saiko asaren

If Id been on my new Lynskey this morning, I'd be writing about how well the bike responds. How easy it is to find a rhythm on the climbs. Powerful on rolling terrain. Great acceleration on the flats. But no, I was on the VITUS.....

Met up with Yoshida san and Kitano san at 5:30. 23 degrees, nice and cool. Today's menu, a loop of Shiba Toge and a climb of Isonobe.

As always, Kitano san is fast out of the blocks. I can't keep up on the first big climb. He slows down on the flatter upper reaches.

“Mada toge jyanai yo! Achi da yo!” An improvised sprint finish. AJ!

The next climb up to the tunnel. I'm well off the pace on this one. About 100m back at the summit.

Now for the rolling terrain Ishiguro ~ Takayanagi. My territory. I drill it here. Fast on the descents. Carry the momentum over the climbs in the big ring.

Next up the climb up to Shiba Toge. We meet Murayama san on the way down. He must head out at 4:00! I lock onto Kitano san's wheel. He's in a big gear. His pedaling fluid and strong. This is the training I need. The carrot on a stick.

We turn left for the climb up to the onsen. Into the mist. The steepest part. I can't follow here. 3rd man at the top. But here we go again. The rolling terrain. Like being on the top of the world here. I drill it. Drill it.

I descend the other side with Yoshida san. A mail from Kitano san. He has a flat tyre at the top. Time to climb it again.

Next up Isonobe. At last I find my rhythm. No heart rate belt today so riding on sensations. Feeling good. Throw a bottle out to get up more speed. Using a few gears. 38 × 27 on the steepest parts. AJ at the top.

Last the ride back to Enosan's shop. From the top of Isonobe it takes 40 minutes. Three up rotation. Keeping the speed in the 45 ~ 50 kmph range. On the front in the outer top. This is what it's all about.

As we reach CS Enosan at 8:30, it's starting to get hot. Asaren is definitely the best way to get good training in at this time of year.

Thank you Kitano san and Yoshida san!

Tuesday's training: Shiba Toge loop + Isonobe (85 km, 1200m climbing)