Autumn is deepening, and it’s become a great time for riding, hasn’t it?
Good evening, I’m Nabetaku!
The Hisaya-Minami Running Circle mentioned in the blog the other day is the group run that gave me my start in running.
It’s fun to run with everyone, isn't it?
Cycling is the same; it's fun to ride with everyone. On a personal note, I hold the CRC (Circles Racing Club) morning ride every Sunday morning.
Last time, we rode connecting gravel paths in Seto.
Although I dislike training, I love riding, and the driving force that allows me to compete in cyclocross races might just be these gravel rides where we all ride together and have a good time.
Normally, my main focus is a proper ride on a road bike, but I will continue to hold these with variety, such as gravel rides, picnic rides, or even rides exceeding 100km.
Details of the rides are announced on the Circles Racing Club Facebook page, so I look forward to your participation!
Now then, last Thursday, my day off, was a shakedown ride—or rather, a Nabetaku Ride—with a customer who won a Cielo at the special auction held during the Chari-Ken 4th Anniversary event, along with their friend.
I mapped out a route climbing from Shinshiro up to Chausuyama and back down. The log cuts out halfway due to a Garmin bug, but it was a fairly tough 123km/2000m elevation gain setting. The Roadside Station in Shinshiro where we parked our cars is convenient as it’s right off the Shin-Tomei Shinshiro IC.
The customer who shakedowned the Cielo had switched from a carbon road bike, and thanks to the supple and stable ride quality of the steel frame, it took the rider to rugged roads they had never traversed before.
At an elevation of around 1200m, reached by pedaling up the difficult climb step by step, an autumn landscape unfolded before us.
The long descent, which was our reward for the climb, had a smooth road surface and was a superb winding road. However, we enjoyed it so much that before we knew it, it was pitch dark.
That was when the 300-lumen light I always carry came in handy. I make it a point to always carry lights no matter what kind of ride I’m going on. Pleasant roads usually have few streetlights, and you never know what might happen.
I’ve been using the CatEye VOLT300 for two years now.
I used it every day back when I was a messenger, and I also used it during the RIDEALIVE Tokyo-Nagoya Cannonball recently. I’m thinking it might be time to replace it since I want more brightness, but if I do replace it, I’m considering the CatEye VOLT series again.
Right: [CATEYE] Volt400 9,180 JPY (tax included)
Left: [CATEYE] Volt400 / Rapid Charging Cradle + Cartridge Battery 11,880 JPY (tax included)
The VOLT300 I use was upgraded a few years ago to the VOLT400.
The great thing about this model is that by purchasing a dedicated lithium battery, you get the best of both worlds: the battery-swapping advantage of traditional battery-powered lights and the high power of a USB-rechargeable model. If you want to take advantage of this, I recommend buying the set with the charging cradle kit and battery.
Furthermore, it features a unique blinking method called Hyper Constant mode, which adds a blinking function to the steady mode, allowing you to maintain road visibility while better highlighting the bicycle's presence—another great "best of both worlds" feature.
With 18 hours of steady runtime on the 50-lumen low mode, 11 hours on Hyper Constant mode, and 60 hours on blinking mode, the battery life is top-notch!
[CATEYE] Volt800 (Rechargeable model) 17,280 JPY (tax included)
And there’s the higher-end model, the VOLT800.
This model leans more toward lighting power than runtime, with 2 hours on the 800-lumen high mode and 8 hours on the 200-lumen low mode. However, if you carry a spare battery, the runtime doubles, so there's nothing to worry about.
The price is also "high-power," but since it's better to be safe than sorry, I’m considering upgrading to this model.
With this, I won't have to rush on long rides during the coming season, even if I head out before sunrise and ride until after sunset; it provides peace of mind.
[CATEYE] Volt100XC 3,240 JPY (tax included)
CatEye is a very thoughtful brand that also offers models perfect for city riding.
The VOLT100XC is a light with an attractive price-to-performance ratio and a compact body. With 1 hour of runtime at 100 lumens on steady mode and 5 hours at the same 100 lumens on blink mode, it has enough performance for quick trips around town. Since it’s priced at 3,000 JPY (excluding tax), I recommend it as a first choice for city bikes.
[CATEYE] Volt200 4,860 JPY (tax included)
For those who want a bit more runtime, there’s the VOLT200. It offers 2 hours at 200 lumens on steady mode, 6 hours at 50 lumens on steady, and 30 hours on blink. Additionally, the mounting bracket for the VOLT200 is compatible with other higher-end models.
This is recommended for those who already use CatEye lights and find it tedious to swap lights between multiple bikes.
What I like about CatEye’s packaging is that you can try out the light right at the display stage. Experiencing it for yourself is best, but since some people can't do that, we’ve made it available for purchase on our Webshop as well!
We also carry lights from other manufacturers like Knog and Blackburn, so please feel free to consult with us about lights!
Let’s have a safe ride with bright lights!
Thank you for coming to the shop today, despite the inclement weather.
I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow!