Super Randonneur

Late in coming but well deserved 2012 brevet accomplishment (Yes, the medal says 2011). My first but certainly won't be my last Super Ranonneur medal. Probably becoming harder to get because of brevet popularity. This year, I can't even register for 200km because it's full!

BRM106 Kanagawa 200 Zushi (Shadow Mode)

It was midnight on Dec 7, 2012 as I waited patiently to register for this brevet via SportsEntry only to be refused registration due to full booking. I thought that was fast!  It was confirmed by one of the organiser at the end of this brevet that it just took 3.5 minutes to fill up the slots.

Anyway, I wanted to start the brevet season early and not able to booked didn't discourage me. So I did a 'shadow ride', meaning joined the brevet ride unofficially. The plan is to ride as a real brevet following all the rules (OK, not all traffic rules) except for the reflector vest. I didn't want to be mistaken as a participant but still enjoy the company of them. Without the reflector vest, I have the freedom to take shortcuts, etc and will not be subjected to my fellow official participants scrutiny/complaints. In addition, I will not give the brevet and it's organiser a bad image if I break some of the rules. It is difficult to run the brevet anonymously because I know few people and some organisers. I was recognised too quickly for comfort. 

I was joined by four other riders (Joe W, Elbert Y, Danny A, Yolie V). Except for Joe, the three are members of Tokyo PADYAK cycling group and their first experience to ride a brevet (albeit unofficially).

We started right after the brevet started around 7:10AM. We were greeted by the orange morning sun view of Enoshima. The air was crisp and the perfect view of Mt. Fuji. The pace was civilised making sure that the group stays together. The course is 50/50 split between flat and hilly, with the first 50km flat, the next 100km hilly and the last 50km flat again. 

The group tried to stayed together but from the last 10 km to the turning point (~100km control point), we were split riding our own pace in this hilly segment. We rested at the turning point and had a quick lunch before turning back to Zushi on the same route. 

I was expecting a headwind on the return leg but it was nowhere to be felt! Our ride was timed on the perfect winter day without the nasty North Wind. It was still cold but manageable. The group was still strong on the return leg and was impressed with the pace given that some of the riders are riding this long distance event for the first time! Impressive and I don't remember doing the same pace in my first 200km brevet!

We all made it back to the goal within the official time limit. That was a nice accomplishment! 

We finished with a group Ramen dinner before parting ways eager to have a good bath and sleep.

The group starting from Zushi Station.

A nice morning view of Enoshima.

The Tokyo PADYAK gang.

Castle or fancy hotel? 

2012 Audax SR Application

Finally, I got all my brevet cards needed to apply for 2012 Super Randonneur and applied promptly. I expect the medal to arrive early next year.

 This also means that I have collected the 4 medals, one for each distance event.

My four brevet medals...

Updates from Audax Japan

Few updates from Audax Japan:

1. Application for Super Randonneur (SR) medal

    Application starts from Nov 1 to Dec 3, 2012. Medals to be delivered from end of January. So far, I only got Nishi Tokyo 300 brevet cards. Still waiting for the rest of my brevet card from the organisers.

2. Audax 2013 Membership 

    Application starts from Nov 1 to Nov 30. Cost is 8,000yen and includes insurance.

3. Changes in brevet registrations

    Registration will not be centralise in Sports Entry online application anymore. Event registration instruction will be posted independently for each Audax Clubs. I think the main reason is cost. Aside from the 200yen cost of registration, Sports Entry charges additional 100 yen from the organiser.

4. 2013 Brevet Schedule is now public.

End of 2012 Brevet Season

Last weekend was the last brevet events of the season and 2012 Brevet season is now officially over. Brevet season is from January to October. This is my third year of brevet riding and this year has been the busiest brevet year so far. I have accumulated 2,500 km of official finish this year and DNF three events. 

This year is also the first that I have completed a series of 200, 300, 400 and 600 km brevets in a year and I'm entitled to the Super Randonneur special medal. I will request for the medal as soon as the application starts.

Looking forward for another busy 2013 season and looks like there couple of new things next year, namely:

1. New Audax Club in Tokyo (name is still undecided and branched out of Aoba Velo Club)

2. Super Randonnee 600 évent (this is a new brevet category that are mountainous 600 kilometres with over 10,000 meters of elevation gain). 

One goal next year is to try Super Randonnee 600 and need to think of my off-season (winter) brevet training plans. 

BRM	Elapsed Time	Moving Time	Total Climb	Comment
BRM421 Shizuoka 400 Fuji	23:05	20:09	4,226m	No sleep
BRM512 Aoba 200 Kazahari	DNF	-	-	Mechanical Trouble: Right shifter lever broken at 64 km.
BRM515 Aoba 200 Kazahari	11:32	9:43	2,018m	-
BRM 519 NishiTokyo 300 Fuji	16:36	14:02	2,633m	Evening Start
BRM 526 Shizuoka 600 Norikura	37:02	30:02	7,050m	Two hours of sleep & 40 minutes loss time
BRM 602 Aoba 600 HiekawaToge	DNF	-	-	Over slept
BRM 908 Aoba 600 Utsukushigahara	37:59	<30:00?	6,400m?	-Four hours of night rest/sleep. Lost some GPS data due device not able to continuously log data.
BRM 916 Kanagawa 400 Yatsugatake	26:31	21:20	5,547m	Barely slept, twice. One of the toughest course.
BRM 1006 Aoba 600 Kanto	DNF	-	-	Sick...

Aizu 2012

I cannot resist the call of Aizu autumn.

Aizu is a beautiful place located at the western part of Fukushima prefecture. It is surrounded by mountains ranges. To the east is Oou (奥羽山地), to the north is Iide (飯豊山地), to the west is Etsugo (越後山地) and to the south is Shimono (下野山地) mountain ranges. The center is Aizu-Wakamatsu, rich in history and located in a small basin and crisscrossed by 5 old historical roads. To go to Aizu especially by bicycle, there is no choice but to go over these mountain passes. Best time to visit Aizu is spring and autumn. (Note: There are lots and lots of snow in Aizu during winter and most mountain roads are not cleared of snow. Similar to Kofu in Yamanashi, summer season in a basin is well hot but more favourable compared to Tokyo.)

Day 1:
It was raining Thursday night but the weather forecast Friday and Saturday was fair weather. The rain was a blessing as the temperature didn't dropped as much. Started the ride a little bit after 6:00 with temperature around 7℃. The plan is to do a clock wise loop from Aizu-Tajima to Aizu-Wakamatsu taking small backroads as much as possible. From Aizu-Tajima, I fork off R400 into a small mountain pass Akatochi-toge (赤土峠), merged into K346 and then climb another mountain pass Nakayama-toge   (中山峠) where I found an old huge majestic tree. A quick descent brings me to a very nice hamlet or Oouchi-juku (大内宿) for a little sight-seeing. I arrive quite early and the villagers are just starting their commercial day and there is still no tourist. This place was very nice and I'm very interested to see what it looks like during the winter. Next mountain pass was Ichino-toge (市野峠), short but very steep narrow mountain road and then followed by a long descent to the Tsurugu Castle in Aizu-Wakamatsu.

From the castle to where I started is a long gentle climb on a very nice valley. Took the roads parallel to the national road R121 as much as possible as was rewarded with the road almost to myself. Stopped by an old-farm-house-turned-restaurant for a nice lunch and slowly rode back to 'base'.

Day 2:
With nice weather yesterday and no clouds, I expected a chilly morning. Actually, it wasn't chilly but very cold. Around 6:00 at elevation 560m, it was 1℃. As I haven't acclimated to winter temperatures yet, my eyeballs where freezing on the slow gentle climbs! Wind factor wasn't in consideration yet!. The plan today is to climb (沼山峠) at around 1700m and enjoy the kaleidoscope colors of autumn. I wasn't disappointed at all! It was the perfect weather, perfect location and perfect timing. If I can stop time, this could be it! I just let the pictures do all the taking.

950 years old Japanese zelkova tree. Very big trunk!!!

Oouchi-juku (大内宿)

Oouchi-juku on the background

Another view.

Temple on the hill behind Oouchi-juku

On the way to Aizu Wakamatsu

Few more weeks before autumn bloom

Temperature around 500 meters above sea level. Planning to climb around 1700 meters today.

BRM1006 Aoba 600 Kanto (DNF)

Unfortunately, I have to retire (DNF) due to sickness... I knew from the morning that I didn't feel good and had a sore throat but decided to start anyway hoping to see if it gets better. Obviously, it didn't...

For the rest of the story...

Few days before the brevet, I did a few changes and maintenance, namely:

• Change seat to Fizik Antares (experimental). After the aborted ride, will go back to Brooks :)
• Replaced chain: Already past allowable 'stretch'.
• Replaced rear tyre: See picture below. Still using Continental GranPrix 4-Seasons
• Swap rear wheel to normal wheel as power meter was broken from the previous BRM400 due to rain.
• No Q-sheet on the handlebar bag. Decided just to use GPS. As a backup, I laminated a small pocket size Q-sheet just to fit the back pocket.

The night before, I set alarm clock at 3:20 but didn't alarm. I naturally woke up around 4:00 and was startled a little bit. Now I have to rush and quickly prepared for the ride. I brought a sandwich for breakfast and ate as I rode to the starting location in front of Kawasaki Shimin Museum. I arrived at the starting point at around 5:00 and most of the riders already left. This brevet was fully booked around 120 riders. I heard that the other 600 km brevet, BRM1006 Sagamihara, has only 20+ riders. Sagamihara brevet is a super tough brevet with never ending climbs. Probably more than 8,000 meters in total climb. I was thinking of joining but decided not to. I decided to explore the outskirts of Kanto, which is new to me.

"Jose, it's already late!" shouted my friendly organizer behind me. I smiled and nodded and hurried up on the registration, bike check and promptly left.

As expected, traversing thru Tokyo and into the industrial Chiba is traffic hell. Stop and go traffic and especially worst early in the morning. It is a way for the Police to control over speeding at empty roads by flicking the red-green traffic light shorter and more frequent. The flow only got better from Funabashi around 45 km from the start.

Crossing Boso Peninsula was very nice, from Anegasaki (姉ケ崎) to Katsu-ura (勝浦) was traffic free with very few stops. It was a change of pace and enjoyed the rolling hills and farms of Chiba.

At Control #2 in Katsu-ura, there was an attendance check by one of the organiser. I mentioned to him that I will be retiring soon as my sickness is not getting better. Got confirmation and then eat lunch before continuing. I enjoyed the beach side road for a little bit before cutting the ride short and took the train home from Mobara (茂原駅) station.

One thing I notice about this specific Aoba brevet was there were more supporters and picture taking from the organisers compared in the past. Given a full-house, three-day weekend, relatively easy 600 km and many supporters, there is a high expectation to finish especially for first-timers. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those :(

Till next time.

Rear wheel tyre wear after one season of brevet!!! 

Control Point #1: 77 km

Control Point #2: 135 km. My bike on the background.

Rough Sea taken near KatsuUra, Chiba.

Beautiful KatsuUra Beach

Retired at around 170 km...

... at Mobara Station in Chiba.