【BIKE of the WEEK】SEVEN CYCLES Expat S

In this long-awaited 【BIKE of the WEEK】, we are featuring a custom build from Seven Cycles, the masters of the titanium custom frame-building world.

This build was ordered by Kaori, wife of Lucas, who you likely know from PAPERSKY.

Since she wanted a bike capable of rackless touring and dirt riding, we based the build on their Expat S, which falls into the touring category. This is our first Expat order here at Circles. It makes us truly happy to receive such a wonderful request—the desire to have a bike custom-built to fit one's own body, especially for a touring bike that will be a companion for long distances and many years to come.

Keeping in mind a desire for a relaxed feel—whether riding rough roads, enjoying long distances, or just commuting daily—we chose Titanium Siskiyou Bars from STEVE POTTS BICYCLES to ensure a comfortable position. The "Do It All" philosophy embodied by the legendary Steve Potts himself made these bars the perfect choice for this bike's concept.

To make the bike easier for Kaori to handle, we used some carbon parts to keep the overall weight down. However, since this isn't a competitive racing bike, we selected components based on durability for long-term use. We debated the fork choice until the very end, but ultimately went with a HUNTER CYCLES Super Crown Fork—the very last one we miraculously had in stock. It contributes significantly to a smooth, mild ride quality. To top it off, we color-matched the fork to the frame, making this bike even more one-of-a-kind.

The main components are the GRX Limited Edition. In a world where current component lineups are dominated by black, Shimano's move here has undoubtedly broadened the possibilities for bike builds.

Nowadays, if you want to build a bike with silver parts, you're often forced to rely on obsolete standards. Thanks to the GRX Limited, we now have more options to build bikes using modern standards with a classic aesthetic, which is something we are truly grateful for.

The paint job, reminiscent of the old Seven logo, was hand-drawn by illustrator Rui Nakamura at the request of Lucas and Kaori. Choosing to paint over the raw titanium finish, especially with such a cute design including the logo and color scheme, truly makes this a dream bike.

We are very excited to see all the places Kaori will go with this bike.

Contact us for custom Seven Cycles orders

A bike built from scratch that fits your body and aligns with your vision of how you want to ride cannot be categorized—it will undoubtedly be the best bike for you.

Why not bring the ride you’ve been dreaming of to life with Seven Cycles? Here at Circles, we accept consultations for Seven Cycles custom orders. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, no matter how small.

And now for a little bit of promotion.

The Traveler’s Tenugui, designed in collaboration between PAPERSKY and SimWorks, is now in stock!

This project was born when Lucas met SimWorks USA's Riebo while PAPERSKY was doing a feature on Portland. As two people who love traveling, they both use Japanese Tenugui for various activities like camping, bike riding, and hiking. They created these original Tenugui with the hope of introducing their friends in the US to Japanese culture and the many benefits of the Tenugui.

The color is inspired by the green of SimWorks' The Homage tire as well as the iconic St. Johns Bridge in Portland. It also captures the hope that SimWorks can act as a bridge for everyone through cycling and travel. Portland is a rainy city, but that is precisely why it is surrounded by such majestic nature. If you look closely at the raindrop pattern on the Tenugui, can you see the faint silhouette of Oregon's mountains appearing behind it?

From riding and travel to camping or even just daily life, there are endless ways to use a Tenugui. We hope you find your favorite way to use one!

PAPERSKY x SIMWORKS Traveler’s Tenugui

Material: 100% Cotton, Made by KAMAWANU
Size: Approx. 33cm x 90cm
Made in Japan
Price: 1,540 yen (tax included)

Wishing everyone a great weekend!