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Continuing from yesterday, I headed out for another early morning hill climb ride.
I drove to Hiraiwa Station, got everything ready, and rolled out at 6:30 a.m. My first destination was Omine Pass, the famous "Red Carpet" climb that has appeared in my ride reports many times.
The brutally steep Red Zone is well known, but in reality, almost the entire climb leading up to it is full of switchbacks. That alone tells you just how steep it is. The best part is that almost no cars use this road, yet it's wide enough to ride comfortably. In my opinion, it's the perfect place to practice switchbacks.
By the way, there's definitely such a thing as good and bad switchback riding. Naturally, I consider myself pretty good at it!
The technique is actually exactly the same as making turns on skis. On skis, you position your body so the skis can glide naturally. On a bike, you position yourself so the tires can roll as easily as possible. Instead of forcing the bike with brute strength, you let the geometry of the arc do the work. That way, the tires never bog down?they just keep rolling, and little by little you gain elevation almost effortlessly.
When I'm weaving up the mountain, the image in my mind is the infinity symbol (∞).
I think the reason I don't mind climbing hills is because I've learned this efficient way of riding. As long as I keep tracing those endless curves, I know I'll eventually reach the top.
If I had to climb a busy road where weaving wasn't possible, I'd probably get off and walk. That's how important this technique is to me.
By the way, we also offer cycling programs at our school. If you're interested, you're more than welcome to join us. I'll also show you how to use your body so your bike never drifts wide through downhill corners.
...Anyway, enough of the introduction!
This time, instead of descending directly to Kotaki from Omine Pass, I turned uphill again toward Takanami Pond, a place I've visited several times on skis during the winter.
From there I enjoyed a fast descent to the viewpoint where Myojo Mountain rises right in front of you.
"Wow... it's enormous. Absolutely breathtaking."
I once watched an animation explaining that this mountainーor rather this
whole areaーactually originated near the equator millions of years ago.
Ancient coral reefs rode north on an oceanic plate toward the continent. As the plate subducted beneath the continental plate, the lighter limestone couldn't sink with it. Instead, it was scraped off and piled up along the edge of the continent.
And that enormous pile eventually became the Myojo Mountain standing in front of me.
Now that I know the story, I can almost see that feeling of everything having been stacked on top of itself.
Thinking about that, I enjoyed the downhill all the way to Kotaki.
So... what next?
Should I climb toward Itoigawa? Ride the national highway? Climb all the way back over Omine Pass? Or brave the tunnels full of trucks on the highway back to Hiraiwa?
Then I realized...
Wait a minuteーit's already getting seriously hot!
So I quickly changed plans and decided to catch the train from Kotaki Station instead. I had about an hour before the next train, which gave me plenty of time to explore the small hydroelectric power exhibit beside the station.
"Wow... they rolled steel plates this thick and fastened them together with rivets!?"
It was riveting technology from the early Showa era, considered state-of-the-art at the time. Perhaps it was the transitional period before welding became common. Seeing the actual structures in person, I couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship.
Right on schedule, the train arrived. I paid 210 yen for a one-stop ride back to Hiraiwa Station.
It was 9:30 a.m.
It was already getting quite hot, but then I thought, "Kuzuba Pass is just around the corner. It used to be the old national highway, so the grade is gentle. I wonder what's beyond it."
And just like that, the ride went into overtime.
The giant Bokka Chestnut Tree was still standing proudly. I was genuinely happy to see it again.
Beyond Kuzuba Pass, the road was blocked by a gate, although the historic Salt Road remained open to hikers.
From there I enjoyed another fast descent to the Hakuba Great Buddha. Time
has given it an incredible presenceーalmost an eerie aura.
By 10:30 I was back at the car. The air conditioner went on full blast as I cooled down my overheated body.
It wasn't a long ride, but it was packed with highlightsーgreat climbing,
beautiful scenery, fascinating geology, a bit of history, and plenty to
enjoy. Another wonderful morning on the bike.
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