As is true for any activity, it’s truly heartening to see areas where women shine. Aya-chan had great results in her recent race, and I’m so happy to see the girls' community, centered around her and Kyon-chan, growing in such a wonderfully energetic way. (The guys can’t be outdone either!)
Oh, and speaking of that, a bike we were consulting on for one of those energetic women just set off to its new owner the other day.
That’s right, this is a personal milestone for me: the very first BREADWINNER CYCLES ordered by a woman here at Circles. The model is the B-Road, which has become something of a specialty for us.
The owner was already a road cyclist, but her growing curiosity about exploring more diverse terrain led her to seek out a bike that could handle all kinds of routes, on and off-road, which is why she decided to order a B-Road.
She traveled all the way from Kanagawa for the consultation. After we took her body measurements and checked her current position on the road bike she already rides, we coordinated with the BREADWINNER team regarding the frame geometry.
Considering her unfamiliarity with gravel riding and our goal of making winter rides comfortable, we decided to assemble the bike with electronic components and hydraulic disc brakes so she could enjoy riding without any anxiety about shifting or braking. Naturally, we requested the frame be built for internal Di2 routing accordingly.
The B-Road can accommodate tires up to 700x48mm, which makes choosing one a challenge, but to start, we assembled it with TERAVAIL / Cannonball 700x38c tires, which are great for enjoying everything from paved roads to unpaved paths.
One might worry that choosing wider tires would add too much weight or make the ride feel sluggish, but we chose these because of their relatively low-rolling-resistance tread pattern and because they are tubeless-ready.
| Frame | BREADWINNER CYCLES | B-Road |
| Fork | ENVE | G-Series Gravel Fork |
| Headset | CHRIS KING | Inset 7 Matte Turquoise |
| Handlebar | SIMWORKS BY NITTO | Wonderer Bar 410mm |
| Stem | THOMSON | X4 70mm |
| Seatpost | THOMSON | Elite Straight |
| Wheels | CHRIS KING | HED Belgium Plus Disc R45D 700C 28/28 |
| Tires | TERAVAIL | Cannonball 700x38c Tan |
| Drivetrain | SHIMANO | Ultegra R8050 Di2 |
| Frame Pump | SILCA | Impero Frame Pump(Match Painted) |
The color was another carefully considered detail, keeping the regular gray base but unifying all the branding and accents in white. Naturally, the SILCA frame pump was also finished with a matching paint job. It’s very simple, yet a bike that is thoroughly representative of its owner. Costs for custom paint beyond standard options vary depending on the method, so please feel free to consult with us.
In the gravel bike genre, sizes for women and smaller riders are often not well-represented in standard lineups, which is why I believe that for those with smaller builds, it is especially meaningful to build a bike through a custom order that allows for a precise fit to their own body.
The bike is finished, but this is just the starting line. I’m sure the owner will enjoy exploring many new routes, different from anything she’s ridden before, with Kanagawa as her base.
For more on B-Roads we’ve built at Circles in the past, please take a look at the link below.
BREADWINNER CYCLES / B-Road
– Custom Sizing
– Columbus / Spirit Tubing
– Third bottle cage mount under the down tube as standard
– Includes ENVE or TRP fork
– Fender eyelet option
– Choice of 9 stock colors
– Lifetime Warranty
Custom frame set price: 388,000 JPY (excl. tax)
[Options]
– Di2 option: 6,000 JPY (excl. tax)
– Internal brake routing: 21,000 JPY (excl. tax)
– Custom color: From 36,000 JPY
The current lead time for BREADWINNER CYCLES custom frames is about 3–4 months.
If you are considering an order, please feel free to contact us.
