Yama Yama

130km, 2600m ascent Musashi Itsukaichi, Wadotoge(Jimba san), Kobu Tunnel (Sengentoge), Tomin No Mori, Bonus climb(?), Musashi Itsukaichi

15th March - Another weekend ride with TCC, and fantastic weather to attempt the big mountains. Its been too cold until now to get to the summits, snow and ice on the roads make them if impassable at worst, treacherous at best. So its warm in the valleys, hot on the climbs but still I'm keeping the extra thick shirt in a pocket, as well as the extra 100yen gloves for the descents.


This is one hell of a ride, great scenery, starts and finishes at Musashi Itsukaichi train station so basically there is no flat - the profile resembles a stage from an alpine stage of the Tour de France. 2600m of climbing in total! But also 2600m of descent, the view over Okutama ko is astounding and with Japanese motorbikers racing up and down the descent was most exciting. One of the bikers lost it behind us, lucky for him he crashed into a soft bank and came to a quick stop.

Top of Wado Toge or Jimba San, the first climb of the day. Normally this is the target of a ride from Tokyo, but todays its just a warm up!