The first time I straddled what you’d call a sports bike was in high school. I used to borrow my father’s hybrid bike and ride it night after night to the house of a girl I liked. Since I usually rode a so-called "mamachari" (city bike) to school, I was blown away by how much faster this hybrid bike moved, and I just kept pedaling away. After all, I wanted to see her as soon as I could (haha).
After that, I saved up money from a part-time job in college and bought a used track bike—that was the beginning of everything. Right around that time, I also started working as a bike messenger. Thanks to its maneuverability, I felt like I could go anywhere I wanted, which really expanded my world. If I hadn’t bought that track bike back then, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
At the end of the day, a bicycle is the ultimate fun tool. And at the same time, it’s a partner that enriches your life. At least, that’s true for me.
Now, when you hear the term "road bike," what kind of bicycle do you imagine?
I’m sure many of you imagine a so-called "road racer" with thin tires around 700x25c. Of course, you’re right. There is no doubt that the history of the road bike is deeply and inextricably linked to road racing.
But I’ll say it again: a bicycle is the ultimate fun tool. We aren’t professional road racers, and thinking about it that way, a road bike is simply a means to use that mobility to go further, or to places we’ve never been before.
Just like that feeling you had as a kid when you decided to bike to the next town over, you might want to reach the top of that mountain, ride roads you’ve never stepped foot on, or just ride as far as you can. Or maybe you enjoy chatting with friends in the saddle while feeling the changing seasons—everyone has their own way of enjoying it.
In the last few years, bikes called "gravel roads" have appeared, and I think many people have discovered the joy of seeking out roads that you couldn't traverse with skinny tires. A while back, people used to put fatter slick tires on cyclocross bikes to ride forest roads, but it’s completely understandable that bikes are being born to satisfy this desire because so many cyclists share that urge to go further.
In reality, the rides we usually go on bring together bikes with all kinds of tire widths. Even if you look at the rides from Golden Saddle in Los Angeles or the Team Dream folks, the concept of "what type of bike" doesn't really exist there; everyone is just enjoying life through the act of riding on their own respective bikes. Yes, everyone has their own way of enjoying it. There’s no right answer, but I truly hope that the act of riding a bike becomes something as natural as breathing.
It’s getting colder and the season is steadily moving toward winter, but this is exactly the time to enjoy cycling. If you conquer the temptation of your bed and keep pedaling, your body will gradually warm up after just 10 minutes. What lies ahead might be precious time with friends, new encounters, or new discoveries, but that’s how our daily lives start to roll forward in a richer way.
Circles believes in road bikes.
