Hello, I’m Eri from the Circles Web Shop photography team!
It’s suddenly cooled down—the perfect season for riding. Our staff members seem to be enjoying an "autumn of sports" by heading out for rides almost every week, while the food and beverage team is busy enjoying an "autumn of appetite" using seasonal ingredients.
Today, I’d like to introduce some "books" we carry at Circles that are perfect for accompanying an "autumn of reading" on long, quiet nights.
Books share someone else's experiences, thoughts, and ideas, and I believe that reading is the act of taking the time to slowly absorb them. It’s an act that can deeply influence your life in ways that instant experiences cannot.
Also, in terms of being able to choose your own pace to stop, reflect, and savor things, perhaps it shares something in common with the act of "riding a bicycle."
I hope that the books I’m about to introduce (and others as well) will help you learn things you didn't know, deepen your existing knowledge, or discover that there are many different ways of thinking and seeing the world.
This time, I've collected categories that are relatively easy to read and pick up, such as photo books and ZINEs!
Seoul to Busan Zine
A special ZINE by our friend, the talented designer behind the "Desert Animal Collection," Molly Sugar.
Through her journey cycling from Seoul to Busan, she weaves a personal story exploring memory, belonging, and identity.
Molly, who has roots in Korea, was raised as an adoptee in the United States. In this ZINE, she shares a part of her journey—navigating her memories, sense of belonging, and identity at her own pace.
It contains a message she wants to share with fellow adoptees, as well as her way of life as a cyclist.
Contents:
Route introduction from Seoul to Busan
Map links and the history of the route
Practical travel tips such as camping & motel information are also included.
It’s all in English, but the language is easy to read, so it’s great for studying too!
We also have these "purr-fectly" cute bottles in stock, designed by Molly—do they look familiar to you…?
The "Purrcari" bottle plays on the word "purr" (the sound a cat makes) and "perfect." It also carries Molly’s wish for safety, hoping that like a cat, the user will "stay tenacious and lucky" while riding.
SIM BOOKS SIMWORKS Zine Vol.1 zine
The first full-scale printed zine attempt by SimWorks.
Volume 01 introduces the SimWorks brand, contemplates the memories etched into our bodies for smooth cycling, and features a beautiful photo essay by Masashi Kimura titled "Kyoto/Lake Biwa Area Tour." Created by members who love photography and writing, this ZINE allows you to feel the vivid and deep world that expands through cycling.
Enjoy the beautiful experience of reading a blog you once viewed through a screen, now with the physical texture of a book.
CIRCLES BOOKS Derailleurs of the World by STUDIO CAMBIO
Our meeting with CAMBIO Kobo happened suddenly during an event last autumn. Attracted by the quiet gravitational pull of the author selling books under a pop-up tent, we decided to order them right then and there.
The "Derailleur Data Book" series by the author has received enthusiastic support from cyclists and collectors around the world, and its volume of information and reference value are unparalleled.
The Derailleur Data Book is a collection of materials specialized in bicycle derailleurs, packed with the results of the author’s many years of research and collecting. They are published by manufacturer—Campagnolo, Simplex, Suntour, Huret, Shimano, etc.—and include not only specifications, manufacturing years, and model features, but also a wealth of precious photos and plates.
This treasury of knowledge, woven together with time and passion, is proof that geeks make the world a more interesting and profound place.
CIRCLES BOOKS Handcrafted Bicycles Builders, Frame Design, and Inspiration
A full-color book packed with the handiwork of masters in the handmade bicycle world. As I flipped through the pages, I immediately saw our friend Jeremy Sycip, Oregon frame builder Joseph Ahearne, and the Bend carbon fiber master Argonaut!
I was drawn in further and further, and with every turn of the page, 22 of the greatest names in the handmade bicycle world from across the globe appeared.
The authors illustrate the style of each builder and the harmony between rider, builder, parts, ride quality, and aesthetics.
If kept on your bookshelf, this is a volume that conveys your "love of bicycles" to guests without having to invite them into your garage.
Reading is the ultimate catalyst for gazing into a world beyond yourself. In these times overflowing with instant things, I hope you maintain your own pace and spend some rich time reading!
