Obon is over. So, how is everyone spending their first day back after the break? Our shop was open through the holiday, but the Circles staff has been taking summer vacation in turns since last week. We were pleasantly surprised by how many people visited us from far away during the Obon period. In the midst of all that, a number of large boxes have been arriving from various places.
Today, I’m going to open them up and share the latest news with you all.
Once Obon ends, summer is effectively over, and that means CROSS IS COMING.
One of the most representative BREADWINNER riders in Nagoya—or rather, in Japan—has ordered a new bike for the upcoming season. This is a BREADWINNER CYCLES / Hole Shot, which has gained even more competitive power with its thru-axle disc brake spec. The way this bike accelerates so pleasantly without being too twitchy is something that, once you ride it, you’ll undoubtedly get hooked on. I’m sure it’s going to be a force to be reckoned with this season as well.
Next is a stock frame that has arrived for the first time in a while from DESALVO CUSTOM CYCLES, helmed by Mike DeSalvo, the TIG welding wizard based in Ashland, Oregon. That’s right. It’s titanium, the stuff of legends. This titanium gravel bike, which was also in the conceptual phase for this year’s NAHBS show bike, is a solid piece of work that gets all the details right, featuring oversized tubing and thru-axles. And every time I look at his frames, I’m captivated by those beautiful weld beads.
My mind has already built the finished version, and I just know it’s going to be an exciting bike. It’s a great size with a 545mm horizontal top tube, so please feel free to reach out if you’re interested.
Lastly, we have a rare arrival from the "Black Cat" himself, BLACKCAT BICYCLES. This gravel/all-road bike with an original steel fork has arrived as a stock frame. With a dedicated 1x drivetrain and clearance for 700x43c tires, just imagining where you could go on this bike is enough to whet your appetite.
In addition to the round top tube and sexily bent seat stays—which are rare for Todd—we also left the paint job entirely up to him. This bike fully showcases Todd’s sensibilities, as he handles everything from the frame and original small parts fabrication to the final paint finish himself. Because of that, you usually have to wait years for a custom order, making this a miraculous arrival.
We have several other ordered frames that have arrived, and I’m looking forward to finishing each of them. I’ll be building them up one by one, so those of you waiting, please be patient just a little longer. Of course, if something caught your eye, don’t hesitate to get in touch!