Encounters always happen suddenly. It happened while we were on the road from Otaru to Sapporo after successfully hosting GIRLS RIDEALIVE in Hokkaido. Nami-san from Sam’s Bike, who helped us run RIDEALIVE, received a call from a man.
Man: "I’m in front of Sam’s right now."
Nami: "I'll be back soon, so just stay there."
Man: "I'll wait."
Nami: "Oh, by the way, Shinya Tanaka, the boss of Circles, should be arriving at Sam’s soon too, so feel free to talk to him first."
Man: "Understood."
When we returned to Sam’s after thoroughly enjoying RIDEALIVE, we found the Circles boss and this man already hitting it off. Yes, this man is Masanori Nishikawa.
Masanori Nishikawa
He has traveled the world by bicycle, continuing to experience it through his own eyes, ears, and body. He is a man with an unparalleled power to believe in others, even after being held at gunpoint in Mexico and losing all his possessions in Colombia—nicknamed: Ma-kun / Masayan.
After returning to Japan, he rode his bike across the country while offering free coffee (the very place we met was in Hokkaido, his starting point). Believing that he could create value for others even without the exchange of money, he combined coffee and cycling to continue his Free Coffee project both in and outside of Japan. His ability to give generously to others in order to keep things going is truly incredible.
Driven by a desire to nurture the kind of heart that appreciates value—something he discovered during his various travels—in children, he launched the Mountain Bike Journey in the summer of 2018.
Following that meeting, which felt like destiny, we asked ourselves, "What can we do as people who make cycling our profession?" to support him as he tries to pass on various lessons to children through bikes.
1: Let the people around us know about what Ma-kun is doing
We had him appear on our YouTube show, "Terebi de Gomen" (Sorry for the TV show), in a conversation with our boss,
and hosted a talk event about his free coffee at Circles, as well as having him model our original products. People naturally gather around him, sparking conversations and connecting with one another. Once you talk to him, you’re drawn to his open and straightforward nature, regardless of whether you're an adult or a child.
2: Support for the start and finish of the Mountain Bike Journey Tokai
On the day the ride starts, the children are handed their bikes and bikepacking bags. Since saddles that are too high or low can cause knee pain, and poorly balanced gear can shift and cause danger while riding, our mechanics team stepped in to help confirm proper packing techniques and saddle adjustments with the kids.
Also, this year, the start and finish were set in Nagoya, and Circles was chosen as the finish point. I will never forget the faces of the children who returned looking like different people, the relieved expressions of their families, and the proud, beaming smiles of Ma-kun and Hono-chan, who had completed their journey.
The post-ride report meeting was held at Early Birds, where they toasted with plenty of soda! We also prepared tons of fried chicken—one of the types of support only Circles could provide.
3: Product support
We provide things like water bottles—absolutely essential for bicycle travel—as well as the bags and small items that Ma-kun and Hono-chan use on their journeys. Of course, the products we manufacture at Circles and SimWorks go through constant field testing and feedback, but it’s difficult to replicate the duration and intensity of the use they put these items through. In exchange for money, they provide us with invaluable feedback based on their real-world experience, creating a value that transcends monetary exchange through a single object. This is exactly how the things Ma-kun has been experimenting with are taking shape.
They plan to use the following three items on their journey this time. We are already looking forward to their feedback!
SIMWORKS Cohiba Roll-Ups
A stuff sack that debuted from SimWorks last year. It uses EcoPak fabric, made from 100% recycled polyester, and offers a balance of lightness and strength. Ma-kun was drawn to the fact that it is lightweight but still durable rather than flimsy.
KING CAGE Manything Cage
A titanium cage for carrying things like the SimWorks Cohiba Roll-Ups or cylindrical items like Nalgene bottles. For the type of touring they do, being lightweight is a virtue, but durability is just as important. They absolutely cannot afford to have gear that is fragile or prone to breaking. In that regard, the equipment we carry that they chose is more than up to the task.
TANASCO Bottle 2023
That said, even in serious situations, humor is essential. We’ll be accompanying them to ensure their spring journey is a spicy and stimulating one!
It has been six years since we met Ma-kun in Hokkaido, and both of us have gained new family members and friends.
Circles will always support the young people who hop on their bikes to journey out and observe themselves and the world, right alongside him—a man who continues to act as if he is smoothing out the rough seas of the world!