2015 Hakodate 400km Audax ride
This event was held on Sunday October 11. 31 riders started at 6am from Future University. From Esan there was a nice tailwind along the coast road to Mori and the riders that we saw were having a pretty good time. Five riders climbed Shirotai with no problem but the others had to climb in a very heavy downpour, which did not look comfortable at all.
Many dropped out after Shirotai, others dropped out in Assabu and in Esashi and only a couple made it past Kaminokuni. The wind had made it almost impossible to ride; some actually had to walk their bikes up little hills, the gusts were so strong.
During the evening, given the strong wind warning issued by the JMA it was decided to cancel the event, but by that stage most people were either in a hotel room in Esashi or back in Hakodate (by taxi!), so it was a foregone conclusion. Only one rider managed to finish the course; he arrived at about 3am. He knew it had been cancelled and decided to take the shorter route across from Kamiiso.
Well done everyone who braved the elements!
