Cruise Bicycle+Cafe Ask a Galapagos bicycle shop about the joys of bikepacking.
With the rise of UL (ultra-light) consciousness, a new wave of "bikepacking" has recently emerged, in which people load their bicycles with the bare necessities and enjoy camping at their destinations by bicycle. We interviewed Mr. Tomomura of Cruise Bicycle+Cafe, an isolated store that leads the industry, about this extremely minimalist way of enjoying camping, which is the complete opposite of luxury camping such as glamping.
PROFILE
He began working part-time at a bicycle store in his sophomore year of high school and continued his career at a major bicycle retailer for over 10 years before opening his own store in 2015. Initially, it was a different type of business, but since 2017, it has become the current bicycle and camping gear store.
Tomomura-san, first of all, please tell us what kind of store Cruise Bicycle+Cafe is.
Tomomura:We opened in April 2015, and at first, half of the restaurant was an Italian restaurant and the other half was a bicycle shop, which is quite an unusual business model (laughs). (Laughs.) Then there was a change in personnel, and in September 2017 we became a café and bicycle shop. Not long after that, we launched our original brand "BYCRUISE," which became the style we have today, specializing in bicycles and camping.
The store is filled with camping gear and bicycles. Mr. Tomomura also spends his days customizing and repairing bicycles.
I feel that the number of people who go bikepacking has increased considerably in recent years as UL has become more oriented toward this activity.
Tomomura:It is definitely increasing. We often see such people at our store. When people hear the word "bikepacking," they generally imagine loading up their bicycles with lots of stuff, pedaling from Tokyo to nature, and enjoying themselves there.
What do you mean?
Tomomura:For example, you could start out with just a chair and a table on your bike, take out a hamburger on the way, and eat it on the riverbank. This is also a form of bikepacking.
I can see how that alone would give you the feeling of both biking and camping.
Tomomura:Also, riding a bicycle in the city is a continuous stop-and-go and the scenery is boring. So, in my case, I sometimes load my bike in my car, unload it when I get out of the city to some extent, and go bikepacking from there. Yes, there may be a sense of accomplishment in starting from the city and heading into nature, but I think it is better to have a lot of fun (laughs).
I thought the hurdle would be higher, but by doing so, you are making it both easier and lighter. On the other hand, many people think that you have to have a dedicated bicycle.
Tomomura:It is true that if you want to load a full load, you need a carrier to carry the load, and you also need screw holes called dowel holes. But nowadays, many of them have Velcro, so you don't have to worry about that. Also, many of today's camping gear comes in special bags, so all you have to do is attach it to the bike.
A cooker is Tomomura's bikepacking companion. With this cooker, I can boil, broil, and roast a variety of foods," he says. It's enough for the beginning," says Tomomura.
A scene from one day of bikepacking. He loaded all the gear shown here on his bike and rode about 20 kilometers each way.
Tomomura-san, you actually go bikepacking with beginners as well.
Tomomura:They are impressed by the exhilaration of biking, the direct feeling of the scenery along the way, and the delicious meals eaten outside (laughs). At the same time, many people are surprised at how easy it is to go, and how little luggage you need. I think it would be a good idea to start with a picnic on a bicycle, without thinking too hard. Also, charcoal is better for bikepacking than firewood. It is lighter and the fire lasts longer.
