The Honna-Tsugawa Forest Road: over 1000 meters of elevation gain in 22 km ( from the Tsugawa, Niigata end) ; 2-plus hours of non-stop climbing; 18.5 km of downhill, much of it unpaved and rough, into Honna, Fukushima; stunning views; solitude.
This is a real mother, not recommended for single speeds (I rode one and regretted it), rigid-fork machines, or slicks. Or the weak-kneed.
Start in Niigata- the Fukushima section is too mental to contemplate riding uphill.
Do this ride if you're a glutton for punishment
Start early.
Take plenty of water and energy resupply.
Happy trails.
Note on the photos: owing to a camera malfunction, over half the pics I shot weren't saved.
One for the birds: very little activity from the featherd species, only 2 in evidence, the Eurasian jay and the Great tit, though there must have been others about.
This is a real mother, not recommended for single speeds (I rode one and regretted it), rigid-fork machines, or slicks. Or the weak-kneed.
Start in Niigata- the Fukushima section is too mental to contemplate riding uphill.
Do this ride if you're a glutton for punishment
Start early.
Take plenty of water and energy resupply.
Happy trails.
Note on the photos: owing to a camera malfunction, over half the pics I shot weren't saved.
One for the birds: very little activity from the featherd species, only 2 in evidence, the Eurasian jay and the Great tit, though there must have been others about.