A visit to Kawaguchi city

if you can call it a city because it pretty much seamlessly
luglessly?
connects to the rest of Tokyo
but it is home to one very special place that I know of

this is the Toei Bike Factory
as you can see they are churning out frames at the rate of about
one per week
which means there is a two year wait
which is not outrageous
for a custom-made frame
from what I gather

the place is not big
this is it
all you can see. one room.
three guys working today
and two guys not in
sick? passed away? not sure

this one is one of the Bluebird series

reproduced recently for their 50th anniversary

that's not a Cyclo rear derailleur but

a lighter-weight version of that design made by Toei

Nagasawa - the effing business

again from vintagebikeblog

not really old

but really special.

this is real pro.

not looking pro or fantasising pro but

'don't-even-think-of-getting-on-this-bike-unless-you-are-capable-of-winning-money-with-it pro.

people who ride these bikes in the street call them tarck bikes.

but this bike is too hard for the street.

my legs would snap off if I even tried to get on it.

look at that tiny smidgin of fork rake.

more beautiful pics here.
the fucken business.

Old Japanese Bridgestone bike advert: long socks the epitome of amateur cool

long socks!

school shoes!

jaunty hat!

short shorts!

this guy is 110% amateur.

from the lovely Grand Bois

Japanese loveliness - Toei

 

from one of my favourite blogs

a vision of perfection from toei.

apparently the emperor owns one.

poster size pic.

so lovely I made a jpg of their gorgeous logo

for youse all.

 

the japanese text says,

"beautiful, handmade bike"

which is the slogan from the front of their coffee table book.