Independent Fabrication
| Handle | SimWorks by NITTO Little Nick CrMo Bar |
| Stem | SimWorks by NITTO Rhonda |
| Brake Lever | VELO ORANGE Grand Cru Brake Levers |
| Shift Lever | Micro Shift 10s Thumb Lever |
| Shift Lever Mount | PAUL COMPONENT 22.2mm Microshift Thumbies |
| Front Rack | SIMWORKS Obento Rack |
| Front Fork | Shin Hattori Fabrication |
| Wire | SimWorks by NISSEN |
The Request
- No carrying cargo on my back
- A higher, wider field of view
That was the entirety of the request.
The rest was left up to me.
This is what we call a dream job for a bike shop.
Originally a crisp, focused road racer, this bike had been sidelined from its role as a road tourer thanks to the owner’s new bike. But the owner, who truly loves cycling, breathed new life into this machine in a different form.
Custom 1 – Front rack for a no-backpack setup
"A man speaks with his back."
The request sounded almost as if to say that covering up that back with cargo is just a burden.
In daily use, you inevitably end up needing to carry things. While a backpack keeps your back warm in the cold winter, it’s nothing but a source of sweat in the hot summer. Carrying bags by hand or using unstable shoulder bags while riding is incredibly dangerous, so we equipped it with a SIMWORKS Obento Rack for lashing down cargo. Being freed from a backpack and gaining unrestricted body movement is an invaluable benefit, no matter the situation.
Custom 2 – Flat bars for a higher, wider field of view
"Since it's a bike I ride every day, not just on weekends, I want one that lets me look forward comfortably."
Following that conversation, we changed the riding position to one that keeps the upper body upright and makes it easier to get a wider view.
Drop bars → Flat bars
The tricky part about swapping handlebars is that it requires significant changes to the brakes and shifting components.
While some handlebars allow you to reuse drop bar levers, the backsweep angle ends up being too aggressive, which softens the steering feel. Because of this, we decided to go all-in and replace both the levers and shifters.
We also made sure to keep the aesthetic cohesive by sticking with silver components.
The person you see every day on your commute even if you don't really know them, the changing scenery as the seasons pass, the new shops that pop up.
An upright posture that lets you casually observe these mundane daily moments and changes is highly recommended for commuting.
That said, it is still a commute—don't lose that speedy mindset.
Regardless, the desire to keep using a bike you’ve grown fond of—that is the most wonderful thing about this project.
Our photo archive of bikes built at Circles is now live.
Use it to spark some inspiration for your own bike custom.
