Asahikawa trip for Snowboarding

Summer will come soon.
Follows are memories of pleasant Snowboarding time in Asshikawa Hokkaodo on Feb, 2012.

Asahikawa trip for Snowboarding

Hi, I went to Asahikawa Hokkaido(Nothearn big island of Japan) with my snowboarding friends on 16th to 19th Feb.

Day 1 (16th, Feb)
Wake up at 3:30 in early morning. My friend picked me and other friends up at 4:15, after that we went to Haneda airport.

We took our flight on 7:25 heading to Asahikawa. It was full seated!!
On 9:15, landed to Asahikawa safely. It was below -10C and lot of snow!!

We did rent a car for moving in Hokkaido.

One hour later, we arrived Pippu ski area.

Position of Pippu ski area

We met some friends who came from other area of Hokkaido!!


Today' special gear is these!!

We can see two strange board in above picture. Center and left side, right one is normal alpine snowboard.
These are Mono-ski!! My Hokkaido friend has.

Center one is special for powder carving that has so big split tail!!

So, slope condition was so good! No people and enough cold temperature and so fine sky!!

After snowboarding, we had drinking and dinner till midnight. Below picture is my friends sings KARA(Korean girls group) song, he is 50 yrs old!!

Day2 (17th, Feb)

Wake up on 7:00. Outside temperature is -16C!! And fine sky again. Take photo from my hotel rooms window.

We go to Pippu ski area again. Today is also no people!!

We had vey good snowboarding time!!
I feel pain on my legs and back.

Of course we did take some foods and lot of drink!! till midnight too!!

Day 3 and 4 will be wrote next Blog!!

Got new toy for active sports!

Hi,

Long time did not wright this blog. Because I was very busy for my business.

So, I got a new toy for active sports on last December that is High definition movie camera.

This is GoPro HD Hero2. It has full HD record and very wide angle lens.
I purchased with some attachments for bicycle mount and snowboarding.

At first, I try to shoot with road bike.

This photo, GoPro on right side of front axle center!

Check test shoot with bike.

Go to Youtube

Next is with snowboard!!

Keep fun!

Virus UFC163 Impression

I purchased Virus UFC (Ultimate Free Carving) 163 snowboard, but I could not ride in last season due to big earthquake.

Finally, I did ride UFC 163 on last December.

Basic Specifications:
Overall length: 1630mm
Effective edge length: N/A my measurement is 1500mm?
Side cut radius: N/A combination some size radius.
Board center width: 208mm
Other: Reinforced by Titanium and Carbon finer on Top.

My stance setting is same as previous board setting is;
Stanse width; 540mm
Angle front/rear; 55/50 degree
Canting: Side direction of feet: No, Axial direction of feet(Toe up and heel up) 7deg (possible to highest by Catek binding system)
In my case, stance width is decided by Amount of Toe and Heel up.

And I putted plastic plate (2mm) between binding and top of the board, because protect from scratch by binding plate edge. It was made by myself.

Riding impression:
I felt little bit soft about this board bending stiffness by hand in house when I got this.
I had different feeling in actual riding on snow. It has so enough stiffness in turn and very high stability. Like a over 1700mm one,

I guess torsional stiffness was good tuned by titanium and carbon fiber of top sheet.

In turn, it is very good performance for me. Then I stand board hardly, no problem, UFC nose has turned to in side very quickly. After that I could make hard carving on snow.

So, I think board control is more easier than same length SL board. Because side cut radius is little bit large and bending response is not so quick!!

This season, It is too much snow in Japan. Every time I ride on fresh snow. Finally, last week could ride on hard pack (ice) snow.

I changed stance setting after ride on hard pack snow. Wanna more edge grip and wider board compare with previous one.

Rear angle --> 45deg
Stance width--> 520mm
No change other setting parameter.

My feel was it's better, but heel side turn edge grip is not so enough.

I think toe and heel lift is too much? And is stance width too wide?
Generally,
*Too much heel lift of rear foot will be loose grip in heel side turn.
*Wide stance will be twist board by knee movement.

Many years ago, when I start to ride with hard boots. My stance width was 460mm and lift is below 10mm.

I will try follow stance setting;
Stance width: 495mm
Angle Front/Rear: 55/45 deg
Canting of side direction of foot: No
Lift of toe and heel: below 10mm
Decided by more comfortable movement.

Focus to just put load on the board. Not twist. More simple movement!
Into the turn, I have to;
1. Stand board hardly quickly
2. Just load

Looking forward to riding soon!!

Keep Fun Riding!!

New project started

I decided to purchase new frame of road bike!!

I am using full carbon frame since 2006. Every year autumn, I disappointed due to frame maker released new shape carbon frame. Fuuuu.....

Recently, I decided to will purchased new frame. I think which is better?

Carbon frame....will disappoint again...Titanium? So expensive!!....Stainless steel?...Cr-Mo steel?...

Finally, decided to Cr-Mo!!
Because reasonable price, Durable and so enough stiffness. But little bit heavy, it is not important!!


First photo is my current carbon frame bike.
Main components: SRAM
Crank set and rings: Rotor 3D and Qrings
Wheel set: Carbon tubler with PowerTap, or Mavic reflex rim wheels

Now I am considering new frame basic dimension and seat post construction with frame builder side.

next photo is reference image of normal type frame. It is very simple basic frame.

I will choose sloping type of top tube one.

Next photo is image of using "integrated seat post" type.

I ask to them, I would like to use this type could you?
Their answer is "possible!! but position adjust range will be narrow. New frame dimension and bike position should be much to your current bike. Will consider ISP then send your bike dimension."

Wao, excited!!
I will order ISP version one.
I am looking forward to seeing result of consideration.

During considering frame dimension, I have to consider frame color!!

It's very fun time for me!!
?? Consideration is fun before get parts or something every time.

Recent Purchased things

After back to Japan, I purchased some goods for biking and life.

One is shoes for usual use.
It is Soucany "Outlaw" shoes.
Soucany released many colorful running shoes, however this Outlow is Black color!! They said, Outlaw is for XC running looks heavy-duty!!

It is very light weight!! And good fit for my feet.
So, my Euro size is 42.5.

Sole stiffness is very good tuned I think. I purchased from UK, price is about 6500JPY, but in Japan shop is 13000JPY!! Twice!!

Another is head light for my bicycle.
Usually I ride to bike in early morning on 5:00 or 5:30. Summer season is already after sunrise, not necessary head light, however now sunrise time is over 6:00, middle winter is 6:50!! I have to equip head light and switch on!! For safety.

My choice is Cateye HL-EL540RC
Supplier URL is;
http://www.cateye.com/uk/products/detail/HL-EL540RC/moreinfo/

I think it has best performance in LED light products.

Cateye's data

With my bike (fixedgearbike)

It is very good light!!
If ride in no light road, I can see road condition well!!

Battery is 4X AA size(rechargeable)
On time is about 5hours. It is suitable for my usual use. If I ride in dark longtime, I have more 4 AA batteries.

This light is so big and heavy, but it's safe!!

Business trip to Europe Oct/2011 part2

Last posted blog was till 21th Friday evening. After that.

21th/Oct Friday night.
We did look Japanese food restaurant, but everywhere was full!! Went to Benkei in Nikko hotel. Foods menu was improved, it was good and reasonable price!! We had some raw-fish, Tenpra, Oden and some Beer.

After dinner, I was go out to Dusseldorf night area alone. I saw lot of peoples. DB S-bahn is running over 2:00am!! Good!!

I did back to hotel on half past 1am.
Have to go to bed!! Because wale up on 5:30 on next morning for Belgium trip!!

22th/Oct Saturday
AM 5:30 I did wake up safely but very sleepy....I had hot shower.
6:30 let's go to Dusseldorf station.

I move to Koln by RE, next we took ICE for Bruxelles, transfer at Bruxelles again for Kortrijk city.

In Kortrijk, we joined to Exhibition of BusWorld. It was so huge exhibition!!

I met German friend in here, we had lunch and discussed about next generation of Truck and bus.

We returned to Dusseldorf through Bruxelles by Thalys on over 22:00.
I exhausted, but today is Saturday!! I went to drink to city!!

To be continued.