Hello. This is Yoshi from Circles Tokyo!
The wind changes after the Obon holiday, and as the mornings and evenings gradually start to feel cooler, you can really sense autumn approaching.
Speaking of autumn, it’s the perfect season for riding bicycles.
I’m currently staring at maps and planning my own rides to make up for all the frustration of not being able to ride much during the heat of summer. I’ve got plenty of ride projects planned, too!
On a different note, we’ve been seeing more people coming by the Tokyo store to check out bikes, and I can tell we’re all on the same page. Today, I’d like to talk about a complete bike that we’ve put together—one that I just have to introduce to you.
BREADWINNER CYCLES Continental
At Circles, we carry many handmade brands. This time, we commissioned the frame from BREADWINNER CYCLES, a Portland, Oregon-based company led by award-winning frame builder Tony Pereira, who brings over 20 years of experience in custom frame design and fabrication to the table.
The Continental stands out as a unique entity among their various road categories like the Lolo, A-Road, and B-Road. With its horizontal top tube and rim brakes, this model embodies a classic aesthetic; it was originally born from the "Continental Ride" project planned by Rapha long ago.
At BREADWINNER CYCLES, the chainstay length and BB height for each model are preset to maintain optimized details and characteristics. The bike-building process begins by drafting a geometry that creates a perfect fit, derived from scratch by balancing the owner’s physical characteristics with the builder’s expertise.
These are the figures set for the Continental. You can see it has been given an exquisite "flavor" that sits somewhere between an endurance road bike and a traditional road bike—a category that has been gaining more options lately.
Naturally, no corners were cut with the materials. It uses Columbus’s renowned lightweight, high-rigidity SPIRIT tubing. Its heat-treated, enhanced strength and durability mean you won’t have to hesitate even on hard rides.
What I felt most during my test ride for these photos was the delightful acceleration when you stomp on the pedals. This is likely largely due to the material’s characteristics. The frame flexes as if it is storing energy, creating a sensation of acceleration that makes you want to keep pushing, which feels quite distinct from the stiff BB-centered acceleration of modern bikes. The ride quality is truly classic.
At the same time, thanks to the geometry—with its slightly longer chainstays and slacker seat tube angle—combined with the inherent properties of chromoly, it also offers a smooth ride that absorbs road chatter. I think this really helps one rediscover the merits of a steel bike, don't you?
The assembly was also chosen with the Continental in mind, based on the concept of a modern "sportif." For the rotating components, we’ve installed CHRIS KING parts, which boast unparalleled durability and ease of maintenance.
Power is transferred to the rear wheel by the WHITE INDUSTRIES VBC double crankset, which not only provides high rigidity but also allows you to swap inner and outer chainrings for your preferred tooth counts, making it easy to find your optimal gear ratio and to replace parts when they wear out.
For the fenders, which are a symbol of the sportif, we’ve included SIMWORKS BY HONJO’s Smooth35, which will surely take you to your destination without you having to worry about mud or puddles on the road.
The components are SHIMANO Ultegra. The styling, which blends the modern and the classic in an exquisite balance, can truly be called a modern sportif.
Even at this year’s MADE show, I had the impression that there were quite a lot of rim-brake models, including V-brakes and cantilever brakes. Looking at it this way, I think it’s finished as a bike that truly conveys the beauty of rim brakes to the fullest.
Please do come see it on display at the Circles Tokyo store. Naturally, we are also accepting custom orders for BREADWINNER CYCLES. Thank you.
Also, starting this weekend on the 13th, Circles Tokyo will be holding a POPUP featuring special items we bought on-site at "MADE"—the once-a-year festival held in America for these types of handmade bikes—alongside gear from our pride and joy, SIM WORKS.
We’ve got a lineup that will leave you surprised, so please stay tuned for more news.
Furthermore, on the 15th (Sunday), we will welcome Circles CEO Shinya Tanaka and Toyoshige Ikeyama, who attends MADE every year, from Nagoya for a talk show where we will reveal everything from events at MADE SHOW 2024 to the current bike scene and SIMWORKS’ future plans.
If you would like to participate, please send us a message via the Circles Tokyo Instagram account.
- Venue: Circles Tokyo
- Date & Time: Sunday, September 15th, doors open at 19:30, starts at 20:00
- Admission: Please purchase one drink
- How to register: Please send a DM to the Circles Tokyo Instagram. Click here