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Training Report - Mt.Tokachidake (Mt.Tokachi) 3



The new season begins!

Dr.K and Tesseract participated in this training. It was minus 15 degrees Celsius at the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs.

Travelled distance: 26km


Tesseract came back the day before to Hokkaido from the mainland of Japan where he's doing his studies. So this is the first time he rides on snow in this season. He wears a new pair of gloves and he put shoe covers triple. This day, his clothes weighed more than 3.0kg (cf. Kenashi Pass 15). And he didn't bring his cap which has a viser that causes fog on the lenses on the goggles. Moreover, he brought a new face cover which has a reputation of not fog the lenses.
Tesseract in the climb

Dr.K's equipment is unchanged.
Dr.K in the climb

High mountains tower in front of us.
Dr.K in the climb

The Mt.Furanodake (Mt.Furano) entered the view.
Tesseract in the climb

These mountains look like the Hymalayas.
Dr.K in the climb

It seems strong winds are blowing on the slant of 2000m of altitude.
Tesseract in the climb

The line of mountains' ridge is beautiful.
Dr.K in the climb

We are approaching the altitude of 1000m with the view of Kamifurano in the background.
Tesseract with view of Kamifurano

The Mt.Furanodake is in front of us.
Dr.K with the Mt.Furanodake


Tesseract is passing a steep part where the gradient is 100 per mill.

Video:



Dr.K's climbing. We see his climbing has improved.

Video:


Tesseract's approach to the summit.
Tesseract with the Mt.Furanodake


Tesseract asked to Dr.K:
"Can you ride standing on the pedals on this steep uphill of 14 per cent gradient?"

Dr.K responded:
"I don't know."

Tesseract:
"Ok, I'm gonna show you how to do it."

So Tesseract showed to Dr.K how to ride standing on the pedals in this very steep part of the climb. Here, the gradient is around 140 per mill. If you don't displace the centre of gravity properly, the rear wheel spins at this gradient. The important, you displace your centre of gravity backwards. Then you stretch out the thigh so that the saddle doesn't hit the thigh.

Video:



Dr.K tried but he couldn't. His rear wheel is spinning. As you see, his centre of gravity is too forwards. If you compare this with that of Tesseract, you see the distance between the leg and the saddle is about 10cm greater than his. This too forward centre of gravity causes the spinning.

Video:

He said:
"I can't with studded tires of Nokian!" (cf. Studded tires)

(Don't blame the tires! However, it's true that Nokian tires have disadvantages.)

We rode seriously just last 2-3 hectometres to the summit.

Tesseract arrived first at the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs where the highest motorable road during the winter in Hokkaido is situated. Its altitude is 1280m.
Tesseract at the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs

Dr.K arrived 40 seconds later.
Dr.K at the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs

He's indicating the Mt.Furanodake.
Dr.K with the Mt.Furanodake

He's indicating the Mt.Furanodake as well.
Tesseract with the Mt.Furanodake

Hard rime is beautiful.
Bikes

We wore face covers and we commenced to descend.

Tesseract goes ahead in the downhill as usual.

Video:



Dr.K can't keep up the speed.

Video:



Tesseract's passing this corner blocking the rear wheel's rotation.

Video:


We had planned to visit the Fukiage Hot Springs but we weren't very motivated to ride more. So we descended directly. During the descent, we lunched in a restaurant. After lunch in the restaurant, we resumed our downhill.


Tesseract goes ahead again as always.

Video:



Dr.K tries to minimise the loss but the gap is already 35 seconds.

Video:


Tesseract won the descent and Dr.K arrived 3 minutes 20 seconds later at the foot.


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