Blog: March 2008
Tuning Ride
First team ride. Everyone with 'new bike fever' and playing around with setups and tuning. Too much stopping!
HardAss
My new Trek 9.9 hardtail fit like a glove straight out of the box. No excuses.
Snapper Head
Nihon feed #2 - Sushi and Snapper Head. Literally. Sucking the eyes out wasn't nice, but the rest was awesome.
Out On It
My intro to Japanese cuisine, with Nogu, Misato and Chieko. Japanese beer always seems to hit the spot. They do boiled beans rather than chips or nuts, hence less big guts around the place.
Keep it Going Nogu
This is a rare sighting these days- Noguchi on a bike. Especially in bike kit. So savour it.
Ready to Roll
Yep, it's stiff and light and fits well. Trying to avoid that first big scratch. Lots of carbon.
Mamachari Plague
The standard steed for your average Japanese citizen. About $100. Those baskets can carry anything, from kiddies to shopping, to fridges.
Building Up
A few coffees, some tools and some help from Kinamoto San and my new Marco Polo team issue Madone was ready to roll. This is the new generation frame, which is way stiffer and lighter than last year's. Very nice.
Free Beer, No Clue
What a bewery has an 80th birthday there's going to be plenty of free beer. And what happens to Nogu after a few?
Kobe Trails
Yoshie, Waka, Kei, and I half way up our Kobe loop. Heaps of hikers to watch out for, but nowhere near as many as the weekends. The trails are always steep and technical, with plenty to see on the way - shrines, temples, lakes, monuments, rivers...
The Essentials
Priorities were set from day 1. Yebisu and Tim Tams. I guess water's essential too.
Too Many Options
Drink anyone? If you're thirsty here it's all good. Every corner has at least one drink machine. Even in the middle of nowhere, with no sign of civilisation, you'll see one of these - heated and cooled options of course.
