【#MyFirstBike】What do you seek at the end of the journey – BASSI BIKES Hog’s Back

Nice to meet you! My name is Ishibashi, and I’ve been working hard as a part-timer on the Circles e-commerce team since the end of last year!
The senior staff call me "Bashi," because my name is Ishibashi.

I love the way of playing where you hop on a bike, head off somewhere far away using only your own power, and eat something delicious. I’ve experienced all kinds of touring, so I’d like to write about my touring logs, "Bashi’s Travelogue," going forward, so please be sure to read them.

Well then, I’ve put together this story about how I encountered cycling, as well as a #MyFirstBike recommendation for those who are about to start riding.

There was a muscle-bound guy who taught me that "the ultimate hobby is touring."

My hobbies are mountain climbing and camping, and I don't just go with friends—I head out here and there by myself, too. By the way, the icon for this blog is me letting out a shout on a mountain in Suzuka.

One day, while I was climbing as usual and relaxing at the summit, there was a buff guy who had ridden up on his bike, drank some coffee, and then dashed off. I was captivated by his incredible power and guts, and I had an awakening. To the joy of "going out somewhere by bike, eating a meal, taking a bath, and feeling refreshed"...!

Mountain climbing and touring share the "sense of accomplishment that comes from being able to operate on your own physical strength," and I decided to take up cycling precisely because I felt like it was an extension of my hobbies.

What kind of rides do I want to do?

Since I had no knowledge of bicycles, I started by looking online for bikes with looks and colors I liked. I still clearly remember producing mass amounts of screenshots night after night. At that time, I was filled with the excitement of starting a new hobby and surprise at the price tags. Through that research, my image became solidified, and I found my current bike based on my own standards:

• A classic design that blends into the scenery when I go touring
• A tough bike that can be used for daily needs, like commuting to school or shopping

And that is how I met my current bike.

I’ve ridden along the Wakasa Bay, cycled from Kyoto to Kobe, done a lap around Chita Peninsula... I’ve had all sorts of journeys. I’ve been able to travel plenty of fun miles on my current bike, and I intend to keep touring just the same. My notes on places I want to go and local cuisines I'm curious about just keep piling up; I have to get through them.

I want a bike for bikepacking...

However, I really want to weave elements of mountain climbing and camping into my touring... The final form of my hobby is something like BIKE&CAMP, where I head to the campsite under my own power, set up a tent, and drink some booze.

No matter how good I get at packing or how much I build up my stamina through strength training, equipment demands keep popping up, like wanting "slightly wider tires" to stably ride steep, rocky slopes and mountain trails, or wanting "disc brakes" because I’m left feeling uneasy about stopping power on descents.

"I could go on new trips that I couldn't do on a road bike with skinny tires!"—the bike I want to buy next is taking up the majority of my thoughts. (Even though I’m broke.)

In the midst of that, I had an incredible encounter. The brand name is BASSI. Wait... isn't that my name!

BASSI BIKES Hog’s Back

This bike has been a big push from Circles lately, so many of you might already know it—the BASSI BIKES Hog’s Back!

It’s not just that the brand name is the same as mine; it fits perfectly with the kind of riding I’ve been wanting to do. With wide tire clearance and plenty of mounting points, it’s truly built for touring. Furthermore, while it has a classic design, it also has the unique feature of being able to run both 26" and 650b wheels. I want to build it up with 650b wheels and go on some rugged adventures!

For more details on BASSI BIKES, please read this article.

BASSI BIKES Hog’s Back World Tourer Special

This is the bike that Gan-chan, my mentor at Circles, built up with the concept of a "bike that can travel the whole world." Please refer to this blog post for details.

I was thinking I’d like to build one with a setup like this, and when I straddled the bike, I could vividly imagine myself going on a tour with it. Is this fate?

The look, brake system, and tire clearance are all different from my current road bike. I can definitely see myself using them for different things: my road bike for local pottering and long-distance train travel, and the Hog’s Back for active rides like camping tours and rocky trails.

Introducing this Hog’s Back makes me restless wondering where I should go on my next trip. This bike has a charm that attracts touring enthusiasts. The My First Bike Campaign supports your fresh start. It might even lead to a new hobby! Save on transportation costs with your favorite bike and start planning your travels!