Many of you have likely found that once you acquire a bicycle as a tool, your daily commute becomes something special, haven't you?
I imagine for some, it has led to venturing into various new hobbies beyond everyday life, or simply expanding your range of movement.
Since you use your bike for all sorts of different things, have you ever felt like, "I wish I had an item like this"?
This applies to the clothing you wear, too.
"I want to ride my bike to work, but my outfit today won't dry if I sweat, and it’s hard to move in, so I guess I'll take the train..."
"I want to spend the whole day riding and then grab a break at a cafe, but I'm wearing sportswear, so I feel a bit awkward going into a stylish place..."
Have you ever had experiences like these?
A bicycle is a vehicle of freedom; you can go anywhere on it.
That’s exactly why you want to wear something that’s suitable wherever you go, right?
The label known as RAL creates items that come to mind while riding—things that would clearly make life better but can't be found anywhere else.
We achieve this by blending the free-spirited atmosphere of cycling with the styles we most want to wear right now, ensuring comfort that works for cycling as well as other activities.
Whether you're playing, working, or going about your daily life, we want you to enjoy the bike you love without any stress, wearing your everyday style.
Now that these RAL items have arrived at Circles Tokyo, I’d like to introduce them to you today.
Ral Shirts
Personally, I love the texture of cotton shirts, but sweat is always a concern.
It’s stressful when they absorb sweat and won't dry. It causes your body temperature to drop too quickly after getting off the bike, and more than anything, that feeling of discomfort is the worst.
Because we’ve adopted a 100% polyester fabric, it dries quickly even if you sweat. We’ve chosen a delicate fabric that is both durable, lightweight, and soft to the touch. The thin, loose-knit material also packs down compactly, making it easy to carry.
If you get hot while riding, just tuck it into your bag’s bungee cord and any soaked-in sweat will dry off in no time.
We used snap buttons so you can easily put it on or take it off while riding.
There’s also a snap-button back pocket, a favorite among cyclists, so go ahead and stow your bandana or hand towel in there.
With an open collar and a slightly relaxed fit, it’s comfortable and breathable—there's no doubt you'll feel great wearing this shirt on a ride.
RAL Anorak
This is outerwear with excellent windproof, breathable, and stretch properties.
The unique feature of this jacket is that we intentionally cut out the waterproof functionality.
Why cut the waterproof layer?
Because while waterproofing keeps out the rain, it inevitably traps heat and causes you to get stuffy when you're moving hard.
Cycling often involves "sudden bursts of exertion followed by rapid cooling." You might be drenched in sweat from a high-heart-rate climb, only to freeze on the descent.
To solve this, we cut the waterproofing to ensure superior breathability even when you're dripping with sweat on a tough climb. There’s also ventilation on the left side to let heat escape and help you regulate your body temperature.
Because it still offers wind protection, it blocks the cold air on descents, allowing you to maintain your body heat without it plummeting.
It also has water-repellent properties, so you can enjoy rides in light rain just fine with this alone.
It is packable, meaning you can fold the jacket into its own back pocket.
It becomes so compact that you can carry it with you at all times—for daily life, rides, or outdoor activities—without it getting in the way, and it will be there for you when you need it.
When you wear it, it’s incredibly light and has plenty of stretch, so there’s zero stress. The length is well-balanced—not too long—making it easy to pair with any type of pants.
RAL Tonbo Jacket v2
The Tonbo Jacket is windproof and cold-resistant.
It features a stand-up collar to hold securely around the neck and block out the cold. Both the sleeves and hem have knit ribs to seal out the outside air, and we designed the sleeves specifically so you can tuck your gloves underneath to keep extra warm.
The fabric isn't overly thick, and the jacket itself is quite light, so honestly, I was a bit worried it wouldn't be enough for the dead of winter... but when I actually wore it riding last winter, it was incredibly warm.
The reason is that the outer layer is bonded with a functional fabric from Toray called SOLARSENSOR®L.
This fabric absorbs sunlight and converts it into heat energy to maintain warmth, and it’s also highly anti-static.
In other words, by bonding a heat-retaining material to a windproof outer layer, it blocks the wind while keeping the inside of your clothes warm.
Even though it’s a thin fabric, this combination works perfectly, making it useful even in the depths of winter.
The fit is slim enough to keep the wind out.
However, there is room in the armholes for ease of movement, and the sizing allows you to wear thick layers underneath.
With a combination of two front pockets and one back pocket, the basic storage capacity is sufficient.
This RAL series launched last year in Nagoya to great acclaim, and with the restock, we are now starting to carry it at Circles Tokyo as well.
The weather is cooling down now, and the cycling season is upon us.
Let's fully enjoy our cycling with RAL, which is sure to make your rides that much better.
What is RAL?
Wear For Fun!!!The grand adventure that began because we acquired the fun tool known as the bicycle has, combined with our playfulness, linked up and expanded into a wide variety of activities before we knew it.
As we naturally became influenced by indulging in that play, we delved deep into what tools we really wanted to use in our daily lives. Believing in our own humor, we turned things we could truly put to good use into reality—that is the original product line we want to propose, "RAL." It continues to evolve as proof of "RideAlive," a word born from our desire to live rich lives while making the essence learned from riding our personal standard.
