 into the coast.
Forecast called for a chilly night but friendly winds most of the way. Snow? Gotta be off the roads in April - right? Plans looked good.
Took off at midnight from Tokyo station, only to find the wind blowing 180 degrees the opposite direction. Headwinds for nearly 240km of the 340 km - ouch. Did I say chilly night? Once elevation went higher thatn 500m, iit was -5 degrees w/o windchill. Enough to freeze 1/2 of the water bottle... Was not well prepared for this - both mentally or with gear. Climb up to Karuizawa as nice to warm the body up and as the sun came up, things started to look up. Amazing thing, that sun. My left crank kept coming lose every 10 or so km. I think I might have overtorqed thing... Any ideas anyone?
Alan's Chikuma trail was siimply superb. This was the only spot w/ a bit of tail/cross winds.
Got into Joetsu and the port of Naoets around 16:30. 340km. Really unintelligent thing to do.