I went to Takizawa Farm, the annual stage for the Nobeyama Cyclocross, to attend the wedding of Hiro, who works at Rapha Japan. We’ve known each other for a long time, as we both started working as messengers in downtown Tokyo around the same time. He is also helping with the route planning for this upcoming RIDEALIVE. It felt more like a sports day than a wedding, which was a fantastic and fun party. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!
At both this wedding and the Nobeyama CX, the Yatsugatake mountains rise symbolically in the background. In the Nobeyama Highlands, there is a sense that the wind, clouds, light, water, and air all flow from Yatsugatake. It was those mountains—once just an object I watched from afar—that I decided to climb, inspired by RIDEALIVE. Why is it that the resolve to climb such divine mountains sprouts up so suddenly?
After the wedding, I joined our guide for this trip, Mr. Natsume from Yamatomichi, to go for a test ride.
Mr. Natsume's preparations started with restoring a beat-up bicycle he used to ride. He had the dropouts widened at Shin, gathered parts at Culture Club, and finished it off himself, resulting in a touring bike capable of fitting wider tires.
He equipped it with a frame bag ordered from Welldone and a Yamatomichi Stuff Pack XL on the handlebars and saddle. Inside, he packed his hiking backpack, the mini.
We checked the forest roads we plan to ride and climbed the mountain trails at a brisk pace, sometimes jogging.
As expected, once you actually go, all sorts of ideas emerge. The initial plan has been changed to an itinerary that lets us enjoy the foothills of Yatsugatake even more.
First of all, the meeting point will be Nobeyama Station rather than Kobuchisawa Station.
Those arriving by car should switch to their vehicles in Nobeyama after descending and drive to the dinner location.
Other event details are as follows.
Entry tickets are available here.
RIDEALIVE 2017 SP
TOE to TOP
September 13-15, 2017 (Wed-Fri) Rain or shine
Meeting: 12:00, Wednesday, 13th at Nobeyama Station
Dismissal: Around 20:00, Friday, 15th at Kobuchisawa StationRoute:
Wed, 13th: Nobeyama → BIKE → Yatsugatake Forest Road → Honzawa Hot Spring
Thu, 14th: Honzawa Hot Spring → HIKE → Gyojagoya (Campsite)
Fri, 15th: Gyojagoya → HIKE → Mt. Akadake, Mt. Ioudake → Honzawa Hot Spring → BIKE → Nobeyama, Kiyosato, KobuchisawaEntry Requirements
Must be able to ride 100km+ on a bicycle loaded with most camping gear
Must be able to be active for 7 hours/day while camping for 2 or more nightsBike
Required Equipment
- Tires 26c or wider
- Carrier or bags capable of carrying equipment
- Bottle, hydration pack
- Flat repair kit
- Bike transport bag (rinko-bukuro)
- Lock, lights
- Helmet
Hike
Required Equipment
- Water or beverages (2L+ recommended. You can replenish water at the campsite on day 1.)
- Compass
- Moisture-wicking, waterproof rain jacket & upper-body warm layer (down or synthetic)
- Sleeping bag
- Emergency sheet or waterproof sleeping bag cover
- Backpack
- Health insurance card (copy acceptable)
- First aid kit (bandages, gauze, athletic tape, etc.)
- Light & batteries
- Energy food
- Food for 2 nights
- Cooker and fuel for boiling water
- Mobile phone
- Tent
Other
- Weigh all your equipment on a scale beforehand.
- The total weight of equipment carried during the hike must be 4.5kg or less (excluding food and water).
Holding it over three weekdays creates a high hurdle for participation, but there are things we want to do that justify it.
Please also read the previous post and do your best to adjust your schedule to join us.
SimWorks Monjya
RIDEALIVE 2017
http://ral.life/ridealive2017