I guess the original yellow paint job probably looked really nice when it was fresh and clean, but since the replacement of a few tubes and countless years of wear and tear the patina is really starting to shine through. I think the theme on this bu
This frame was bought in the mid 2000’s by a former TCB rider, right at the tail end of the NJS craze that swept the American track bike scene. If I remember when I got it the bike had some NITTO bullhorns and a high flange Phil Wood x Velocity deep
So here in the Bay Area there are few frame builders that have the reputation of Bernie Mikkelsen, he has been at it since 1974 (!!!!) and has created some of the most iconic custom bikes no one has never hear of ( the KAMIKAZE, probably one of the
KALAVINKA, 3RENSHO, NAGASAWA… these were the names that haunted my dreams like teenagers with pop stars. These were some of the most revered NJS frame builders in Japan, and their bikes were always just out of reach. So the NAGASAWA lugs on this Cor
The little details like the NAGASAWA stamps on the drop outs paired with these NJS tensioners (thanks Jake !!!) add to the over all NJSness of the build.. if you can ignore the massive carbon blades in the back ground.
Somewhere along the line a NOS set of COREX decals were hunted down on the internet and applied to the frame. I think the choice to eschew a repaint and just throw a few cans of clear coat on the repaired frame was a solid one. Eventually most of th
In the late 80’s and early 90’s the cycling industry was inundated with new technology, carbon fiber!! anodization!! CNC machining !! the possibilities for speed and performance were unlimited!!! With great power comes great responsibility.. the fi
These wheels were all the rage for a year or two in the late 90’s their 8 carbon blades promised an aero advantage over simple spoked wheels. Unfortunately those same blades sliced off a few knee caps during crashes in pro tour races, and “MAYBE” e
Even after the Rev X was torn from the quiver of the pro peleton they enjoyed a 2nd heyday in the continental and amateur racing scene. Spinergy even made efforts to strengthen their fragile wheel (brand) but creating after market “stiffeners” dubb
One the real though these wheels are very sketchy, in a straight line sure they are super fast and once you get them moving they really do slice through the air like the aero knives they are. But turning, especially at speed is a white knuckle expe
A few years back Mavic released a new carbon race wheelset with MATCHING TIRES!! Yep that’s right they created a tire for the front and a tire for the rear of this very special wheel set. Obviously to make the pro’s faster and the rest of use feel
I was digging through a box of bike parts in JT’s Paris flat in 2015 when I came across this matching set of tires, if there was ever the even fancier matching wheel set is an even bet. Since JT doesn’t ride bikes any more these made it back to my
Sugino 75’s forever, the most solid, the classiest, the iconic crankset of NJS racers from the beginning. Paired with a loose ball HATTA NJS BB this is a set it and forget it combo. The original finish on the crank arms has been polished to a hig
ZEN was the tip top, buy it once and use it forever chainring. Still used by NJS and UCI pro level racers at a cool $150 USD these rings may break the bank but they will never break on the banks!!!
Double straps are all the rage and rightfully so if you are going to hit the skidz and shred the streets. But back in the day it was single straps or nothing, paired with the cheap MKS Sylvan track pedal this was the set up that i learned to skid o
The coloration of almost a decade of jean shorts and cut off dickies being rubbed into this fine Italian leather is the definition of patina.
For this build I opted to throw out my weight saving tendencies while still sticking with a classic saddle. The Selle Italia SLR has always made my butt happy even it it looks like a torture device to some. This particular saddle came off a messen
Salsa stems were handmade in Petaluma CA for years, bridging the gap between the Japanese and Italian classic stem style and a rougher and tougher handmade aesthetic. I have been a collector for years and while there are a huge amount of riser ste
These bars are precisely measured to the scientifically proven perfect width for shredding, my shoulders.. if the bars can make the gap then hopefully shoulders can too. This is a huge step up from the previous method of cutting the bars to be as w
When a friend comes into town i am more than willing to give them a bike to borrow. When a homie comes into town you bring out the Cadillac for them to roll around on. Most of them left something for me after they were done with it.
NTCB all day, also upside down Chris King headsets all day, if you have to ask you’ll never know
SIX PACK
Truly a Frankenstein of style, the best (or worst) of a couple of different worlds, guaranteed to get some weird looks and salty comments. I love this rat rod and couldn’t think of a better bike for my short trips to the coffee shop and bar.
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