【BASSI BIKES】Hog’s back on the analog

Hello, this is Kousei.
Summer vacation is almost here for the students, and the heat has started to feel like the real deal.
It's a great season.

Let’s take a look back at the latest happenings at Circles from my perspective.

Hal🍯
Since his chainring was worn out and skipping, he swapped it out for a
MEDIUM Narrow Wide Chainring.
He chose titanium from all the color options.
Has he grown up now?!

Baki-san on the 2nd floor
Is that a new bike?
Such a serious look in his eyes.
In the middle of prep work... I’m looking forward to his delivery ride.

Closed on Wednesday.
It was hot, but we headed out toward the Seto area.
I’m tired from the sunburn and whatnot, but it’s a satisfying kind of fatigue.
Type B fun.

That's how it is. The bicycle vibes are great.
This Sunday is our ride event, SNUG.

Going to watch the World Cup final right after that.
With OMM coming up and plans for another long tour soon, I’m sure it’ll be the end of the year before I know it.
Looking at my bike-addicted life like this, I wonder what the me from a few years ago would think if he saw my current situation...😅

I’m sure he’d be applauding.

A perfect bike has just arrived in the shop to help us grow our ranks.

BASSI Hog’s Back Custom Bike (city~touring)

"I'll mostly use it for city riding, but I want to try bike packing."
To those with that kind of great mindset and a bit of an "analog way of thinking," I'd be happy to pass this on to you.

At first glance, it looks like a simple bike, but it’s a 2x10 drivetrain featuring downtube shifters, which were mainstream in classic road racing.

MICRO SHIFT Downtube Shifters 2/3×10

Ever since SHIMANO created STI (a system where shifting is completed at your fingertips) in the 1990s, this type of shifting can hardly be called mainstream anymore.

Even so, if it’s a touring bike, this is the way to go, I think. You can really get to know the bike. The reasons are...

・Overwhelmingly low failure rate
The structure is extremely simple. Even if you crash, get covered in mud, or have a cable start to fray, it rarely breaks.

・High maintainability
Replacing and adjusting cables takes only a few minutes.

・Analog operation
Because it’s not as easy as fingertip shifting, the very sequence of taking one hand off the bars and clicking the gear into place provides a classic, comforting experience of a hobby well-spent.

"The beauty and fun of a bicycle as a tool" is still packed into those tiny aluminum levers.

Is that a bit weird? Maybe so, haha.

But I think you should try going on a tour for two days or more with this bike. And let me make you apologize for doubting it.

(Also, from a mechanic's perspective, changing the handlebars is so easy! 🐏)

GRANDBOIS Hetre / 650×42B

For tires, I chose the GRANDBOIS Hetre / 650×42B.
They are "too good" tires. Highly recommended.

By incorporating a high-quality *TPI casing into a wide tire, they overturned the old conventional wisdom that "wide = heavy and slow."
These are historic tires that laid the foundation for the modern wide-tire boom by proving that "wide, yet extremely supple, means fast and comfortable."

What is TPI (Threads Per Inch)?

In short, it refers to the "fabric layer" that supports the shape of the tire.
Inside the tire rubber, there is a fabric made of woven threads like nylon or cotton. This is the casing, which is an important part that serves as the skeleton of the tire.

TPI is a numerical value representing how many of these fibers are used per inch in the casing.

Dignified.

Size: M / 52cm – For riders around 175cm tall
Price: ¥320,000 (tax included)
*Pedals are not included.

What do you think!
You can test ride it in the shop, so please come and experience the ride quality for yourself.

Also, if you live in the Kanto area, you can consult with Circles Tokyo, so feel free to DM the Tokyo shop's Instagram✉️

See you later!👋