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KT = Kusatsu Training (T = Tim-style?)
In the weeks leading up to the race, we would usually do a weekend "Kusatsu Training" ride somewhere in the hills around Tokyo - Starting with Long Slow Distance and a lot of climbing, and gradually tapering to short but very intense climbs nearer to the actual race.
The first, "KT1" would normally be starting this weekend, with "KT7" or "KT8" being the week before the race - O-Toge Time Trial.
Unfortunately, I'm currently unable to make any arrangements (and the snow we had the other day limits how high we could climb anyway), but Alan usually has some good plans for these rides!
Keep an eye out for posts, by Alan or anyone else, with with the "KT" moniker in them - They're bound to be fun & challenging.
Miura-hanto might be a good option, at least until the snow melts.
I will be at Kusatsu this year doing something a bit different this year.
Instead of racing for myself, I will be chaperoning my 10 year-old son (11 next month) up the hill in his first "race." My wife will be coaxing his twin sister up to the 6km mark in the Sasshogawara Course.
Very excited.
Hopefully I can do a climb of my own the day before the race. Does anyone know if the race course is open the day before? Anyone plan to ride the day before? Or even better does anyone know any other good climbs out of Kusatsu that wouldn't be snow-bound?
Aaron
I've ramped up my training a bit if anyone is interested to join:
1) Monday @ Arakawa - 10km 'standing hiki' - this is where you drag a tire for 10km in the standing position. It develops smooth, low cadence pedal stroke besides getting you in shape for longer than usual standing attacks. Alternative is Sergei's Yabitsu climb - but for me - at 75min+ each way, plus the ride, is a bit of a chunk of 'train time'. Arakawa route is 100% pedal time and takes roughly 2hr end-to-end.
2) Wednesday Intervals. I'll probably do this either on Arakawa or Palace early in the A.M.
3) Sat / Sun. Hill work. Minimum 175km goal with at least 1500m climbing. Typically this would be ride out to Itsukaichi -> Tomin No Mori -> some other hills -> back again. Or head to the Greenline and hit the roulers. At least 3 good climbs there plus lots of short attack repeats.
4) Tue / Thurs Freeweight session. 60min max - lift-to-fail, focus on upper body, frontal core only.
Mon / Wed could be reversed in favor of a Yabitsu climb. But at least 1 day will be reserved for the hiki.
Can't we call that "dancing hiki" ?
Hopefully I can do a climb of my own the day before the race. Does anyone know if the race course is open the day before? Anyone plan to ride the day before? Or even better does anyone know any other good climbs out of Kusatsu that wouldn't be snow-bound?
Just to confirm, the road beyond the goal for the short hill climb is closed until race day. That goal is at the gate which gets closed in winter.
If you are going to Kusatsu by train, the climb up from the station to the town is a decent climb. Also just riding around the town has lots of nice steep climbs. When they used to run a pre-race parade through the town, some parts of the circuit where steeper than the course itself.
Andy
www.jyonnobitime.com/time
So what's everyone wearing for the race?
Nice.