The rainy season has arrived in Nagoya as of last weekend, but with pop-up events at Circles Tokyo and Nagoya, plus an event at Pine Fields Market, there are plenty of fun things to do throughout the rainy season and as it clears up!
Let’s stay cheerful and enjoy the muggy season!
Speaking of July, the hugely popular race event “OMM LITE/BIKE in Hakuba,” which sells out immediately after tickets go on sale, is taking place. This year, four teams from Circles will be racing, and we’ll also be setting up shop with items perfect for the outdoors, like Bedrock Sandals.
By the way, three women from Circles will be participating this year, and Chan-Mai, who is joining for the first time, had a few questions...
"Eri-chin, what are you going to wear?" "What are you bringing?" "What kind of bike are you going on?"
Oh, you're right, there's so much to figure out when it's your first time! Since there are many experienced women here in the Circles group, I went ahead and asked them for some advice!
Before that, here is the mandatory equipment list for the OMM race. Bringing gear that can handle sudden bad weather or injury while riding and get you back to the base safely is a strict requirement.
・Waterproof jacket with a hood (must be seam-sealed waterproof)
・Waterproof trousers (must be seam-sealed waterproof)
・Clothing suitable for mountain running or walking (LITE only)
・Shoes suitable for trails (LITE only)
・Clothing suitable for cycle sports (BIKE only)
・Light and batteries (capable of lasting at least 8 hours)
・Whistle and compass
・Map (provided by event organizers)
・First aid kit
・Emergency survival bag (must be a bag type) or waterproof sleeping bag cover
・Backpack or bike pack
・Emergency food
・Water supply equipment such as water bottles or hydration packs
・Bike repair kit (BIKE only)
・Helmet (BIKE only)
Pine Fields Market - Miu-Miu
Q : What bike did you take?
A : "I usually ride a SURLY Pacer, but since I wanted to enjoy riding on some bumpy roads during OMM, I borrowed a mountain bike!"
Q : What kind of gear was useful?
A : "A permanent marker was essential for writing scores on the map they distribute. There are vending machines and convenience stores in town, but OMM takes you pretty far out into the countryside, and even in Hakuba, the daytime temperatures can get quite high, so hydration-related gear was a must. The insulated cycling bottle BIVO is definitely an item that will come in handy!"
Pine Fields Market - Kazu-chan
Q : What bike did you take?
A : "My buddy Nacchan and I decided to go for an on-road assault, so I raced on my usual SURLY CrossCheck!"
Q : What kind of equipment was useful?
A : "I rode in a Yukata Aloha shirt from YUMI KAWABE—which we’re hosting an order event for at Pine Fields Market on 6/29 & 30—and it was completely stress-free! It absorbs sweat well, dries quickly, and has a loose design with great ventilation, so it was excellent as cycling wear. I won’t be participating this year, but Pine Fields Market snacks will be at the booth, so please grab some as ride fuel or souvenirs."
Circles World Distribution - Nacchan
Q : What bike did you take?
A : "The year before last I borrowed a mountain bike, and last year I rode my own BlackCat road bike! I planned to stick mostly to on-road last year, so a road bike worked perfectly fine. SIMWORKS The Homage tires can handle everything from road to gravel and even some light off-road without any hesitation, so I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to enjoy nature to the fullest!"
Q : What kind of equipment did you take?
A : "I wore Yamatomichi’s 5-Pocket Shorts, which are also easy to use for cycling. Yamatomichi shorts were made for hiking, but their ease of movement makes them very cycling-friendly as well. Outershell Adventures’ Handlebar Bag and Stem Caddy are perfect for OMM where you’re constantly taking things in and out, and I really felt that organizing small items around the handlebars is basic ride prep."
Circles - Eri
Q : What bike did you take?
A : "I rode my SURLY LongHaulTrucker! I change my packing method every year, but based on my experience over the last few years, I’ve decided that throwing my gear into an Ortlieb dry bag and mounting it on a burrito rack is the best way to go, so that’s the style I’m sticking with this year."
Q : What kind of equipment did you take?
A : "Chan-Mai asked me, ‘My butt hurts on long rides, what do you do, Eri-san?’ I’m strictly a cycling shorts + regular shorts person for long rides. Bibs are very comfortable to wear, but they’re inconvenient when you need to use the restroom, so I recommend shorts to women. Also, the cold is a woman’s enemy! It gets quite chilly in the mornings and evenings, so please don't let your guard down on warmth just because it's summer."
With racing, camping, BBQing, and hot springs, there are so many fun outdoor things to do at OMM LITE/BIKE, so make sure your preparations are solid to enjoy it to the max! Hope to see you all looking energized at the event! If any of you participating women have any concerns or questions, feel free to ask!
