Hello! This is Eri from the Circles Web Shop, in charge of our photography. It’s no exaggeration to call OMM LITE/BIKE the most fun race event of the year, and it’s happening next weekend in Hakuba. OMM Bike is the cycling version of orienteering, where you navigate and choose your own routes to collect points across a vast area that includes trails, dirt roads, and asphalt. Along with your route choice, selecting the right bike for such a diverse course is all part of the strategy.
As we mentioned recently, several teams from Circles will be participating, and everyone seems to be busy preparing their bikes and gear for the big day.
So, let’s take a look at everyone’s packing setups!
Taisei
Taisei is entering the race with his WILDE Rambler SL, a bike that can charge through both paved and unpaved roads with ease.
He’s using his trusted OUTER SHELL gear to carry his tools and essentials, but wait—is that WHOLE GRAIN CYCLES’ Jack the bike rack on the front? It’s a brilliant piece of kit that keeps luggage stable with a powerful power band while allowing for easy access to your gear. He also plans to bring along the highly popular LUNATEC Aquabot to keep cool and refreshed during the hot race.
It also goes perfectly with the sports tenugui (towel) from Chaoras, who held a pop-up here recently!
Daisaku
Daisaku from Culture Club is going for a classic bike-packing style. Based on his experience from last year, where he found himself riding on paved roads more than expected, he’s chosen WTB’s Byway tires. He likes how the slick center section provides a stable, light ride on pavement, while the side knobs offer just the right amount of traction for off-road sections—making them perfect for a ride like OMM Bike, where conditions change constantly.
Race fuel is also important. He plans to stash some exquisite cookies from Pine Fields Market (PFM) in his OUTER SHELL frame bag for a quick energy boost whenever he gets peckish! We’ll be sure to pick up some PFM treats to take with us on the day.
Chanmai
Chanmai, who is participating on her BASSI Rachel—the bike she built right after joining the company—has opted for a basket style that can carry plenty of gear. Even for a race, this might just be the easiest setup for girls who tend to accumulate a bit more gear! I love that she’s keeping it low-stress and just enjoying it like any other day out, rather than over-preparing for the race.
Inside the basket, she’s using a MINIMALIGHT Partition Sack. She loves how it keeps sweaty or wet towels separate from her dry clothes, and that the wide opening makes it easy to access everything inside. For footwear, it’s BEDROCK SANDALS all the way! They really are the only choice for a full day of outdoor fun.
Issy
Issy from Circles Tokyo is making his OMM Bike debut on his Ritchey Swiss Cross, which he successfully converted to tubeless!
Oh, the waist pack style—love it. That’s my preference too. I’m going with that as well. Backpacks can get hot, but when you want to carry small items with a stable, body-hugging fit, nothing beats the HUNTER CYCLES Waist Basket. It even has a bungee cord on top for stashing your rain jacket, making it super convenient for mountain trips where the weather changes constantly.
While he plans to ride seriously in his QUOC cycling shoes, he’s also packing his BEDROCK SANDALS just in case he wants to cool off in the river. Honestly, after seeing this photo, I totally get the urge to splash around in the water lol.
The Circles team members seem fully prepared to enjoy OMM Bike to the fullest! Don't forget to check your own gear beforehand—bottles, frame bags, stem bags, and plenty of "Happy Vibes"—to make sure you're not missing anything!
