If you immediately thought of "The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker" by Kotaro Isaka when you read the title, then you are a true Isaka freak. The term "shipposakimarumari" (curly-tailed) was just floating around in my head, and I couldn't for the life of me recall the title of the novel.
"Shipposakimarumari" is a word that sticks in your head—it has a powerful resonance among the words that appear in the story where Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" plays from beginning to end. While the novel features a cat with a curly tail as the name implies, today's star is the RINGTAIL, which sounds similar but is actually completely different.
Think they aren't different at all, you say?
If you've seen the Ringtail logo, I think you'll nod in agreement—doesn't the swirl make you imagine an animal with that kind of pattern?
The real ringtail, also known as the cacomistle, is not a feline but is actually closely related to the raccoon. Its tail is straight. By the way, the name "ringtail" comes from the evenly spaced ring-shaped patterns on its large, straight tail. It inhabits the southwestern United States and Mexico and is known as the Ringtail or Ringtail cat.
photo by PEEC Nature Center
From the California-based brand RINGTAIL, which takes its name from this animal, we have received some tie-dyed wind jackets.
These tie-dyed jackets, made with Cordura® ultralight nylon, are durable and lightweight, making them the perfect finish to tuck into a pocket or under a saddle. I’m 173cm/62kg and I'm wearing a size M. It’s a bit roomy, so if you’re planning to wear just a jersey underneath without layering up, a size S might be the way to go—that’s the sizing feel.
Far from the garish colors you might imagine when you hear "tie-dye," these pale colors—like the surface layers of the sky from a clear day or a cloudy one to sunset—are unique to them, as they spend their time looking at all sorts of skies using the hashtag #teamdreamsunsetchasingteam. These patterns and colors are created by tying the fabric with string and hand-dyeing them one by one, so while the color tones are similar, every pattern is unique.
Additionally, the zipper pulls are made from antique fabric. Although we were told they would be assorted, all the ones that arrived at Circles feature beautiful vertical stripes that match the body color.
Its 80g weight translates directly to its compactness; when it gets hot, you can take it off and stow it in your jersey pocket, or quickly pull it out and put it on before a descent or during a chilly time of day. It might still be cold at this time of year, but as it gradually gets warmer, the temperature will fluctuate more, making this an ideal item for those kinds of rides.
I thought February was still going to be cold, but this weekend the high temperatures have finally hit double digits, and in the sunny spots, it's starting to feel nice enough to shed your outerwear, isn't it? It's a little early, but why not feel the arrival of spring with a sky-colored jacket?
Please check out RINGTAIL, along with gear from TEAM DREAM BICYCLING TEAM, another brand handled by one of its founders, Sean Talkington!!