The Search for Japanese Single Track.

Riding on the Tokai Shizen Hodo 東海自然歩道 just south of Lake Motosuko. The Tokai trail starts in Takao in Tokyo and runs all the way to Osaka.

At the southern tip of the Minami Alps, the Fuji Five Lakes Area is a a veritable outdoors paradise. With 5 lakes to choose from, boating, wind surfing, fishing, and camping enthusiasts couldn't ask for better in Japan. For the last several months I have been busy breaking down the area into the best mountain bike rides. To this Colorado Native, the green Japanese mountains always call with possibilities of beautiful single track, and many times I have ventured out to unknown peaks in search of the best. However, most hiking trails around the Five Lakes conform to the mountains themselves making them somewhat unrideable. Steep and abrupt 10 minute stair climbs usually greet the climber at the top with an equally steep and unrideable descent on the other side, and the up and downs continue ad nauseum. Mountain Bikers live for the gradual, smooth, rolling trails. Getting off and carrying the bike is taken as a personal failure, and for the most part, this is what hiking trails in Japan require.

When you find a good trail, you know it immediately. It feels like the most amazing rollercoaster, only better because you didnt have to pay $50 bucks for the entrance fee, and there are usually no screaming kids. The air is clean, and the only sounds you hear are soft crush of the bikes tires on the trail as you lean into the curves, the birds, and the other riders with you whooping and hollering as they enjoy the trail.

Though not without its steep climbs and unrideable descents, the Tokai Shizen Hodo just South of Motosuko is a good place for anyone to start their ride in the Five Lakes region. Reaching all the way to Osaka, one must choose their own turn around point. But on a nice day one can travel from Motosuko to a small lake just in Shizuoka ken and ride back along the road, making for an enjoyable four hour ride. More info on the rolling trails here as I find them.

DJ Andy Smith Reccomends. July 12, 2006

Gnarles Barkley. "Crazy." This video is cool.

At last someone has made a video based on emoticons. Check out "Smiley Faces."

Gnarles Barkley is a group composed of 2 members, Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse, so don't be fooled by the name. This gives DJ Danger Mouse a double score from DJ Andy Smith. In fact, the only two CDs I have commented about on this blog have been produced by him. Check out my previous blog about "The Gorillaz." Cee-Lo is an interesting case as well. it seems for years he has been working more or less behind the scenes, though his name is not unfamiliar. Check out previous work with Goodie Mobb and two solo albums "Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections" (2002), and "Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine" (2004). Gnarles Barkley relies on Cee-Lo's deep and melodic voice to belt out one of the best pop gospel ("Neo Soul") albums since "The Miseducation of" (Lauryn Hill). At the 2006 MTV Movie Awards Gnarles Barkley performed "Crazy" in Star Wars costumes. Any band with Chewbacca as the drummer and Bobafet on the keyboards has got to be good.


The big man Cee-lo

Finally, the man behind, on top, below, and all over the scenes of British dance music, Fat Boy Slim, produced a greatest hits CD titled "Why Try Harder" with 17 classic tracks, and one particularly new track titled "That Old Pair of Jeans" which is already getting huge playtime in the UK. The video for "That Old Pair of Jeans" is fun since I am also an amateur juggler. Who can forget the classic appearance of Christopher Walken in the video "Weapon of Choice" (2001)? Did Mr. Walken actually pull of all the dancing and acrobatics in this video himself? Sure! Why not?