Hello, this is Shibuya, happy to be feeling the arrival of autumn.
I’m getting into the autumn spirit by listening to fall-themed music.
This might be sudden, but what brand of grips do you usually use?
My recent favorite is the “YOSHIDA MOLDING Champ Grip.”
YOSHIDA MOLDING Champ Grip
Yoshida Molding, the company behind the Champ Grip, is primarily a plastic resin manufacturer that produces items like traffic cones and plastic bottle caps.
So, why are they manufacturing and selling bicycle grips?
It stems from the background of their representative, Mr. Yoshida, who is a former Keirin cyclist.
They offer a lineup of thicknesses from 1mm to 4mm to match the grip styles and preferences of Keirin racers. The color variations are also so extensive that you won't be able to choose just one.
Furthermore, the grips are made from a resin called “elastomer,” which has better durability than rubber.
The idea came about when they were using elastomer for another product and thought, “Why not try making grips out of this resin?” These grips were born from a shift in perspective.
If you actually touch them, you’ll see—they have a subtly smooth, pleasant texture.
Because they are so thin, they are easy to cut to your desired length; I’ve cut about 2cm off mine to use them.
The fact that these grips were born from Keirin experience alone is full of romance, and there’s something deeply persuasive about manufacturing based on experience rather than armchair theories.
YOSHIDA MOLDING Champ Grip
TypeS (1mm), TypeAS (1.5mm), TypeA (2mm), TypeB (3mm), TypeC (4mm)
Price: 1,100 JPY – 1,760 JPY (tax included)
MADE IN Saitama Grips
Why did I choose Champ Grip?
Part of it is my love for track bike culture, but a bigger reason is that the company is from my home prefecture (Saitama). There’s something about your hometown that just puts your mind at ease, isn’t there?
I think when we move to Tokyo or transfer for work, we do so with some kind of “purpose” for living there. But your hometown is where you “were from the beginning,” so there’s an atmosphere that says you’re allowed to be there even without a specific purpose. That’s probably why a hometown feels so comforting.
Have you ever had the experience of feeling relieved when meeting someone from the same place in a foreign land? I felt that same sensation with Champ Grip, which is also from my home region.
There might be a company in your hometown making bicycle parts too. I think if you install even just one part from a local company, you can find a sense of “hometown comfort.”
Until next time.
