![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/49/ec/88f2dc2049ff262b60cbb7cde03648df.jpg)
Brand new rubber for 9 years old today.
Supple and rolling feeling good.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/0d/0f/fa4a13e58b37a0b374f8302c8ec5fadf.jpg)
Our starting point is Akigawa River, whence we cycled along the Tama river to log extra miles to pick up our companions.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/1c/3d/48c018074c89a10cf7635b48a4f1c91d.jpg)
After randevous --- our middle aged companions rode 50km from metropolitan Tokyo to get here --- the route suddenly took us in the middle of Okutama mountain side. It is still within Tokyo metropolitan city limit.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/32/57/4ab80e77cfbe45ab3d0677b9d8c4f395.jpg)
At the foot of Tokisaka Pass --- we were greeted with Okara doughnuts, made from okara (tofu dregs) at Chitoseya. We cycled past many tofu shops along the route.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/63/c2/a4751a5bbb7876c12ea6576d28970cae.jpg)
Tokisaka Pass is located just around 10km from Itsukaichi Station, the nearest train station.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/36/26/0f86a4a53f298884a1e573e054b75f8a.jpg)
4km at average gradient of 8%. You can say it is a little steep, but this route is dead end forest road (the other end is blocked due to landslide), so it is very quiet. Ideal for group ride for chitchat.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/2f/ed/e6d6a4e77ae4d05f7b82e14ea84fd1fa.jpg)
The climb begins with serpentine switchbacks under dense forest canopy, then the road took us to a tiny village where you can look up --- way up --- steep switchbacks (ala Alpe D'huez, as told by my 9 years old), that look down on us.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/46/47/10bf8605d4b64ac33b68b6f9d9096127.jpg)
Soon the guardrails disappear. The openness, immersiveness into the mountain scape is total. This is the viewpoint.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/2b/b3/3fa15ec68ba8af98e3805622a523634a.jpg)
Photogenic 9 years old and forty something.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/01/43/ca6b4152c075ca547001c99e24f5c48c.jpg)
The climb is a little steep but bearable as it is only 4 km long.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/45/cb/5f490eb43664e77f9f0d07f4b438984c.jpg)
Distance 60.90km
Ride time 2:50:12
Elevation gained 625m
Ave Speed 21.5km/h
Ride time 2:50:12
Elevation gained 625m
Ave Speed 21.5km/h