Rapha Super Cross Nobeyama with Shige

Rapha Super Cross Nobeyama with Shige

Photos by: Shige & Manami Ikeyama

This past summer our friend Shige from SimWorks / Circles in Japan came to visit us in LA. While he was here Shige asked if we would design the SimWorks/Circles CX team kits. We worked with Circles earlier this year to create the "Dreamer" jersey to celebrate their 10th anniversary and we were excited for another opportunity to collaborate. For the new kit Shige said he wanted the opposite of a dreamer. After a pretty funny lost in translation moment we realized that he wanted these kits to be "REAL" and that's how the logo was born! Not only did we have an awesome summer weekend riding around and showing Shige LA, we also got to make some pretty dope kits. Check out a recent race report that Shige sent us below. 

Words from Shige Ikeyama: 

The biggest cyclocross race and festival in Japan is called Rapha Super Cross Nobeyama.

Every year, I have been motivated to challenge myself to an elite race in this competition, but this year was a little bit different. The reason was that unique and powerful members of SimWorks CX Racing cyclists were gathered at this time.

In order to have them enjoy this race, and also to support them fully, my motivation became something else that I never had before. It was good enough reason to reach freezing Nobeyama which became degree below zero.

In that terrible cold weather, it was hard to ride around being all covered with mud. However, I appreciated that there were my team and fellows cheering me up also my rival racers who had good competitive spirit.

People who cheered each other by killing their throats, and supported their team right after their race. A feeling of accomplishment and delight after passing the goal line by using up all my power and cornering myself as if my heart would stop was something that I was able to have because I came this much far and also it was a precious moment that we all could gather around once a year.

A cyclocross season in Japan is on a midway point yet. We, SimWorks CX Racers, are going to ride this super red Doppo CX Racer and also wearing this amazing skin suit which we produced with TeamDream together, then will keep participating mainly in local races.

See more from SimWorks  @SimWorks

See more from Circles @circles_jp

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