Time for a little chat
Hi everyone, Daisaku here!
I recently got the urge to try something new, so I’ve started drawing again, a hobby I was a bit into back in my student days.
You can start with just a piece of paper and a pencil, but recalling my memories from back then, I remembered it’s easier to express the texture of a motif if you have at least a range from 2H to 5B pencils, a kneaded eraser, and some tissues. I added some Staedtler pencils—which I chose back then simply because they were Made in Germany—to my cart, and picked up some kneaded erasers and drawing paper at the same time.
When you know a subject, you understand the quality, so there isn’t much hesitation when it comes to purchasing.
However, when it comes to something you aren't familiar with, you don’t really know what criteria to use or what suits you, so you end up researching or asking around, right? I think the process starts there, and perhaps only after you’ve actually used it can you understand your preferences and finally buy the thing you were aiming for.
I knew a place where you could learn about things.
I used to work at Culture Club, which closed last November, and that was the perfect place to learn exactly what a tool like a bicycle is and which one suits you.
By using the rental pit to work on things yourself, you could understand the structure of the objects, sometimes break them to know their limits, and easily test out used parts to see if they fit your body.
The SURLY brand was a perfect match for that environment.
Of course, we’ve carried SURLY at Circles since we first opened, but for the past few years, we intentionally put more focus on it at Culture Club.
Why SURLY?
Why is SURLY such a match? Because they aren’t “finished products,” but rather **“tools that you can keep using.”**
These aren’t bicycles focused solely on speed or lightness. They have the flexibility to change their form to suit a person's lifestyle or way of playing, from daily commuting to weekend rides, touring, and camping.
You might start with a simple city-riding spec, but before you know it, you’re changing tires, swapping handlebars, and heading out on long trips with gear loaded up. The reverse is also true—you might ride one for years, but as your life changes, you could convert it back to a single-speed for neighborhood trips.
That ability to keep staying with you, even as the way you ride changes, is a huge part of SURLY's appeal.
I went on a morning ride with some SURLY owners just the other day, and something that struck me was that **even with the same model, when different people ride it, it feels like a completely different bike.**
It’s just because the parts used and the way they are built differ, but a bike tailored down to the details for that person becomes a bike that is comfortable for them to ride, regardless of the model.
I’m planning to post details about each model every week throughout May, so please look forward to it!
We’re putting our focus back into it at Circles!
Now that Culture Club is gone, we’re going to be putting our energy back into SURLY here at Circles!
Unlike Culture Club, we don’t have a rental pit, but in return, we will use the knowledge and experience we’ve gained, along with the parts we carry, to propose the perfect bike for you—one that you can keep close to you for a long time.
I’ll share more details later, but we are also planning a special campaign.
Thinking about riding a bike? Want to start something new? If so, please come by our shop and talk to us.
We look forward to seeing you at the shop!
For those of you living far away, don't worry.
Of course, you can also consult with us at Circles Tokyo!
If you live in the Kanto area, feel free to send a DM to our Tokyo store's Instagram.