It's been feeling warmer these past few days, but I can't tell if my body has just gotten used to it or if I've just become desensitized to the cold. Makoto here.
On such a warm afternoon, I stepped away from the workshop for a bit and went out to a place like this.
Sitting through a lecture in such warm, pleasant weather was unexpected.
My first battle was against sleepiness.
…Or so I thought, but I actually had a very productive and enjoyable time listening to various talks about the new endurance road bikes and the Panasonic Order System (POS).
So, I thought I’d introduce a few items that caught my interest at the venue.
First up, the new endurance road bike I mentioned earlier.
The new frame released by Panasonic is a disc-road bike, which is currently the talk of the town.
Its main arena isn't racing, but rather it's designed for "Grand Fondos" or long weekend rides approaching 200km.
Compared to traditional road bikes, they've lowered the bottom bracket for a lower center of gravity, and by using thicker 28c tires, they've increased stability.
This kind of stability and air volume should allow it to handle rough road surfaces, like the Rapha Gentlemen’s Race or cobblestones, with ease.
And then there are the bikes Panasonic continues to build:
The Randonneur and the Demountable.
Top: OJC 1¥97.650-（Frame Set）
Bottom: OJD 1¥110.250-（Frame Set）
These two bikes, themed around the word "travel," really hit home for me right now.
It fuels my fantasies of someday riding bikes like these to travel through Alaska or Patagonia.
Beyond these, their classic chromoly road bikes, titanium road bikes, and of course their must-see CX bikes are all packed with appeal.
Depending on the model, you can choose between buying just the frame or the complete bike.
And above all, since Panasonic is fundamentally a custom-order brand, you can naturally choose your own colors.
You can choose from 32 solid colors, or take advantage of an even wider range of options by selecting from fixed design patterns. This year, they've added new design patterns to the mix.
Both of these are excellent, slightly classic designs that make great use of gradients.
You can get either of these for an upcharge of ¥18.900-.
Though, my personal favorite Panasonic color scheme is this one.
I feel like this racing design is the quintessential Panasonic look, and it's a steal at only a ¥3.150- upcharge, especially considering how elaborate the design is.
Pretty cool, right?
And then, sitting all by itself in the corner of the venue, was this.
Yes, it's Toyooka-senshu's special bike.
Made of titanium, this special bike features ingenious details like an integrated seat tube, showcasing the high level of Panasonic's technical prowess. And it’s incredibly light.
What do you think?
For those of you who have read this far and are now dying to get your hands on a Panasonic, here is one final nudge.
A story about the birth of POS written by Fujiko F. Fujio-sensei.
It’s the best!
I actually teared up reading this, and it made me love Panasonic even more.
You can read it right now at EARLY BIRDS, so please come by and check it out.
Well, to those of you who have been captivated by Panasonic, Circles is ready and waiting to assist you from consultation to purchase, complete with our specialized fitting machine. We look forward to seeing you.