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Friday, August 31, 2012

Bicycle Book Review I Am Cheese

cheese書評「I am Cheese」

Robert Cormier, journalist and author of The Chocolate War, was also a cyclist's writer.

In I am Cheese, a dark coming of age story, the main character Adam Farmer cycles from his home in small town New England (Massachusetts) en route to his father's house across the state border to New Hampshire.

The story jumps back and forth between the journey on an old simple bicycle to sessions in which the adult Farmer meets with his psychiatrist.

Adam, both as a young person and as an adult, struggles with various demons. The young person is awakening to the realization that he will be a writer; the older person is trying to sort out the secrets his family hides.

A powerful and well written work.

Buy on Amazon USA

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Cycling Kyoto International Manga Museum

kyoto manga museum自転車で京都国際マンガミュージアム

The Kyoto International Manga Museum was founded in 2006 and now houses the world's premier collection of manga.

The former elementary school is conveniently located in downtown Kyoto near the corner of Karasuma - Oike.

The museum has a gallery zone, research zone, and a collection zone.

In addition, there is a cafe and a lovely lawn out front.

It is a great day out for all ages.

Information

Karasuma-Oike, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0846
Tel. 075 254 7414

Hours
10:00am - 6:00pm (admission until 5:30pm); closed Wednesdays

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Kyoto Event Sagano Scenic Railroad

嵯峨野観光鉄道

The Sagano Scenic Railroad (aka, Sagano Romantic Railroad) is a 7.3 km ride that starts north of Arashiyama in Saga, Kyoto, and runs to Kameoka on the other side of a the mountains.

It follows a beautiful river below along a disused portion of the JR Saiin Line, and passes through eight tunnels.

The trains run from March 1 - December 29, and the ride costs 600 yen one-way.


Information (in Japanese)


Tel: 075 861 7444
www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/
Access: JR Saga Arashiyama Station

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Cycling Kyoto Station Toji Temple Tofukuji Temple

Tofukuji Temple自転車で京都駅~東寺~東福寺へ

日本語ご希望の方

This Kyoto cycling moves from Kyoto Station south to Toji Temple (below) and then on to Tofukuji Temple (at right).

It takes in two fabulous temples, and wends its way through Japan's oldest slum, south Kyoto. (Not to worry, it is not dangerous at all.)

For more information, here is a page on cycling to Toji and Tofukuji.

Ride South Kyoto ride.

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Kyoto News Kyoto Becomes a Partner City with Qingdao (Tsingtao)

京都市、中国・青島市とパートナーシティ提携調印

On August 26, Kyoto mayor Kadokawa Daisuke took part in a ceremony at a Qingdao hotel that makes Kyoto a "partner" city with Qingdao.

The Shandong Province city is home to 8.715 million and a major cultural and business center in eastern China.

Qingdao is the third such partner city, joining Konya, Turkey; and Jinju City, South Korea.

At the official signing ceremony, 30 officials took part.

Kyoto already has sister city relationships with the following cities:

Boston, United States
Paris, France
Cologne, Germany
Prague, Czech Republic
Florence, Italy
Kiev, Ukraine
Xi'an, People's Republic of China
Guadalajara, Mexico
Zagreb, Croatia


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Sunday, August 26, 2012

World Cycling News This Week 26 August 2012

tofu seller bike kyoto今週のサイクリング2012年08月26日

Bicycle Lanes Draw Wide Support Among New Yorkers, Survey Finds New York Times

Give your bike a comprehensive service and clean for 50% less than what most cyclists would pay London Cyclist

Track cycling for the first time: 'frightening but instantly addictive' Guardian

L'Opération vélo-boulot : une saison au paradis! Vélo Québec

Tony Scott en bicicleta El Pais

'Rush' Job: A Wily Courier Navigates New York's Maze NPR

自転車盗容疑の75歳 別れた妻子に会おうと走ったが… Asahi Shinbun

USADA to strip Lance Armstrong of 7 Tour titles Yahoo

Last Week's Cycling News


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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Bicycle Book Review Bike Tribes

bike-tribes書評「Bike Tribes」

MIKE MAGNUSON, author of Lummox: The Evolution of Man and Heft on Wheels: A Field Guide to Doing a 180, knows whereof he writes. A longtime writer with Bicycling magazine, he is a cyclist's writer.

His latest work, Bike Tribes, is a guide to the various "tribes" of cyclists that populate the landscape in the US.

Magnuson spoofs the tattooed messengers, gear (clothing) obsessed, twee urban hipsters,  and cranky bike shop owners.

Tongue-in-cheek, he taxonomizes the habits, clothing, preferences, and preconceived ideas of cyclists.

A funny and welcome addition to the cycling literary genre.

Buy on Amazon USA

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Kyoto Event Jizobon Festival 2012

O Jizo San京都地蔵盆2012年

Japan’s All Soul’s Day, Obon, is the time of year in which Japanese celebrate the annual return of their deceased ancestors. This often involves having a priest come to pray at the family altar, or by making a trip to their ancestral village. It takes place in mid-August.

Following this, Kyoto holds its Jizo Bon festival, usually on the following weekend. These are neighborhood block parties cum children’s festival whose purpose is to pray for the health of children. These are held nowhere else in Japan.

The festival officially begins when a Buddhist priest prays for the neighborhood Ojizo-san (pictured at right), which is a mini-Buddha placed in altars found throughout Kyoto.

Prior to that adults gather early in the morning to set up a temporary altar, hang up paper lanterns that are strung between telephone poles, set out tables full of sweets and drinks, and close off the block to traffic.

At that point, the festival is a tightly scheduled series of events spread out over one or two days. Children eagerly await the signal—a gong that 2-3 of the bigger children carry around and ring out at appointed times—for the next event. At 10 am, for example, the children receive sweets, at 10:30 there is a drawing for toys. At noon a lunch of chirashi-sushi is served to all.

After lunch, perhaps the most "religious" event takes place: “juzo-mawashi.” The children sit in a large circle, and pass around a long string of prayer beads to the beat of a religious gong.

At night, adults sit out in the street, drinking and gossiping while children play until late, wandering from block to block to see school friends and take part in many nearby Jizo Bon festivals.

The fireworks are small enough and safe enough to do on the street, and they end with “senko hanabi,” the small, lovely handheld firework that burn slowly in patterns that bring to mind flowers or a much larger fireworks display.


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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Kyoto News Ukai Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama

嵐山で鵜飼

Until September 17, the Arashiyama area of Kyoto will host a traditional type of fishing known as ukai.

Ukai is an Asian fishing method in which cormorants - large birds famed for diving to catch fish - are used to catch sweet river fish.

The fishing takes place on the Oi River from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Men (and a few women now) dressed in traditional fishing robes go out on boats into the river with the birds, whose necks are constrained by metal necklaces.

The birds thus catch the fish but cannot swallow them.

They are moreover tied by a rope to the fisherman, who reels the bird in once it has a fish.

To ride on a boat and see the action up close, it costs 1,700 for adults and 850 yen for children.

The boats depart 19:00 & 20:00 (after Sept. 1: 18:30 & 19:30).

Information

Arashiyama Tsusen: Tel: 075 861 0302.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Kyoto Art The Grand Izumo Exhibit

izumo古事記1300年 出雲大社大遷宮 特別展覧会 「大出雲展」

The Kyoto National Museum will be presenting artifacts and more from the Grand Shrine in Ise.

2012 marks the 1300th anniversary of the compilation of Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters).

Next year, 2013, will witness the grand installation ceremony of Izumo Taisha, which is taking place for the first time in almost sixty years.

To commemorate this, the Kyoto National Museum will hold an exhibition introducing treasures from the ancient Izumo shrines and affiliated temples as well as artifacts excavated from related sites.

Information

Dates: July 28 - September 9
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Entrance Until 5:30 p.m.)
Fridays 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Entrance Until 7:30 p.m.)

Closed on Monday
Admission: Adult ¥1,300 (¥1,000)
High School/Univ. Student ¥900 (¥600)
Elem./Middle Sch. Student ¥400 (¥200)

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Sunday, August 19, 2012

This Week in Cycling News 19 August 2012

tofu seller bike kyoto今週のサイクリング2012年08月19日

CycleKyoto is on holiday.

That means there is no cycling news - anywhere - as all cyclists, bike makers, and anyone related in any way to bikes and bike goods is on the beach, in the mountains, or just sweating at home.

We will be back next week.

Last Week's Cycling News


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Friday, August 17, 2012

Bicycle Book Review Ugo Gattoni

bike-cover書評「Bicycle (Leporello) 」

Ugo Gattoni's "Bicycle" is a work of art.

The work was inspired by the recently ended London Olympic Games.

Gattoni, an illustrator and artist, beautifully renders the cycling race as it goes through the streets of London. It features the bikes, the racers, fans.

Gorgeous, cheeky, clever - all cyclists will enjoy flipping through this work.

Buy Bicycle on Amazon.


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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cycling Kyoto Daimonji Festival

Kyoto Daimonji自転車で大文字へ

The Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Bonfire) is an annual event held in Kyoto on the evening of August 16th.

On this night, large Chinese characters and other motifs that have been carved into the hills that surround Kyoto are lit at 8 pm.

This signals the end of the annual "Bon" period when the souls of departed ancestors return.

The lit characters guide one's ancestors back on their journey to the other world for another year.

The character "dai" ("large") is pictured above right on Mt. Hiei.

In addition to Chinese characters, there are a ship-like motif on Mt. Funayama at Nishi Kamo and a torii gate motif.

The fires burn for about 30 minutes on each of the mountains.

Light Up Times

Daimonji - 8:00 pm 
Myojo - 8:10 pm
Funagata - 8:15 pm
Hidari Daimonji - 8:15 pm
Tori Igata - 8:20 pm

Information

The best place to see all the bonfires from the upper floors of downtown hotels. A pleasant alternative is to go to the Kamo River prior to 8 pm. It will be crowded with people on blankets, drinking beer or juice and waiting for the fires. It is not possible to see all the fires, but the vibe is magic.

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Kiyomizu Temple Light Up

Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple自転車で清水寺ライトアップへ

In more summer light up news, Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple is also going to be lit up for several nights.

Starting tonight, Kiyomizu can be viewed under the stars - and special lighting - for three nights.

It is a magic night.

For those cycling, it is best to park near Nene no Michi area, and then walk up.

Information

Hours: 7 pm - 8:30 pm
Fee: Adults 400 yen, children 200 yen

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Monday, August 13, 2012

Cycling Kinkakuji Ryoanji Ninnaji

Kinkakuji Temple, Kyoto自転車で金閣寺へ

This week's cycling route takes you to some of the best know temple in Kyoto.

Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, is perhaps the best known temple in Kyoto, if not Japan.

From there, it is a 10-minute ride to Ryoanji Temple, the most well-known garden in Japan.

The next-to-last stop is Ninnaji Temple, also a short ride along the same winding road.

Ride, Kinkakuji, ride.

Information

Kinkakuji Temple
1 Kinkaku-ji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
075 461 0013

Entrance Fee: 400 yen; last entry at 4:30 pm

Insho-Domoto Museum of Fine Arts
26-3 Hirano, Kamiyanagi-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
075 463 0007

Entrance Fee: 500 yen; Closed: Mondays Year End / New Year; 9:30am - 5:00pm

Ryoanji Temple
13 Ryoanji Goryonoshita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
075 463 2216

Entrance Fee: 500 yen; last entry at 4:30 pm

Ninnaji Temple
075 461 1155

Entrance Fee: free except for sub-temple that is a World Heritage Site (500 yen); last entry at 4 pm

Myoshinji Temple
Hanozono, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
075 463 3121

Entrance Fee: Free (except for special exhibits at select sub-temples); open 24 hours


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Sunday, August 12, 2012

This Week in Cycling News 12 August 2012

tofu seller bike kyoto今週のサイクリング2012年08月12日

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU SWIPE Transportation Alternatives Newsroom

Renegade bike race in L.A. tunnel goes mainstream Los Angeles Times

Could this be the most beautiful bicycle book ever? London Cyclist

Make cycling proficiency a compulsory part of driving licence Guardian

François Fillon soutient à vélo le député UMP Jérôme Chartier Libération

RuralPedal HD Uniendo viejas estaciones Bicicletas Todo Terreno

五輪シャトルバスにひかれ自転車の男性死亡 Asahi Shinbun

Kenny, Pendleton keep British rolling at velodrome
Yahoo

Last Week's Cycling News


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Saturday, August 11, 2012

Cycling Kyoto Gothic Quarter

Daruma Temple自転車で京都西陣へ

日本語ご希望の方

This Kyoto cycling route winds its way through the southern half of Nishijin. There is no "gothic quarter" in Kyoto, but this neighborhood has lots of laid-back charm and sees virtually no tourists.

For more information, in Japanese (with a link to an English page), here is a page on cycling the Daruma Temple, long narrow old style Kyoto streets, and more.

Ride Kyoto Gothic Quarter ride.

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Friday, August 10, 2012

Getting a Driving License Kyoto Japan

外国免許証切り替え申請手続き

We avoid gasoline-powered vehicles as much as possible. In Japan, this is not hard. Subways, trains, walking, and the trusty bicycle all make for good transportation options.

After years of procrastination, though, the time has come to get a Japanese driver's license.

The reasons for this are simple:

1. Foreign drivers can use an international license for only one year (no renewal)
2. The in-laws are getting up in age, and will need rides to the doctor etc.

If you are from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most European countries, and other countries that have a reciprocal arrangement with Japan, all you have to do is go to the licensing center, fill out forms, and then pay for the newly minted license.

If however you are from the United States, China, Brazil, Morocco, etc., you are now about to enter the the Japanese version of the Looking Glass.

The rumors, no facts, about the process are enough to scare away the hardest of hard. However, this article will introduce the steps to change over your home country license into a Japanese driver's license. It involves a lot of time, frustration, bureaucracy, and a bit of silliness - and a written and driving test.

Day 1

Step 1: Get your valid home country license translated at a local JAF office. (If you do not have a license in your home country, you need to go start from scratch and go to driving school in Japan.) This costs 3,000 yen and takes about one hour. In Kyoto, the JAF office is on Karasuma, north of Marutamachi opposite the Imperial Palace.

Step 2: Get your Juminhyo (proof of residence form) at your ward office. This costs 350 yen and will be issued in very little time.

You will take those forms and your driver's license, passport (and expired ones if you still have them), alien registration card, and one 3 x 2.4 cm photo of your face to the licensing center. (Take copies of all of the above just to be sure.)

Note: you may be asked to prove that you resided in your home country after obtaining your driver's license. For many, this means finding a piece of paper - a high school or college diploma, tax form - from many years past. We were not required to jump through this hurdle.

Step 3: Call the license center in your prefecture to schedule an appointment. (In Kyoto, where we live, we called in early July and got in on August 3.)

Day 2 (Submit Documents, Take Written Test)

Step 4: Go the driving center in your prefecture on the appointed day and time. At the Kyoto center, in Nagaokakyo, it is old, decrepit, and vaguely reminiscent of a prison. Find the "menkyo kirikae" window (in Kyoto, upstairs on the second floor, window 8). You will be asked to fill out a simple form and submit the forms you brought.

Step 5: After an hour or so, you will be called and given separate forms. You will write your name and address on multiple forms. Then you must go downstairs and buy 2200 yen of stamps. Bring those stamped and signed forms back up to window 8.

Step 6: After 15 minutes or so, you will be called again. A worker - all of whom are Kyoto cops - will take you downstairs to the main hall and point you in the direction of the test room for the written exam.

Step 7: At the appointed time, which was 11:30 am in Kyoto, you and a few other gaijin will be ushered into a large room and given a simple test. It will be in Japanese and English. You have 10 minutes to answer 10 questions. To pass, you have to get 7 or more correct (they are all "yes" or "no" true-false questions.)

If you pass - we did - this ends Day 2. Since you have to submit your documents for the driving test by 9 am, you will need at least another day at the license center.

Day 3 (Driving Test)

1. Go to the license center by about 8 am on a weekday (there are no reservations for the driving test). The windows open at 8:30, but there will be a long line long before that.
2. What to Bring: The forms you received when you passed the written exam, passport, alien registration card, driver's license from home country, personal seal (印鑑)*, money (20,000 to be safe).
3. Buy tickets at window 2B to pay for the license test (1,550 yen).
4. Submit your stamped documents at window 5.
5. Wait to be called.
6. At that point, you will be given a map of the route.

Warning: You will probably fail the test on the first try, if not several more times. Go again the next available day - until you pass. When you do pass, you will need to pay to have the license issued.

*We do have a seal but are not sure if it is required for applicants from a non-Kanji country.

Notes

1. The route of the exam is prescribed. However, the instructor will not tell you where to go; indeed, he will hardly speak. Thus, you need to know - no, you need to memorize - the route.
2. To do this, go very early - around 7 am - and you can walk the route.

Recommendations


1. Learn Japanese traffic signs.
2. Take 2-3 hours of lessons at the "koshu jo" (telephone: 075 631 6145) to prepare for the driving test. The lessons cost 7500 yen for 50 minutes, and the instructors will teach how you to drive the course and give you other tips.
3. No matter how experienced a driver you are, you do NOT know how to drive the course the way the Kyoto cops want you to UNLESS you take these lessons. What is required to pass the test bears little resemblance to ordinary on the road driving. It involves strange braking (pumping), a ludicrous amount of mirror checking, nitpicking over how many centimeters you drive from the lines. And you have to do this while keeping in mind the course with no guidance from the cop sitting next to you.

Godspeed and keep cycling.

Kyoto License Center

Bus from JR Nagaokakyo Station or Hankyu Nagaoka Tenjin Station
075 631 5181

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Cycling the Silver Pavilion Kyoto

Ginkakuji Temple, Kyoto自転車で銀閣寺へ

Ginkakuji Temple, or the Silver Pavilion, represents a particular Kyoto sense of beauty and elegance, often referred to as wabi sabi.

It is a Zen temple in the eastern hills of Kyoto, at the northern end of Philosophers Walk. Work was begun in 1460 C.E.

It is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is no silver in the pavilion (unlike the Golden Pavilion, which is coated in gold leaf and is on the other side of Kyoto).

The exterior of the building was to be covered in silver, but this never came to be. However, the name stuck.


Address
2 Ginkaku-cho Sakyo-ku Kyoto
Tel: 075 771 5725

Hours
8:30 to 17:00 (9:00 to 16:30 from December to February)


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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Kyoto Art Exhibit The Museum of Kyoto Ritrato di Venezia Mille Anni di Storia

京都文化博物館世界遺産ヴェネツィア展 魅惑の芸術-千年の都

This summer The Museum of Kyoto will be hosting a blockbuster exhbit on Venice entitled "Ritrato di Venezia Mille Anni di Storia."

We have no idea what the Italian means - A Picture of Venice 1000 Years?. (The Japanese title is, roughly translated, "The Fascination of Art - The Thousand Year City".)

Still, we like going to exhibits not knowing exactly what we are getting into.

The exhibit began July 28 and will last until September 23.

According the the Japanese language description, from the 13th century on Venice was a major naval power and a center of trade. During the Renaissance, in the 16th century, art and culture flowered in this maritime center.

The works in the exhibit will cover the thousand years ending with the invasion of Napolean at the end of the 18th century.

Works by Bellini, Tintoretto, and other notable artists will be featured.

Information

The Museum of Kyoto
Sanjo Dori, two blocks east of Karasuma
Tel: 075 222 0888
Hours: 10 am - 6 pm (Fridays until 7:30 pm; last entry 30 minutes prior to closing)
Admission Fee: 1,300 yen adults; 900 high school and university students; 500 elementary and junior high school students


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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Kyoto News Horikawa Tanabata Light Up

Horikawa Canal Kyoto「光の天の川」京の七夕が開幕 堀川・鴨川で

In the former canal that runs alongside and below Horikawa Dori will be the third annual Tanabata festival of light from August 3 - 13.

The once concreted over canal is now a lovely path with grass, plantings, and a small river.

This year there will be also be lighting along the Kamo River as well.

For those heading to Horikawa, the lighting will be set up from Shimodachiuri to Demizu streets. There will be an arch made of bamboo and 85,000 LED lights under which you can stroll.

Tanabata, or "Evening of the Seventh," is the Japanese star festival. Once a year, the stars Vega and Altair "meet" or cross in the heavens. According to Chinese legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers for the rest of the year.

Thus, on this one night only are they are allowed to meet - on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Horikawa Canal KyotoIn most areas of Japan, this is celebrated on July 7, following the Gregorian calendar, but the Horikawa light up has followed the lunisolar calendar and thus it is later.


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Monday, August 6, 2012

Cycling Kyoto Gion

Gion, Kyoto自転車で祇園へ

This week's cycling route is through the heart of Gion.

Gion is the old area tucked between the Kamo River and Yasaka Shrine that is famed for its maiko and geisha entertainers.

Parts of it are horrifyingly gaudy, parts of Gion are sublimely beautiful.

The streets are narrow, the tourists many.

Ride, Gion, ride.

Directions

Cross the Shijo Ohashi Bridge from central Kyoto (though, to be honest, this is not a good place to be cycling). A better idea is approach Gion from the south or north on Higashi Oji or Kawabata Dori.


Information

Go very early in the morning or very late at night. Otherwise, you will be pushing the cycle surrounded by tourists.


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Sunday, August 5, 2012

This Week in Cycling News 5 August 2012

tofu seller bike kyoto今週のサイクリング2012年08月05日

THE BUS AND SUBWAY BAIT AND SWITCH Transportation Alternatives Newsroom

Cycling’s British Invasion New York Times

Got any old bikes or parts taking up space? Donate them to Re Cycle! London Cyclist

Should it be compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets? – poll Guardian

UNE CHUTE QUI TOMBE MAL Libération

Organizaciones civiles rechazamos uso de fuerza pública contra opositores a la Supervía Poniente Bicitekas

日本が1回戦敗退 自転車男子チームスプリント Asahi Shinbun

Germany take gold after double relegation Yahoo

Last Week's Cycling News


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Saturday, August 4, 2012

自転車で不気味京都へ

Shodenji Temple自転車で不気味京都へ

日本語ご希望の方

This Kyoto cycling route goes off the normal rides in search of the strange, the violent, the grotesque.

For more information, in Japanese (with a link to an English page), here is a page on cycling the blood ceilings, a four-hundred year-old tumulus full of Korean noses and ears, battle sites, and more.

Ride Creepy Kyoto ride.

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Friday, August 3, 2012

Bicycle Film Festival 2012 Montreal and Istanbul

自転車映画祭イスタンブール

Founded in 2001 in by Brendt Barbur, this year's Bicycle Film Festival piles into Montreal on September 1 and then Istanbul from September 14 - 16.

Movies include "Hit 'em in the Mouth," "Candy Rides," and "Line of Sight."

For more information.


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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Kyoto Event Hiking Mount Atago

Mount Atago Kyoto愛宕山千日参り(毎年7月31日)

In the northwest of Kyoto is the city's highest mountain: Atago-san.

It is more than 900 meters high, and on the peak sits Atago Shrine.

Every year on the evening of July 31, the mountain hosts the "Sennichi Mairi" festival.

The purpose of the festival is to pray for fire: for heating and warmth and cooking, and, conversely, to avoid having your house burn down.

Thousands of hike up from the Kiyotaki village, which is a short bus ride from Arashiyama.

The hardest part of the hike is the first kilometer or so. Even with many breaks, it took us a bit more than three hours from Kiyotaki to the Shrine.

There we prayed, made an offering, and with tea devotees brewed up Japanese tea.

After, that is was a 90-minute bounce down the mountain,  and then a fifteen minute walk back to the bikes which were parked near Adashino Nenbutsu Temple in Arashiyama.

Mount Atago KyotoWhat to Bring


Warm Clothes for the the peak (it is considerably colder at the top)
Lots of water
Towel for perspiration
A bit of cash, just in case
Sneakers or comfortable hiking shoes
Hiking Sticks for your knees
Flashlight (you probably will not need it, but just in case)


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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Kyoto Exhibit 7 Scroll Paintings of Ishiyama Temple Museum of Modern Art

石山寺絵巻展覧会

For those riding the Lake Biwa circuit, or just happen to be near Otsu, this fall there will be a great exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, in Otsu City.

The total seven-volume set of "Ishiyama-dera Engi Emaki," or a scroll painting of the legend of Ishiyama-dera Temple, will be put on display for the first time in October at the Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.

The seven-volume set of scrolls is made up of 33 scenes with pictures and notes. It measures roughly 110 meters in total length. Each of the scrolls was made in a different period, divided among the Kamakura, Muromachi and Edo Periods.

Information

Museum of Modern Art, Shiga
Tel: 077 543 2111
October 6 to November 25
Note: volumes designated as an Important Cultural Property will only be displayed from October 6 to 14 and November 13 to 25.


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