A month has flown by since I returned from America. Thanks to everyone, we have had many fresh, spring-like faces visiting the shop, and we have been busy every day. I was wondering when it would arrive, and now, before I knew it, RIDEALIVE Vol.1 Mie is tomorrow.
RAL, a concept brand that expresses the RIDEALIVE philosophy of living a rich life with the ride as the foundation for everything, has now launched an Instagram account and a Facebook fan page, so please make sure to follow us. You only live once, so you might as well live it having fun. That is how I face each day.
The thought is very simple: I mapped out the route with Kyohei-chan with the desire for everyone to enjoy the natural, rich fields of Mie through riding and hiking. All that’s left is to just have fun, and so my bike is ready to go.
Personally, I decided to change my approach from the past three RIDEALIVE events, so this time I’m enjoying a rackless style by outfitting my #mycielo for bike packing. I’m fully armed with peace of mind using a handlebar bag, frame bag, and saddlebag, all from Porcelain Rocket.
Frame bags, in particular, vary greatly in shape depending on the size and geometry of the bicycle, so custom-made models designed and tailored to fit perfectly without any wasted space not only provide rational functionality but also instantly improve the bike’s style. Porcelain Rocket specializes in custom frame bag orders, so they can create a bag that fits your bike perfectly.
Please refer to the Porcelain Rocket custom order site by SimWorks for bag specifications and the ordering process. Of course, we also accept consultations for custom orders here at Circles, so please feel free to ask.
And now for the reveal of what’s inside my bags. Since I’ll be accessing the event via train from Nagoya and also need equipment for hiking on the second day, I’ve packed my train bag and food into a Welldone chip bag, which I will also carry on my back during the hike.
I considered using flat pedals with running shoes, but I feel more comfortable riding with clipless pedals, so for the hiking sections, I’ll switch into my Bedrock Sandals / Cairn. This helps lighten the load on my back a little (lol). But I can walk with them without any issues, and if I feel like it, I can even run in them.
It’s easy to get caught up in set ways, like "This is the gear for riding" or "You have to do it this way if you're hiking," but I think that the bike and the gear you bring should be individual to you, based on various factors like "Where are you going?", "What do you want to do?", and "What do you value most?"
The process of determining what is necessary and what you can do without is also a lot of fun.
Cheers to everyone for a wonderful weekend!
On Saturday, April 22nd, our shop hours will be from 15:00 to 20:00 as we will be participating in Critical Mass Nagoya. Thank you for your understanding.