Words by Izuru Shimasaki from Daisy Messenger
In German, the bicycle is "fahrrad," a neuter noun; in Spanish, "bicicleta," a masculine noun. In French, "vélo" is masculine, while "bicyclette" is feminine. Since Japanese doesn't distinguish nouns by gender, this concept feels quite foreign to us. It’s also worth noting that this is purely a grammatical matter; being a masculine noun doesn't make a word inherently "masculine," nor does a feminine noun make something "feminine."
"Mamachari" is a colloquial term for a city bike that is very familiar to us in Japan. It’s a coined word that symbolically puts the existence of a "mama" in front of the slang term "charinko" (bicycle). In reality, it’s not just mothers—the "mamas"—who ride these, but also dads, single people, children, and the elderly.
However, by attaching the word "mama," it feels as though we are being told that the bicycle is a feminine object. While there is nothing inherently superior or inferior about masculine or feminine things—in fact, both are welcomed—when thinking about the current state of road traffic, does it seem like an over-interpretation to feel that a somewhat patriarchal mindset is segregating cars from non-car entities by suggesting that mamachari don't belong on the road?
The OMNIUM Mini: Perfect for Narrow City Streets
Izumi-san from Daisy’s Grocery chose the OMNIUM Mini for her new bike.
The Mini is the most compact of OMNIUM’s cargo bikes. Despite its size, its 40cm x 42cm front rack can easily carry an ORTLIEB rack bag filled with groceries for a cafe. The XS size has an overall bike length of 162cm. This is about the same size as, or slightly smaller than, a 26-inch mamachari, so you can park it in shopping center bike racks or communal residential parking spaces without stress.
The Revolutionary OMNIUM Frame Design
Even without buying a cargo bike, there are ways to turn a bike you already own into a cargo bike by adding baskets, racks, or a cargo fork. So, what is the difference between those bikes with large baskets or cargo forks?
The most important difference is that the cargo bed is an integral part of the frame.
Just like other OMNIUM cargo bikes, a lightweight aluminum rack is attached to a large-diameter frame that protrudes from the down tube. By doing this, the weight of the load doesn't affect the steering. This effect is immense—not only while riding, but also when walking the bike, as the handlebars aren't pulled off-center by the weight of the cargo.
Also, while we went with 1.75" width this time, the 55mm tire clearance allows for a maximum of a 20x2.15" front tire and a 29x2.00" rear tire, providing both stability and off-road capability. While the cargo bike category has traditionally been based on 26-inch MTB wheels to accommodate fat tires, the arrival of OMNIUM, with its 700c base, has instantly modernized the category and made it much faster.
The adjustable rocker dropouts, which also allow for a single-speed setup, let you choose between 142 x 12mm Thru Axle or 135 x 10mm QR by changing the inserts. Izumi-san built hers using a SHIMANO Alfine internal gear hub for disc brakes, which has fewer chain and shifting issues. Because the chain line is constant, she can pedal with confidence, and she can shift gears while stopped at a red light.
Changing Society with Cargo Bikes
OMNIUM cargo bikes are revolutionary down to the smallest detail, but I think the answer is best summarized by Izumi-san’s own words.
"(Even loaded with cargo) It's light! (I don't go that fast, but) It's fast! (Most importantly) It's cute!!!"
She also adds:
"With so many good bicycle options available, don't keep us trapped between the mamachari and difficult-to-ride-on sidewalks (where we shouldn't even be)!"
Japan, which ranks 148th in the Global Gender Gap Index (2024 edition, particularly reaching the lowest levels in politics and economics), needs the advancement of women in transportation and a society that wholeheartedly welcomes it!
Pre-orders Now Open
We are currently accepting pre-orders for the 2nd round of OMNIUM. This time, you can order the titanium frame model, and of course, we are also accepting orders for the standard steel frame models.
For more details, please check the blog below and our pre-order page.
