The Weather Gods endless show of inconsistency from Wednesday’s typhoon to Saturday night was not real confidence inspiring. So much so that MighTy10 and I were the only earlybird for this year’s Fuji 500. Joining us and the chirping dawn birds in anticipation of the sunrise were a couple of dozen teens that had partied through the night and a sole male enka singer somewhere off in the bushes. At least we weren’t lonely.

The sun tried real hard but the cloud cover only vented a smoldering red on the horizon. It was enough to drop the flag and we were off.

Back in 2011 on the original Coast to Coast Twistybutt, our group of 6 stopped at this same 24hr gas stand before leaving the coastal plain and climbing up and over Yabitsu Touge and venturing off into endless twisties and tyre tests. 15 years… time flies, and so did MighTy10 up the Yabitsu Touge!

Next stop, the 6am meet in Sagamihara.

Of the further 17 registered, eight had let me know that they couldn’t make it. Of the remaining 9, one diehard ride-anytime rider was there to welcome a solitary earlybird into the dry and comfortably cool carpark. Neil. Great to see you there mate.

We coffeed and snacked then, resolved to being only two, our dastardly duo resolved to conquer the Fuji ascents, but not before hashing out a plan.

The Weather Gods were forecast to be giving us a fighting chance till mid afternoon, so we trimmed a bit here and there and prioritized the 6 ascents over all else. With Neil always being on the road and my intimacy with the route, we knew where it could be dicy and what was cream on the cake that we could scrape off for the day’s weather weaving diet on distance. We had a rough plan…so we got on with riding.

Being so early, the Doshi Michi aka 413 was a breeze. Before we knew it we were at Yamanakako and up and over Kagosaka Pass and being waved down by a marathon traffic manager at the entrance to the Fuji Azami Line telling us we had to be in and out by 8am. It was 7:20. Challenge accepted!

There were no views from the carpark at 2000m. No rain either, but the low cloud was there rolling up the slope.

The hillclimb was awesome, as was the descent.

We passed back by that marathon traffic manager right on 8am. Job done!

Second ascent, to 1450m at Mt Fuji Gotemba 5th Station, was a bumpy one. Perfect for the gathering of what seemed like every Landcruiser FJ45 in the Kanto. You were tempted to stay, weren’t you Neil?

The symbolic gate to the hiking course up Fuji.

The weather turned on some magic misty views.

And some not so great views up the Fuji Skyline on the third ascent.

Almost 2400m and not too chilly. Still mostly dry roads and only mist and low cloud. What’s with the Fushigongfushi… in blue? That’s the result of using a cheap open street map SD in the Garmin. The rods are up to date but the Garmin gets confused trying to read it, no matter what the settings.

We were doing well timewise and filled up the tanks at the base of Fuji Skyline Eneos. MighTy10 was showing 195km on the trip meter.

Taking the west route around Fuji and up to Saiko and Kawaguchiko before a conbini coffee and snack pitstop in Narusawa, the weather threatened and chilled but just that, so the tyres remained warm.

Next up was the fourth and gnarliest ascent. Again, dry and in relatively good shape, especially considering the typhoon earlier in the week.
Around 1700m, the low cloud rolled in. Steady as we went, the climb went on.

Turning to get back on the bike after this vid, my heart sank as the rear seat was devoid of the tailbag. All sorts of goodies were in there, both valuable and necessary.
The heart lifted a little when peering over the bike to see it was still attached by two of the four straps on the opposite side. All those bumps, dips and jumps on the way up had worked two straps loose. It wasn’t lost but it had been rubbing on the rear tyre which had burnt a big long hole through the very top centre of the rain cover, the net underneath and was working its way into the top of the bag, but it didn’t get through. Phew, close call.
Anyway, resecured the tail bag, wrapped it in a plastic bag under what was left of the net and then climbed another couple hundered metres to where you’re close enough to the Subaru Line just above to hear cars passing.

The descent on that road is a nice one with great views, long straights and some opportunities for stretching and relaxing tired hands.

Our first real view of the day of Fuji was from the base of the Subaru Line.

And ironically, it was closed for a cycling event. The detour around what should have been a two minute squirt to the final ascent was a frustrating wriggle and weave through traffic, which the route had avoided till then.

Before the ascent, Nick and Mike chimed in to say their morning commitments were done and where could they join us. Good men! We decided on Yamanakako in an hour then Neil and I had a decision to make as it started to drizzle and was just after midday. Remember that reprieve from the Weather Gods until mid-afternoon?
We could run from the rain and miss another ascent OR risk it and climb into the drizzle dropping cloud. The latter was a quick choice. Cheers Neil!

Yes, we made it! And yes it rained properly for the first time all day, the whole way up and down.

The final ascent peak pic shows the worst of it. Rain and 11c.

But we had done all we could ascent wise and we’d had a good run until then. Even in the rain, after all the twisty groundwork laid that day, it was a fun run up n down. But I was starting to feel all those brake n clutch pulls as well as the endless gearshifts and rear brake feathering.
Thankfully, we were on the homeward leg.

Neil’s prune-fingered welcoming gesture awaiting Nick and Mike at the east Yamanakako 7/11.

Glove stain isn’t for sissies and aquaphobes. Those hands have seen some road and not just that day.

First, we heard the twin thumping hammers of an SDR and then the yellow glow of a wall of light. Mike cometh!
Not long after, another familiar deep throaty engine-braking SDR roared into view. Nick was in!

From there, there was a little drizzle here n there, we weaved some twisty melodies up the Doshi Michi and across the 35 eastbound. A brief stop for fuel at a rare truly oldskool countryside single-bowser gas stand and then it was weaving all the way to the goal, Bikers Bakery.

Great last leg and yabbering with Nick on the intercomm. The banter and enthusiasm were great. The Bikers Bakery was very accommodating and the food really hit the spot!

And there we were, the mountains behind us, full bellies below and warm baths ahead.

Turned out to be a very satisfying day. Testing, but not too much. Got to really put theory and technique into practice over real distance for that essential muscle memory. Great to smash this one out with Neil the Rock for a wingman. Cheers for a good run made much easier mate.

If you’ve read this far, thank you and I hope you enjoyed the read. When you register for a Twistybutt ride in the future, a small request: If you can’t make it on the day, please notify me or someone who is coming so that we don’t worry or wait unnecessarily at the start.

Next Twistybutt will be the Chubu Coast to Coast in October. Mark it in your calendars and hope to see you there.