Nocturne

Hottest weekend of the year and the first Nocturne criterium (circuit race) in the Grassmarket was a huge success. David Millar was in attendance and won by a large gap after the 1 hour and 5 laps of 1.2kms. The pace difference between the elites and the next level was incredible - the difference between doing it for a living and fitting in training around a busy schedule. I was marshalling on Candlemaker row and it was somewhat surreal to watch the pros descend the beginning of my commute home over the rugged terrain which falls away from the museum. The cobbles up Victoria street must have been a shock for one or two of them as well. Now they know.

Posted by stupot at 02:57 PM Sunday 31 May | Post comment (0) comments

The Lakes

It wasn't my first time but I was quite blown away by the Lake District during my recent visit. It was perfect - like out a film - The dry stone walls of farmland and buildings were stunning. I visited the guy I was best man to when I lived in Osaka, who was there with wife and parents. No cycling but we went to the Pencil museum (of Rexel Derwent). They even had hollowed out pencils with maps of Germany for troops in the war who were behind enemy lines - James Bond-tastic.

Posted by stupot at 06:20 PM Saturday 16 May | Post comment (0) comments

A Tale of Two Bikes

When my reliable, seven year old commuter bike developed a crack the size of the Nile in the frame, I was as sick as a parrot until I realised I had an excuse to buy a new bike. Immediately I toyed with fixed gears, couriers, foldables - everything was possible. Typically, however, I knew that I wanted something unfashionable - I don't want to be able to pull off a fixed and they're just not comfy enough.

Hankering after something classic and practical I stumbled upon Pashley's 'Guv'nor' - and got one sent up from my local shop's Manchester store to test ride. It was a head turner as soon as it was rolled out - a British icon - but a beast - heavy and tricky to steer - but still one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen. Even the staff were excited. Fortunately the £825 price tag was enough to dissuade me as much as a reliable friend who reminded me of the nightmare a 1935 race bike would be in city traffic.

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Posted by stupot at 06:39 PM Friday 15 May | Post comment (0) comments

bathgate loop

Alex made a rare appearance from New York and Gregor was handy in Livi, so we met at mine, exchanging the usual hard luck stories of how out of shape we all were. We swayed with a few routes as we got changed and drank coffee but heading into the wind won and so we headed out to Linlithgow - a fairly quiet road after getting out of town. The clouds gave in eventually but just in time for a tea stop.

The meandering road from Linlithgow to Bathgate is a corker - a real crowd pleaser - it will definitely be part of my regular itinerary. With the wind on our tails we chain-ganged it back to Haymarket just in time for lunch. Great catch up with the boys.

Posted by stupot at 09:08 PM Tuesday 5 May | Post comment (0) comments

always a westerly

This is the Edinburgh Road Club Saturday run, which I've started doing again. It's about 45 miles as a round trip and yet again, I got tripped up by starting with the faster half of the second group. By Drem I blew up and caught the next group which was just the right pace. The train works well which is a bonus of having good numbers. Here's to summer time trials and maybe a few hilly ones too. I'm never going back to crits.

Posted by stupot at 11:26 PM Sunday 19 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

vamus!

Andalucia and Montecorto, near Ronda, was a breath of fresh air after a beautiful if cold Scottish winter. There was a still a chill in the air in the mornings and especially when descending the category 1 climb (1300m). The cycling was at an easy pace but by the end of the week we had ramped up the climbs (thu - sat were all over 1100m) to satisfying altitudes. The coffee stops were civilised of not blissful, sitting in tiny white villages with just the sound of bird song and occasional chatter at the bar. More snaps here.

Posted by stupot at 12:09 AM Saturday 18 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

hasta luego

Spent 10 days in rural Andalucia, Spain last week with the following regime each day - bakers for bread, 4 hours cycling, pasta lunch, siesta, drawing, tapas dinner, beer and bed. With the smooth tarmac, warm weather and good company it was almost perfect. Hitting Easter week with the catholics in full celebration mode was a sight as well - from the evening 'death march' and sinister robes of Thursday, to the ultimate drunk bull run on Sunday - it's a far cry from the Church of Scotland festivities! The bull run was in Arcos de la Frontera - the following drawing is from Ronda. Some children played loudly in the lane to the left. There was still a nip in the air so my bum was cold after sitting for a while.

Posted by stupot at 12:07 AM Saturday 18 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

Kincardine loop / Summer time

Edinburgh - Kincardine - Edinburgh
62 miles

Having been out the picture for a few weeks due to injury, and worried about my form for the impending mountain scaling in Spain, I did my first longer ride for a while - over the forth bridge to Fife and back via the kincardine bridge. The sun was wonderful and the smells those of a new season but the wind was pretty relentless - something I'm hoping won't be such a factor in Iberia - by Bo'ness (40 miles) I had to stop for fuel. Encouraged by 2 jam doughnuts, some pumpkin seeds, a banana and a tail wind, it was a sprint (well almost) back into Haymarket for a shower and a kip. The leg held out - Andalucia here I come!

Posted by stupot at 11:31 PM Monday 30 Mar | Post comment (0) comments

end of the road

Rode about south of the city and took a detour as the Lanark road was closed - presumably due to a crash. Quite a few blue flashing lights passed me on the way out so it came as no surprise. I took a new route which ended up on a private road past a nature reserve and eventually petered out into snow. As my skin has been hot and bothered recently it was a nice cool down. collars were open - the cold air taken with gratitude.

Posted by stupot at 03:56 PM Sunday 8 Feb | Post comment (0) comments

bike graveyard

In yet another attempt at putting off doing my tax return, I went out to get some air and do a sketch. There's a bike park near Haymarket station, amidst all the roadworks, which looks like a graveyard. When the troubled tram line, new hotel, and station are finished I'm sure no one will remember a thing........

Posted by stupot at 01:36 AM Monday 26 Jan | Post comment (0) comments

rapha

If I had lots of money I would own a lot of rapha clothing. Check out their new tweed jacket. I'd even just like a cap though. The attention to detail is staggering. Roleur, their magazine, is a wee treat now and again - It's about £9 but the photography, choice and quality of articles blows all the others out the water. There was a DVD of the brooks saddle factory in England in one I bought last year. Geeky, but tremendously good.

Posted by stupot at 06:04 PM Friday 16 Jan | Post comment (0) comments

Ceilidh, Sun, Sofas and Cycling

It's been a surprisingly lovely start to 2009 thanks to few plans and a couple of good rides on the pusher. The local Ceilidh on Hogmanay, in West Kilbride, was great fun with dancing, pipes and band. And some shortbread and champagne thrown in for good measure. Stumbling around the house at lunch time the next day paid dividends as I found all the missing pieces of my bike jigsaw (pedals, cleats and a new tube) and got out for a ride in beautiful weather up to Largs where the promenade was bustling with people strolling past the recently reopened Nardini's. Friday was a day of sofas and fine food at Mr Macdonalds in Glasgow - his wonderful hospitality was just what the doctor ordered. A few more sofa's were sat on in West Kilbride before arranging an early morning ride up to Loch Thom above Largs. Despite the arctic conditions (digits, ears and faces were numb and the water bottle froze) the views were astounding and the ride finished up with a proper coffee at Nardind's. Woo hoo.

Posted by stupot at 05:49 PM Saturday 3 Jan | Post comment (0) comments

Dorogawa onsen

The most emotional trip of my visit to Japan was cycling to Dorogawa Onsen. I was barely back from Iwate before heading out from Nanba on my way down toward the mountains of south Nara. I went alone as Dan had been inundated with work - a big blow but it meant that I could have his bike and helmet. I stopped in for new brake blocks at Everwin and then headed for the mizukoshi Pass which would take me over to Nara. The weather was perfect and the further I got out of Osaka, the happier I became. Osaka is no city for cycling but the surrounding mountains are ideal.

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Posted by stupot at 11:42 PM Sunday 14 Dec | Post comment (0) comments

Jodogahama

Whilst in Iwate I decided to go to the famous Jodogahama beach with its rocky outcrops which jut from the sea and create a calm stretch of water. Iwate was freezing but this day was incredibly warm in the sun. I took my jacket off and drew as a few other visitors came to talk. I got the bus back into the edge of Miyako and drew a few of the hundreds of boats as a local eventually asked me what I was drawing and happily told me about the local seafood. The town was quiet and subdued. fishermen mended nets in the sun in their oilskins. Late afternoon I took one of only four (single-carriage) trains a day back over the snowy mountains to Morioka.

Posted by stupot at 11:28 PM Sunday 14 Dec | Post comment (1) comments

Superman!

So when I bumped into Chris Hoy with his Tanqueray a few weeks ago at Glasgow Airport, I really didn't expect I'd be meeting Graeme Obree within the same month. Obree won the hour record twice on revolutionary, handmade bikes (check out the bmx seat post) and was at the museum on Wednesday to hand the medal over for the first of these wins so it can go on display (possibly for a few bags of sand). Nice guy - now lives in the next town from my folks and, like me, doesn't agree with cross training. A colleague tipped me off on Tuesday and I was duly down with camera, and pen - for his John Hancock.

Posted by stupot at 10:18 AM Friday 12 Dec | Post comment (0) comments

northern exposure

After a week in Kansai, I headed for Matt and Chikako's house in Kitakami, Iwate. Not a prefecture overly popular with tourists, Iwate still offers beautiful coasts and mountains. After a few days relaxing around Morioka and Kitakami, Matt and I cycled up to Osawa onsen - about 30kms north west of Kitakami. He needed a break, I needed a break, and we were rewarded with all we could desire. Apart, that is, from beautiful concubines in the outdoor rotenburo bath.

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Posted by stupot at 09:53 AM Friday 28 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

maintain

Today I took a wee reminder in bike maintenance. The bike co-op does day training for few shekels and despite it taking up a full day of your weekend, I'd recommend to anyone. I was a bit concerned when we started by repairing a tyre - a well trodden area for me - but comfort zones were soon being challenged. Even in sections I did know about there was always one new thing I learned - be it adjusting the springs on cantilever brakes or tricks for tweaking gears. And some interesting technical terminology. Flange didn't even get a chuckle compared to some of the jargon.
Now I just need all the tools. And a stand. And patience.

Posted by stupot at 05:37 PM Sunday 19 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

arthur's seat

I think the reason Edinburgh is such a good place to live in is because it isn't really a city. Now the nights are drawing in, the 3 mile loop around Arthurs seat is becoming more and more of a useful route after work. 4 times round including getting to and from home allows for a good wind down. When you reach the top of the short, but sharp, climb you feel completely out of the city despite being at its centre. The views from the top are cracking - The city sits behind you as you climb - the moon was rising over the North sea and Denmark to my east tonight - beyond the Pentland hills to the south lies England and finally as you finish the plateau the ever present castle with sunset faces you to the west. There's greenery everywhere - or sea. It's why Edinburgh is known as a town despite being the capital city. At the weekends it only takes 20 minutes to be surrounded by fields and cattle. It's not a bad gaff.

Posted by stupot at 10:53 PM Monday 13 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

credit crunch

Have a bowl every morning!

Posted by stupot at 10:49 PM Sunday 12 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

Go West

Magic weather the last few days. With snow up in the Highlands it's been pretty much winter clothes even in the central belt - out on the bike. No gloves today though and it was pretty warm with the gilet on. I left my camera at the folks - thus the lack of photos recently - this landscape is not bad from my cheap phone. Trying to get into West Lothian a bit more - I need to extend my ride options and leaving west would cut out a lot of the city.

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Posted by stupot at 05:26 PM Sunday 5 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

Bealach na ba

Shieldaig - Applecross - Bealach na ba - Shieldaig
50 miles

Despite the weather getting better as we neared our destination, it would have had to have improved considerably to shake off the wet and mirky conditions which hung over us from the Forth bridges to north Perthshire. In the end we settled for what was not an unpleasant September day on the Applecross peninsula. The views started to take over from conversation and Gregor was keen to swap accelarator for the other, rotating type of pedal. Shieldaig is a lovely wee village with its houses hugging the shore overlooking the nearby island in the cove.

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Posted by stupot at 07:11 PM Sunday 14 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

Street hoy

Tame though it might be - a bit of respect to Telegraph tv for bringing triple gold medalist Chris Hoy to the great Asian pastime of street racing shopping bikes.

Posted by stupot at 08:53 PM Monday 25 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

tour of east lothian

Wow - what a good day it was for cycling. It rained for around forty eight hours from Tuesday evening - enough to drive even the hardiest protagonist of optimism to desperation. As I haven't been doing long many long runs this year I opted for taking a third off the run and jumped the train to North Berwick. I took the road to Dunbar to warm up, passing the Bass Rock up close with fields of wheat and poppies in the foreground which made for a beautiful spectacle. I couldn't determine if the white speckles on the bass were fauna or shite. Probably the latter but I decided on the former whilst taking it all in.

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Posted by stupot at 06:29 PM Friday 8 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

Kit

Despite it being summer, most rides in Scotland mean that you take a little extra just in case. On a few descents today it was positively chilly - the gilet I picked up in America last year is my most valued bit of kit and today I certainly needed the new knee warmers. I forgot my cap which would have been handy for the rain - or I need to pick up some glasses with various lenses (clear or yellow are what you really need here). I prefer to go out with almost nothing but for longer rides you really need to be prepared. If it's country climbing on a hot day I wouldn't take half this stuff, but maybe more liquids. The tail wind home today was a sweet exchange for a hard, slow run down the old Lanark road.

Posted by stupot at 03:11 PM Saturday 12 Jul | Post comment (0) comments

Manchester

Popped down to Manchester today for work - I used to go down quite a lot about 5 years ago with the company I worked for and I really enjoy it as a city - despite most people I speak to having little good to say about it. The office I was visiting is in Deansgate so I got off the train at Oxford road and managed to make my way past Harry Hall Cycles for what has become part of my routine when I visit. It was the first time I'd been in since his passing last year. Last time, I bought some arm warmers and as my knees have been playing up a bit I decided to get some knee warmers today. The neoprene wrap I wear sometimes is a bit too thick for summer so these look good. I was not surprised to find out that my goat-like legs equate to a size S. The amount of passengers on the train back was horrific to start with but eased up past the Lakes. I felt, for the first time in a long time that I needed to be wearing a watch so hastily drew one to get over the urge. I'm thinking about getting a tattoo without hands and adding in for appointments.

Posted by stupot at 10:34 PM Friday 11 Jul | Post comment (0) comments

Air Na Morthirean

ILE - TAIRBEART - TIGNABRUAICH - GLEANNDARUEL Dist: 45miles

After the day off and an early ferry to catch, I wasn't enamoured by the young trees being thrashed about outside the window. If ever it had looked like rain it was now. I had a quiet breakfast and left my food for others before packing well and applying some Ralgex I'd been forced to by at the end of day two. For almost half the journey I kept small and ground round the pedals but by the time I reached Bridgend - a nice wee village at the mouth of the loch - the clouds had lightened and I changed direction to take the high road to Pt Ellen. It was a bit like the never ending road of dips but soon enough, after passing the occasional car with sleeping wean in rear, I was going downhill and heading for the ferry. I was made a roll in the spar by a man who seemed to resent the business but his staff kept me entertained by the young girl, whilst unpacking crates of cheap brandy, asking the time-served one - "so why is it they like this so much?" - "Compared to whisky?........... It's got more of a kick."
And with that I left this whisky mecca and rolled on to the ferry waiting for me just around the corner.

Continue reading "Air Na Morthirean"
Posted by stupot at 07:16 PM Saturday 31 May | Post comment (0) comments

UISGE BEATHA

ILE - REST DAY

I woke up to a little bit of wind. The Guiness I thought.
It was also breezy outside - something that was becoming as typical a part of the day as the sun was, breaking though mid to late morning. for the first time on the trip I made my own eggs and bacon in the generous sized kitchen. Pans and crockery were laid out with military precision and after I'd turned out the fluorescent strips in the dining room I could relax and look out the windows to the hypnotic swaying of the trees and rolling waves. A friendly fellow from East Kilbride and a Swedish Chef shared breakfast with me and we discussed our respective days.

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Posted by stupot at 08:12 PM Friday 30 May | Post comment (0) comments

caol

MUILL - OBAN - ILE DIST: 31miles

On Wednesday morning more sun was waiting in the morning but with a little more breeze as I headed the 15 or so miles to Craignure. The reason for not staying longer in Mull was to catch the weekly ferry which leaves Oban for Islay via Colonsay. The road is busier on the north west coast of Mull and fairly uneventful but the views across to Morvern and eventually right up to Ben Nevis were a sight for sore legs. I met a man called Willie MacGregor at Craignure who it turned out owned the pub I was having my coffee outside of. We got talking and it turned out he knew Mairi, who I sit beside at work. He shouted over her dad, Archie, and explained. We had a nice wee chat before he went back to checking tickets for the 13:30. Willie told me a little more about Craignurite and I headed off for the ferry.

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Posted by stupot at 07:00 PM Thursday 29 May | Post comment (0) comments

Sreath Bhean-ntan

TOBAR MHOIRE - CALGARY BAIGH- ARDNACROSS DIST: 42 miles

Second day cycling and another morning bathed in sun. I really couldn't believe my luck. There was a lot of whistling going on as I rolled out of the hostel to pick up breakfast from the deli on the front. I popped in to check ferry times and had a good blether with the harbour master who it turned out was a keen road racer. I should have known from the wirey figure and scorched nose. He told me some welcome tales of the fabled Bealach na Ba hill climb of which the guy from the garage won last year. He also filled me in on my days cycle ahead which was useful.

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Posted by stupot at 06:57 PM Wednesday 28 May | Post comment (0) comments

Leth-Eilean

GEARASTAN - TOBAR MHOIRE DIST: 61miles

It's been a long winter. The sun deprivation was getting to me. Scotland's not the first place you might choose for guaranteed rays but if you get it, you get it good. May is always a good bet and it didn't disappoint. I started the Islands tour the day after Jeni and George's Ceilidh in West Kilbride to celebrate the new vets opening - a great time was had by all but it has to be said that young lassies cannae burl no more. The seventy year olds were throwing us 'round the hall!

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Posted by stupot at 06:35 PM Tuesday 27 May | Post comment (0) comments

not ready for the off

Jesus - I didn't do anything for the first quarter of the year and now everything seems to be snowballing into a few weeks. I got some new panniers for my road trip which is rapidly approaching with what feels like very little preparation or thought. What with being busy with work and downed by lurgy at the weekend. I've an exhibition opening Thursday and then I'm back to the art school Friday. Ceilidh on Saturday and then it's off to the Islands. The panniers are lovely things - hand made Canadian numbers very generously gifted to me by my mother. I was almost certain I was going to buy the same Ortliebs I had before but the build and accessibility of these Arkels was too much to pass on. They've a lifetime guarantee and the Heath-Robinson device for mounting to your rack may look crude but holds the bags rock solid - no noisy jumping around behind you. So the bags are great - not sure how the legs are though.....

Posted by stupot at 02:17 AM Tuesday 13 May | Post comment (0) comments

secrets

One of the small pleasures of working at the museum is that you can find yourself getting pretty close to the objects. I found myself beside Graeme Obree's bike this week which was quite special. It's not an old fragile relic but none-the-less it's a lovely bit of home engineering that helped him break the legendary hour record. The bmx saddle and narrow bottom bracket (of washing mashine fame) were quite evident.

Posted by stupot at 11:20 PM Thursday 24 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

the basin

A colleague suggested I visit the Union canal basin at Fountainbridge, five minutes from Haymarket. The area has been renovated with new offices and coffee shops although old workshops still exist which stop the place from becoming too sterile. New flats canteliever over the water and contrast with the old riveted, iron bridge. Start of cobbled bike routes too.

Posted by stupot at 05:04 PM Wednesday 16 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

spartan

It was quite a nice weekend down in Ayrshire but it was still raw in the wind and there was an occaisional spitting of rain on Saturday. Despite the blossom pushing. I popped into Irivine Harbour on the way back from the bike shop - my second bike, which I haven't used since Japan, looks like it was squashed a little in transit and the drop-outs need straightened before I can take it up north. I also can't find my old ortelieb panniers so looks like I may have to buy some new ones......... or borrow. Offers on a postcard.

Posted by stupot at 08:03 PM Tuesday 15 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

clarity

The weather on Saturday was fresh to say nothing of the arctic winds pushing you side ways. Sunday morning was snow. The visibility from the Pentland hills was staggering though - I'm pretty sure I could see Ben Lomond and certainly the weather fronts skiteing over Fife. Cobwebs gone.

Posted by stupot at 10:20 PM Monday 7 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

island hopping

Route planning for a May excursion up the west coast taking in Ardnamurchan, Mull, Iona, Colonsay, Islay, Tighnabruaich and Dunoon. Any suggestions welcome.

Posted by stupot at 04:26 PM Sunday 6 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

les chapeaus

Posted by stupot at 05:35 PM Wednesday 19 Sep | Post comment (1) comments

We're football crazy..

Sitting on the warm train on Saturday morning, all I could think about was the fierce winds that would have been hitting the cyclists as they made their way past Strathaven and over the Fenwick moor - well known territory for Glasgow and Ayrshire riders alike. As I made my way to the finish line in Glasgow I wondered what the pro's thought about the howling gales that we have to put up with week in week out. I also, looking for a slim paper to read on the train, made the mistake of buying an Evening Times. There was a sports special supplement in which I found 10 pages of football and 4 pages of horse racing. I think there was a suggestion of the rugby world cup in the back pages of the main paper but nothing on the Tour of Britain coming to town. Team CSC had decided to race in the Tour of Poland and the Vuelta was still on as well so perhaps the timing of the race is not what it could be. There was a decent crowd considering the grey skies and blustery conditions but the fact Glasgow Green has been chosen instead of George Square seemed to suggest that the city wasn't really all that passionate about hosting the finish. Brit Paul Manning took the final stage and put a smile on everyone's face though - and we got loads of freebies while we were waiting! I guess football is just a bit more fun to watch.

Posted by stupot at 01:46 PM Wednesday 19 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

campy

There's a competition to design the graphics for campagnolo's bora wheel. Since it's carbon fibre there's a nice black canvas to work on - I decided to sketch out (and invert) some key innovations the company has produced (quick release skewer, derrailleur) and I've interwoven ribbon between them. The colours represent those worn by the world champion (many of whom have ridden campagnolo over the years, not least Eddy Merckx). Deadline next Friday.

Posted by stupot at 06:12 PM Wednesday 5 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

Grand Depart

Last week was spent in Londres at a good friends house, aiding the current work-load. It felt a lot like being at art school again. In more ways than one. As with the general positive feelings of being back in Britain, London was much more refreshing than last I remember it. There was a buzz that the Tour de France, Wimbledon and peak tourist season can't help but make and the rain tried but ultimately failed to dampen the spirits. After an epic studio move on Sunday, I spent Monday and Tuesday taking photographs of the stormy skies and drawing around the city. Wednesday to Friday was fairly solid work before I headed over to the opening ceremony of the Tour in Charing Cross.

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Posted by stupot at 11:38 AM Tuesday 10 Jul | Post comment (0) comments

woolen jumpers and down tube changers

I've never really been attracted to celebrity and looked upon the famous as any kind of role model but from Friday there is the bicycle film festival in Edinburgh which celebrates two of my heroes - Robert Millar and Graeme Obree. The Flying Scotsman preview to general release is already sold out but it opens from the end of this month so its not to worry. There's an old documentary on Robert MIllar - the King of the mountains from the Gorbals who famously ate up even the best Colombian climbers. I reckon you can find some decent stuff on youtube though.

Posted by stupot at 07:17 PM Monday 11 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

The Loch Thom Loop

The weather forecast suggested today would be a belter so I opted for a day on the coast riding one of my favourite routes. It takes in North Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire with a few climbs (the ride is hilly in general) over 80kms in about 3 hours. I started from West Kilbride and headed up the A78 to Largs - past Vikingar you'll see a sign for the Brisbane Glen road - it's a wee cracker - I only passed three cars in about an hour and the other 'A' roads are not exactly choking.

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Posted by stupot at 04:42 PM Wednesday 6 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

spring on the east coast

Had a blast catching up with the NYC faction of the old Art school crew. I'll try and write up the trip but I've at least gotten around to uploading a flckr set. Hope everyone reading this in Japan is well.

Posted by stupot at 11:53 PM Thursday 17 May | Post comment (0) comments

nimotsu

So time is running away at speed yet I'm sitting around inside on a day when the whole Japanese archipelago is dowsed in rain. When you combine that with all the talk about new Scottish leaders north and south of the Border in Britain, and design events happening all over Scotland, I feel like it's an opportune time to be heading back. There's even this happening to one of the local castles.

I've sent off one bike and four boxes of 'stuff' - this time I ended up shipping by Japan post opposed to Nittsu which I'd used before. There were issues with my bike and it was certainly cheaper to Japan than from. If you're using this service just bear in mind weight and dimension constraints. For me this was L+B+B+H+H = <3M and <30kgs. I managed to just get the bike box down to this size without taking the pedals off. The picture shows the bike before I took the derailleur off and spacers between the forks ends. I used this site for tips. I'm taking my good bike with me on the plane. And I'll be crossing my fingers.

Posted by stupot at 02:26 PM Sunday 6 May | Post comment (0) comments

human horses

So finally I got to see Keirin. The Japanese cycle racing that replaces the dogs and horses with weightlifters. We went to the relatively local Kishiwada track in south Osaka (Haruki station - Nankai airport / Wakayama line from Namba) and enjoyed the rusting structures and old men's chat in what certainly feels like a bygone era. Keirin's a lucrative sport though - over 20 million watch every year and betting is just as popular as in any other country. Because so much is at stake, there are tight standards for bikes so that no-one is at an advantage. Being Japan, you can believe rules and regulations are adhered to. After working out the betting form with some help from the vets (it's diffficult enough in english) we started putting small bets on. Nothing came of them until the final race when Matt, Lukes mate, on holiday - and a keen Keirin fan - chanced a top two finish (each way) and cashed in 14,000 yen from a 100 yen bet. that's pretty good odds by anyone's standards! All the fun of the fair.

Posted by stupot at 12:18 PM Friday 30 Mar | Post comment (0) comments

udon, undo and ushi unko

On Wednesday's bank holiday we headed over the bridge to Awajishima - the island connecting Honshu with Shikoku. I stayed at Dan's the night before and the good bottle of wine we'd polished off didn't feel like such a good idea at 5am as we rose in darkness. We met at the bike shop in north Osaka at 6 as the sun poked it's head out into an incresingly blue sky, suggesting the weather forecast had been correct. We packed the 22 bikes onto the truck and headed off, coffee's and pastry in hand.

Continue reading "udon, undo and ushi unko"
Posted by stupot at 02:51 PM Monday 26 Mar | Post comment (0) comments

another hangover

Been drinking far too much recently. The past few sundays have been very tough to get up for - lying in bed, reaching the point (6.40) where you must make a decision in order to catch the 'train' (certainly with no time for the comfort coffee). Actually I missed them by about a minute this morning and had to chase them down - I wasn't late - 3 more followed on my heels. The weather was positively spring-like; gloves, over-shoes, ear warmers and top layer were unnecessary and those who had not watched the forecast were baking after the first 5 kms. I stopped in at Taishi for breakfast and came back by the river paths - there was a massive clean-up operation happening as the Ishi and Yamato rivers are having lots of time and money put into them. It was great to see thousands of people descend on the banks and clean up together.

The 'chari-bar' I was at last night was Tacurino's bike bar in Tezukayama, Sumiyoshi, run by an ex pro, Uesakasan. In the background a Graeme Obree documentary played and I pointed out the Ayrshire countryside and Irvine cycles, my old local shop. Later Belleville rendezvous was put on and a messenger brought in last years Japan cup race. A quality evenings drinking and viewing. Wish I'd found it earlier.

Posted by stupot at 11:27 AM Sunday 4 Mar | Post comment (2) comments

bicycles, bears and bad knees

The indispensable Kansai scene has just released its March edition with a cheeky article in the travel section featuring two very handsome designers. You can see the original blog here.

Posted by stupot at 07:03 PM Thursday 1 Mar | Post comment (0) comments

highway 61

Today's good weather report coincided with a day off work and as it had been some time since I ventured further than the usual club run I headed for two of my favourite passes. The route took me over highway 61 at Takihata dam (south of Kawachinagano) and the Zao pass into Wakayama before headed north into Nara prefecture and over the Mizukoshi pass (highway 309) back into Osaka Fu. Despite the skies getting bluer as the afternoon went on, the wind was pretty strong and whippy in places which brought the average speed down by quite alot. I ended up doing 120 km's in about 5 hours and my legs are certainly aching a bit now. I have to say that, even with some steep areas, route 61 from Kawachinagano (and down the Ishigawa bike path from further north) is probably the best ride out of Osaka. There's little traffic if any and the road is beautiful. Head back if it's a too much or travel on to Koya san or Wakayama city. I'll sleep tonight......

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Posted by stupot at 08:01 PM Thursday 15 Feb | Post comment (1) comments

over the hill

Posted by stupot at 06:54 PM Saturday 10 Feb | Post comment (0) comments

kansai scene

As the cover suggests, this months copy of kansai scene magazine has more references to bikes than a French sports newspaper during July. Living in Kansai and being a bike freak myself, it probably comes as little surprise that I have an article inside. I've written a piece on road racing in Japan - something I had a lot of difficulty fathoming when I arrived here. The reason for the article is to hopefully alleviate some of the mist that surrounds the topic. The new look kansai scene has a neat layout by the ever talented mojoworks and as ever, the magazine has lots of helpful local listings all broken up by adverts designed by the local blind school.

Posted by stupot at 11:22 AM Sunday 12 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

back in the hills

I didn't realise, until I was riding along side the fields being harvested and smoke filtering through the cedars, that I had missed the countryside so much. I could actually feel my battery being recharged, surrounded by all the beauty. Today was really beautiful - one of those summer-making-way- for- autumn kind of days - the cycle paths and parks filled with families enjoying the pleasant weather. Needless to say the harmony was broken by a puncture but it was a welcome excuse to stop after what felt like a hell for leather dash out of town - my first for a few months having been either on holiday, racing or injured. The nihon-shu last night was certainly a bad idea. Almost home, I noticed a guy in an electric wheelchair had fallen foul of a drain channel by the road and had gotten himself well stuck - he couldn't shout for help so it was lucky another woman and I saw him. We pulled his very heavy, angled chair back on track. It reminded me of this.

Posted by stupot at 01:05 PM Sunday 15 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

getting to school

I walked to school as a kid in a sleepy coastal village. the fresh air mixed with an over-active imagination meant that it was a great way to start the day as I wandered the small streets and lanes. Then I started cycling to school as I got older and presumably wanted to buy a little time in the morning. I still cycle to work whenever possible: it helps me waken up, gets me a bit of excercise and importantly, means I interact with people and have experiences enroute. It's also fun. In Japan, for younger kids, the school run is by and large done by mothers on bikes. there's a lot of sheperding done (often by retired men) and because of the busyness of life and crampt streets - It can be a bit dangerous at times (though Japanese kids very quickly adapt to their surroundings).

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Posted by stupot at 09:42 PM Thursday 12 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

shimano road race - suzuka

back for 6 hours after hokkaido and then out again at 4am to head to mie for the shimano road race. fortunately we had booked an airconditioned room behind the pits which, presumably, the teams use when suzuka is used for its better known event. I also got to sleep in the car and had a single room awaiting me at the hotel which were blessings. we arrived early enough for a few laps to get to know the circuit and just after lunch we had the 4 up team time trial (4TTT). having ridden at an easy pace for a week I was raring to go and found myself pacing the other two after we dropped our slow man (we've all been there). we ended about 4 minutes back from the leaders and a third of the way down in the results table which didn't seem too bad. the kit that even the beginner riders have in japan still amazes me - the kids too are decked out with quality frames - bet they don't even have a paper round.

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Posted by stupot at 12:55 AM Monday 28 Aug | Post comment (2) comments

hokkaido: day 12 - this is what it must be like to be retired

DEST: YACHIYO/CHITOSE DIST: 130KMS

on wednesday the schedule was somewhat shorter than our average getting to our hostel just south of obihiro and the foot of more mountains by 5pm. we made a civilisation stop after the rain started - had a big mac and then went to the flicks. it was great - like a traditional british holiday. we also topped up on our cash before spending a couple of days in the sticks. the hostel turned out to be clean and new if slightly unlived in. the countryside was like east lothian near edinburgh but without the nice farmhouses and their red tiled roofs. everything built is pretty much prefab here, soley to take the weight of the snow each winter. function without form. our hosts were jolly osakans who had left the rat race a few years earlier and it has to be said they now have a sweet little thing up here.

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Posted by stupot at 12:04 PM Saturday 26 Aug | Post comment (2) comments

hokkaido: day 10 - d'you think the'll be a disco in Ikeda?

DEST: IKEDA DIST: 120KM'S

leaving kushiro was both a relief and a disappointment. relief we were only passing through, disappointment that the har was only just covering the industrial wasteland that surrounded it. we started singing a bad karaoke version of everyday is like sunday. our daily wrong turning didn't help spirits and with a lack of landscape, quiet roads and sun for 40 km's we decided to jump on the train. there was a lull in the traffic as we drew up to the side of the road to study the map and as we turned to look up a shire type mini valley, a pair of tsuru, long and elegant, flew past.

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Posted by stupot at 12:26 AM Tuesday 22 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

hokkaido: day 6 - seriously, what the fuck was that noise?

DEST: MASSHUKO DIST: 150KMS

monday morning. yesterday was a very long day and toward the end, a little scary - we headed down from the national park after climbing for an hour to the pass and descended down through the valley passing more tat and ice cream shops with stuffed bears outside - the vibrant colours couldn't hide the fact that most were dilapidated and the foxes chained up outside really didn't charm us. countryside was nice though - still european but a bit more danish than french. we got the train station just in time for the 1.10 to masshu and managed to waive putting our bikes in the bag hassle. dan reckoned the knee could withstand the gentle climb up from bihiro though so we jumped ship and made our way out of town.

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Posted by stupot at 10:45 PM Monday 21 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

hokkaido: day 4 - d'you remember catchphrase?

DEST: SOUNKYOU DIST: 112KMS

rest day in the mountains. yesterday was another long one but we managed up to our hostel in the mountains by 6.30, just as the sun was going down. the scenery was lovely - changing from lush tuscan hills in the morning to a dramatic alpine rocky gorge by the evening and we stopped in between for some scolding ramen carbs. thankfully the climb wasn't too steep either as dan's knee was causing him a fair amount of pain. the mist sitting on the river helped to take the edge off the final few kilometres and sounkyou ended up being a lot nicer than the guide books make out but then your perspective is always different when you've had a long day in the saddle. our simple bath and dinner last night was all we yearned for in the world and the woman who showed us to our family sized tatami room, an angel.

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Posted by stupot at 10:12 PM Saturday 19 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

hokkaido: day 2 - it's definitely left after the tunnel

DEST: FURANO DIST: 130KMS

Dan's mate junko, and her man, picked us up from the port in otaru and we headed back to their flat in south sapporo. we had a few local beers while we looked over the map and altered our course slightly, choosing a nice campsite for the final night as they glared, initially, open eyed and taking sharp, serious intakes of breath at our route. today we got our bikes together, took the obligatory photo and headed off around 10. the road out was pretty busy but we had a tail wind and made the foot of the mountains at a leisurely pace, taking in all the peculiar sights (local graphics, cows, chimneys, elevated fuel tanks in gardens) and trying to get an initial feel for the place as dan taught me animal words I didn't know - kitsune (fox) and kuma (bear).

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Posted by stupot at 09:14 PM Thursday 17 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

hokkaido: day 1 - what time is it?

DEST: SAPPORO

both a little weary after a short sleep and not having had a holiday in a while but hoping that arrival in hokkaido will re-energise us. last nights stressful, getting the bikes to the ferry, bit is over and we're happy to relax on deck watching the wake fade into the distance. osaka is slowing being washed out of our systems and we turn to thoughts of big skies and animals skipping around happily, beneath rainbows. the weather on the japan sea is perfectly fine and naps seem to be in order for the rest of the day - the ferry from maizuru, just north of kyoto takes 21 hours.

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Posted by stupot at 08:56 PM Wednesday 16 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

new arrival

I picked up my new road bike today. It's a long time coming - in part because I had to wait for the tube to be ordered but also because I've wanted a made to measure number for quite a few years now. she looks great - the colour only being a little lighter than the duck egg blue I specified. The weight is the big difference - my old machine is steel and I think the new one is 7.7kg which will work out quite nicely in the mountains. unfortunately though, I have now run out of excuses for being slow.

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Posted by stupot at 12:15 AM Saturday 12 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

keon

I give up on cycling as a professional sport - I really do. just when we had the most competitive tour in years, the winner is found positive for doping. anyway - congratulations to pereiro for a collosal effort. and it looks like landis will have time out to have that hip operation. interesting that although his upbringing was Mennonites Christian which reject modern amenities such as television or computers, testosterone is okay. there has been a few rumours circulating about some underhand actions to frame landis (it was said someone rubbed on testosterone in the form of cream) but frankly I don't have the energy to follow these stories.

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Posted by stupot at 11:50 AM Sunday 6 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

saru, sento, yugen

This weekend was the Oodaigahara hill climb. some of the guys had talked about the climb and how brutal it was, which only made me more keen to race. the mountain is in deepest nara - towards where nara meets wakayama and mie prefectures, south of osaka. it's real middle of nowhere country which added to the sense of mystery.

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Posted by stupot at 05:44 PM Sunday 9 Jul | Post comment (0) comments

TDF

so the tour de france has started amid a now fairly typical fanfare of controversy. Ullrich and Basso (the two main favourites), amoungst others, were withdrawn on the eve of the race as a new drugs dispute hit the headlines. I can't really be arsed with it all - I love the mountains with a passion, but the flat just doesn't do it for me and I don't read about the big names and their woes - most of them dope and so I cannae be bothered anymore. I used to defend the sport until I read a few books including willy voet's 'breaking the chain'. he was the physiotherapist (dealer) for the festina team in the 1998 tour (infamously coined the tour de farce) who was caught by french customs carrying more drugs than you'd have found on a friday night in the hacienda. as a traditionalist I've always liked the good old days when pro's would think nothing of stopping at the foot of an alpine 'haute' category climb, snorting a few grams of charlie and necking a couple of cognacs. I think, though, that the death rate was a lot higher. anyway - it's been crash central in the first few days alone with dekker (above) and valverde out, but the crashes always make it more of a spectator sport, don't they?

Posted by stupot at 08:00 PM Wednesday 5 Jul | Post comment (0) comments

always wear a helmet kids

in appreciation of my father's nasty fall last week where he pulled his arm apart in a remote part of the scottish highlands (and was promptly airlifted to Inverness hospital for 3 lots of surgery over the weekend) I came off in slow motion today and my helmet smacked the tarmac a beauty. didn't feel a thing - felt almost comfortable had I not ripped up my hip and elbow. my wrist and shoulder shall be pretty tight tomorrow too. as the policeman who visited your school said: "that crack in your helmet could have been your skull, young man."

someone has to carry on the clumsy genes and I guess it's me. get well soon dad.

Posted by stupot at 07:24 PM Tuesday 13 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

Fujisan - day 2

I woke at 4 o'clock to the sound of a local cockerel who liked the sound of his own voice, having woken me twice before during the night. I'm not the heaviest of sleepers and the window being open certainly didn't help. I turned over after the hundredth 'ko-keeko-ko-' (as they say in japan) and woke fairly soon after to the sound of the hotel alarm I'd set and then again 5 minutes later to the sound of my mobile, flashing and gyrating on the side board which resembled a piece of furniture from the same doll's house as my bath, the portable TV hanging over the side precariously. as I took that special five minutes contemplating the day ahead I realised the other noise I was hearing was rain hitting the fire escape and tree leaves outside and then as I sat up and saw my jersey I realised I was here to climb a very big mountain as fast as my legs would allow......

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Posted by stupot at 01:37 PM Monday 12 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

Fujisan - day 1

to be perfectly honest, I still get that childhood excitement when I ride the shinkansen. everything about it says air travel opposed to just getting on an ordinary train. the sight of a wingless airplane approaching the platform is like going back in time to when trains were really respected for their engineering and speed with the barriers protecting you from the edge of the platform suggesting you are about to experience something altogether more thrilling and exotic. inside - the roof lights, the windows, the food trays - all of the interior is like a plane. when you bank on one of the few, but long corners you see the ground out of one window and sky out of the other. even the conductors are referred to as crew - it's fairly subtle language which works well.

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Posted by stupot at 12:06 PM Monday 12 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

tailor made

I just ordered my new road bike which will be my first custom built. I'm pretty excited. the columbus tubing has to be ordered though, so I must wait about 4 weeks which is a little frustrating. Due to a swollen ankle from jogging, and a subsequent cold, I have not been training so much during the latter part of may. this makes me only slightly anxious with the up and coming 'fuji hill climb' on the eleventh. it might only be to the '5th station' of fuji, but I think the generic term using 'hill' is a little misleading. having received my information pack (and signed the disclaimer) it seems like it's a constant 7% for the 25 kilometeres which is tamer than I had expected. the granny gear will none-the-less be seeing some action no doubt. my new commute has helped as gentle training and being out the saddle has quenshed my thirst for more. the theory sounds good.

I'm not usually a big fan of motors but I love the styling of the honda PS250 above. the military references are great and the first one I saw the other day had been well personalised with various attachments and netting on the back - very mad-max.

Posted by stupot at 05:48 PM Friday 2 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

the last village and the filth

I've burnt my legs and god knows what my nose will be like tomorrow. after a sunday of torrential rain and thunder that at one point literally shook the house, today had a high of 27 and it began to feel like it - climbing into the mountains. the sun was beating down on my knees and my fluids were finished well before half way. I've not been climbing much in the winter so it was by no means a comfortable afternoon but beautiful none-the-less. I am more than aware that the fuji hill climb is only a month away. jesus.

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Posted by stupot at 04:23 PM Monday 8 May | Post comment (0) comments

in at the deep end

my first road race of the year, the first in japan and indeed my first criterium happpened on saturday and all in all it was pretty brutal. the experience was great - an insight into the well-oiled machine that seems to be japan cycling: the family day out with all age groups and levels competing, the good marshalling, the individual chips we got to register our times as we passed the finish line. and the weather was very spring like as a bonus - the wicked wind from china having abaited.

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Posted by stupot at 10:13 PM Sunday 30 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

holy grail discovered in small, unremarkable bookshop

it's not something that will probably fill many other people with great joy and happiness, but stumbling upon this years road race guide for japan really was the breakthrough of my year. I can now get a schedule going and have some crucial dates to work towards - probably one or two a month with the first race being next saturday. 2 big dates are the mt fuji hill climb and the shimano crit in mie. hopelly I'll make both.

incredibly I couldn't find a comprehensive guide on the net which was disappointing and getting to be frustrating (the JCF's website fails to deliver on most counts and info seems to be dealt with region to region). thankfully cycle sports magazine breaks down every competition from bmx to freestyle to hill climbs. pig in shit. hopefully I'll scan and make available for others, though it's debatable just how many people this will amount to. I've never bought a motorbike magazine before but now I know what it feels like - given this month's cover. scantily clad babes - RAW POWER!

Posted by stupot at 11:07 PM Wednesday 19 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

hell of the north

as the sun gets a little higher and the temperature eases toward twenty degrees, it means that the most famous one day classic ushers in the cycling year proper. the paris-roubaix is on sunday and the 165 mile amble through the french countryside is notoriously severe - the famous cobbled sections having snapped frames and broken limbs. if it rains, as anyone who has cycled on wet cobbles will testify, it's kinda like cycling on ice. so all in all a nice way to spend a sunday afternoon.

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Posted by stupot at 12:54 PM Thursday 6 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

holy water

back into the mountains after a long and fairly flat winter. yesterday looked warm but demanded the long sleeves and legs. the next best thing about climbing in the mountains after the views are the springs and japan has an incredible amount that are easy to spot - usually having been made into some kind of a shrine. at this one (310 south osaka) there was even a money box for contributions (actually there was also the traditional flashing red light that somehow didn't make it into this picture) and although I didn't have the heart to break the scottish stereotype, I was happy to dismount and have a good drink of the stuff - it tasted good. much creamier than treated city water. you often see people drive into the countryside with a boot full of containers and stock up - not a bad idea considering the stuff is in endless supply. but I can never understand quite how it keeps coming.....

Posted by stupot at 11:11 AM Tuesday 4 Apr | Post comment (0) comments

climbing

being cooled down by snow on a climb is one thing but having your feet frozen on a descent is quite another. "he knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity." - Francis Bacon.

or so I keep telling myself.

Posted by stupot at 01:50 PM Sunday 12 Feb | Post comment (0) comments

the pocket rockets

I never really think about it, but when our bikes are side by side there is no mistaking the size difference between me and some of the guys I ride with.

Posted by stupot at 11:53 AM Sunday 5 Feb | Post comment (0) comments

studying's brutal

it's all become a bit competitive. the calender clinging to the fridge door is inescapable and as I'm a grazer as well as a big eater it means that I not only 'clock in' every day but have to face up to any slacking with every visit. my big push to learn more japanese is under watch as well as the bike training. as it's the off season I'm trying to do 3 rides a week but the weather often means I find 'pressing jobs' to do instead. I'm trying to get in about 160 kms tho. I'm also trying to get in three quarters of an hour worth of the old nihongo every week day but it's amazing what will try and distract you from hard graft. even ironing shirts suddenly becomes attractive.

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Posted by stupot at 12:00 AM Friday 3 Feb | Post comment (0) comments

brass monkey

it could have frozen the balls off one today. the start was tough - the first club run of the new year - a pre-dawn rise in freezing conditions. never a great combination. my face felt numb after the 10 minute ride in the dark to the meet point. dawn turned out to be beautiful but just after the short descent when we made our stop to regroup, I noticed my water had frozen over. the bottle top had become solid with ice and inside was a gatorade slush puppy which I can only dream of in the summer. you certainly need to keep a keen eye on any water on the road in winter after the slippy leaves in autumn. the wind chill coming down a mountain certainly doesn't help - today my climbing partner got to hear previously unreleased swearing - the really bad stuff - my tourettes at it's best. going up was a struggle too - fitness has definitely taken a nose-dive since mid december and the legs and lungs were not responding. there was even wheezing at the end. it can only improve.

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Posted by stupot at 03:14 PM Sunday 29 Jan | Post comment (0) comments

winter training/purgatory

it's difficult enough - the temperature is near zero and you're late for training. you get outside in 3 minutes flat with bagel in mouth and start to ride when you notice the road is speckled with dark spots which can only be rain. the weather forecast is 6 hours out and you forgot your jacket. with the warm up lost you still have to go all out to play catch up. passing the meet place thoughts of a warm bed drift in and out of your imagination as devil and angel sit on your shoulders. an almost revived pair of legs are ready to go and the rain is still light but the rest are almost definitely reading the papers in warm living rooms - even the cars you pass are sitting in glows of warmth with their TV's and heating on full. despite this you still feel more satisfaction.

at the halfway point the rain begins to fall hard, the training starts proper and as there's no sign of them, you know for sure everyone else is cosy inside. the water reaches your feet and hands through sodden gloves and overshoes and the chill begins. your few emergency possesions begin to reach emergency point themselves as the splash line up your backside soaks both your bank notes and cellphone.

you turn on the gas in an attempt to get home faster and soon, as your toes and fingers depart, thoughts turn dangerously only to warm showers and hot coffee. you start to trick your brain into thinking you're warm. the last 3 miles hurt as the windchill tries to finish off your extremities but local landmarks welcome you back and you know things are close.

even though you're desperate to warm up you can't get your clothes off because of your numb digits but you know that in a matter of minutes you'll be rewarded with the best shower and coffee of your life.

Posted by stupot at 11:40 AM Sunday 4 Dec | Post comment (2) comments

Posted by stupot at 07:26 PM Monday 28 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

muzukashi

as the karaoke didn't happen last night after a drink I decided to head over to yoshino in nara today which is famous for its cherry blossom. obviously I'm aware it's not that time of year but I reckoned the dying leaves would be a nice backdrop to a long ride. the 120kms didn't hurt too much probably due to the decent breakfast and eating sensibly, at the right times (for once) during the day.

one thing that's worthwhile to bear in mind if you're cycling in japan is the amount of tunnels. they are certainly no place for cyclists as they often have heavy traffic as well as poor lighting and air and many are very long. it's pretty essential to have a good map for reference or even to take with you: if there isn't a pass you could be in for a very long detour. the bonus is though, that the passes are beautiful, generally car-free areas - so if you have the lungs you'll get a very satisfying view from the top.

the map of the route above shows a spine in the middle which is the border of osaka and nara prefectures: the final climb today is a favourite but pretty tough little bastard which brings you down into tondabayashi on the osaka side. the pass - the mizukoshi toge - is a lovely, quiet road with springs to fill your water bottle (often with locals stocking up with huge containers like today) and little if no traffic. it is a hard climb though with some severe gradients - I affectionately know it as the muzukashi, or, 'difficult' pass.

I need a massage.

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Posted by stupot at 06:40 PM Monday 28 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 06:27 PM Sunday 20 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

cycle mode, osaka

today was cycle mode - the main industry event in japan. I hoped it would fulfill but let's face it - the chances of a keen cyclist who is also an exhibition designer not enjoying a trade show with bikes would be pretty difficult. thankfully the show was really good - mainly due to the fact that it wasn't precious. you could try out just about everything - just grab a bike and jump off to the indoor circuit: 20,000 yen foldables or 400,000 yen colnagos. you had to queue for the italian stuff right enough. mr armstrongs face adorned most stands, with them thriving off his connection. his clothing company, his bike company, even his energy bar supplier and toilet roll maker. fair dues.

the highlights for me were: the cateye vibration activated, solar-powered light (spring 2006) and the ingenious foldables. given I'm looking for one I gave them close attention: in terms of all round value the best was probably the handybike from bridgestone. at only 33,000 yen or 160 pounds it's a great deal though the small wheels mean that cornering can be tricky. a bit more clever, and with suspension but more moving parts was the koma from smartcog. at 89,250 yen this is a fair hike up in price. I was happy to see that the strida now has a distributor in japan although their web site gives little away.

it was a very good mix of mountain bikes and road bikes. even recumbants and bmxs. no kick bikes though, I don't think. trek was the most popular stand probably due to it's links with the yellow band man and it was nice to sample the pinarellos and de rosas although I think I'll need to rely on my lungs and calfs for the mean time.

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Posted by stupot at 05:49 PM Sunday 20 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

wheel suckers

I think I speak for most of the country when I say the past week has been colder than a norwegian witches' tit. the cold air in osaka, which has presumably come down from russia, has brought with it clear skies, sun (albeit distant feeling) and a touch of frost in higher places. it makes for fantastic cycling weather and today was no exception. the mountian leaves are dying in spectacular fashion and thankfully in various colours. more straw was being burned today as harvest is in full swing and so the shafts of sun through the cedars were given a three dimensional quality that always makes the air look colder than it actually is. my body - almost used to the summer weather - was struggling a wee bit with the dawn temperature but nothing twenty minutes of spinning couldn't cure. it's funny but most folk think scotland is colder than japan. I've had to give a lot of gulf stream reminders as well suggesting that not everywhere enjoys 4 seasons of such stark contrast.

thankfully no puncture today like last week (my first in japan) - riding in a bunch sometimes has it's drawbacks but 'riding a wheel' is a joy after so long fighting the wind on my tod.

Posted by stupot at 11:22 AM Sunday 20 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

green machines

the fact that the new bugatti veyron can do 0-60 in 2.5 seconds really doesn't do much for me. tokyo motor show has been getting a lot of press recently but if you live near osaka why not get along to the massive cycle expo in nanko this weekend. an opportunity to buy things you don't see in the shops and try out bikes. think what you could buy with the money you would spend on a car! what sundays were made for.

Posted by stupot at 11:21 AM Tuesday 15 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 04:16 PM Monday 7 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

down by the river

as I live in the city, most rides start along the river. I like the riverside because apart from the lack of cars, there is a lot of open space and it's a bit like a really long park. it's ceratinly a sanctuary amidst the madness of twenty first century city life and the sea of houses that is urban life. rivers are given their due respect and flood plains are allowed for before high, high levees. the plains are filled with tennis courts, baseball fields, croquet lawns, people fishing, (usually illegal) golf practice areas, seating for picnics and barbeques, cycle paths and, last but not least, nature. there's even a path that runs all the way from Kyoto to Nara if anyone is interested.

I went to visit the mother-in-law at lunch time today and chiefly chack - the family shihtzu. chack has a tumour of cancer inside him the size of a tennis ball and the wee man must be near the end. I have affection for chack but we've never been that close: he's furry and I have serious allergies - which is not the recipe for a great relationship. today was pretty sad - half his fur has fallen out and he's been bed-ridden for quite a while - his eyes were popping out his head he's that thin. sad stuff.

on the plus side today I managed to sort a training ride for sunday morning through the local bike shop/builder: looks like it's back to (very) early morning rises and pain. nice. also - on the way home the high grasses were being stripped away before the winter and I spotted a council worker watching a lawnmower. it appeared to be unmanned and then I realised he was driving it by remote control.

Posted by stupot at 03:48 PM Monday 7 Nov | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 10:52 PM Monday 24 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

Kaki

today was stereotypically autumnal. as I cycled over the mountains to Koyasan in the sun, the smell of burning crops was all around, fruit was ripe on the trees and in the shadows, the air had a definite bite to it. the combination reminded me of Hallowe'en and it's only a week away (it was the smells mainly).

Japanese Obon, or 'ancestors day', in August is the largest celebration after New Year and it's all a bit like Hallowe'en. for me, a lot of traditional religious practice in Japan is much like Paganism. the Japanese light up their houses to guide their departed back and offer food for them to eat during the three days of Obon just as Celtic Pagans traditionally did the same thing.

In Scotland we tend to celebrate New Year more than Christmas so infact living in Japan doesn't feel particularly alien to me at that time of year. given Scottish weather I tend to have a lot of respect for the sun too - you can certainly understand the pagans perspective.

I headed back over Kimitoge ('toge' is pass, 'ki' the old name for the wakayama area and presumably the 'mi' is the verb to see), which was a key part of the original pilgrimage trail to Koyasan, where this time last year a wee farmer stopped and chatted. I remember he went to his van to get me a key? but I later found out Kaki is the name for Persimmon which sounds quite similar. he was on his way to market and gave me 4: bless his cotton socks. the road to Koyasan today was littered with makeshift shops selling the fruit. no sign of my farmer today (and I could have done with the fuel) but I got back home eventually after a near miss with a lorry and then a chase with the sun before it set. before you know it the gloves'll be out and everyone will be complaining about the cold!

Posted by stupot at 10:51 PM Monday 24 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 11:57 PM Sunday 16 Oct | Post comment (0) comments

oritatami

It's a joy to be in the majority on the bike in asia and unsurprisingly, foldable bikes are becoming an increasingly popular choice for new buyers. out and about today we saw the usual amount of good examples which only made my hunger to buy one more apparent. I really want one for town riding / hopping on and off the train and although cheap and cheerful versions from china and taiwan continue to flood the market, they are also often cumbersome and heavy. muji-rushi, for example, has some beautifully plain bikes at the moment but most of these weigh approximately the same as a small family car. naturally the choice is such that you could also spend the same amount as you might on a small family car.

interestingly, england still seems to have some of the best foldable designs to date including the brompton, moulton and strida. the latter does not use a chain but has a kevlar belt, weighs only 10kgs and is just over 200 quid. I'm being swayed rather heavily in that direction.....

Posted by stupot at 11:27 PM Sunday 16 Oct | Post comment (1) comments

Posted by stupot at 12:47 AM Thursday 29 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

misasa: in search of radium

despite my cheap and cheerful minshuku having onsen, the real hot spring was down by the river, in almost full view of the bridge connecting the two halves of this town. the area is meant to have the lowest cancer rates in japan and as a result a lot of people come here for treatment of various ailments. there's also a seriously out-of-scale hospital here that would look at home in a city.

anyway, with darkness falling, things start getting very busy and visitors and locals alike turn up for a share of the free goodness. although the japanese are comfortable about being seen in the buff, it always helps to turn out the lights. it's a great leveller - nakedness. I met some students from shiga, a local programmer, an english teacher and a german engineer but when you're in the scud you could be anyone: your profession or lifestyle doesn't reckon.

although predominantly a male affair, we were joined by some women - washing on the stones around before plunging into a rather hot, natural tub. in fact you could have boiled an egg in the 'source' pool and it was being regularly doused with cold water. the heat and subsequent fatigue reminded me only of sauna.

wandering envigorated but shattered back to my bed, I passed all the visitors in their yukatas - clacking up and down the narrow street in their geta sandals on their way for a stroll as I realised I only got a brief glimpse of mount daisen, which had been my unofficial grail. but then just sitting in a hot tub under the stars and taking in the fresh mountain air was surely enough.

Posted by stupot at 12:18 AM Thursday 29 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 12:13 AM Thursday 29 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

misasa: hazelnuts and open razors

my first day in tottori was a little longer in the saddle than I had anticipated and so my second day was a much more civilised affair. I did get around to a 4 hour cycle but only after a leisurely breakfast, long lie and a haircut. I decided, before meeting a very interesting barber, that my room smelled of hazelnut. it had been on my mind for the 24 hours since I had arrived, but finally I managed to concentrate enough to filter out the buckwheat, tatami and incense and focus my nose on exactly that. like a song name you can't remember - it was really getting to me.

I was asked by the barbers wife (who shaved me) if I'd done any bird watching on my ride yesterday and I thought it an odd question until I remembered the amount of birds of prey I'd spotted (it's a funny feeling when you're in the middle of nowhere and you look up and something big is circling you). today, after my cut, I saw a few more as I rode up the valley thinking of glaciers going the other way.

It was a good ride toward daisen - the largest mountain this side of fuji - but with the weather closing and still a little fatigued from yesterday, i headed back for an easy descent to misasa. the pointer sisters 'neutron dance' seemed an odd soundtrack amidst such natural beauty, but at 75kph and with lots of corners, you don't really have much choice.

Posted by stupot at 11:42 PM Wednesday 28 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 11:39 PM Wednesday 28 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

misasa: over the hill and far away

it took 4 hours to get to misasa from osaka and despite a very laid back train journey, I immediately dumped the bag in search of a climb. I'd been thinking about this for a few weeks now. the road I took was great but my follow-your-nose technique ended up 140kms later........

the pass I chose was being partially resurfaced and despite doing a pretty good job of off-roading on slick tyres and getting over, my route back on the other side was also being repaired. the road was mostly perfectly smooth though and the views up near the clouds, stunning. my bike and I had endured enough vibration though and so we headed on down toward tottori city - the capital of the county. just before reaching the city I headed back west toward my destination, only to find a bunch of more hills in the way which added some valuable time with the sun getting lower and lower. certainly that sinking feeling. eventually deciding on the coast road for the final run in, my legs managed to keep up momentum and I managed to arrive back in daylight. the last 20 were pretty demanding mentally and physically but the ride was a good one and I knew what was waiting.

misasa onsen itself is a nice enough wee town with a quaint street and many fancy 'ryokan' inns and not so fancy 'minshuku' b&b's. being a cheapskate I opted for the latter and had an absolutely adequate stay in ichinoyu for six grand a night - they even throw in onsen and dinner for the price. I didn't need a beer to put me to sleep but I murdered one in any case.

Posted by stupot at 11:00 PM Wednesday 28 Sep | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 12:31 AM Tuesday 16 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

dragon flies and graves

I was going to 'do' rokkosan today (the mountain between kobe and osaka) but again opted for a different route which didn't involve trains. I wasn't dissapointed though - in the end I rode the skyline road which runs along the eastern mountain range, the length of Osaka from north to south. the sun was away and there had been heavy, heavy rain this morning. it reminded me of riding in scotland when you have so many dillemas about what to take with you - waterproof? arm protectors? sunglasses? over shoes? anyway - at the last moment I opted for the slightly bulky waterproof in the back pocket. needless to say the sun came out about 15 minutes later.

the idle along the riverbank is a nice warm up before climbing and I think this is very typically japanese. anyway, after about 5 minutes of leaving the congestion you're surrounded by vinyards, gorges and dragonflies that are more like dragons than flies. this experience is also very typical of here - the contrast is very much japan. living on such a raped little plain its always nice to remember what the rest of japan is like - and it's easy to find. (see continue reading - below)

the ridge is by and large a quiet area with campsites, wee resevoirs - natural and otherwise - with old men fishing and being a quiet 'b'-road in the mountians, there was the occaisional discarded television and porno mag at the side. funny how modern life is the same everywhere, eh?

at a viewing point I met a family including three generations of women, and while we exchanged a little banter I did a good job of hiding my poor japanese - its amazing what confidence can do. when the wind whipped up the muggy morning humidity the 'mother' described it as tasty - which I appreciated, and agreed with. I wish I'd said peko-peko, a phrase I learnt last week which means 'I'm starving'.

after the view point was a big cemetery, and being Obon just now (ancestors day), there were perhaps a few more cars than usual but not enough to disrupt a nice run.

so the ridge road was good - if a little hot. I look like I've fallen asleep on the beach again. I'm going to get a dvd - so I'll gauge my colour on how many shocked expressions I see.

Continue reading "dragon flies and graves"
Posted by stupot at 04:25 PM Monday 15 Aug | Post comment (0) comments

auchterarder no more

it has been a rather curious sight, for the past few days, seeing shots of auchterarder (the tiny village beside gleneagles) on Japanese TV.

as the worlds media focus on the G8 meeting amid the madness of mass rallies in edinburgh, riots, the live8 concerts and now the sad terrorist attacks in london, the pictures of rural perthshire remind me of the irony of having all this happen in such a beautiful but nondescript place.

working on a job at gleneagles last february I frequently made the drive from glasgow to perthshire in the middle of winter. the blue skies and the countryside enveloped in layers of frost and lying fog, made it a most serene and tranquil journey. even mr bush was saying today that, after a bike ride, it's a spectacular part of the world. he liked looking at the views so much infact that he crashed into a police officer at speed.

what an endorsement said visitscotland.com. indeed. what an endorsement.

Posted by stupot at 02:06 AM Friday 8 Jul | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 09:44 PM Tuesday 21 Jun | Post comment (1) comments

busypavements.com

it's taken me a while but I've gotten around to writing a piece about one of the most common sights in japan: the bike park. they take all shapes, from highly ordered multi-storeyed affairs to bikes being strewn everywhere in a random and usually dangerous mess (my mum had a bad trip over one during her last visit).

there is always one beside a train station. there's good money to be made as well - when we lived in taishi I used to pay 200 yen for the pleasure of parking my bike (if I was going out on the lash I missed the last bus) in the underground bike park. yes, a custom made underground park only for bikes with travelator and two staff. all this, of course, is bliss for a cycling enthusiast, but it's just normal here. people use it, it's a thriving business, it works. but then people cycle here and the weather permits it.

the business of collecting illegally parked bikes is also a profitable one for the local governments and infact in quieter suburbs you have more chance of being nabbed than if you do it downtown. downtown though is a completely different matter. it is just teeming with bikes (there are approximately 1 bike per person of working age in japan) and on a typical day the main thoroughfare in osaka, the midosuji (or argyle street to you and me), is lined with parked bikes taking up half the pavement space, just waiting to be tripped over.

ah! note to self - register bike. spot checks are random and often due to the theft problems and I've a number of colleagues who have been stopped at night. you have to show identification and your police registration documents or a reciept for the bike. and knowing my luck.....

Posted by stupot at 09:43 PM Tuesday 21 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 03:16 AM Thursday 9 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

kawachinagano-koyasan-wakayama

this weeks ride involved a train journey down to kawachinagano on the nankai koya line. its then a climb up to takihata (see below) and over to hashimoto which sits at the base of a fairly nice climb of 20km's up to the very religious and holy koya san. actually today I veered off just before the town itself but continued on the 370 which in fact goes all the way from hashimoto to wakayama via the mountains (the easier route would be to take the valley floor and follow the river, but lots of traffic lights mean you can fail to get up a momentum/rythmn). looking at the geography of the area, I was ready for another set of perhaps short but tough little ascents after the main initial run up into the mountains.

so it was a little odd to descend and descend and flat and descend and then wakayama! easy, but I was kind of mentally preparing for a climb at each corner and held back on the juice a bit. probably not a bad thing as I'm still working up to decent fitness again. so anyway 3 hours and a rather nice gentle time of it with some traffic racing nearer the end. bike back in the bag, rice ball stuffed down the gullet and back home in an hour. great! only down side was slight sun burn to napper, thighs (with nasty tan line) and the area on my upper arms where my arm protectors kept slipping down!

btw. some old bitch didn't let me off the train before she climbed on today - even with my bike bag taking up most of the door way! unbe-bloody-lievble! I also saw another old sour faced obachan physically running on the train to get a single seat - presumably because she is incapable of functioning in the public environment. come on love - get an bloody car if you're that uptight!

Posted by stupot at 04:49 PM Tuesday 7 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 03:16 AM Tuesday 7 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

Takihata Dam

osaka is really not much to look at as a city, despite, like glasgow having a great social life. unusually for such a metropolis the mountains are very close by and an hours cycle south of Abiko takes you to Kawachi Nagano via the Yamato and Ishi rivers - all with generous bike routes (just beware of squads of jogging junior high school students 6-a-breast). it's a quick navigation south again through the town centre and soon you are on the quiet route 218 which eventually turns to a traffic free zone. this climbs steadily with even a few down slopes until you reach route 61 and takihata dam. it's quite a size, an amazing sight and god knows how many mouths its feeding - but you need to watch the road. I got complacent with the lack of traffic and hit - no, not a car - but the largest 'cats eye' I've seen. probably belonged to a tiger. they really make them big as a deterent to driving in the wrong lane, but as a cyclist they can dismount you, or certainly try.

anyway, with concentration restored it's a slightly more steep climb to the summit of approximately 900 metres. the road in places has seriously homemade cobbles' (actually thats too kind - more like stones jutting out of concrete) - I guess to grip your tyres in winter - which are on inclines of, well, the steepest inclines I have ridden on public roads. all this said 95 per cent of the road is in very good condition and I only passed 3 cars and 2 cyclists during the hours climb. deep breathing through the cool shade of the cedars brings you out on top of the world - or certainly kinki. the views to Wakayama are really really worth it.

you can continue down the hairpins toward Hashimoto or Gose or just turn around and enjoy the longer descent back the way you came. bish bash bosh. back in time for tea.

Posted by stupot at 03:16 AM Tuesday 7 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

bikes

bikes in osaka are mental. even though most conform to the ultra-functional 'mama-chari' book of design (basket, 2 kids seats, visor, umbrella holder and rear pegs), you don't pass a day without seeing some real belters.

Posted by stupot at 10:29 PM Saturday 4 Jun | Post comment (0) comments

Posted by stupot at 11:43 PM Sunday 15 May | Post comment (0) comments

reclaim the roads

we headed over to fukai today for the 1st stage of the tour of japan. before things get scenic, the riders experience the smooth tarmac of a new town area near kansai ariport. the speed was high and the temperature too - not helped by all the concrete.

it was a circuit course so the anticipation of seeing the race car preceeding the pack, and sometimes breakaways, made it enough of a spectator sport for others. it was a semi-cosmopolitan peleton with the aussie national team and 3 pro teams: this tour is certainly developing into a slightly more recognised event.

todays 140 clicks was won by matt goss (was he not in bros?) a young whipper snapper from the australian team. we headed off for ramen eventually as there is only so many times you can watch a blur of bodies whizz by you at 30 miles an hour. good fun though.

Posted by stupot at 10:40 PM Sunday 15 May | Post comment (0) comments

H.G.Wells

"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." - H.G. Wells

Posted by stupot at 12:24 AM Friday 28 Jan | Post comment (0) comments

bikes and trains

the sight of bicycles on trains in japan, much like in france and italy, is rare. however the reality of taking a bike on a train is made particularly easy with the use of a bag.

japan, in being the 3rd biggest user of bikes after China and the US, have many bike related problems not least parking, theft and accidents (cyclists account for approximately 10% of the 9,000 road accident deaths each year - but this figure appears to be dropping - source: national police agency).

The positives surely outweigh the negatives though, as vast numbers commute, shop and even use cycling as a sport (there are approximately 1 bike per person of working age in japan).

bikes generally still have a slight stigma of poverty attached to them, and this is exaggerated as the japanese hunger for bigger and better automobiles continues to thrive (despite ingenious compact deisgns available).

so bikes are not commonly found on trains which could give the impression that they are prohibited. they are however, generally welcome - with only the condition they are wrapped and made an acceptable size (generally governed by the size of a large bike bag - that is to say, 1 wheel removed and stowed). on local trains a charge is not requested but bikes are not encouraged at peak times.

cheap bags can be bought from around ￥1000 but a decent one for a road bike (needing 2 wheels removed and stowed) and in a rip-stop fabric would be around ￥5000 (US$50). these come witha little reinforcement where the chainring and rear derrailleur come in contact.

Posted by stupot at 06:42 PM Tuesday 28 Dec | Post comment (0) comments