The Question of What to Wear When Touring
I’m not a fan of bib shorts or cycling jerseys. I fully understand that form-fitting apparel makes it easier to ride, so I wear them when I’m racing, on ultra-long rides, or simply focusing on riding, but I rarely wear them when my goal is to visit shops or attend festivals and events.
So what do I wear instead? Ever since my days as a courier, when I rode 100km every day, I’ve tried various types of apparel, mostly from the climbing category, but lately, Yamatomichi gear has become my go-to. The movement of your legs when cycling is similar to mountaineering and hiking, so the functionality of the gear shares some commonalities, but mountaineering gear is too heavy, and trail running gear is too light. UL (Ultralight) hiking gear sits right in the middle, and since Yamatomichi products transition seamlessly between hiking and daily life, they are just as perfect for cycling, which transitions between riding and daily life.
What’s particularly amazing is the 5-Pocket Shorts. I’ll leave the main features to be covered by the article YANAK wrote earlier, but what I personally love is the fabric. Its five key characteristics—no stretch, ultra-quick-drying, a non-slick texture that doesn't cling to the skin, and a perfect thickness that holds its shape while remaining durable—make them incredibly comfortable as both riding wear and daily wear. (I’d love to explain each one in detail, but that’s for another time.)
The other item is the UL All-weather Hoody, a pullover-style (rain) jacket. I put "rain" in parentheses because, as the name suggests, it’s an all-weather jacket. I’ve heard its waterproofing is lower compared to 3-layer Gore-Tex, but it still provides sufficient water and wind resistance. Above all, it has exceptional breathability and doesn't get stuffy. It’s also super light and compressible, so you can roll it up and stuff it into a gap in your bag, meaning you can carry it without worrying about bulk whenever there’s even a slight chance of rain or cold.
There are a few other favorites, but in terms of having no substitutes, these two pieces of gear are truly indispensable to me.
A Long Relationship with Yamatomichi
I first encountered Yamatomichi products at the inaugural OFF THE GRID. There was a Yamatomichi booth near the SimWorks booth, and I still clearly remember being blown away by the 5-Pocket Shorts I bought there. Since then, we’ve maintained a great relationship. In 2017, I co-organized a ride and hike event called "TOE to TOP" in the Yatsugatake mountains with Mr. Natsume, and we’ve hosted "BIKE to Yamamichi Matsuri" during their annual festival. Because of this history, Circles is the only retailer of Yamatomichi in Aichi Prefecture.
Yamatomichi KYOTO Opens in Gojo-Rakuen, Kyoto
Invited by JK-kun, who has recently become a face of Yamatomichi and participated in our recent WONDER HOPPER ride, I attended the opening party of their new Kyoto direct-retail store. It was wonderful to see that the second floor was designed as a free space to realize a "HIKE LIFE COMMUNITY," proving it’s meant to be more than just a place to sell products.
The day after the party, I rode to ARE.SAUNA, held by the shores of Lake Biwa, where the Yamatomichi staff also traveled from Kyoto to attend. I’ve participated many times before, and the experience of an outdoor sauna while watching the ever-changing face of Lake Biwa remains, as always, beyond description.
Enjoy Hiking and Biking Together
The quality of Yamatomichi products is common knowledge among hikers, and due to their high popularity, they are often in short supply; many items sell out immediately when they arrive at Circles. Honestly, these are products that don't need excessive promotion, but that doesn't mean I can’t introduce good things. And while many of the enthusiastic fans who buy them are specialized hikers, I’d love for them to mix it up and enjoy cycling, and for cyclists to try hiking the mountain trails beyond the mountain passes. The reason Circles carries Yamatomichi as a bicycle shop is because we want people to enjoy both hiking and biking. We post arrival information on the Circles Instagram, so please keep an eye on that.
I plan to head to Yamamichi Matsuri at Mt. Ishizuchi in Ehime next month by bike as a "BIKE to Yamamichi Matsuri." If you’re planning a BIKE to trip as well, please share your experience using #BIKEto山道祭.
Yamamichi Matsuri
https://www.yamatomichi.com/journals/286968