REW10WORKS is located in Kamiuma, Tokyo. My long-time friend and senior messenger, Blendy (his messenger name), crafts frames characterized by simple, beautiful brazing. The lineup includes not just frames, but also planters, apparel, and more—all of which are solid, high-quality products built to last.
My first visit was to commission a cargo bike for my messenger work. Being a craftsman with a notoriously stubborn streak, things weren't easy, but through many return trips, the conversation eventually turned to me ordering a frame for myself.
When ordering, I had one thing in mind: “A bike that can do anything.” While categories like “all-road” and “gravel bike” exist now, those concepts didn’t exist back then. It was a personal pursuit of utility—taking a cyclocross race bike as a base and wanting to set it up as a fixed gear or use it for touring.
I explained my intended use to the builder at length, and for the most part, I left how to realize that vision up to him. Because of this, when I introduce this bike, rather than bragging about the fine specs—like it having plenty of braze-ons, being demountable, having rocker dropouts, a slightly sloping geometry, or using Alfine Di2 levers—it’s the result of how I actually used it that defines my role in our relationship and makes this bike unique.
The next update for my REW10WORKS is just around the corner. To summarize everything up to this point, let’s take a look at the types of rides and styles I’ve experienced.
1-DAY Rides
The setup for the #BIKEtoOniMatsuri ride, where I followed the Yahagi River upstream from its mouth to Toyota. The frame bag contains a camera tripod, rain gear, and a flat repair kit. Around this time, I swapped my crank from Ultegra to GRX to prevent chain drops for CX races.
The ride report can be found here.
1-2 Night Rides & Bikepacking
Transporting my bike via FDA airplane to join the BIKE to Yamamichi Matsuri. It is fully loaded with gear for both riding and hiking. By switching to flat bars, I was able to use a larger front bag to store my sleeping bag and even stuffed a backpack inside for climbing Mt. Iwate.
The ride report can be found here.
The setup for a rainy camping ride at Odaigahara, one of the rainiest areas in Japan, coinciding with the Swift Campout held during the rainy season. Because the gravel forest road ride involved some hike-a-bike, I kept the front triangle of the frame clear to make it easier to shoulder the bike, packing my gear into completely waterproof panniers and a saddlebag. The Porcelain Rocket Microwave panniers are truly well-made; I haven’t found a pannier bag that beats them since.
Long Rides (1 Week+)
The setup for a ride in Yunnan Province, China. The conditions included flying with the bike, altitudes over 3,000m, and temperatures ranging from 5 to 30°C. Fully utilizing the extra frame braze-ons, I was loaded for 11 days and 10 nights. I used a stacked King Cage Manything Cage setup, and tools were stored in a cargo cage under the downtube.
The setup for my trip to Niijima. I had a girl who looked like a YouTuber act as a model for me at the main gate of Habushiura Beach. I had to carry everything for the trip, including camping gear, items for a wedding I was attending, and climbing gear for the Yatsugatake Mountains afterward, so I towed a Burley Travoy trailer. I deposited my gear at the campsite and headed out for rides.
The ride report can be found here.
Races and Competitions
For the OMM BIKE race, there is a list of mandatory equipment you must carry. While a frame bag or saddlebag alone would suffice for just those items, I was carrying quite a bit more at the time. Since there’s some hiking and pushing, I used flat pedals with straps and trail running shoes for better mobility. A self-made map holder is mounted on the handlebars.
The setup for my trip to the Kyushu Cyclocross race at Harazuru Onsen. I also carried a messenger bag on my back. I rode to the venue from Hakata, but it was hit by an unexpected blizzard—it was one of the toughest rides I’ve ever had. Did you know disc brakes can freeze? I’d love to visit a Kyushu CX race when it's not so cold. I’ve also used this bike for Nobeyama, Tokai CX, and the Tracklocross World Championships.
Early Days
The setup for my trip to Myanmar to reach the Buddhist ruins of Bagan. My travel and bike style hadn’t quite solidified yet, and it felt like I’d just scrambled to prepare before heading out. It was a one-week ride, and I had some great experiences: discovering that I needed less gear than I thought, leaving space in the panniers, and learning that my hands hurt from the brake levers—lots of discoveries.
Ride reports: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
A Bike Made for This Rider
In addition to what I’ve listed here, this tough, versatile bike made by REW10 has been on many rides, participated in races, and is used daily for commuting and running errands. I feel that it fully embodies the ideals I had when I first commissioned it.
When I first ordered it, it felt more like just asking a friend for a favor. But after taking the time to truly use and wear it in, I realized it wasn’t just a friendship; the relationship between builder and user was also incredibly solid. Ordering a frame from a builder is synonymous with buying that person’s work. You can’t just have them make anything; it’s about having a REW10 bike built, and on top of that, it’s about whether it fits your way of riding and usage. The fact that it’s such a good match for REW10 is probably no coincidence. It’s because we are connected by the job that was the root of my bicycle life: being a messenger. The craftsmanship that shares my roots was closely linked to a style of riding that expands the definition of delivery and play.
The charm of custom-ordered bikes lies in that relationship with the builder. My case was a bit unique, but in general, adding a bike shop as an important element makes it even more interesting.
At Circles, we communicate with many frame builders, using our expert knowledge and experience to bridge the gap between them and the user. It takes time and money, and communication can be difficult. Various problems arise, but in the end, the feeling of “a bike made for this rider” is what’s truly interesting. And seeing it being put to good use makes me genuinely happy. I hope you will take the plunge into a custom order, bringing with you a ton of photos of past rides and a vivid image of the rides you want to do next. To broaden your world significantly.
I also talked about this bike on the Blue Lug YouTube channel during the Hakushu Bikelore back in June, so please check that out if you like. The bike talk starts around the middle to end.
We are currently publishing a photo archive of bikes built at Circles so far.
Use it to spark your imagination for your own custom bike.
