During a recent ride, I headed out expecting to catch the beautiful sight of sunlight reflecting off raindrops on the trees and the wet road surface. Once I reached the mountains, the dancing light was even more stunning than I had anticipated.
Since I used my mountain bike to tour the local hills on my last ride, I had planned to stick strictly to paved roads on my road bike this time. However, the two people I met up with were both on cyclocross bikes and ready for off-road conditions, so we steered toward an unpaved trail for the first time in a while. That path, which I hadn't ridden in years, welcomed us in perfect condition—it was hard to believe it had ever been maintained. After coming out of that trail, we climbed a deserted, moss-covered paved road and made our way to our usual overlook.
By the time we headed home, clouds had moved in, and the strengthening wind felt colder than it had up on the mountain. Choosing the right gear for this time of year—especially on days when the weather changes drastically—is always a challenge, but a windbreaker or vest is undoubtedly a must.
We each chose our gear differently that day, but Gishi from the Circles crew wore his brand-new RING TAIL Breeze Breaker 2.0 for the ride.
[RING TAIL]
Breeze Breaker 2.0
Price: ¥22,000 (excl. tax)
Colors: Navy Blue, Sage Green
Excellent stretch
Available in two colors: Navy Blue and Sage Green. The nylon tape behind the zipper is color-matched to each version. The CORDURA fabric used is not only lightweight but also features excellent stretch, comfortably accommodating vigorous upper-body movements like dancing on the pedals. This also ensures that you don't feel restricted when layering it over a thicker winter jersey or multiple layers of clothing.
Highly portable
The Breeze Breaker 2.0 is a packable windbreaker that weighs just 105g and fits easily into a back pocket. It is incredibly convenient to carry, as you can tuck it into your jersey pocket when not in use, or strap it to your handlebars or saddle.
Much like a snack bar, a multi-tool, or your smartphone, this is a jacket you'll want to keep in your jersey pocket for every single ride.
We have also received the Breezer Vest 2.0 from Ring Tail, which uses the same fabric but features a double front zipper. It’s a versatile piece of gear that will see more use as the weather warms up, and can be easily layered with a jacket during colder times to make it useful year-round.
In addition, other items like the 3S Merino Jersey and Pocket Trumpet Cap, along with the Team Dream items introduced recently, have arrived in-store.
As the weather gradually warms up, I've noticed more people are considering purchasing new gear. If you've had your eye on something, I recommend checking it out sooner rather than later.