We had all sorts of things happen, but just being able to see this view makes it a top-tier ride in my book.
And that blissful moment of snacking at the summit with our helmets still on.
This day was the maiden voyage for our staff member Yoshimoto’s newly built SYCIP BIKES. The crew consisted of four of us: the man of the hour Yoshimoto, myself, Asai, and Ishikawa. We planned a relaxed trip to climb Mt. Ofune in Kamiyahagi, Gifu Prefecture, to see the wind turbines. The distance was manageable, and we planned to have lunch at Fujiyoshi, which serves an incredible ginger pork set meal that doesn't look like ginger pork at all, and then cruise around the nearby area or Yahagi Dam lake afterward.
However, early into the ride, the main road leading to the summit of Mt. Ofune was closed due to restoration work on a landslide. We were stuck, so we all opened Google Maps to look for a new destination. Yoshimoto suggested Mt. Takamine in Hiraya Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture, saying, "What about here!?"
The route from our starting point at Oshikawa Waterfall is mostly a gentle climb, but it gets significantly steeper once you turn off the national highway to head for the summit. We arrived at Michi-no-Eki Shinshu Hiraya just around lunchtime. We were getting pretty hungry, so we were faced with a choice: have lunch or just use our energy bars and head straight to the summit. The remaining distance was decent, and the thought of tackling a climb on a full stomach wasn't ideal... We started heading toward the summit route, but as soon as the summit came into view, Yoshimoto asked, "Shall we eat first after all?" and Asai immediately replied, "Let's eat!!!" That turned out to be a brilliant decision. If we had just kept going, we all would have hit the wall and likely never made it to the top.
The road to the summit was tough from the beginning, with some sections exceeding a 10% grade. We soon spread out and climbed at our own paces. As for me, not wanting to lose to the young guys, I set my sights on reaching the summit first.
Near the summit, the tall trees disappear and the view opens up all at once. Once you finish the paved section, there is an observation deck where you can also take in the beautiful scenery.
Then, we rode along the unpaved section ahead, left our bikes, and walked to the peak. That’s how we got to see the view I showed you at the beginning.
The fact that we managed to reach this spot despite a series of minor troubles is a testament to how well everyone adapted. That, too, is part of the true pleasure of riding.
Through this experience, we learned that Mt. Takamine is a wonderful place. Next time we head there, we'll map out a new route to explore, and that process of route building is something I'm already looking forward to.
By the way, the three of us besides Yoshimoto were wearing the RAL Merino Wool Long Sleeve Tee, and we all—including me—really felt how comfortable it is. Please take a look at it in our WEB SHOP as well.
And, and, and, stay tuned for a follow-up report on Yoshimoto's intriguing SYCIP BIKES.
For now, I'll share this route, so please take a look if you're interested.