The Lit Trove is our original model designed for everyday city riding. This time, we took it beyond its usual urban setting and challenged one of Kyoto’s classic hill-climb routes: Kyomi Pass.

Our destination was Takagamine Mercato, the finish venue for VILLAGE GREEN, where we were also scheduled to help with event preparations. But could the Trove really handle a mountain pass?

Here is our real-world ride review, testing just how far this laid-back urban cruiser can go.

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Lit Trove

【Suggested Retail Price】¥52,800 including tax
【Colors】Fog Blue, Pale Gray
【Size / Recommended Rider Height】420 / 158-173cm
【Bike Weight】13.8kg

The Trove was the very first model created by Lit. Its name comes from an old English word meaning something discovered or brought to light.
We chose the name in the hope that each ride would feel like a small adventure, uncovering hidden treasures in everyday life.

It might mean wandering down a quiet local street or stopping at a café you never knew was there.
The Trove is an urban cruiser designed for city riding and a little more, bringing new discoveries into familiar surroundings.

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Climbing Kyomi Pass on the Lit Trove: A Real-World Urban Cruiser Ride Review

For this ride, we used a previously customized model based on the concept of reinterpreting the traditional Japanese everyday city bike as a modern urban cruiser.

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The Lit Trove is an approachable urban cruiser built around the realities of everyday city riding.

It was not developed to compete with performance-oriented sports bikes. Instead, its purpose is to be customized in your own style and enjoyed while freely exploring your local neighborhood. In other words, there is absolutely no reason it should ever need to climb a mountain pass.

Still, as someone who works in a bicycle shop, there was one question I could not ignore.

“Just how far can this bike really go?”

Driven by that curiosity, I decided to take it up Kyomi Pass, one of Kyoto’s best-known cycling routes.

The result was about what you might expect. Compared with the sports bikes I usually ride, it did not exactly fly up the road.

With a limited gear range, there was no option to shift into an easy gear and spin smoothly up the climb. Instead, I had to push hard against a relatively heavy gear. Slowing down only made each pedal stroke feel harder, so easing off was not really an option either.

Even so, the answer from this ride was clear: it is not impossible.

The Trove is designed primarily for city riding, but its crank allows the chainring to be replaced independently. By choosing a smaller chainring with climbing in mind, mountain roads could become a much more realistic part of the ride.

That said, this particular bike was not fitted with a climbing-friendly chainring, so partway up, the ride gradually turned into a hike.

Step by step, pushing the bike beside me, I eventually made it over Kyomi Pass.

The destination was Takagamine Mercato, a restaurant in the hills near the top of Kyomi Pass.

It is a wonderful location where spectacular views and excellent food come together.

Those joining VILLAGE GREEN should definitely take the opportunity to experience it.

Once I had arrived and caught my breath, I calmly realized something important: my bottle was completely empty.

I had become a little too relaxed because Kyomi Pass was a familiar route, but there are no nearby vending machines.

My only option was the famous natural spring water of Kyomi Pass. I continued past Mercato and started walking toward the spring. Just as I had finally begun to recover, I found myself using up what little energy I had left.

Mercato is located near the top of Nagasaka-michi, the old road over Kyomi Pass.

However, this historic route is extremely dangerous for bicycles and cars. The safer and more commonly used approach is the newer route along Takagamine Kaido.

Unfortunately, reaching the spring requires entering Nagasaka-michi for a short distance. That meant climbing even farther beyond Mercato, and I could not help muttering, “This is rough...”

Those attending VILLAGE GREEN should avoid the old road and always approach via Takagamine Kaido.

The walk to the spring was harder than expected. At one point, I found myself thinking, “Wouldn’t it be faster to go home and come back by car?” Still, I kept moving forward.

After plenty of complaining along the way, I finally reached the spring.

The moment I took a drink, the ice-cold water seemed to spread through my entire body, and I could not help saying, “This is incredible!”

Feeling both refreshed and completely exhausted, I headed back the way I had come.

After all of that, I ended up joining the grounds-maintenance work later than planned.

Naturally, the other staff members had already started without me, and I felt more than a little guilty.

Despite the eventful journey, we were nearing the end of the scheduled maintenance work when the owner of Mercato asked, “What are you doing for lunch? I have some curry.” It sounded like a voice from above.

Another staff member, convinced that lunch might be offered, immediately replied, “Yes, please!”

Then, an incredible plate of pasta appeared in front of us. The perfect situation had somehow come together.

As I ate, I kept wondering how something could taste this good. It was a deeply satisfying meal, and for a while, all the fatigue from the climb disappeared.

By the time lunch was over, the weather had changed and rain had begun to fall.

Fortunately, both the work and the meal were already finished. The rain lowered the temperature, allowing us to begin our event meeting in much cooler conditions.

By the time the meeting ended, the rain had stopped again. Everything seemed to fall into place at exactly the right moment.

It felt like the end of a full and satisfying day, but there was still more work waiting back at the office.

After completing the Kyomi Pass challenge, grounds maintenance, an excellent lunch, and an event meeting, I eventually returned to the usual rhythm of everyday life.

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Conclusion: What the Kyomi Pass Challenge Taught Us About the Trove

What became clear during the Kyomi Pass challenge is that the Lit Trove is a remarkably adaptable bike. Its main purpose is to make everyday city riding more enjoyable, but thoughtful customization can open the door to a much wider range of adventures.

Riding lightly through the city, taking an unexpected detour, and rediscovering familiar local scenery are all central to the Trove experience. Adding your own personal customizations is where the bike truly comes into its own.

There is no need to climb a mountain pass on the Trove. But by actually attempting it, we discovered that the bike is more capable than expected and that a few practical changes can greatly expand how and where it can be enjoyed.

Most importantly, riding the Trove creates opportunities to connect with local people, landscapes, and memorable food.

New encounters and scenery can be waiting just beyond the familiar streets of your neighborhood. That is exactly what “Dig Into Your Local” means, and it is the message at the heart of the Trove.

▼Read our 2025 VILLAGE GREEN ride report here! ▶Read the article

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