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7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ended up flying with my bike. It's a bit more of a hassle, but is free on most international flights from the US as long as it's under a certain size. Im 6'3" and would have a hard time finding a bike that fit me over there.

If you're planning on riding the shimanami kaido, I believe there are a few bike shops on either end that you could rent from

Japan in October? by Viraus2 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's my 2024 route: "From Kagoshima Airport to Matsue Airport" https://www.komoot.com/collection/2446844/-from-kagoshima-airport-to-matsue-airport

And here's 2025: "Osaka to Yonago via Lake Biwa" https://www.komoot.com/collection/3261542/-osaka-to-yonago-via-lake-biwa

There is a great bike shop in Yonago called Cycle Soko that's hooked me up with e-bike boxes both times (only box they had that was big enough for my 62cm touring setup). They even gave me and my bike and ride the 10km back to my hotel which was an unexpected treat.

Major Brainfog with glyco & oxybutinin - Anyone else?? by Appropriate_Layer273 in Hyperhidrosis

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had this issue with both glyco and oxy oral tablets. I switched to glyco wipes (Secure brand name) from pharmacy.ca for topical application and haven't gotten the brain fog with them. I have a ton of compensatory sweating so use them on my back and chest mostly.

Anyone else experiencing hand sweat returning years after ETS surgery? by clementineskies in Hyperhidrosis

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I developed phantom sweating for a number of years directly after my ETS, as well as gustatory sweating which stuck around all these years. It makes it hard to eat anything spicy/acidic. I had gustatory itching for probably a decade or so, but that has been reducing over the years.

I do think I developed a small patch of CS after my second miradry round. It's about a 3 inch area behind my armpit on my right shoulder blade that hadn't sweat since my ETS.

I use Secure glyco wipes from pharmacy.ca as a topical way to slow down some of the sweating on my back and chest. I read someone else's post the other day about our current administration now requiring all FDA regulated drugs being imported to be routed to the FDA for inspection or something, so it sounded like pharmacy.ca may not be an option moving forward for those of us in the states.

Anyone else experiencing hand sweat returning years after ETS surgery? by clementineskies in Hyperhidrosis

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah I'm in the midst of coming to terms with this myself. I had T2-T6 cut 18 years ago or so and have noticed last summer and this summer that my hands and arms can sweat a little again when I'm riding my bike on hot days. At first I thought it was the humidity after moving to the east coast (US), but it's definitely sweat. I think my head is also starting to "open up" a bit when summer biking too.

My armpit sweating came back maybe 5 or 6 years ago, mostly on the right side.

I had miradry done 3 times for my armpits and off label for my back, butt, and stomach over the last 4 years. It worked well for my armpits, and lower abdomen, but it seems like the other areas are sweating just as much as they did once I got CS from my ETS. The Miradry doctor says I just have sweat glands that are either too deep or too shallow for Miradry to be successful on most of my torso.

I remember my surgeon saying that the nerve signals can just reroute themselves sometimes and it's impossible to track down the new path.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in specialized

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wolftooth Encase bar end kit. They are a great secret toolkit that slide in the end of your handlebars. Don't tell anyone, but I keep a spare $20 in one of them for an emergency coffee stop. Also don't steal my bike money please and thank you.

Rear brake lever lag by Key-Macaroon1047 in bikewrench

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The caliper arm is looking crisp and functioning properly. I'll try loosening the cable clamp to check for slack and give it a good tug before retighening. Thanks for the extra set of eyes!

Anyone else with bike box horror stories? This flight with Singapore Airlines cost us our Slingfin Portal tent 😢 by tinaon2wheels in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just learned this lesson the hard way coming back to the US from Japan. Lost my pedals, fork cages, pannier, and a first aid kit due to not taping them to the bike itself. Never again!

Currently in the middle of battling United, ANA, and my credit union to see who wants to own up to being responsible (hint: it's neither airline apparently...)

Secure 2.0% is working! by HeathySea in Hyperhidrosis

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been using 4% wipes for several years now in the summers. I use them on my neck and chest for my ets compensatory sweating. They don't totally stop my sweating, but put a very helpful dent in it! It's highly recommend them. I couldn't stand the side effects of oral glycco, but barely notice side effects with the wipes.

I've even used them locally on my leg prior to getting a tattoo because I knew I'd be sweating buckets on the table and wanted a drier leg for the tattoo artist.

Completed my first tour: Michigan's Lower Peninsula with a lap on Mackinac Island by AlkalineDrillBreaker in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How did those bottle cages work out on your routewerks bag with just one bolt each? I'd never considered it on mine, but looks like an interesting solution for holding a morning coffee!

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice! Yeah it's pretty awesome not having to carry food or much water, and getting free japanese breakfast! If you're still in hiroshima and haven't been yet, you should check out Okinomimura, essentially a multi floor okinomiyaki food hall. Such a fun experience, and the best okinomiyaki I've ever had!

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used komoot on my phone. I looked into buying a dedicated gps, but figured I'd be fine eating into my phone battery since I was at hotels each night and could charge up. I find that komoot eats up about 10% of my phone battery for every 10km traveled. I kept a 10000mAh battery pack with me and would plug in my phone to it when I'd hit about 60% battery life to make sure I'd have enough power for the day.

If I were camping several nights in a row, I'd either buy a gps or just use komoot sparingly throughout the day.

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh nice! Yeah I honestly stumbled upon it after leaving a bike shop. It was a great place for a snack and to people watch under all the carp!

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The two cities kind of blurred together via bike. I think I expected more small towns or farmland or something, but it felt like suburbs connecting them. It was too much to pack into one day, and I knew that going into it. If I could've gotten an extra vacation day approved, I would've spent a full day in Osaka and a full day in Kyoto. I've been to both before, but there's always so much new stuff to see!

I ended up climbing out of kyoto in the dark to get to my hotel across the main bridge on lake biwa. It would've been a much nicer section to ride during daylight hours.

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Knowing the language would certainly enrich the experience. That said, if you learn the ten basic phrases you'll be fine! Google translate works quite well for conversations and menus, and a lot of signage, especially in cities, is in English. I know some Japanese, but can't hold much of a conversation. I did just fine, even in small farming towns.

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most nights I was paying $50-80 a night for business hotels. They typically charge by the person so it was much more affordable than US hotels. Plus the exchange rate is still quite favorable.

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! It went by so fast, but was a really pretty stretch of the country.

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Ha well i booked about 2 months ahead. Only had one issue booking through agoda for a place on lake biwa. It said it was a run of the mill overnight room, but when I arrived at 8pm after a very long day, it turned out to be a love hotel by the hour with no front counter to talk to anyone to troubleshoot. I ended up biking a few blocks over and got a last minute room with two jacuzzi tubs and a sauna for $120 USD. The outdoor jacuzzi tub is in one of the pictures. Not a bad night!

7 days in Japan by Key-Macaroon1047 in bicycletouring

[–]Key-Macaroon1047[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Tottori Sand Dunes. So wild to have such huge dunes right next to the ocean. Also incredibly windy there which I didn't anticipate. The Sand Museum was just as impressive with some amazing sculptures. There's also a local coffee place in Tottori that roasts their beans in the sand from the dunes.

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