Working an office shift, I’m lucky enough to have weekends off. “If I wake up and there’s even a light dusting of snow, I’m heading to the mountains.” That’s what I thought as I drifted off to sleep Friday night.
When I woke up a bit early the next morning and opened the bedroom window, I saw that Nagoya had received a light dusting of snow as well. The moment I saw it, I was wide awake. Usually, I would hit the snooze button, but this time I successfully managed to leap out of bed. At this point, it was already a win. (A win for what, exactly? I don't know.)
So, last weekend, when a massive cold wave hit the islands and Nagoya saw its first significant snowfall in a while, I took my PBJ out to the gravel roads of Seto.
The thermometer at the mountain pass peak read -3°C.
I was taking photos while climbing the forest road, moving at a slow pace, so a local rider who was coming up behind me ended up passing me. I didn't get to hit the target descent first, but that really doesn't matter.
I descended the snow-covered forest road on my PBJ with a nice, steady rhythm.
When it snows, the surface texture—like the rocky, uneven patches—becomes less clear, for better or worse. While I stayed alert for large boulders, I eventually returned completely to my childhood self, absorbed in the sheer joy of the descent.
It might not be like me, but I was so excited I even filmed a selfie video of the ride on my iPhone. That's usually how my PBJ rides go.
Now for a side note.
Clothing is essential for staying comfortable on winter rides.
| Base layer | ACLIMA M’s Warmwool Granddad Shirt | |
| Mid layer #1 | ACLIMA M’s Warmwool Hood Sweater W/Zip | |
| Mid layer #2 | Yamatomichi Active Pullover | |
| Outerwear | RAL Tonbo Jacket v2 |
Since I left at 6:00 a.m., I went with this layering setup for the day. I tend to run hot, so I was slightly overheating on the climb, but considering the cold during the descent and the slow-paced, photo-heavy nature of the ride, I think it was the right choice in the end.
The Insulated model of BIVO's double-wall bottles boasts exceptional cold retention, which also means it keeps warm liquids nice and toasty too.
Because of the design of the mouthpiece, it could burn you if the water is too hot, so I brought a mix of boiling and cold water from home to get the temperature just right. It was perfect for warming me up after the cold ride. I highly recommend you all give it a try.
It's possible that much of the snow has melted due to the clear weather since the start of the week, but there might still be some patches left, and roads can be icy early in the morning. So, please take care, and enjoy the rest of your winter!
