The cuckoo is a bird that heralds the arrival of spring in Europe. In Japan, however, it’s a migratory bird that arrives between April and May for breeding, so it’s also known as a "summer bird"—a rather surprising distinction.
Speaking of cuckoos, they are famous thanks to the children's song we all sang in elementary school music class. When I looked into it, it turns out it originated from a 19th-century German folk song for children called "Kuckuck, Kuckuck, ruft’s aus dem Wald"! That was quite an unexpected bit of knowledge.
Oh, and speaking of Germany, we’ve received some cycling caps from Adam Bell—whose bicycle encyclopedia and poster have been best-sellers—that feel like they are heralding spring in place of the cuckoo. Let’s take a look at them with that German folk song as our background music.
【ADAM BELL’S WORKS】
Obercycling Cycling Cap
SIZE: Free
PRICE: 4,860 JPY
Derived from the name of the Ober district in Munich, this cap features a design motto where cycling goes from "ober" to "über" to "over the top," representing that it is simply the best, all finished in a poppy color palette.
【ADAM BELL’S WORKS】
Kaiman Cycling Cap Rubine Red
SIZE: Free
PRICE: 4,860 JPY
This cycling cap was designed with inspiration from a character in a certain Japanese anime that Adam loves. It features an eye-catching, vivid color scheme of Rubine Red with a turquoise underside to the brim.
【ADAM BELL’S WORKS】
Bike Pixie Cycling Cap
SIZE: Free
PRICE: 4,860 JPY
Bike Pixie is a fictional character. He's a small, tough-looking old guy who rides his bike all year round, covered in scars from past battles and collecting all sorts of things he finds during his rides—but rest assured, he's actually a good guy.
【ADAM BELL’S WORKS】
J-Bar Cycling Cap
SIZE: Free
PRICE: 4,840 JPY
This cap is a hand-drawn redesign of the classic Koinobori Cycling Cap, created for "J-Bar," a Japanese izakaya-style bar in Munich where Adam himself works part-time. It includes the humorous Japanese phrase "Chokotto yotte rasshai" (come on in for a quick drink), which will definitely make you want to grab a refreshing cold one as soon as you get back from a ride!
"Uncle Adam" has visited Nagoya a few times, and he’s such a wonderful person with a happy, gentle smile. Of course, his charming personality is just as great as his work. Back home, he enjoys repairing and customizing old bikes, like setting up a vintage Panasonic MTB with green The Homage tires from SimWorks.
He also has a long-standing friendship with DAISY MESSENGER, who received some original design cycling caps from him a while back. Adam seems to be planning another trip to Japan this May, so if the timing works out, you might get the chance to say Guten Tag to him at Circles, our sister store Culture Club, or Daisy Messenger!
Cycling caps not only absorb sweat but also provide various benefits when worn under a helmet, such as protecting your scalp from UV rays and shielding your eyes from the sun.
With their shallow fit and short brim, they feel a bit unique compared to baseball caps, but once you get used to them, they quickly become an indispensable item for your rides. It's common to find yourself wanting to collect them alongside your water bottles once you find designs you really love...
As the weather gets warmer day by day, you'll likely have more opportunities to ride your bike, so why not add one to your spring cycling wardrobe?
