Eroica Japan 'MITSUKUNI 150': A Look at the Roughly 152 km Course in Ibaraki
The official Eroica Japan site has published details of the 'MITSUKUNI 150' course, held on November 1. Since I was curious how a route for an event on vintage bicycles is put together, I've sketched out the overview.
The start and finish are at the Eroica Japan headquarters, in the former Isozaki Elementary School. The distance is 151.8 km with 1,401 m of climbing: 16.3 km of unpaved road and 135.3 km of paved road. The start is at 6:00 a.m., and the cutoff is 7:00 p.m. on November 1.
The aid stations are distinctive too. Starting at the Tokai AS at the 10.4 km mark (Tokai Village Nuclear Science Museum), the course continues to the Hitachi AS at 27.1 km (JR Hitachi Station, seaside exit), the Juo Dam AS at 38.1 km, the Ota 7-Eleven AS at 63.6 km, and the Osakana Center AS at 73.8 km (Hitachi Fish Center), where lunch is available. Then come the Oarai AS at 95.6 km and the Hinuma AS at 120.4 km (Hinuma Nature Park), before reaching the Reynolds 531 AS at 132.8 km (Humming Road 513). The name is clearly a tribute to Reynolds 531 chromoly tubing.
What appeals to me most is the course design: slowly riding a steel-frame bike past seaside towns and a lake, with stretches of gravel along the way. Since nearly 90% of the route is paved, you could enjoy the character of the bike while piling up the kilometers. If you're considering entering, check the route details and rules on the official site.
Source: Eroica
The start and finish are at the Eroica Japan headquarters, in the former Isozaki Elementary School. The distance is 151.8 km with 1,401 m of climbing: 16.3 km of unpaved road and 135.3 km of paved road. The start is at 6:00 a.m., and the cutoff is 7:00 p.m. on November 1.
The aid stations are distinctive too. Starting at the Tokai AS at the 10.4 km mark (Tokai Village Nuclear Science Museum), the course continues to the Hitachi AS at 27.1 km (JR Hitachi Station, seaside exit), the Juo Dam AS at 38.1 km, the Ota 7-Eleven AS at 63.6 km, and the Osakana Center AS at 73.8 km (Hitachi Fish Center), where lunch is available. Then come the Oarai AS at 95.6 km and the Hinuma AS at 120.4 km (Hinuma Nature Park), before reaching the Reynolds 531 AS at 132.8 km (Humming Road 513). The name is clearly a tribute to Reynolds 531 chromoly tubing.
What appeals to me most is the course design: slowly riding a steel-frame bike past seaside towns and a lake, with stretches of gravel along the way. Since nearly 90% of the route is paved, you could enjoy the character of the bike while piling up the kilometers. If you're considering entering, check the route details and rules on the official site.
Source: Eroica
Comments 0
Leave the first comment, in any language.
Log in to comment