After a failed (DNF) 400 km a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure if I had the conditioning to complete a 600 km brevet and so I started with low expectation. This is also my second official brevet so far. I haven't (I would if I could) registered officially 200km and 300km due to popularity and high demand. However, I have shadowed (ridden a brevet unofficially) a couple of times. One in January and second after the Hay Fever season just to check my conditioning.
BRM608Aoba600 starts relatively late around 7:00 and when I arrived, the briefing has already started. Waited for the briefing to finished before registering and went straight for the the equipment checks. Didn't have much time to socialised except a small sync up with the organiser regarding the previous 400km that I DNF. As expected, there were *lots* of DNF as well as mechanical troubles.
The first 120km was relatively flat and with the usual urban traffic, a little bit tough to put time on the bank. After two control points, real climbing starts. The first climb is the old road to Karuizawa. The gradient is gentle but nevertheless a long slog. After the climb, I didn't stopped and continued on, enjoying a bit of descent and to the next checkpoint just before the next big climb to Nobeyama. Amazingly, there was still sunlight on the descent from Nobeyama. So far all of my brevet passing thru Nobeyama has been in the dark, mostly before or after midnight. A little bit refreshing and enjoyed the long rolling descent to Minobu, along the mighty Fuji river. At around 300km, I slept in front of Minobu Train Station around for 3 hours. After a short nap, I continued the downstream course down to Shimizu where I had a proper breakfast. By now the morning sun is already well above the horizon and now more traffic lights to break the cycling rhythms.
By the time I reach the start of the next climb in Izu (Amagi Pass), I felt so tired and sleepy that the climb was a struggle. This was the time I was thankful that I have my triple crank and used the granny most of the time. Took a short rest at a parking station before the final push, then enjoyed the long descent to Kawazu and a longer break at the control point, eating lunch by the riverside under the shadow of cherry trees.
The last 150 km (from Kawazu) was a traffic nightmare. Weekend vacationers all pouring to the one national road back to Tokyo. It wasn't fun but nevertheless, need to keep pushing on these nasty ups and downs of East Izu roads. By this time, the drowsiness has gone and the focus is on getting back home on time. I remember, I haven't taken food for the last 4 hours but felt OK. No low glucose symptoms at all.
I finished with less than 90 minutes before the time limit and was greeted with congratulation greetings from the organiser as well as a reminder that I still have more DNF than Finishes! Ouch!!
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| Relatively late start around 7:00 am. |
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| Stopping for a moment at one of the famous point along the climb to Karuizawa |
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| Lots of cabbages in Nobeyama |
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| Wasabi farm in Izu. Good Wasabi only grows in the best mountain springs. |
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| Amagi Tunnel |
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| My heavy but dependable brevet bike. Now with triple front crank. |
