Nice to see another video from both of you, which I always enjoy watching. Must make it up to Kiryu again to try another of Rob’s routes. Keep up the excellent work!
Please give this a video a "like" if you enjoyed it - it helps more than you know :) Next one is gonna be a little different; be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss it. Have a great day!
Thank you so much, Joe! I'm still learning about YT and I'll do my best 🙂 There are only a few more weeks until winter so might be my last chance to plan a bike trip.
Thank you so much for the kind comment, guys! Taking a short break from bikepacking right now to enjoy the snow, but we will be back on the saddle very soon :)
I remember my first century ride. The tour de tucson. 111miles back then. I was at mile 91 just wiped out and a lady at the rest stop said. “What feels like agony now will feel like a great adventure when you are done and have a shower and a beer”. I will never forget that because it got me through the last 21 miles Your ride to the top of the mountain and a beer and onsen reminded me
Wow that's a big one for first century ride! Tuscon has some really challenging terrain too. That kind of ride makes the beer and shower 💯 times better though, doesn't it? 😆
Revisiting this video as I'm hoping that Japan will allow some travel this year. Been waiting for 2 years now to go back and it's really killing me. Sure, I can ride in Poland or take a ride through EU, but it won't be the same. The nature and the way man-made blends with it, how nice people are, the food, the sounds... I could go on like this forever. 心が生まれた所。 ps. you guys went the same way down from Haruna as I did in 2019. That overlook on that bridge towards Naganohara, the jindaisugi that you can find a bit further... Memories.
Those BA bars are such a treat. I am so glad I found them in Japan :) Thanks so much for finding my channel and subscribing. Also - love your username!
Thanku for sharing this!! 🌸 so cool you saw a kamoshika! I appreciated the clips of the lil dog distraction during your snack stop and the young one learning to ride. Being able to end a long ride at an onsen seems so dreamy! I hope to do this one day but I am lucky enough to be able to bikepack around British Columbia for now. I’m wondering is it typical to walk around in a yakata in an onsen town?
You really picked up the little details :) BC seems like an absolute dream - I hope you are enjoying some nice rides out there! Yes, it is very normal to walk around in yukata, especially onsen towns such as Kusatsu. Wearing the robes makes it a lot easier to explore the hot spring baths and foot baths around every corner.
Hi Jeffrey - I just added a strava link in the description box. Hope that is helpful. This Kusatsu is the one in Gunma-ken, near the border with Nagano-ken. I believe there's another Kusatsu in Shiga, which can be a bit confusing!
I stumbled on your channel a week or 2 ago when I finally decided to buy a road bike and it's been really nice catching up to all your videos, they really make me want to ride a lot more. I wanted to ask (assuming you'll see this comment) what volume those saddle bags are, I'm looking to go bike touring here were I am and want to get a sense of how big they are! Thanks in advance!
Wow thank you for the kind comment. I'm so happy to hear that you decided to explore by bike! Our bags are 20L and 10L. There's a good range of gear out there nowadays, just depending on your style and budget. Safe riding!
I cycled up to Kusatsu from Tokyo and I pushed my bike most of the way on the last steep hill, was so tired. The next day to Karuizawa wasn't too bad, but don't think I need to go to Kusatsu again.... What gear rations do you both have on your bikes since so many hills?
Woah that is quite the long ride! The Cannondale Synapse is a compact 11-34, which is good enough for most of the steeper stuff here. For anything steeper than what we rode to Kusatsu (max was around 15%), I would probably prefer to ride my old bike, a steel Ritchey that has even more gears for the slow uphills. Excited for my spring allergies to go away so that I can have the energy to plan another big ride :)
I believe 3L, so quite small. Difficult to give it a full review, since this is our first time using it, but it did the job. I've heard mixed things about Rockbros bags in general, so just wanted to try out one piece of equipment to see how it performs.
Nice to see another video from both of you, which I always enjoy watching. Must make it up to Kiryu again to try another of Rob’s routes. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you so much! Gunma is just incredible in autumn, I can't wait to see all the colors change 🍁
Please give this a video a "like" if you enjoyed it - it helps more than you know :) Next one is gonna be a little different; be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss it. Have a great day!
Views as beautiful as your soul! Wishing you and Rob well
Thank you for watching, Emily! Hope you are well and miss you 🤗
we can't come to Japan yet and your video and ride up the hill and onsen is the next best thing!
Thanks for watching, Martin! I really hope the travel restrictions are lifted soon.
beautiful ride
Love the cycling/Japan vids, very well done and great editing, hope more is coming!
Thank you so much, Joe! I'm still learning about YT and I'll do my best 🙂 There are only a few more weeks until winter so might be my last chance to plan a bike trip.
Kudo's for 100k with that backpack! This channel is great - looking forward to more bikepacking videos.
Thank you so much for the kind comment, guys! Taking a short break from bikepacking right now to enjoy the snow, but we will be back on the saddle very soon :)
@@moecycling have a good ski season!
Happy Birthday 🎈🎂 Michelle. Hope you’re out riding somewhere fun!!
Thank you so much! I had a wonderful birthday :)
moe cycling 🤦🏻♀️I forgot that you’re a day ahead of us. Glad you had a good day
haha no worries at all! Thanks for watching my videos. New one will come soon.
I remember my first century ride. The tour de tucson. 111miles back then. I was at mile 91 just wiped out and a lady at the rest stop said. “What feels like agony now will feel like a great adventure when you are done and have a shower and a beer”. I will never forget that because it got me through the last 21 miles Your ride to the top of the mountain and a beer and onsen reminded me
Wow that's a big one for first century ride! Tuscon has some really challenging terrain too. That kind of ride makes the beer and shower 💯 times better though, doesn't it? 😆
Gorgeous ride! This ones going on the list! An uphill century too! Y'all are tanks! All the best! :)
Thank you, that was one of the hardest routes this year (for me, at least). Hope you're enjoying your gravel rides!
Great stuff!!
Getting excited to share future trips with you all!
Revisiting this video as I'm hoping that Japan will allow some travel this year. Been waiting for 2 years now to go back and it's really killing me. Sure, I can ride in Poland or take a ride through EU, but it won't be the same. The nature and the way man-made blends with it, how nice people are, the food, the sounds... I could go on like this forever.
心が生まれた所。
ps. you guys went the same way down from Haruna as I did in 2019. That overlook on that bridge towards Naganohara, the jindaisugi that you can find a bit further... Memories.
I really hope that Japan will open up soon, too. Would be great to meet some international riders out on these lonely rural roads!
Enjoying your vlogs i wish i could play them at once 🤣perfect bike tour those planning to ride in Japan
Thank you - I'm so happy!!!
excellent video
we had once been to Yamadera near Tendō, there we saw Kamoshika!
absolutely adore those creatures!
The climb looks hard. I felt sorry for him carrying a backpack 🎒 and climbed up 😂
Yes many kudos to Rob for carrying almost all of our stuff!
I'll pack lighter next time 😂
moe cycling lol! Poor guy, smart girl 👧
Bakalland bars! Polish accent in Japan. You got a lifetime sub from me, cause I'm just waiting to pack again and fly to Japan with my bike
Those BA bars are such a treat. I am so glad I found them in Japan :) Thanks so much for finding my channel and subscribing. Also - love your username!
@@moecycling ポケサイクリだね!
Thanku for sharing this!! 🌸 so cool you saw a kamoshika! I appreciated the clips of the lil dog distraction during your snack stop and the young one learning to ride. Being able to end a long ride at an onsen seems so dreamy! I hope to do this one day but I am lucky enough to be able to bikepack around British Columbia for now. I’m wondering is it typical to walk around in a yakata in an onsen town?
Also my boyfriend carries more weight when we bikepack together too, so I can keep up a bit better! s/o to our partners 💓
You really picked up the little details :) BC seems like an absolute dream - I hope you are enjoying some nice rides out there! Yes, it is very normal to walk around in yukata, especially onsen towns such as Kusatsu. Wearing the robes makes it a lot easier to explore the hot spring baths and foot baths around every corner.
@@oliveg6845 it makes it more fun for everyone! 🚵🏽♀️
20:11 but really!
My shoulders were so dead after that ride haha 🥵
We'll pack lighter next time! Haha
Hi,
How come they let you bring the bikes in the room ??
We asked them politely if it would be ok, and they kindly agreed. We cleaned the tires before entering the hotel.
Awesome... 🇮🇩
Thank you so much for watching!
@@moecycling you're welcome.
Would you mind adding a link to the route, or at least a map pointer to which "Kusatsu" you went to?
Hi Jeffrey - I just added a strava link in the description box. Hope that is helpful. This Kusatsu is the one in Gunma-ken, near the border with Nagano-ken. I believe there's another Kusatsu in Shiga, which can be a bit confusing!
I stumbled on your channel a week or 2 ago when I finally decided to buy a road bike and it's been really nice catching up to all your videos, they really make me want to ride a lot more.
I wanted to ask (assuming you'll see this comment) what volume those saddle bags are, I'm looking to go bike touring here were I am and want to get a sense of how big they are!
Thanks in advance!
Wow thank you for the kind comment. I'm so happy to hear that you decided to explore by bike! Our bags are 20L and 10L. There's a good range of gear out there nowadays, just depending on your style and budget. Safe riding!
I cycled up to Kusatsu from Tokyo and I pushed my bike most of the way on the last steep hill, was so tired. The next day to Karuizawa wasn't too bad, but don't think I need to go to Kusatsu again.... What gear rations do you both have on your bikes since so many hills?
Woah that is quite the long ride!
The Cannondale Synapse is a compact 11-34, which is good enough for most of the steeper stuff here. For anything steeper than what we rode to Kusatsu (max was around 15%), I would probably prefer to ride my old bike, a steel Ritchey that has even more gears for the slow uphills.
Excited for my spring allergies to go away so that I can have the energy to plan another big ride :)
This was a 2173meter ride? Doesn't that equal a little over a mile ride or 2kilometers? Seemed longer on map or am I missing something :o
The distance was just over 100km but the elevation gain was ~2km. That's a lot of climbing for me :)
How many litres is that rockbros frame bag? do you like it?
I believe 3L, so quite small. Difficult to give it a full review, since this is our first time using it, but it did the job. I've heard mixed things about Rockbros bags in general, so just wanted to try out one piece of equipment to see how it performs.
I can't see the kamoshika.....haha
It's an elusive creature! Might be able to catch it if you watch again but it blends very well in the woods ☺️
Why is Rob carring most if the weight? Carry equal amount if weight.
He prefers to take the weight rather than wait for me. ;) We enjoy cycling together, and this is what works for us.