[Road Bike] Takatsuki ~ Route 79 (Fushimi Yanagidani Takatsuki Line) ~ Nagaokakyo Touring

I went cycling on Saturday!

I had decided to cycle from the morning, but I hadn't settled on a destination... I have band rehearsal from the evening, so I thought I'd go somewhere "enjoyable nearby"! But... I couldn't narrow it down at all! So, after half a day of indecision (← too much indecision), I somewhat forcibly decided on the Takatsuki area! I vaguely remembered reading somewhere that Route 79 (Fushimi Yanagidani Takatsuki Line) is quite interesting. With that vague memory, I set off towards Route 79!

First, I started cycling along the Yodo River CR towards Hirakata. There was a bit of a headwind, but thanks to the wind, the temperature wasn't too hot. The number of runners had increased compared to last month, it really feels like autumn for sports! I cycled across the Hirakata Ohashi Bridge towards Takatsuki.

From Yodo River CR to Hirakata Ohashi Bridge

I decided to cycle along the Gaikan Expressway Route 170, which goes straight towards the mountains. However, the road was incredibly bad, and there was heavy traffic even early in the morning! I wondered if I had made the wrong choice of route, but I continued straight on. What's more, I hit a dead end for bicycles partway through... apparently, bicycles are prohibited. It was so close to the destination after this...

The only way to get past the nearby Takatsuki Station is this. I wandered around the Takatsuki Station area, where I had no local knowledge, looking for any way to cross. I wandered around a lot but couldn't find anything... Just as I was thinking I'd have to take a huge detour, I discovered an underpass for pedestrians and bicycles!! I managed to get to the other side.

Route 79 is located very close to Takatsuki Station. It's a road heading towards the mountains, so there are fewer cars. I cycled through Hiyoshidai, which has the atmosphere of a new town from a bygone era.

After cycling a short distance, the gradient increased, and I entered the mountains!

I had imagined a more pastoral road, but there were many stone quarries, and it gave me a slightly similar impression to Jūmantōji.

The gradient wasn't too steep, but the long, gradual climb was tough... As I went deeper into the mountains, a golf course or something appeared. From here, the gradient eased, and the rural scenery began to emerge.

Along the way, I passed someone speeding along on a mamachari.
They were speeding along, holding the front basket with a triathlon-like form!
They must have been doing at least 35 kph.
Incidentally, I saw a similar person later along the Yodo River.
C-could it be that it's becoming a trend!?

Continuing along the road, "Benny Country Club" appeared.
This was about the summit, and from here on it was downhill.
It was right around the border between Osaka and Kyoto.

The Kyoto side has many winding and narrow roads,
and there's a fair amount of traffic, so I carefully went downhill.
However, the roads on the Kyoto side are incredibly beautiful!
The scenery is also quite different, so it would probably be more fun to climb from this side.
If you go straight, the road splits partway.

Takatsuki (Oyamazaki) area and Nagaokakyo area!

Since I was there, I headed towards Nagaokakyo (Yanagidani Road).
I thought I'd have to climb again, but it was almost entirely downhill to Nagaokakyo!
Come to think of it, I haven't taken any breaks at all.
So, since I'd come this far, I decided to take a break at Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine.

I decided to head home quietly from here,
and on the way back, I rode along Suntory Road, then along the Katsura River and Yodo River to get home.
The Katsura River is always lovely.

And today too, Kansai Medical University is our oasis.

Dst:76.00 Max:50 Av:20.8

Approximate route below:

See a larger map

Route 79, Fushimi Yanagidani Takatsuki Line, is nice on the Kyoto side,
but not so much on the Osaka side.
If you're going to ride this far, there are probably nicer roads around Kameoka.
I kind of knew it, but I really shouldn't use Route 170 lol
Just by not using that road, I think I could have had a bit more fun riding.
So, it was a valuable experience!