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Spring 2009 Century Rides in Japan - Recommendations?

kuma

Warming-Up
Dec 11, 2008
5
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This is my first post in the forums, so please be gentle.

I live in the US and am planning a trip to Tokyo to visit my in-laws sometime in the spring, most likely in May. I'm looking for a century ride or similar long ride event in Japan during that time. I'm not much of a racer, but I do enjoy long rides and hills. Near Kanto would be the best, but is not necessary. Any thoughts? I'd certainly appreciate it.

This looks like a great group, by the way. I wish it had been around when I lived in Tokyo (2001-2004).
 
There's a group called the TCA (Tokyo Cycling Association) that does a century ride (more like a 3/4 century actually - last year's was 132km) during Golden Week every year. The route is up and down the Arakawa River on the east side of Tokyo, almost completely on bike paths.

Their site is all in Japanese (last year there was one foreigner besides me, and the two years before that it was just me), but here it is:
http://tokyo-cycling.web.infoseek.co.jp/

No info there yet on a 2009 century ride.
 
It seems to me that May is the motherload of long ride events. Going by the 2008 calendar, first there was Tour de Kunisaki in Kyushu (100km and century) on May 3

http://www11.ocn.ne.jp/~kunisaki/

then there was the Iwami Grand Fond in Shimane (130km and 170km) on May 10

http://www.plusvalue.co.jp/iwamiride/

and then Sado Island Longride 210 in Niigata (210km, 130km and 100km) on May 18 (I`m planning to do this in 09)

http://www.sado-longride.com

also May 18 was the Challenge Aso in Kyushu (100km around the world`s biggest caldera; absolutely stunning scenery)

http://www11.plala.or.jp/kca/

Then on June 8 was the Fukui Grand Fondo in Fukui (210km and 150km)

http://www.granfondofukui.com

And on like that. I just got these from my `Long Ride` magazine here in Japan; there were probably others. I`m sorry I don`t have the 2009 dates but they`ll be approximately the same.
 
Hey Kuma, seen you on RBR a lot so welcome aboard. I am way up in the north so couldn't help you but the previous post does heaps.
 
Thanks very much for the information, everyone. I'll look into these as the time gets a little closer and our travel plans firm up.

Simon - thanks for your note, but I'm not sure I'm the same "Kuma" you're hearing from on RBR. I lurk a lot and post occasionally under the same name at bikeforums.net, but haven't posted on RBR. Maybe the that Kuma is my evil twin...
 
yeah I guess all kumas look the same, welcome anyway and posting is always better than lurking:)
 
The mystery second foreigner was probably our very own chazzer, who wrote up a good report:

https://tokyocycle.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=751

Hmmm.... Interesting... The other foreigner I saw had a beard and mustache, was doing either the half- or quarter-century route, and I think had a crash somewhere between the finish area and the river mouth, near the end of the ride.

Was that you, chazzer?
 
Memories....

I usually remember big events like crashes unless they are late at night on my mamachari bouncing off lamposts on my way home from deepest ShimoKitaZawa. I also distinctly remember shaving that day (face as well as legs naturally) and so I can safely say that this was (probably) not me.

chazzer
 
I usually remember big events like crashes unless they are late at night on my mamachari bouncing off lamposts on my way home from deepest ShimoKitaZawa. I also distinctly remember shaving that day (face as well as legs naturally) and so I can safely say that this was (probably) not me.

chazzer

Plus, now that I think about it, the guy I'm thinking of had a name (in katakana) was almost exactly like mine, which caused some confusion during registrastion. And I think our names are pretty easy to tell apart.

Marc
 
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