Race Through Appi and Hachimantai on a Mountain Bike!

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Try Renting a Mountain Bike

Used for sports, fitness, travel, and simple everyday commutes, mountain bikes are quite versatile. In addition to their general health benefits, in this world of COVID, bikes are a good alternative to public transport where people often need to squeeze together to go places.

In Japan, mountain bikes are sometimes seen as bikes that are made especially rugged for high-speed road travel, but they’re actually meant for off-road use. This is especially true in the US, where off-roading culture thrives.

Mountain bikes specialize in navigating uneven dirt and gravel roads, and the difficult winding slopes of mountain trails. They’re made with a rugged construction to withstand strong shocks and impacts while also remaining as lightweight as possible. We think that anyone can find a biking experience that fits their needs and abilities, so if you’re interested, stop by Hachimantai!

Have you ever experienced the sensation of having your tires ride firmly over a totally unpaved path? This is “trail riding.” Whether deep in a forest or high up on a mountain, there’s an exhilaration in testing your pedals against nature’s paths that you won’t find on roads.

However, those same unpaved natural trails do present certain dangers to the beginner. Without some general riding knowledge, accidents can happen on the trail. For that reason, Lodge CLUBMAN offers the Hachimantai Mountain Bike Tour. In just one day, their guides will take you all around Hachimantai’s woodland areas on a course customized to your abilities and experience level. Children as young as elementary age can participate as long as they can ride a bike, so it’s a great option for families to enjoy nature together.

Worried about your stamina, or anxious that a regular mountain bike isn’t going to work for you? The “Monster E-Bike Program” might be just the thing! Under this program, we’ve imported several E-Bikes from Europe! E-Bikes, or electronic bikes, are in this case mountain bikes with locomotion assisted by an electric battery-powered motor. As such, even younger riders and those a bit out of shape can still enjoy the genuine thrill of trail-riding. They’re so rare in Japan that they can’t be used on public roads, which means that you can only experience them in trail riding!

Every tour also includes a crash course in the fundamentals of riding, such as breaking and positioning, before you’re off to enjoy the trails.

Another Way to Enjoy Mountain Bikes!

During the winter, Appi Kogen Ski Resort is well-known for its fantastic powder snow. But once the green season hits, it becomes a playground for downhill biking. A leisurely ride on the Appi Cloud Gondola will take you near the top of Mt. Maemori in just 15 minutes, where you can experience a gorgeous panorama of Mt. Iwate, Mt. Hachimantai, Mt. Nanashigure, Mt. Himekami, and surrounding beech forests. From there you can race down the slope on a mountain bike!

Newcomers may find the idea of downhill biking a bit nerve-wracking. We understand, which is why the Appi Downhill Tour exists. Participants will receive training in proper ride positioning and breaking, as well as practice in navigating and cornering through slopes on gentler terrain.

As long as they can ride a bike, anyone elementary-aged and older is welcome to participate. The program is set to run from June 18^th, 2022 to October 30^th of the same year.

No Army Marches on Empty Stomachs, and the Same Wisdom Goes for Bikers! Feast on Both Food and Scenery!

Before departing downhill, you can enjoy high-altitude lunch at 1,300 meters, with magnificent scenery as your backdrop.

Please visit CLUBMAN’s official site for more details on the activities here. They also offer other plans including hiking, bouldering and kayaking at special prices if you add a few nights of lodging. Together, CLUBMAN and Hachimantai are sure to able to make your stay here a fun and memorable one.

LODGE CLUBMAN

Enjoy Cycling even in Autumn!

The vibrant seasonal foliage must be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of fall scenery in Hachimantai. Selected as one of Japan’s 100 best autumn foliage areas, the gradients of red and yellow blanketing the mountains contrasted with Matsukawa River’s vigorous blue is a must-see.