Hello, this is Rintaro.
The late summer heat is still hanging on here in the Tokai region, but it looks like things will finally cool down starting next week. I have some great news for those of you excitedly waiting for the perfect riding season to arrive!
We have a restock from OUTER SHELL, the San Francisco, California-based cycling bag manufacturer!
Their founder, Kyle Ng, creates environmentally conscious, long-lasting cycling gear with keen insight and sharp ideas. Standing firmly against disposable culture, he makes it his motto to minimize the use of zippers—the part of a bag most prone to breaking—and keep seams to a minimum, aiming to create products that build a positive relationship with "nature."
Drawcord Handlebar Bag
¥15,400–16,500 (tax incl.)
Our absolute classic item, the Drawcord Handlebar Bag, which is always in high demand, has been out of stock in various colors—but it’s finally back!
The best thing about this bag is the simple lid opening system that doesn't use any zippers. You can easily access the main compartment with one hand using the hook-equipped drawcord. Perfect for snacks, a jacket, or a camera for your ride... it’s truly convenient. I always keep gummy candies in mine to snack on whenever I get a little hungry.
Stem Caddy
¥9,900 (tax incl.)
The Stem Caddy is a compact pouch designed to securely hold a 1L or 1-pint bottle. With its 360-degree strap system, it can be attached to either side of almost any bicycle handlebar, and the three outer pockets fit most smartphones. The drawcord system also allows for easy one-handed opening and closing. It's a great item for stashing a jacket, a camera, or even some snacks.
Furthermore, Taku Kobayashi's recommended item, the Hip Slinger, has also been restocked in a big way.
Your back still gets sweaty when you wear a backpack while cycling, right? That’s when the Hip Slinger comes in handy!
Hip Slinger
¥14,850–¥16,500 (tax incl.)
From intense touring to city riding, Outer Shell gear is perfect for every situation. We’ve restocked plenty of other items too, so be sure to check them out. You might even be able to collect them all in every color!
And now for a sudden change of subject...
Does everyone here know the music genre called metal? Many of you probably imagine long-haired men in corpse paint screaming their lungs out. Those bands belong to a subgenre called "Black Metal," which is actually quite niche even within metal. Just because they have white face paint doesn't make them metal—the American band Kiss, for example, is a "hard rock band." This will be on the test later.
Looks aside, the musicianship of metal and hard rock are completely different. Metal is complex, and especially in faster songs, the sound pressure and note count are immense. In other words, the instrumentalists are incredibly skilled. You have to wonder how much they practiced.
This is the drum set of the great Mike Mangini, drummer for Dream Theater, a pioneering band in American "progressive metal." I feel that metal musicians have reached a profound level of depth in their world.
And Kyle from Outer Shell has reached a similarly deep level in the world of cycling. Definitely check out his Instagram as well. The usability of the many pieces of gear he has created is guaranteed to be top-notch. The more you use them, the more you’ll appreciate how carefully considered his products truly are.
By the way, the more you listen to metal, the more you feel like raising your fist high toward the heavens.
It makes you want to embark on a journey to protect the king, defend the valley where the dragons fly, and search for the Emerald Sword that can defeat the evil dark sorcerer (if you’re curious, please listen to the song "Emerald Sword" by the Italian symphonic metal band Rhapsody while reading the lyrics).
Be sure to take Outer Shell with you on your own bicycle journey to find the Emerald Sword.
