First Bigish Group Ride in a Long While

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 34mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 —
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Ride's Crew

L-R: Arthur, Geoffrey, me, Ionut, Jason, Andy, Kevin, Yifen

( we didn't notic until the ride was done, but other than Ionut from Romania, we're all Americans )

I joined a big group ride for the first time in a long while last week, Andy's “LSD” (long slow distance) ride. I was happy to
finally meet Kevin from Kobe and Geoffrey from Otsu, whom I'd conversed with online but had never met in person.

For me the ride (view at Strava) was 116km (72mi) at mostly an easy
pace, though the times I tried to keep up with the others quickly took their toll on me. I've been doing long rides lately, but
not much fast and not much climbing, so I'm out of shape.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Andy Arrives for Coffee

that his valet, Ionut, has prepared







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 49mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 —
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New People, New Bikes

Geoffrey (at right) on his first ride with us Cycling Kyoto folks







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Caption Contest







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 —
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Ready to Head Out

Kevin from Kobe chats with Yifen







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Moving Through The City

taken while cycling at 28 kph (18 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 —
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Hotta-san!

As much riding as I do in these parts, it's rare for me to happen across another rider that I know, but I did just
that early in the ride when Hotta-san and I crossed paths. I've ridden on a few rides with him in the past, and most
recently he was the cycling adviser for a cycling-related movie in which I appeared as an extra.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/80 sec, f/2.1, ISO 250 —
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Water Stop

as Andy flashes his VOID

at the spring seen in prior posts, here and here







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 —
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First Descent

taken while cycling at 25 kph (15 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 —
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taken while cycling at 35 kph (22 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 —
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Plodding Slowly Up

taken while cycling at 28 kph (17 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 —
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taken while cycling at 35 kph (22 mph)









image data

I'm the Yellow Blur

photo by Ionut Sandu









Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200 —
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Fast Descent

taken backwards, one-handed, while cycling at 63 kph (39 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Stopping To Inspect the Troops

taken while cycling at 21 kph (13 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Tally Ho!

taken while cycling at 20 kph (13 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Crossing a Valley

taken while cycling at 29 kph (18 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Enjoying the Day

taken while cycling at 25 kph (16 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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taken while cycling at 25 kph (15 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Twins

taken while cycling at 28 kph (17 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 —
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Strung Out

taken while cycling at 36 kph (22 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 33mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 —
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Paceline

taken while cycling at 46 kph (29 mph)

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, drafting as seen in the photo above is
a great way for a pair or group to work together to go overall faster than they could individually, but the act of taking the
photo caused me to slow down just enough that I lost the benefit, and they quickly pulled away, leaving me to (slowly) fend for
myself.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Geoffrey's Impeccable Form

taken while cycling at 58 kph (36 mph)

At the races this weekend I noticed several riders wearing the exact same team jersey as Geoffrey, such as this guy:

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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“Strada Racing”

wearing the same jersey as Geoffrey did

( from this event )









Panasonic LX100 at an effective 60mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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taken while cycling at 58 kph (36 mph)

I've never seen a pro cyclist in person, so I can only imagine what their form looks like in real life,
but that mental image became incarnate during this ride when watching Geoffrey descend. His form was like art...
I've no other way to explain it. I'd never seen anything like it. It was truly beautiful and mesmerizing.

I doubt it comes through very well in video, but here's a video of a descent we did toward the end of the ride, taken with my Cycliq Fly12 front camera:

Anyway, we stopped for a break at Hiyoshi Dam...

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Ionut took advantage of the “足湯” (ashiyu) hot foot bath, which is apparently fed by a hot spring. It seems to be
available 24/7. I've used it before... it's nice, but one needs to remember to bring a small towel.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 —
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Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Heading Back

along the northern edge of the lake created by the dam

taken while cycling at 26 kph (16 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Nice Road

that apparently, by the looks of the guardrail, recently had a tree fall across it

taken while cycling at 27 kph (17 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 49mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.7, ISO 1250 —
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Panasonic LX100 at an effective 46mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.6, ISO 1000 —
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Panasonic LX100 at an effective 52mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Pleasant

taken while cycling at 33 kph (20 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Passing Through a Small Village

taken while cycling at 21 kph (13 mph)







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/80 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640 —
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Struggling to Keep Up

taken while cycling at 22 kph (14 mph)

This is a lovely road that I've featured on my blog before, here,
here, and here. I tried to keep up with the fast folks, and did so for the first half or so, but my legs just gave out. I finished two minutes behind
(15 min vs. 13 min).

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 —
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Snow







Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/60 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400 —
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Pretty Descent

taken while cycling at 45 kph (28 mph)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Post-Ride Riverside Relaxation