友人を誘って草津に行った。昨日の朝6時半に練馬を出発、関越道はスムーズで現地には9時半には到着していた。友人はツール・ド・草津のコースでヒルクライムに挑戦するというのが目的で、そこまでレベルが達していない僕は草津から嬬恋を走るのが元々の計画だった。しかし実は軽微な肺炎だったここ1ヶ月くらいの不調から病み上ったばかりで、筋肉もすっかりなくなってしまった状態なので、過酷な運動は自重してバスで白根山頂まで輪行し、そこで友人の到着を待つことにした。
そこからさらに最高地点の渋峠をめざす友人に併走して、折り返し草津温泉までの長いダウンヒルを楽しんだ。ここは見事な風景と見晴らしを満喫できる素晴らしいコースで、自転車ライダーたちに人気が高いのも頷ける。草津から白根までの登りもしばらく行くと平坦部分で一息つける流れがあって、恐らく数字ほどの過酷さはないかも知れない。登り切った後の達成感は格別だと思う。
翌日は帰り道に嬬恋パノラマラインを少し走ってみることにしていたのだが、あいにくの雨で断念して、車でコース確認しながら帰ることにした。ここは交通量が少なく自転車ツーリングにはお誂えのルートだ。峡谷に架かる2本の橋を渡り、しばらく登っていくと360度の視界が開ける広大なキャベツ畑の真ん中だ。晴れていれば白根も浅間も見渡せるかも知れない。草津から大前までの走行距離は約24km、嬬恋側からの登り勾配は相当厳しいので、自分としては草津からのダウンヒルを基本に考えたい。そうすると谷側の左車線を走れて、眺めもさらに楽しめそう。
I invited a friend of mine to a tour ride in Kusatsu area. We left Nerima at 6:30 yesterday morning and we were in Kusatsu at 9:30 because the traffic of Kan-etsu expressway was very smooth. My friend planned a hill-crimb following the course of Tour de Kusatsu, but my level was not that qualifiable and I originally considered running from Kusatsu to Tsumagoi instead. Unfortunately, I have just recovered from my sickness of almost a month that was found to be light pneumonia, and during this period of time, my mussle has almost gone, therefore I had to avoid sudden and excessive exercises. I packed my bicycle and went to the summit of Mt. Shirane by bus where I could wait for my friend’s arrival.
He was thinking of running further to Shibu-Toge Pass, the highest point in the route, and I joined him and then had a long downhill back to Kusatsu Onsen. The route offered impressive views here and there, and we could immediately understand why it was very popular among bike riders. The entire uphill of Tour de Kusatsu that looks extremely demanding may be more manageable than it appears because it always prepares a relieving flat section after some tough crimbing, and the end reward must be truly specical.
The next day, our plan was to have some short ride in Tsumagoi Panorama Line, but the rain forced us to give it up and we decided to go through the course by the car. The traffic of this road is scarce, which is ideal for bicycle tours. There was two big bridges over deep valleys and we went uphill for a while, then we found ourselves in the middle of huge cabbage fields with 360-degree open views. If the sky was clear, we might be able to see Mt. Asama in front and Mt. Shirane in back… The distance from Kusatsu to Ohmae was about 24km, and because the slope from Tsumagoi side was very steep, I would prefer running from Kusatsu side, generally going downhill and with wider valley views on the left while running.
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