The inspiration for me to use a bicycle as a travel companion came from the legendary Hokkaido-born show "Suiyou Doudeshou" (How do you like Wednesday?).
There was a segment on the show where they traveled around on scooters, and I thought, "Wouldn't it be even more fun to do this on a bicycle?"—that was the trigger for me to start bicycle touring. Looking back, it’s a pretty bizarre idea, haha.
From there, I became fascinated by traveling by bike.
What I got when I joined Circles was the SIMWORKS Doppo ATB.
The first bike I acquired after joining Circles was the SIMWORKS Doppo ATB.
ATB stands for All Terrain Bicycle, meaning it is capable of handling any surface.
As the name suggests, it can handle any road without hesitation; it truly is a bike that can do it all.
I wanted to try various styles of riding like touring and gravel, so I chose the Doppo ATB. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that the Doppo ATB chose me.
Lately, I've been having my "Doppo-kun" take me out to explore gravel paths I’ve found on Google Maps that I’ve never been to before.
The Doppo ATB is the bike that opened up a new door to gravel riding for someone like me, who had spent all their time touring—traveling to Hokkaido, cycling around Shikoku, and circling all of Japan. I consider it my lifelong partner.
So, for those of you who are greedy and want to do both touring and gravel riding, here is the bike I recommend as your first choice!
KONA Rove ST
【KONA】Rove ST 2023
SIZE：48, 50, 52, 54, 56
COLOR： Gloss Ultraviolet, Gloss Earth Green
PRICE：¥202,400 (tax included)
The ROVE ST is a gravel bike that KONA is truly proud of.
To "rove" means to wander or roam, which is the perfect name for this bike.
This bike is especially well-suited for a bikepacking style using frame bags and saddlebags. It comes equipped with eyelets for mounting a rear rack and fenders, making it capable of handling long-distance touring fully loaded. There is no doubt it will become your best adventure companion.
Come join me on a mysterious adventure with the ROVE ST!