In August 2012 I visited Taiwan with my family. It was a great trip and I would like to back there, but between that trip and some typhoon I didn't do any long rides that month, which I had started doing in March of 2012. I resumed Century rides in September 2012 and kept it up ever since. On Saturday, August 6 I did another ride of 163 km / 101 mi (
on Strava), completing 120 consecutive months (10 years).
I chose to go to Chichibu, one of my favourite places to ride. That's despite it being a bit hard to get to, but that's probably part of why it's so special as the remoteness has preserved its rural "lost in time" character.
I began with a late start, getting out of bed only at 06:30. Three hours later I unloaded my bike from the car at Ogawamachi Road Station for the ride to Chichibu.
Near Nagatoro I cleared one Veloviewer tile and saw a paraglider.
The clockwise Mitsumine loop climbs above 1,200 m (4,000 ft) and it was an overcast day so I knew I wouldn't get too hot. The top of Mt Buko next to Chichibu city was covered in clouds and I could see mist rising from the forest elsewhere.
I didn't bring any rain gear as I wasn't expecting more than drizzle and that was a good bet.
After turning off the main road I climbed the Ochigawa rindo (forest road) which was closed to traffic beyond the fishing center. I passed about four barriers. Some short sections of the rindo were under reconstruction with exposed gravel surfaces and in other places there was debris from rock slides but everything was perfectly rideable.
With all the recent heavy rain the streams and waterfalls were beautiful.
The lower part of the climb is steep, mostly around 8 percent (in the 6-12 percent range) but there is so much too see that as long as you pace yourself and have good gearing it never feels too hard. Higher up it becomes less steep. There you either get to enjoy views because of the elevation or because it becomes very atmospheric as you're riding in clouds (i.e. fog and drizzle).
I met several deer that were not shy at all. One was just standing there looking at me from 5 m away, not scared at all. I was beautiful to watch its graceful moves as it finally got out of the way, lightfooted like a ballet dancer.
The two tunnels at the top were very dark.
Once I got up to 900 m (3000 ft) it felt chilly with the lower temperature and drizzle. I could see beads of water collecting on the hair of my exposed wrists as I cycled through the fog.
I was glad when I had passed the second tunnel and the descent to Mitsumine shrine started as it got a bit warmer again. I had to descend slowly because of the sharp-edged debris on the road.
The long descent on the main road back to Chichibu was fun.
I stopped for dinner at Chichibu de Tandooru (an Indian restaurant) before cycling the last 50 km / 31 mi back to the car in the dark.
How long will I continue "Century A Month" after 10 years? I have no intention to stop but I also feel no pressure.
I think it's a good incentive to maintain at least a minimal level of fitness and never get too lazy. What I enjoy most about it are the views though.