Hello! I’m Eri, in charge of photography for the Circles web shop! The OMM LITE/BIKE is almost upon us again this year!
Have you read our blogs featuring recommended apparel, gear, and tools to carry? It’s well worth a read to see the top recommendations from the staff members who will be participating in OMM BIKE.
And the real highlight at the event is, without a doubt, BEDROCK SANDALS. They are incredibly popular every year, whether for folks replacing their long-loved pairs with new models or switching over from other brands. We’ll be bringing the EVO and EVO 3D Pro, which are perfect for outdoor activities, so please come by to get a fitting and experience the quality of Bedrocks for yourself.
Now, this time, we’ll be introducing a style archive of friends who competed last year wearing the two heavyweights of cycling at Circles: BEDROCK SANDALS and QUOC, presented in a Q&A format!
JINDAIJI MOUNTAIN WORKS / Mori-chan
Mori-chan from JINDAIJI MOUNTAIN WORKS, who is participating in OMM BIKE paired up with Ayumi-chan (who you’ll meet next), is a devoted user of the BEDROCK SANDALS Cairn 3D ProII. You were fast last year too! We’re looking forward to your ride this year!
Q: What kinds of activities do you use them for most?
A: "I use them for almost everything in my daily life, including cycling, before and after stream fishing, playing in the river, and commuting! Since I often ride bikes and spend time near water, I chose the Pro model, which has a relatively firmer sole and stronger grip."
Q: Please tell us what you like about these sandals.
A: "I love that I can wear them regardless of the activity, whether in the mountains or in the city.
They remain comfortable even when your feet get wet, and the secure lockdown of the straps provides high-level grip.
People tend to associate sandals only with summer, but they’re great for three seasons—spring, summer, and autumn—if you adjust with socks, which is another plus."
JINDAIJI MOUNTAIN WORKS / Ayumi-chan
Ayumi-chan, who always places near the top in the OMM BIKE women's category and works with Jackie at JINDAIJI MOUNTAIN WORKS, is a fan of the BEDROCK SANDALS Cairn ProⅡ.
Q: What kinds of activities do you use them for most?
A: "I often use them for summer cycling, moving around the campsite during mountaineering, and for relaxing after coming down from the mountain. As I write this review, I’ve just come back from Mt. Hiuchi in Oze (2,356m), and I've got my Bedrocks on my feet!"
Q: Please tell us what you like about these sandals.
A: "The Y-strap provides solid lockdown, so the fit is great. Plus, thanks to the firmer compound sole used in the Pro model, you don't really feel the roughness of the ground, so my feet don't get tired even after wearing them for a long time!"
OYOT CYCLERY / Yuya
Yuya, who graduated from Circles and opened OYOT CYCLERY & HAIR in Kochi with his wife, Tae-chan (a hairstylist), participated wearing BEDROCK SANDALS Cairn ProⅡ.
Q: What kinds of activities do you use them for most?
A: "They’re great for cycling, of course, but also for packrafting—a popular activity in nature-rich Kochi—and casual hiking.
Recently, I’ve been using them for stream fishing, too, and I have total peace of mind knowing they grip well even on slippery surfaces."
Q: Please tell us what you like about these sandals.
A: "They don't have that 'floppy' feeling like ordinary sandals; they fit securely, which is a major appeal.
Furthermore, because the sole is on the stiffer side, it doesn't get mushy when you put your weight on it, so you always have a flat, neutral feel.
I think they’re the absolute best choice for activities like bike rafting that are a complete crossover between water and land—you don't need to change your shoes at all.
If you wear wool socks like Tabby Socks, your feet won't get too cold in the water, and when stream fishing, the socks cushion your toes if they bump against rocks, so I felt safe walking in the water."
Liquor Store owner & Illustrator / Nacchan
Nacchan, who moved from Matsumoto to Kita-senju, manages her family's liquor store, and is always up to something interesting and energetic, is also a fan of the BEDROCK SANDALS Cairn ProII.
Q: What kinds of activities do you use them for most?
A: "I use them for scenes where I want to move actively without worrying about getting wet, like cycling, river play, and outdoor saunas, or as a change of shoes while traveling. Recently, they’ve become essential footwear for when I compete in OMM BIKE."
Q: Please tell us what you like about these sandals.
A: "I love that they stay securely with me even during vigorous movement, and that my feet don’t get tired even after walking around for a long time. I also love that they are lightweight and compact. I used to be afraid of getting injured, so I didn't own sandals, but since buying Bedrocks, I've been hooked on the appeal of sandals. They feel super secure when paired with tabi-style socks!"
WELLDONE / Inocchi
Inocchi, the creator of the Chips Bag (a huge favorite here at Circles), is a fan of the simplest model, the BEDROCK SANDALS Cairn.
Q: What kinds of activities do you use them for most?
A: "They are great for daily summer use, but also for outdoor events and cycling. The casualness of being able to jump right into a river in the middle of a ride without worrying about getting wet, and then getting right back on the pedals, is a huge appeal.
In the summer, I pretty much exclusively wear Bedrocks for riding around the city on sunny days and even on rainy days."
Q: Please tell us what you like about these sandals.
A: "They fit my feet more securely than sneakers, and the fact that you can slip them on and off easily with just one strap is a big plus.
They don’t feel tight, yet they offer firm hold, and as of now, I feel like Bedrock sandals are the best.
For me, the sole—not too thick, not too thin—and the simplicity with minimized gimmicks are just right."
The Cairn EVO Pro and Cairn ProⅡ, with their flat beds and excellent Vibram® Megagrip outsoles, are popular among those of you who take outdoor play seriously. Everyone here has been using their Cairn models hard for years, and they all told me with a smile, 'They haven't broken, and I'm wearing them again this year!' The EVO models have been updated to be slightly wider to better fit the Japanese foot, so please be sure to try them on at the event.
Next, let’s have some OMM BIKE participants who want to focus on riding stronger and with higher performance review their choice of clipless shoes: QUOC!
POC / Kyon-chan
Kyon-chan, who graduated from Circles and now works as a Japan distributor for POC, has been a long-time fan of the QUOC Gran Tourer.
Q: When do you choose these shoes for a ride?
A: "I always wear them when I’m doing a high-intensity ride over 20km! Just the other day, I rode about 65km, including gravel, on a ride hosted by Circles Tokyo, so I definitely use clipless pedals for rides like that."
Q: Tell us why you chose these shoes and what you like about them.
A: "Among the many clipless pedal shoes that have a racy design, I like that QUOC fits both jerseys and casual clothes. I also love the ritual of tightening up the laces before a ride; it gets me fired up. They’re also comfortable to walk in even when off the bike, which makes them perfect for rides like OMM BIKE where you have to hike-a-bike or get on and off frequently."
Yu-kun
Yu-kun, who always shows up to our ride events and pop-ups to help out—practically a semi-staff member by now—uses the QUOC Gran Tourer XC for OMM BIKE.
Q: When do you choose these shoes for a ride?
A: "I often use the lace-up QUOC Gran Tourer for mid-to-long distance MTB or gravel rides where I’ll be doing some walking. When I head out on the bike for nearly half a day, I’m never just spending it all on the bike; there are plenty of times I walk, like on MTB trails, strolling through shopping districts, or stopping at shops I’m curious about... but I still want the stability of clipless pedals! That’s when the strengths of the QUOC Gran Tourer really shine.
When I want to focus more on riding, like in OMM BIKE, I choose the QUOC Gran Tourer XC because the sole has better stiffness and power transfer is more direct. The dual dials are also a big plus, as they allow me to adjust two areas—keeping the toe box from getting too tight while maintaining a firm hold around the ankle. And switching into Bedrocks to head into the river? Simply the best!"
Q: Tell us why you chose these shoes and what you like about them.
A: "I really love how easily they break into my feet and the excellent grip of the outsole. They felt perfect from the moment I put them on, and I have no stress even when walking or moving around for long periods.
Also, because the sole is sturdy, I feel secure when riding, and they stand up to tough use. Another major point is that they don’t waste power when pedaling, so I don't get tired as easily!"
EIRIN Marutamachi Branch / Nanbu-san
Nanbu-san, the manager of CWD dealer EIRIN Marutamachi, seems to use both Bedrocks and QUOC masterfully depending on the ride. He’s all fired up and ready to race this year’s OMM BIKE wearing his QUOC Gran TourerⅡ!
Q: When do you choose these shoes for a ride?
A: "I often use flat pedals, but Kyoto is surrounded by mountains, so there are many mountain passes, and for rides over several dozen kilometers, I definitely choose clipless pedals. When I want to ride both steep passes and deep mountain trails powerfully and comfortably, QUOC is the only choice."
Q: Tell us why you chose these shoes and what you like about them.
A: "I’m a repeat user, having upgraded to these from the QUOC Gran Tourer, and I’m a huge fan of the GravelGrip™ sole.
With just the right amount of stiffness and high grip, it’s very comfortable and well-balanced for routes that connect rides to pass hunting.
Of course, I also love the design—it’s simple, but it still has real personality."
Thank you so much to everyone who helped us with these reviews!
I’m looking forward to meeting all the cyclists who love BEDROCK SANDALS & QUOC on-site again this year!
