Sunday 26 October (Kyushu island)
Strava Flyover Virtual Summary: https://strava.app.link/IThD54HOQXb
This was a long day: in distance (~110km) and duration (~ 07:30 to 17:45). Not to mention some serious climbing. Two main climbs: one before and one after lunch.
Good weather: cool but not cold. It warmed up in the late morning but cooled again mid-afternoon onwards. Wind chill factor exacerbated by downhill runs.
I started riding before Padraig (15-20 min?) but he caught up with me around 09:30 and we rode the second half of the first main climb together which certainly made it go easier.
A great sweet snack which I shared with Barbara
Jo and Lorna commented that my bike is by far the heaviest bike on the tour (they noticed two days before when loading and unloading the bikes – “great bike for riding around the world”
Padraig and myself rode together for much of the afternoon with periods separated. Chopped and changed with the usual suspects i.e. Dan, Brian, Barbara, and Ruth.
At the afternoon’s designated “Coke Stop” many riders before me must have gone into the what was a community craft shop looking for drinks/snacks to buy. I didn’t even get off my bike before this very helpful woman came out and pointed to the drinks vending machine down the road saying “drinks”..
She stayed outside as other riders came through and chatted with us with her limited English (four superior to our almost non-existent Japanese). Gifted 3 buns with bean paste for Padraig, myself, and Brian.
Last 10km+ I pushed hard to get in before dark and just made it – had lights on but didn’t need them to see with. There was mutual congratulations between all riders for completing a hard day’s ride. Many went out of their way to especially compliment the late arrivals for their achievement. Though I was tired I wasn’t spent (exhausted) which was a sign of having built a good level of endurance fitness.
Except for one occasion, I successfully managed the chain issue by maintaining the approach of changing down to the small chain ring well in advance i.e. avoiding any load. Somehow I lost my bike lock during the day – not critical – they are used at night more for our reassurance than any real need and we tend to share locks between two or three bikes i.e. lock them together.
Due to us late arrivals the Rider’s Briefing was postponed to the following meeting and dinner (for us) was delayed until 6:30pm.
The “bed head” is my way of stopping the pillow from sliding off the futon.
I had noticed you weren’t puffing as much on up hill rides Steve, well don, you are doing a great job XX