This is JUS.
Circles is a bike shop.
But it’s a little? No, actually, it’s quite different from other bike shops.
Because we absolutely love to have fun, we are always thinking about how we can propose exciting and truly enjoyable experiences through the medium of "bicycles," whether it be camping, running, fishing, surfing, or more.
You’ll understand exactly what I mean if you come visit us at the shop.
We have so many things here that you won’t find at other bike shops.
However, Circles is still a bike shop.
We love inspecting, repairing, and customizing bikes.
You’ll understand this perfectly if you visit the shop as well.
We have a pit space as large as the first-floor sales area.
A pit space that is clearly visible from our neighbors, EARLY BIRDS.
A dedicated pit space for "mama-chari" city bike repairs.
While you shop, please feel free to watch us work in the pit while you enjoy a delicious meal or a cup of coffee.
Bikes purchased at other shops are also more than welcome!!
If you’re having any trouble, please bring them in anytime!
Anyway, that was a long introduction, but today’s JUS blog is about overhauls.
Since a bicycle is ultimately a "tool," it will inevitably get dirty as you use it over the years, and in the worst case, it will break.
An overhaul is a service we excel at here at Circles, where we take apart every possible component of the bike, polish them, fix them, and refresh the whole machine.
Today’s overhaul subject is this bike.
It’s a Sycip disc cross bike that has just finished its season, with the cyclocross season now drawing to a close.
You can really tell how much love the owner puts into their bike. Even though it’s a bike that has been through many cyclocross races in muddy off-road conditions, it has been washed incredibly clean.
I’m sure many of you might think, "Well, then, doesn't it not need an overhaul?"
However, even if the "outside" looks spotless, the "inside" can sometimes be incredibly dirty.
This internal dirt can lead to malfunctions or, at worst, shorten the lifespan of your frame.
There is grit packed deep inside, under the bar tape and even inside the vinyl tape holding the cables—places that are usually never exposed.
Naturally, that means the inside of the hoods is also full of grit, which can cause trouble with your brakes and shifting.
Next up is this: the bottom bracket. Since the cranks are usually attached here, it’s a spot that’s hard to polish from the surface.
When we remove this bottom bracket...⬇️
Just as I thought... there was water and mud inside the BB shell... but, the removal of the bottom bracket was incredibly smooth.
This wasn't just a case of the BB loosening or being improperly tightened; there was simply no seizing.
I say this modestly, but I was the one responsible for the assembly of this bike when it was new, and I built it with racing, mud, water, high temperatures, and high torque in mind.
Seeing the results of that during an overhaul after the race season is both a pleasure and a source of nervousness for me as a mechanic.
It’s not just race bikes—every bike needs an overhaul.
Whether it’s raining, snowing, hot, or cold, our bikes give us excitement and joy, day after day.
It would be wonderful to keep both the outside and inside sparkling clean so you can keep riding together for a long time.
We would love to help you with that.
Please feel free to consult with us.
Work is progressing in the Circles pit today on assembling a bike after the parts and frame have been polished.
H-kun, please wait just a little longer.
As I’m writing this on my PC, another request for an overhaul has come in.
Now, when the cold is at its peak and you might have fewer opportunities to ride your bike, is the perfect chance for an overhaul!!
(Though, honestly, I’d love for you to ride your bikes plenty during this coldest time of year too.)
In past years, we’ve experienced an "overhaul rush" around early spring, which can lead to longer wait times than usual.
Standard turnaround time: 10 days to 2 weeks
Price: From ¥18,000 (This is for labor only; costs for consumables and replacement parts will be charged separately.)
Please get your requests in early!!
Right! Now that I’ve finished taking it all apart, time to polish it until it gleams!!