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Nine bridges, six islands
Cycling Shimanami's IMABARI 70 course crosses nine bridges linking six islands across the Seto Inland Sea, one way from Onomichi to Imabari, on paved island roads and event-only expressway sections normally closed to bikes. The route is rolling rather than flat — about 737 m of climbing accumulates through repeated bridge approaches rather than one defining climb — and the open-water crossings leave pace exposed to wind.
For the experienced rider training seven to eleven hours a week, this twelve-week plan spaces demanding sessions with deliberate recovery, building repeatable bridge climbing and steady open-water riding.
INSIDE THE MASTERS PLAN — 7–11 HR/WK
Includes zone-tailored structured rides for your devices, built-in strength with video walkthroughs, heat protocols for when your race calls for them, peloton skills workouts, nutrition and hydration guidance, and recovery-first Masters 50+ structuring.
The Complete Cycling Shimanami Guide — the training, the tactics, the gear and race day, explained simply and clearly: what to do, when to do it, and why it works.
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Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party