When I think back to my first experiences with a bicycle, I recall the Thomas the Tank Engine tricycle my great-grandfather bought me, or the first time I rode without training wheels. Back then, my image of a bicycle was just that of a common vehicle seen in daily life, categorized right alongside cars and motorcycles.
The Joy of Handling and Discovering New Scenery
My perception of the "bicycle" as a tool changed when I was in high school. One day off, while rummaging through our storage shed looking for something interesting, I discovered the FUJI mountain bike my father used to ride.
It was a bike my father had built for commuting, having jumped on the 80s-90s mountain bike boom to go play on ski slopes with his coworkers in the summer.
Having known nothing about suspension, fat tires, or hydraulic disc brakes, I became captivated by the high off-road performance of the mountain bike—which allowed me to easily tackle paths, stairs, tree roots, and fallen leaves that I normally couldn't ride—as well as the "extraordinary feeling" of riding through nature and discovering landscapes I had never seen before.
As I kept riding, it was only natural that parts would start acting up or that I would develop a desire to customize—thinking, "I want to change the grips" or "I want to change the tire width." By researching on my own and performing part replacements and repairs, I deepened my knowledge of the bicycle as a tool. If not for this experience, I might not be doing this job involving bicycles today.
After graduating high school, the FUJI unfortunately broke, leading me to switch to a road bike and discover the joy of zipping along paved roads. However, when the genre of "gravel road" bikes began to emerge and the opportunity to ride off-road returned, I felt a sense of longing for something—that feeling I just couldn't forget. The extraordinary sensation of controlling the bike in every direction and enjoying nature with my entire body.
I decided that I wanted to enjoy that feeling of mountain riding once again, so I ordered a Breadwinner mountain bike and headed back into the mountains for the first time in years. Thankfully, I also met fellow riders, and we rode all sorts of trails. By sharing the beauty of the landscapes and the joy of successfully conquering unpaved roads with my friends, I was once again captured by the allure of MTBs.
To Enjoy Cycling...
For those of you who want to experience and share that sense of the extraordinary, here is the first bike and first MTB I recommend.
SANTACRUZ
Chameleon Aluminium Complete Bike
SIZE : S,M
COLOR :RASPBERRY Sorbet / Fog
Style : D-kit
Price : ¥325,490-(tax inc)
The Chameleon can adapt to your riding style.
It comes equipped with 29" tires for high off-road performance, but since it also supports 27.5+ tires, you can switch to a plus-size setup for riding in the snow, or adopt a mixed-wheel mullet setup for descending.
Furthermore, you can adjust the chainstay length using the sliding dropouts that are a signature feature of the Chameleon. Extending the dropouts increases stability, allowing those new to MTBs or those visiting trails or bike parks for the first time to ride with confidence and enjoy themselves!
My own bike is set up with a slightly longer rear end at 440mm, which provides a sense of security on fast descents.
Conversely, you can shorten the rear end for quicker responses, allowing you to ride aggressively on banked turns or technical courses!
You could even set it up as a single-speed to give it cruiser-like responsiveness for city riding where there is a lot of stop-and-go—something that usually doesn't play to an MTB's strengths.
You can also attach a direct-mount front derailleur.
With a close-ratio gear setup, you can even convert it for bike camping.
Actually, mountain bikes and camping go really well together. Especially for light trips like day camping.
The name says it all. Just as a chameleon changes its color to match its background, this is a bike with deep capabilities that can adapt to the rider's style and situation.
Santa Cruz bikes are reliable because they perform all their own assembly
Above all, the reason I recommend this Chameleon is because "all assembly is done in-house" at SANTACRUZ.
If something breaks or acts up during a ride, your fun time can be ruined. While the frames are produced overseas, they assemble the wheels and complete bikes themselves. Moreover, they maintain high quality by starting with durable components, even for parts that might otherwise be targets for cost-cutting.
It might sound a bit dramatic, but I believe that being able to trust the bike you entrust your life to makes your time riding even more enjoyable.
The weather is getting warmer, making this the perfect season for mountain biking and outdoor activities. This bike will undoubtedly add a little excitement to your daily life.
If you decide to join in, I'd love to share the experience with you!
SANTACRUZ
Chameleon Aluminium Complete Bike
SIZE : S,M
COLOR :RASPBERRY Sorbet / Fog
Style : D-kit
Price : ¥325,490-(tax inc)
The SANTACRUZ Chameleon is eligible for the #MyFirstBike campaign perks!!
At Circles, we are currently holding our #MyFirstBike campaign for the new life season starting in March!
The Chameleon introduced here is included in the campaign, so you can take advantage of the purchase/contract perks.
The #MyFirstBike campaign is running both in-store and on the web shop! Whether you live nearby or far away, we look forward to hearing from you.