It may sound contradictory, but I have been shunned by bicycles, and I have been saved by them. It is no exaggeration to say so.
As I learned about various things after joining Circles, I often wonder: if I hadn't specifically encountered "mountain bikes," would I be living as rich a life as I do now?
Going back 16 years, I suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon during my student days. As a result of the aftereffects, I have almost no strength from the ball of my left foot through to my toes and calf, so I actually cannot pedal a bicycle properly. Using clipless pedals that fix the foot position around the ball of the foot was completely out of the question.
The textbook theory that "to pedal efficiently, you should point your toes forward and put your center of gravity on the ball of the foot, centered on the pedal shaft" simply did not apply to my foot...
Embarrassingly, it wasn't until I joined Circles six years ago that I realized this was fatal for pedaling on a sports bike. I remember how much it eased my mind when my boss, seeing how worried I was about what to do after becoming a bike shop employee, said to me, "You can cover what you can't experience through riding with knowledge. Besides, you should first aim to become a mechanic at Circles that no one else can beat."
Then, about half a year after joining, my encounter arrived suddenly. Makoto, my mentor both in mechanics and mountain biking, gave me the "what bike should a new Circles employee buy?" assault: "JUS, let's go to the trails. So, buy a mountain bike! Well, which one will it be?"
That was the start!
Meeting the mountain bike opened up the "path" that I should—and want to—pursue.
When mountain biking on trails, you sometimes encounter situations where you have to push or carry your bike through the mountains because the terrain is unrideable. For that reason, my top recommendation for trail riding is flat mountain bike pedals and trail running shoes. Yes, mountain biking taught me that a clipless system isn't always just an advantage when riding a sports bike.
Of course, I think the benefits of clipless pedals are great for "cross-country racing" or "climbing," but the real pleasure of trail riding is taking it easy without rushing, not competing with anyone, enjoying the scenery and nature, and resting when you're tired. Sometimes, the view from the spot where you happen to sit down and rest is actually magnificent.
Mountain biking taught me that, too.
Using a mountain bike as a tool and syncing with it like a partner—it's a reliable companion that can overcome any road condition, though it can also show its sharp fangs if you get overconfident and carried away. However, mountain biking allowed me to sync with a bicycle, something I had halfway given up on using my ruptured Achilles tendon as an excuse.
The thing I spend the most time worrying about, and also enjoying, while preparing for the trail rides and bikepacking trips I love, is: How can I make my meal breaks in the mountains, where there are no convenience stores or diners, more fulfilling? I’ll take a cooker and burner out of my pack while resting, boil water to make coffee, or if I’m a little hungry, use a nearby tree stump as a table to cook and eat.
You don't need to do anything extravagant.
To start, just adding hot water to rehydrate something or warming up food is plenty of "outdoor cooking"! This is another way to enjoy the mountains that mountain biking taught me.
photo by onyourmark.jp
While mountain biking, ultralight hiking, and trail running are gaining attention in the outdoor scene, it is an undeniable fact that troubles in the fields we are allowed to use are endless.
First and foremost, we believe that mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners all need to join hands as colleagues using the same mountains and fields, and take a new step forward. We have carved that sentiment into our hearts as we steadily move toward our next actions.
Circles believes in mountain bikes.
