The Hog’s Back by BASSI BIKES has become a staple here at Circles.
The Hog’s Back was designed based on the long-accumulated experience of BASSI founders and C&L co-owners, Jean-Michel Cauvin and Jean-Daniel Lafleur.
In a previous blog post, I shared that the charm of BASSI lies in its ability to "fuse the old and the new." This time, I’ve taken a look at the frame geometry to think about what kind of bike the Hog’s Back really is.
Characteristic features of the frame include a long top tube for a gravel road bike, a steep head tube for a mountain bike, and slightly longer chainstays.
It is a unique frame with one-of-a-kind geometry that is hard to find elsewhere.
(The frame of the BRIDGESTONE USA MB series from the 80s to 90s had quite similar geometry.)
Comparing it to various bikes, it turns out that the Hog’s Back’s geometry is a hybrid between a touring bike and a 90s rigid mountain bike.
The top tube length and tire clearance are those of a 90s rigid mountain bike, while the chainstay, seat angle, and BB height are based on touring bike geometry, and so on.
Digging into why this geometry was chosen:
BASSI co-owners Jean-Michel Cauvin and Jean-Daniel Lafleur loved the function and design of touring bikes, but they felt there were aspects they wanted to upgrade for the terrain they were riding.
They wanted more stopping power, an upright bar for a more natural posture, and clearance for fatter tires, for example.
So, they incorporated the ride quality and functionality of the 90s rigid mountain bikes they were riding at the time into their touring bikes.
The Hog’s Back was completed as the ideal geometry for both of them, respecting the respective merits of touring bikes and 90s rigid mountain bikes while compensating for the areas they wanted to upgrade.
Commuting on a tourer, touring on a commuter bike, and riding singletrack on both. It embodies the style the duo wants to ride, centered on the principle of versatility.
That vision is what created the incredibly deep-rooted Hog’s Back frame.
We recently received an order for the popular new color from the BASSI Hog’s Back lineup: Sparkle Beige. I’d like to introduce it to you.
The owner works in the fashion industry.
After struggling for years to find a bike that wouldn't make them look like everyone else, and having passed on previous opportunities due to poor timing, they fell in love with the new Hog’s Back color at first sight in the store and decided to place the order.
The main purpose for riding is as a daily commuter, but because their friends ride actively, they needed a parts configuration that would allow them to keep up. Additionally, their needs were for a bike that is robust enough to last for a long time, and one that is stylish and cute.
Based on those needs, we proposed the following parts.
Peace of mind for the parts that directly affect the ride
Starting with the wheels, we chose SIMWORKS Standalone 001 rims.
They are guaranteed to be robust, even after being ridden hard by our famous staff member Taisei, who weighs over 100kg.
You can feel secure riding long-term, packing a lot of gear for bike packing, or heading out on adventure rides.
Hearing about the owner’s lifestyle, they ride very frequently, so we chose rims that offer peace of mind. In Tokyo, it's often easier to get around by bike than by train, after all.
The tires are SIMWORKS The Homage 26.
They offer good rolling efficiency on paved city streets, while also securing grip off-road.
This design also fits a commuter bike perfectly! The side tan, which matches the frame color, makes for a cohesive look.
The comfortable air volume and smoother rolling than they appear are also perfect for town use.
Relax ＆ Aggressive
The handlebars are the SIMWORKS Cowcow Bar.
These high-riser bars work well both on and off-road, though this time the focus was primarily on off-road utility. For city riding, the priority is being able to ride comfortably while sitting upright, without stress, enjoying the city scenery while keeping the line of sight high.
Since the bike is based on city use, we chose the MICROSHIFT Advent components so as not to be over-spec, while still being reliable and safe to use.
There are many steep hills in the city, so this wide-range specification is a sure bet.
It’s a parts configuration that will reliably rise to the occasion even if you're suddenly invited by friends to go for an active ride!
Loaded with essential points for a commuter bike!
The Hog’s Back has some points that are great for using it as a commuter bike.
One of them is that a kickstand plate comes as standard equipment.
It's a nice feature because there are many frames that you want to attach a kickstand to, but can't.
We installed a double-leg center stand that supports the bike in the middle with two legs. It provides excellent stability even when cargo is loaded on the rack.
Another indispensable thing for a commuter bike is, that’s right: a rack.
Thanks to the eyelets on the fork, you can mount a rack in a well-balanced way.
We chose the SIMWORKS Obento Rack, which we’ve had the most orders for lately.
It is the perfect size for carrying small items, whether you tie things directly onto it or not, and it’s a big help in town use.
The owner has a great sense of color coordination!
We were discussing the overall color scheme of the parts. While it seems many of the commuter bikes I’ve built in the past were unified with silver parts, the owner chose black parts.
By incorporating black into the natural color scheme of the frame, it doesn’t become too sweet, and the contrast of the entire bike is excellent.
The inclusion of black makes the frame color and the accent colors of the parts stand out.
The classic SIMWORKS Tiny Bubbly Pedal in Bronze and the SIMWORKS Stainless Outer Cable in Turmeric color also provide a nice presence, resulting in a very cute finish.
Even with the same frame, the owner’s own color comes through once it’s built up.
I am always very happy and entertained to have new realizations each time.
I hope the owner has a wonderful time comfortably cruising through the city center on this bike.
