If I had to point to the first bike that led to my current obsession with cycling, it would be the original Colnago "Impact" hybrid bike. I started working as a bike messenger without owning a bike, using a rental. After the first week, I realized, "I can't make any money with these beat-up rental MTBs," so I borrowed money from my parents to buy my own.
Since I didn't know anything about bikes, I did some research online (back in the Web 1.0 era) and discovered that "De Rosa," "Cinelli," and "Colnago" seemed to be the cool ones to have.
That said, there was almost nothing I could afford on a 100,000 yen budget, and the only thing within reach was the Colnago hybrid, which cost about 150,000 yen. I saw an introductory post on the Y's Road Shinjuku blog and went straight there. I remember the shop staff telling me, "This was planned by Colnago Japan and produced in Taiwan." After I picked up a bit more half-baked knowledge later on, I would belittle it by saying, "It says Colnago, but it's basically a Giant"... How awful of me.
Even so, it was still a proper Colnago with a straight fork. It was slow, but it was sturdy and stable; it stopped reliably with V-brakes, it was light thanks to the aluminum frame, and I could put wider tires on it—anyway, it was a great bike. I loved it so much that I ended up spending even more than its purchase price customizing it.
It served as my work bike for messenger duties, but I used this same bike for everything: daily commuting, participating in Monokusa Racing events, my first cyclocross race, the Rapha Gentleman's Race, and my first bikepacking trip.
Looking back now, I’m glad I bought that Colnago I truly loved, even if it went over budget (even if my personal finances took a major hit). I realized that a brand name is proof of quality, but it was also the starting point for me losing interest in brands as the primary standard. In other words, because there is no brand better than Colnago, my next interest shifted toward how it's used, how it's obtained, and how it's made. The act of trying to understand what lies behind a brand became my standard for choosing things, not just for my interest in bikes, but for everything I buy.
If Circles had existed when I bought my first bike, what would they have recommended? Perhaps I could have built my own personal standards for choosing things much sooner, and that is the kind of shop I want Circles to be—a place where we can grow alongside such customers.
How will you use it? What kind of things do you like? What kind of people do you like? Those standards are what factor into choosing a bicycle. Budget is also important. The term "cost-performance" is popular these days, but perhaps it’s not about the price relative to performance, but rather the standard of what kind of experience you get out of it that truly matters.
KONA / Dew
If I were a college student with no money, I would still try to build my absolute favorite. For example, the KONA DEW is 86,900 yen. There are ways to make it your own, like this.
On the other hand, if you are working and have a steady income, it wouldn't be a bad idea to consider a custom order from SEVEN from the get-go. It will be a long story, and there will surely be a lot to learn along the way. (That’s how I’d want to buy a surfboard if I were to get one.)
In an age where you can buy anything online with a click, encountering the bike that will become your lifelong companion requires steady communication—even if it’s a bit of a hassle (and not something I’m particularly good at either). I’m always happy to talk about the bikes you need, and exchanging emails back and forth to gradually solidify your vision is totally fine! At Circles, we’ll take it on with everything we’ve got.