BIKE FRIDAY “REAL” Archives Vol.3 / A Trunk with Wings to Fly Freely

Choosing a model, and the "little trip" recipes we'd like to suggest

So far, I've talked about its history and its scars.

"Okay, I get what BIKE FRIDAY is all about. But in the end, which one should I choose?"

I imagine that's about what you're thinking by now. So this time, I'll talk about choosing a specific model and the "ways to play" we at Circles would like to suggest.

Before that, if you ever get the chance to see one in person, take a look at the badge on a BIKE FRIDAY's head tube (the part of the frame just below the handlebar). What do you see on it?

That's right: "a trunk (suitcase) with wings."

That's exactly what this bike is.
I've gone on at length about how BIKE FRIDAY isn't just a means of getting around, but try thinking of it as a magic trunk that actually carries you out of your everyday life.

And this trunk is by no means "only for a select few tough cyclists."

If anything,

people riding a sports bike for the first time
people who aren't all that confident in their fitness

are exactly the ones I'm convinced should get their hands on this fun tool.

Lightness is proportional to freedom

"I just want to go far, and easily."
If that's your wish, the first ones I'd recommend are the "Pocket Rocket" and the even lighter "pakiT."

To put it another way, both have the lightness of a "carry-on-size trunk."
Being light means far less stress when you shoulder it in a bike bag, so whether you're on station stairs or loading it into a car, you won't need that "heave-ho" effort.

And that lightness turns directly into more freedom to act: "Okay, let's go over there today."

It rides like a road bike, yet folds up quickly so you can hop on a train.
Once you've experienced that feeling, you won't want to give it up.
These days, I always take my Pocket Rocket with me when I travel.

To satisfy your adventurous spirit, or to take Japan's classic route

Over forest roads to a campsite, or onto singletrack with a tenkara rod strapped on. For ways of playing that suit the "smell of dirt," the tough-as-nails "Diamond Llama" could make a superb companion.

But if, picturing Japan's roads, you see yourself riding pavement, heading down country lanes, and wanting to put travel at the center of your life...

then the king of balance, the "New World Tourist (NWT)," may be the best answer after all.

This model is both the origin and the pinnacle of BIKE FRIDAY.
It has the reassurance of a large trunk that properly wraps up whatever luggage you bring.

Japan's hilly terrain,
gravel roads that suddenly appear,
long stretches of pavement.
It takes all of it in stride with a "just right" center of gravity and design.

When in doubt, go with this one.
The NWT has the all-embracing capacity to let me say that with confidence.

If rough roads make up a big part of your riding, the "Diamond Llama"

If you want a well-thought-out balance, the "New World Tourist (NWT)"
I think that's the simplest way to look at it.

The magic that turns "scary" into "fun"

In the shop, I sometimes hear things like this:

"Sports bikes have big wheels and I can't touch the ground, so they scare me."
"With off-the-shelf bikes the handlebar feels far away and my neck and arms start to hurt."

Those are exactly the people I'd like to open up the BIKE FRIDAY trunk.

Small (20-inch) wheels mean a low center of gravity and being close to the ground, which translates directly into a huge sense of security.
Just losing that fear of wobbling while waiting at traffic lights makes cycling instantly more fun.

And above all, it's "custom order."
Whether you're 140cm or 200cm tall, it fits your body like a tailored suit.
You don't have to adapt to the bike.
Because a bike made to fit your body
becomes "part of you" the moment you swing a leg over it.

Feeling safe is the foundation of fun.
And from the moment the fun takes root, freedom slowly begins.

The barrier to travel is surprisingly low

The trunk on the head badge has wings, but there's no need to fly off into the big wide world right away.
What we'd like to suggest first is a "little trip" that sits much closer to your everyday life.

Say, on a weekend morning.
Fold up your BIKE FRIDAY, toss it in the trunk of your car (it fits easily even in a kei car), and drive somewhere with a nice view.
Then take the bike out and ride 10km or so to a great bakery or coffee shop.

Or ride to the next prefecture with a tailwind and downhills on your side, enjoy a drink at a ryokan with just a credit card in hand, and come home the next morning by train with your bike bagged. I think that's a wonderfully rich, grown-up way to play.

Try mixing these "little trips" into your life, bit by bit.
That alone turns your usual days off into small adventures.

Easy to put in a car.
Easy to take on a train.

With that overwhelming "accessibility," anyone can become a free traveler, starting anytime.

Won't you tell us about your dreams?
And once you're excited, let us take your measurements.
I believe that's where your very own trip truly begins.
I hope that, together with a BIKE FRIDAY, your life will be lifted into something even richer.

Well then, take care, everyone. See you next week.