Following the school shooting in Florida this past February, boycotts were launched in the United States against several cycling brands. This came after it was discovered that a Utah-based outdoor conglomerate, which owns various outdoor brands, is also involved in the manufacture of firearms and ammunition. In light of the fact that several cycling brands had recently been acquired by this company, shops began one after another to announce their intention to no longer stock or sell products from those brands.
Of course, the background to this is certainly a very complex issue. But is it really right to attack cycling brands that are not directly involved in the form of a boycott? There are so many things involved here—the people working in this bicycle industry, their families and colleagues, and the local bike shops and communities connected to the brands—and aren't these ultimately of vital importance to the entire bicycle industry?
Thinking more positively, could we not consider supporting these cycling brands by buying and continuing to use their products—thereby generating more profit for the bicycle market than is made in the firearms and ammunition market—in order to force the parent outdoor company to make the decision to divest its gun-related divisions?
Photo By The Radavist
The person who voiced this opinion was John Watson (a.k.a. Johnprolly), the founder of The Radavist and a true cyclist himself. Among the brands targeted by this boycott were some that had deep ties with The Radavist long before they became part of that outdoor conglomerate.
I agree with this opinion as well, and I believe that the desire to change things ourselves, rather than just hoping someone else will, is incredibly important in all aspects of life.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is the only true cycling media in the world. Led by John, those who truly love cycling and the outdoors convey the fun and wonder of it all, focusing on the details—not just the products, but the people who make them and the circumstances surrounding them—to people everywhere.
Every year they attend NAHBS, photographing the incredible bikes from every builder to share with the world, and heading out on various ride trips to capture the wonderful cyclists they meet and the bikes they ride. I suspect there are many people who use the bikes introduced on their site as a reference for planning their own builds or imagining their next ride.
In 2016, they came to Japan and featured the Gourmet Century ride, the subsequent bike packing trip, and the cycling community surrounding us here at Circles on their site.
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ASUKE FOR THE CHRIS KING GOURMET CENTURY JAPAN
RIDING CIRCLES AROUND MOUNT FUJI
BICYCLE CAMPING ON IZU OSHIMA AND RIDING MOUNT MIHARA WITH CIRCLES
SHAPING CYCLING CULTURE IN NAGOYA WITH CIRCLES JAPAN
Of course, many people besides John are involved, but the very reason they are a true media outlet is that they go to these places, get in the saddle, and spend time together, capturing what they see in photos and words.
The Radavist made an offer to Giro, and a limited edition helmet and shoes have been released. While there were originally no plans to bring these into the country, thanks to our domestic distributor, Diatech, who kindly accepted our selfish request, we have now received a limited supply!
These are special items featuring John's own favorite color: Olive Drab.
The base helmet is their flagship road model, the SYNTHE. This model, known for its lightness, fit, and overwhelming cooling performance, is now realized in an olive colorway. The familiar logo is marked on the sides, and the combination of sand-beige for the Giro logo and the straps further highlights that this is a special item.
The shoes are also based on the familiar Empire VR90, a model designed for MTB, finished in an olive colorway. Along with the sand-beige laces, a pair of black laces is included, so you can enjoy lacing them up to your preference. With the Easton EC90 carbon sole as a base, coated with high-grip Vibram rubber, these are reliable shoes that you can use on any ride—from gravel rides and cyclocross races to touring and trail rides.
Both the helmets and shoes are strictly limited in quantity. As it happens, Giro was one of the brands targeted by the boycott mentioned at the beginning. The only way to support people who continue to make such wonderful products is to buy them, but regardless of that, we are happy to be able to carry these items, and we would be very happy if people who resonate with their thoughts enjoy their rides while wearing this olive-colored gear.