I visited MOMBAT (Museum Of Mountain Bike Art & Technology) while in Charlotte for the 2014 NAHBS. It was home to a vast collection of legendary vintage bikes, with a focus on mountain bikes from the 80s.
Seeing frames that you rarely come across these days and unique period-correct builds, I remember feeling a strong sense of how much ingenuity our predecessors poured into enjoying riding in the mountains, especially when viewed from the perspective of our modern era where times have changed so much. Also, many of those bikes were sporting skinwall tires, and it reminded me that I still really value that aesthetic.
Time has passed since then, and now a tire has arrived that fits the current era while still evoking a sense of nostalgia—something I’m sure many of you have been waiting for.
[MAXXIS] Ardent Skinwall 29×2.25″ ¥6,800 (excl. tax)
MAXXIS produces a variety of tires across all genres. Here at Circles, we place a lot of trust in their tires designed for the dirt, and the ARDENT—their most versatile MTB model—has now joined the lineup in a skinwall colorway.
These are recommended for bikes like the Surly Karate Monkey and Ogre, or the Salsa El Mariachi. Naturally, since Cielo mountain bikes also use 29-inch wheels in sizes S and up, they will fit without any issues.
[MAXXIS] Ardent Skinwall 27.5×2.25″ ¥6,800 (excl. tax)
Actually, they have made the 29-inch version before, but now the 27.5-inch size has been added to the lineup. Since there hasn't been a 27.5-inch skinwall MTB tire until now, this is great news for those who have been waiting. Furthermore, this specific size is tubeless ready, allowing you to go lighter and improve your ride quality.
Take a look at how the Santacruz Superlight 29″ looks after swapping to skinwalls. It completely transforms the bike's character, doesn't it? And by the way, this Superlight is on sale as a Circles original complete build for 280,000 yen (excl. tax). Thanks to its rear single-pivot suspension, it’s nimble and easy to handle—a perfect choice for anyone looking to get into mountain riding.
And here is my own #mycielo. Truth be told, I was one of those people eagerly waiting for the 27.5″ skinwall tires. I’ve removed my frame bags and saddlebags for these photos, but I plan to actively tear through the mountains with this bike-packing setup this year.
You can choose them simply for their aesthetic appeal, but since they have such an all-around tread pattern, you can ride with confidence in any conditions. It’s also a fun challenge to recreate the feel of the ATBs of the past using modern, era-appropriate parts. From pure mountain bikes to bike-packing rigs, these are tires that make it fun to charge through trails and dirt.
[Schwalbe] SV19 Inner Tube (27.5×2.00-2.35″ & 29×1.50-2.40″) ¥700 (excl. tax)
We also have inner tubes available that are compatible with both 27.5-inch and 29-inch wheels.
You can also purchase these on our Webshop, so please check them out!