Snowy Cycleversary Mountain-Ride Challenge, Part 2

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/7.1, ISO 140 —
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Absolutely Gorgeous

snowy world somewhere between Hanase Pass and Nomi Pass, Kyoto Japan

(this is a full-color photograph)
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This post picks up from part one on my two-year-cycleversary ride
though the snowy mountains north of Kyoto. I'd suffered a spell of frozen fingers, but was now mostly warm again and in good spirits.

The area is fantastically beautiful in the snow.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 28mm — 1/160 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100 —
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100 —
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Small Village

with blessedly-clear tracks to ride in, mostly








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Turnoff

I took the right, leading to the Kuta area and its Nomi Pass








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 56mm — 1/250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 640 —
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Obscured Warnings

various warnings about snow, partially obscured by snow








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 720 —
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Snowy Road Paralleling the Clear River








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 450 —
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5, ISO 180 —
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Very Steep

and very difficult for me to ride

As I mentioned in Part One, riding through the semi-compact snow with thin (28mm) road-bike tires often felt like my tires had
to work like ice breakers, shoving through a semi-frozen slushiness of evil-Goldilocks consistency (it's not strong enough to
support the weight of the bike, nor weak enough to be easily shoved out of the way).

It was particularly bad on the super-steep initial climb toward Nomi Pass, and the added power needed to push through the
ice required more traction than my tires could afford, so I ended up walking the worst parts of it.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 29mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 180 —
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Nomi Pass

能見峠








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5, ISO 180 —
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Relatively Clear








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End of “Relatively Clear”









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Exiting the Forest








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Gunk

Sometimes so much frozen gunk would get caught up in the mechanisms, the rear tire would lock up until I gave things a few good
kicks to jar things loose.

Over time, I also lost the outer range of my gears, also due to frozen gunk, first losing the easiest “granny gear” up front,
then the higher gears in the rear. I didn't miss the latter until I got to the fast, snow-free downhills later in the ride.

I'd stopped at the spot above because the farmhouse scene is quite picturesque...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 32mm — 1/125 sec, f/9, ISO 200 —
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Snowy Farmstead
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Farm + Boxing Ring

thin electric-fence wires made thick by snow








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Roadside Temple








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Oh Deer!

a well-camouflaged white-butt deer in the river watches a man and his dog

右側に川の中で鹿いる。








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 29mm — 1/125 sec, f/9, ISO 2500 —
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Frosty








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 45mm — 1/125 sec, f/9, ISO 6400 —
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Nasty

road-wise








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Picturesque

moreso in reality than in the photo, sadly








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/9, ISO 900 —
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Icy Mountain Bike Stand








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/9, ISO 280 —
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Nearing Route 367

for the 32km (20mi) ride home

Having reached Route 367 (the same road as covered in
this silly-cycling article),
the road was mostly clear for the undulating return to Kyoto.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 38mm — 1/160 sec, f/9, ISO 250 —
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Mostly-Clear Road








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 44mm — 1/200 sec, f/9, ISO 2000 —
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Scenery Still Pretty








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/9, ISO 1000 —
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Still Frosty








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 48mm — 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400 —
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Bypass Road

around a tunnel








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1100 —
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I'll Take the Tunnel Today








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000 —
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200 —
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Superfrosty








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 2500 —
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Getting a bit Slushy








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 500 —
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Super-Fast Descent

I'll often hit 70kph just before this curve, but not today








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000 —
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Last Photo of the Day

because I noticed the lens had become splattered with muddy water

All in all it was a great ride, though next year I'll take a bit more care with my gloves. I should also get more knobby tires for the snow, but I don't know whether one ride a year is worth the hassle.

Here's the ride at Strava:

Can't wait to see what the next two years brings...