Lately, everyone I meet keeps telling me I've put on weight, so I'm currently on a diet. JUS here.
Commuting to work or school is a daily routine for everyone.
While the time, distance, and method of transport vary from person to person, all of us at Circles commute by bicycle, rain or shine.
So, I’d like to introduce my current commuting style. At 15km each way, I have one of the longest commutes among the Circles staff, and until now, I only thought about how to get to CIRCLES as quickly as possible by sleeping in until the last minute to shorten my time and distance.
But I realized I shouldn't be living such a stressful life! I figured it was only making me gain more weight, so I decided to change my perspective. I started thinking only about how to make my long commute fun and easy by getting up early and taking it slow.
It’s been five years since I started riding this bike. I’ve customized my SURLY CROSS-CHECK into a comfortable commuter. Of course, it’s a versatile SURLY CROSS-CHECK that can handle a camping trip just like this. Here is the whole setup. My requirements were pannier bags so I don't have to carry a backpack, a saddle that feels comfortable right away, an insulated bottle to keep drinks hot or cold, and a pump that makes it easy to inflate tires in case of a flat and moves a lot of air at once. And finally, flat pedals so I can ride in any shoes. I figured if I met those criteria, I'd have a comfortable commute! First, the most essential item: the pannier bags. I use the BROOKS Suffolk, ¥18,000 (excluding tax). With a capacity of 18L-22L, it's more than enough, and it’s waterproof, of course. The sliding attachment allows you to adjust the position forward or backward, so there's no worry about the bag hitting your heels. This is really easy to use. And for the saddle, I chose the Selle Anatomica T-series WaterShed / Graphite, ¥19,000 (excluding tax). It feels comfortable right from the start. Above all, the Graphite color is a great shade—neither black nor grey.
The pump mounted under the top tube is a ParkTool PMP-5, ¥4,190 (excluding tax), which makes pumping effortless. The bottle is a Klean Kanteen, ¥4,000. Lately, I've been getting up an hour earlier to take a slightly longer route to work. I get coffee in my Klean Kanteen at my favorite coffee stand for a coffee break, followed by breakfast at EARLY BIRDS as my standard routine. And finally, although it wasn't originally planned, I also built a new set of wheels. I just had to be the first one to try this combination! PhilWood Road Hub 8s-10s F/R, ¥61,800 (excluding tax) PhilWood Quick Release Skewers, ¥16,800 (excluding tax)
This is my first time owning PhilWood hubs, and I was honestly surprised by how smoothly they spin. The hub shell, machined with precision by experts, is a bit heavy, but it spins so well that you don't notice the weight at all, and the fine engagement provides smooth pedaling. That weight actually contributes to the smooth rotation and stability. It's impressive. I chose orange for the quick releases to match the SURLY logo. The wide range of color options is another attractive feature.
Why not make your daily commute a wonderful part of your day, too? It might just change your life!
Feel free to consult with us about customizing your own comfortable daily-use bike!