11Mar
Video: All-Road Cycling in Japan
[youtube https://youtu.be/Bqn2MZJw9-Q?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Beautiful bikes, great roads, traditional Japanese inns: BQ editor Natsuko Hirose’s short clip takes you to the Izu Peninsula. It’s the first trip on her new all-road bike – a great opportunity to enjoy cyclotouring with friends.
Enjoy this preview, then read the full story in the Spring 2019 Bicycle Quarterly. Make sure to watch in ‘Full Screen’ mode!
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Comments (14)
“Traditional Japanese Inn”. Jan hits his head on beam.
Looking forward to the next issue.
Japanese traditional inns are no problem: The doorways are so short that the beams are at eye level. More recent houses can be tricky, especially if the floors have thresholds, so I look down as I walk through the doorway, and don’t realize that my head almost clears, but not quite!
I think Natsuko should lead tours of her homeland. For us less than adventurous tourers 😉
Videos like that should be 10-20 minutes long. When is the current issue going to be mailing out?
Glad you enjoyed the movie! The Spring Bicycle Quarterly will be mailed in the next few days.
I can’t wait to get the next issue! The story on Natsuko’s bike is the reason why I signed up.
Interesting the headlamp mount is on the left in a country which drives on the left. Had always assumed the beam would be better on the “inside”?
Usually, it doesn’t matter where the headlight beam is – it needs to be far enough forward that it’s visible to cars coming out of side streets from both sides.
Very nice new bike and movie.
Hear light noice on braking ?
New pads or need to ajust pads attack angle ?
Brand-new bike – this was the very first ride, not even a spin around the block beforehand! The pads needed a little bedding. The bike is quiet now.
Sure this all-road classic bike is near to be perfect and smooth.
Smile on Natsuko face when riding is evidence sign.
One problem with small frames seems to be, that a seattube mounted taillight is invisible from straight behind, because is hidden behind the fender.
I have seen very low mounted taillights on many Japanese Randoneur Bicycles, made by the best framebuilders.
On taller frames, the light is often exactly behind the straddle cable hanger or roller.
So it’s not a problem in real world?
The Rene Herse taillight illuminates the reflector from the inside, so it’s a very diffuse light source. If the straddle cable hanger is small, it won’t really obstruct the visibility from behind. Having the light obstructed by the fender is a different matter – then it’s invisible.
Mounting the taillight on a chainstay is an option, but with wide tires, it becomes invisible when you go around long curves. Obviously, putting the light on the fender won’t work with Rinko, because you need to take the rear section of the fender off. Plus, that location makes the light a bit vulnerable. The perfect solution doesn’t really exist…
I have seen many beautiful bikes let down by lighting and wiring. As you say, the perfect solution doesn’t really exist. Forks with integral conductors are fiddly and proprietary to a degree. Rear wiring i often an afterthought or so convoluted it makes internal cabling look simple
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