A customer who came all the way from Kanagawa to visit our shop.
Although it was a bit over the initial budget, the customer was looking for a bike they could use for years to come—for commuting to school, going to the library, heading to bouldering sessions, and more. After discussing it with their parents, they decided on the Salsa Vaya.
We also installed a hub dynamo so they can commute to school with peace of mind. For now, it’s set up with the essentials, but they boldly declared they’d like to add a rack and panniers in the future. Good luck saving up your allowance!
The bike was delivered over the weekend, and they did a great job mastering not only how to ride it, but also how to remove and attach the wheels and how to pack it for train travel (rinko).
I was relieved to hear they made it home safely. The reason for my worry? This child just started middle school this spring, and they came all the way from Kanagawa alone, and traveled back home on their own by train with the bike!
I suppose you could call it their "first bike delivery" instead of "first errand."
I'm sure their parents had their say, but I could feel a strong determination in the child to learn how to manage things on their own. Imagining them getting used to the bike little by little and riding to all sorts of places makes me happy, too. Every day is an adventure now. Please just be very careful about accidents and theft, and enjoy your new cycling life!
We’re all looking forward to the day you come back to visit us on your bike.
Sincerely,