Many Lessons Learned on Yesterday’s Group Ride

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Large Group Ride

pausing after the first steep climb

in the mountains above the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, Japan

I went on a bicycle ride yesterday that involved 13 people, the largest
group I'd been on to date. It was fun, but I also learned some important
lessons.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.4, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Gathering

Sanjo-Street Bridge over the Kamo River (三条大橋)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 37mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.4, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

It was quite the international gathering, with folks from
Australia,
Canada,
England,
Finland,
Japan,
Norway,
Philippines,
and
The States.

The first lesson I learned was to pay attention to what weather forecast
I looked at. Yesterday in Kyoto city proper the actual weather (spritzy
rain in the morning; otherwise sunny all day) sort of matched the forecast
(10% chance of rain all day), but our ride into the mountains was in the
mountains, and it rained almost the entire time.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/1000 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Heading Out

lead by Nigel and Andy

6:20 AM (+4 min) - 1.2 km (0.8 miles)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 72mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 —
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Waiting at a Traffic Light

like good cyclists do








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 72mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1250 —
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Scenic Route

6:27 AM (+11 min) - 3.4 km (2.1 miles)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 —
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Not-so-Scenic Route

6:31 AM (+15 min) - 4.7 km (2.9 miles)








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

6:45 AM (+29 min) - 10 km (6.2 miles)

taken while cycling at 36 kph (22 mph)

Nigel does an amazing
amount of cycling, including commute-to-work rides exceeding 100km.
So far this year, including during the winter,
he's averaged 1500km (890 miles) per month.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Leading the Parade

6:45 AM (+29 min) - 10 km (6.3 miles)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 —
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Minor Slope

6:46 AM (+30 min) - 10 km (6.3 miles)

taken while cycling at 19 kph (12 mph)

The pair in orange are father/son, with the boy being in sixth grade. He had not the slightest problem keeping with the group. They joined us only
for the beginning, and split off before the steep climbs, but I suspect
both could have handled it easily.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 70mm — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Arashiyama

6:54 AM (+37 min) - 13 km (8.2 miles)

I always like riding through this part of northern Arashiyama. Here
we're going by the Hokyo-in Temple (宝筐院), which is just stunning in autumn.

We soon dove into the forest-covered mountains, and a light spritzy/misty rain started that didn't let up.
After the first short (but intense) climb, we took the group photo that leads this post.

Being both wet and steep, we took the descents quite slowly...

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 47mm — 1/100 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200 —
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Careful Descent

7:09 AM (+53 min) - 16 km (9.9 miles)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 —
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Social Pause

7:41 AM (+1h 24m) - 22 km (13.6 miles)

There's a tiny village halfway up the first major climb, and normally
one would not stop here, but with a large group of varying abilities, it's
nice to stop from time to time to keep people more or less together.

The fastest folks arrived at the top long before me and the other
slowpokes, and went partially down the other side and returned back up to
the pass not long after I arrived...

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 70mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Heading Home

8:07 AM (+1h 50m) - 26 km (16.0 miles)

With various family obligations, they returned home the way we came, while the rest of us continued away from the city.

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

“京都市有形文化財河原家住宅”

Kyoto City Tangible Cultural Asset “Kawara Family Home”

8:24 AM (+2h 8m) - 29 km (17.8 miles)









Panasonic LX100 at an effective 30mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.2, ISO 250 —
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Random Jovialty

8:40 AM (+2h 24m) - 33 km (20.7 miles)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2000 —
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Lovely Descent

8:41 AM (+2h 25m) - 34 km (21.0 miles)

This descent, like the rest of the planned route, follows the same path
that Gorm and I did two
weeks ago. Like last time, I couldn't get good shots down this
super-nice descent. The rain didn't help.

The rain also didn't help one rider, Dario, who for unknown reasons lost
control on a slow straightaway and met the ground.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 1250 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Fixing a Boo-Boo

8:43 AM (+2h 26m) - 34 km (21.1 miles)

I was really impressed with how Antti (from Finland)
took control of the situation, tending to the road rash in a no-nonsense
way, then tending to the bicycle (making sure it was safe to ride), all the
while tending to everyone's emotions. He brought calm and direction where
it was needed.

Many good lessons here for everyone.

We didn't have much in the way of first-aid supplies with us
(which is to say we had nothing; I had a few Band-Aids, but they were of no use here),
so Antti made do with what we had. My little towel became a protective wrap.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/60 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 —
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Putting a Happy Face on It

when pride is certainly wounded

Dario was certainly in discomfort for a while, but a day later
he's already saying he's ready to ride again with us soon.

Back to yesterday, in going over the bicycle to make sure it was safe to
ride, Antti adjusted a few bolts with a small multi-tool thing he had. I
don't think anyone else had anything like that, and this was another lesson
for me. Mechanical issues can pop up any time, so I should have some basic
tools with me. If I was going to spend the weight to have some tools, I wanted to get something that would actually be useful, so I ordered this Crank Brothers
tool. It's a little heavy and has mixed reviews, so here's keeping my
fingers crossed.

We continued as a group until we got to a turnoff that lead back to
Kyoto. I had intended to return at this point anyway, since I had family
things to do myself. Four of us headed back via a small mountain road.

Then I got my first flat as a cyclist.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/160 sec, f/2, ISO 200 —
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Sad Tire

9:29 AM (+3h 13m) - 45 km (27.8 miles)

The others were in a rush just to get home in the cold rain, and there was nothing they
could do while I changed the flat, so I told them to continue on.

I'd never changed a flat, nor even seen it done except in a couple of
YouTube videos that I watched some months ago. But it turned out to be
straightforward to change the tube, and aside from the most dirty I think
my hands have ever gotten, there were no problems.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.2, ISO 200 —
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Change in Progress

9:40 AM (+3h 24m) - 45 km (27.8 miles)








Panasonic LX100 at an effective 43mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 —
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Looks Like a Half-Eaten Carcass

The new tube was in and filled, and I was about ready to put the wheel
back onto the bike when I had the bright idea to actually check the tread
to see whether I could find what caused the flat. If there was a nail or
something in there, it'd just pop the new tube right away.

I wasn't quite prepared for what I found:

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/1000 sec, f/2.1, ISO 200 —
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Ridiculously Bad Shape

This is not a tire that's just gone bad... this tire has apparently been
beyond bad for a long time. This wear extends around much of one half of
the tire, and it's unfathomable how neither I nor the mechanics who have
worked on my bike over the last months have not noticed it. This is worse
than first noticing you're pregnant because the baby just fell out.

I knew immediately that I was in trouble, because with a huge hole worn
through the tire, there was nothing to protect the tube. I actually got a
few very-careful kilometers on it, enough to get to a convenience store and
wash my hands, but it soon was flat again.

I was 50km (30 miles) from home, in the middle of nowhere, with a bike I couldn't ride.

Thankfully, my father-in-law could come and pick me up. I pushed the
bike to a michi
no eki (道の駅) that was conveniently close and waited.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 43mm — 1/160 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Dad Saves the Day

11:50 AM