two days of yahiko

Second of two hard training days on Yahiko this morning. The F(t) Racing guys are using it as their final prep for the Tsugaike and Fuji hillclimbs next weekend.

After climbing Yahiko on my VITUS bike yesterday, I decided to give my carbon bike a ride today and compare the two.

Left Kashiwazaki at 5:00 with Kitano san. He was especially strong today. Pulling harder than me. We reached our Teradomari rendezvous at 6:00. 40 km in one hour!? We'd arranged to meet Kei at 6:30 and luckily he was already there.

Next up Yahiko. We climbed the easy side. Kei was setting a good pace. We met Andrew on his way down after a climb of the steep side. We kept the pace easy in preparation for race mode on the steep side. Andrew even had chance to munch on a banana.

From behind “Andy, you're looking skinny”.
Now for most people this would be an insult but for cyclists, it's a compliment of the highest order.
“Cheers!”

The mountain was shrouded with mist all the way up which made it feel almost dream like. At the top Andrew and I had a fun sprint. Him in the saddle, me out of the saddle. It's usually the other way around!

We descended the steep side and met up with Tazaki san and co. They arrived puffing and panting. A good sign! There was no urgency to start like yesterday and we eventually set off as one big group. I set the stop watch anyway.

Andrew and I (mostly Andrew) set the pace. Not too hard but hard enough. Behind us a few chatting voices. Some people are on form.

Honda san comes on to the front and both Andrew and I will comment later on his smooth effortless pedaling style.

Into the hairpins and Tazaki san eventually makes his move. I drop a couple of gears and dig in to hold his wheel. This springboards me away from the rest of the group. When he gets out of the saddle, I know better than to try to follow. Looking back I can see Andrew, then Kitano san and then a group of orange shirts down the road.

Time to dig in now. I actually get back up to Tazaki san on three occasions. Each time I make contact he drops the hammer again. Out of the saddle, accelerate, make the gap. Maybe this is the training he's looking for? I'm not complaining as it's pushing me hard. Much much harder than I could motivate myself to go alone.

At the top, 19:49, 166 HR AV / 180 HR MAX, 425 m climbing, 5.4 km, 16.3 kmph

Not bad at all, considering yesterday's 19:30 was a flat out effort from bottom to top.

On the way home, 3 days of hard training was really taking its toll. I was glad of Kitano san's company to drive through the headwind. On he front I was finding it difficult to get that perfect gear. One gear is too heavy, the next is too light. Perhaps due to tiredness and a shift to a smaller chain ring and crank arms today.

On the climb behind the power station I found the energy from somewhere to climb it at 33 kmph, a new best.

Today was fantastic training again. Time to rest up now before Tsugaike. A few short rides. Maybe one Isonobe!

Sunday's asaren: Yahiko x 2 (126 km, 1200 m climbing, 29.1 kmph)