Mt. Fuji Hill climb

Climbing of Mt. Fuji with the road bike.

Mt. Fuji Hill climb is the climbing of the Mt. Fuji mountain road (trail) once in a year.
It is a course of climbing from Fujihokuroku Park ~ Mr. Fuji 5th station, total length is 24km, and difference of elevation is 1,255m.
Slope: Average 5.3%, and Maximum 7.8%

This year
Number of person who took the course was 6,165 people (Race entry rate: 98.3%)
Number of person who finished course was 6,067 people (Completion rate: 98.4%)

In the history of the rally, this was the first time that the number of persons who finished that race exceeded 6000 people.

Though it is said as the race, everyone will climbs the Mt. Fuji by their own pace.

I think it will surely be an experience that you will not forget the Mt.Fuji in your lifetime.

Do you wish to participate in the event that will also be held the next year?
From now on, I will be giving lot of information about the road bike travel in Japan.

I think it is exceptional to travel and see the beautiful scenery of Japan by riding the road bike.
http://www.fujihc.jp/english.html

Please visit Japan by combining this rally day the next year.

Red Bull Holy Ride

Holy Ride is the event sponsored by the Red Bull.

This event is an exciting downhill race of running down the sacred place with the mountain bike, and it was held for the 3rd time in Japan.

This year’s course is composed of stairs and hill road, total distance is 500 meter, 250 stone steps, and a maximum slope is about 25 degrees.

On the event day, about 3000 spectators watched it, 11 participating riders competed with the determined attack and riding technique of this technical course.
On that final day, there was rain and the condition of the road surface became severe.
The huge crowd of spectators were taken by surprise by the splendid technique for running down hill in those sudden drop stone steps.
Normally the MTB downhill race is conducted at the mountain slope, and this Red Bull Holy Ride is conducted at the sacred place.
The first race in Japan was conducted at the Iwashimizu Hachimangu shrine in Kyoto Prefecture in 2010.

 

The second time it was conducted at the Ishizu-Jinjya shrine in Ehime Prefecture in 2011.

The second time it was conducted at the Katsuou-Ji in Osaka Prefecture in 2013.

This is the downhill race by MTB under the beautiful scenery of stone pavement and stone steps of the temple and Shinto shrine more like a typical Japanese place.

The event sponsored by Red Bull fascinates the viewer by fulfilling the fascination that cannot be seen elsewhere like the ingenuity and cheerfulness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is really a wonderful event.

Glad present to Yukiya Arashiro riding the Giro d'Italia !

The Giro d'Italia is being held now.

A stylish present from M/s.Colnago supplying the road bike to Yukiya participating that race from Europe car!

Yukiya Arashiro

This is the only special machine in the world painted with the “Japan” and “Yukiya Arashiro“ in the Japanese syllable called as Kanji in the pink frame which is the color of Giro d'Italia.

The “Yukiya Arashiro x Giro d'Italia“ version of C60, the 60th anniversary model of M/s.Colnago.

So far
Colnago C59 JAPAN

The C59 Japanese champion color model that made the debut in the 6th stage of Tour de France in 2012.
 
Colnago C59 KIZUNA

Yukiya fractured his left hand and neck by falling from the road bike, and is now recovering from the fracture. This road bike was given to him when he attended the All Japan championship that is the final selection race of London Olympics.

The special road bike with the characters of “Yukiya Arashiro” and “Bond” in the Japanese syllable called as Kanji.　
The intimacy between Yukia and Ernesto (Founder of M/s.Colnago) would not be known unless such a special machine was prepared and given.

Ｍｒ．Ernesto Colnago

It would be happy that we could soon see Yukia riding this road bike from the 4th stage on 13th.

Complex facility for cyclist “ONOMICHI U2”

In Japan, the even related to Tour de France that is held from the last year is Saitama Criterium by Le Tour de France 2013, and the popularity of the road bike has risen.
You may check about the “Saitama Criterium by Le Tour de France 2013” blog in the below link.
http://japanindiacart.blogspot.in/2014/03/saitama-criterium-by-le-tour-de-france.html

The “Onomichi U2” is the complex facility opened for the cyclist on March this year at Hiroshima Prefecture Onomichi City .http://onomichi-u2.com/

This facility was born by remodeling and reusing the marine warehouse located near the station and was under the Prefecture management.
It is a splendid location of 5 minutes on foot from the station to the west side, crowded with the tourists, and is different from the east side station.
It is said that the freight line separates from the station and comes right beside the warehouse.

The appearance has not changed from the time it was used as a warehouse.
In the outer wall, “Prefectural management No.2” is written. Actually, the name “U2” has come from the name of this warehouse “Prefectural management shed no.2”. This warehouse was completed in 1943, and it is the warehouse with very long history.

A very big open space makes the best use of warehouse space
The building frame of the warehouse is used as such. The kitchen in the hotel and restaurant are built using the internal empty space, and it is created by the method of building inside the building.

Too much of partition is not made while the necessary space are enclosed.
A very big open space is brought out by generally using the empty space of the warehouse with high ceiling
The brining in of the natural light gives a gloomy feeling in the daytime, and the bright lamplight is lighted in the night giving a different charm, and is interesting.

You can stay with your loved vehicle in this Hotel.

Nearly half of the area of U2 is occupied by the lodging facility “Hotel Cycle”. There are 28 rooms and all are twin-bed room.

The open stairwell space at the center part holding the passage was made with comfort, while the guest room is made functional and compact.
Here the chair and table are scattered, and it is the arrangement to function as the lounge of the staying guest.
It is a mechanism (the overspill of the chair and the table here, and functions as staying person's lounge).
You can check-in this hotel along with your road bike, and you can take it to your room without dismantling it.

It is nice that a common maintenance space is provided in each floor at one place.

A specially made bike rack using the actual drop handlebar and stem is provided in the room. You can effectively use the room space even if you take the road bike with you.

Shop and restaurant lining up the local unique products.

The center part of U2 is shop and restaurant space.

The “U2 shima SHOP” Lifestyle shop, “Butti Bakery” selling the bread baked from natural yeast, “Yard Café” of cafe space, “KOG BAR” of counter bar, and the restaurant “The RESTAURANT” are available.

“Butti Bakery” selling the bread baked from natural yeast

“Yard Café” of cafe space

The marine products of inland sea, products using the fruit, local and bingo denim are handled in the shop. The restaurant provides the menu with the meat, fish and vegetables in abundance at the Setouchi.

"Giant store Onomichi"

The Giant store opens the branch store at both ends of the Shimanami sea route.

The rent-a-cycle service provided in the shop is very popular, limited to the road bike, and you get off the road bike at the opposite side crossing the Shimanami sea route.
In the rental cycle, the kids, cross bike, and actual sports bike like the aluminum road bike, carbon road bike are available.

The fees are high compared with the rent-a-cycle provide by the nearby municipality but the road bike as a principle are latest model. After returning the road bike, the staff will do the maintenance before lending to the next guest. It is safe to ride a road bike in the best condition
This is the first shop specially handling the sports road bike in the Onomichi city. The store was crowded with the guest who came to the hotel.
 
Symbol of new cycling culture
While the passion for cycling is increasing focused on the Shimanami sea route as a symbol of new cycling culture, the “Onomichi U2” that was born on the entrance side of Honshu side can be said as one of the symbol of new cycling culture.

I felt that this is the facility for the adults to enjoy the road bike travel comfortably.

It is excellent from the aspect of having the shop, restaurant, scenery like the surrounding wood deck, harbor, and fashion consciousness spot etc.