Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ben Kersten's Keirin Diary

I came across a series of diary entries about Keirin racing that may be of interest to some of you. The rider provides some insight on Keirin racing by international riders. It also includes a couple of video clips of his races.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2007/diaries/benk/?id=benk0705.

G'day kensmerlin san
This is Tomity from Tokyo Japan
I'm professional Keirin rider
I met Benny K in International Keirin in Japan 2007 and had sight seeing with his friend in Tokyo Harajuku somewhere

That LOOK didn't look NJS.

That LOOK didn't look NJS.

Hello!! br995;5381124

To our regret, I was not able to take the photograph of bike of NJS of BENNY K.
LOOK bike is frame for his trainning

His NJS bike is special custom made steel LOOK frame(one off)

Tomity

That was an informative read. I'd like to learn more about Keirin.

That was an informative read. I'd like to learn more about Keirin.

This is list of all the companies that make njs-certified parts
It withdraws it is scheduled not to use it in 2008 now though parts of the
company that gave up one's business can be used.


SUGINO TECHINO(SUGINO CYCLE INDUSTRIES, Ltd)
http://www.suginoltd.co.jp/products_e.html
(BB axle,Cranks,Chainrings,Cogs,Seat post)

SHIMANO
http://cycle.shimano.co.jp/publish/content/cycle/sic/jp/ja.html
(BB axle,Cranks,Chainrings,Cogs,Seat post,Hubs,Head fittings)

HATTA
http://www.hattass.co.jp/bicycle.html
(BB axle,Head fittings)

NITTO
http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~nitto210/
(Bars,Stems,Seat posts)

KYOKUTO INDUSTRIES, Ltd
http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~kakumaru/
(Pedals)

MIKASHIMA
http://www.mkspedal.com/
(Pedals,Toe clips,Clip bands,Chain tugs)

MINOURA
http://www.minoura.jp/index_j.htm
(Toe clips)

DAIDO (D.I.D.)
http://www.did-daido.co.jp/
(Chain)

HOKOKU H.K.K. CHAIN
(Chain)

IZUMI CHAIN
(Chain)

FUJITOSHI
(Clip bands)

ASAHI SPOKES
(Spokes)

TSUKIBOSHI SPOKE
http://www.tsukiboshi.co.jp/jp/index.html
(Spokes)

HOSHISPOKE
http://www.cycle-kansai.com/company/hoshi/index.html
(Spokes)

KASHIMA SADDLE
(Saddles)

ARAYA RIMS
http://www.araya-kk.co.jp/
(Rims)

TOKYO SEIBYOSYO
http://www.tobyo.com/
(Chain tugs)

DAIWABO
http://www.daiwabo.co.jp/english/index.html
(Tublar Tire)

TANGE SEIKI
(finished ?)
(Head fittings)

SAKAE RINGYO
(finished)
(Cranks,Chainrings,Seat posts)

ARIAKE
(finished)
(Saddles)

FUJITA SADDLE
(finished)
(Saddles)

KASHIMA SADDLE
(finished)
(Saddles)

SUNSHIN
(finished)
(Hubs,Cogs)

SUZUE
(2005 finished)
(Hubs)

SUNTOUR MAEDA INDUSTRIES, Ltd
(1994 finished)
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC
(BB axle,Cranks,Chainrings,Cogs,Seat post,Hubs,Head fittings,Pedals)

CAMPAGNOLO(Keirin for NJS track parts)
CAMPAGNOLO was withdrawn from the NJS standard in 2007.
(BB axle,Cranks,Chainrings,Cogs,Seat post,Hubs,Head fittings,Pedals,Toe clips)

CINELLI(Keirin for NJS track parts)
CINELLI was withdrawn from the NJS standard many years ago
(Saddles,Bars,Stems)



NJS Keirin track frames(36 builders/2007.May)

BRIDGSTONE
http://www.bscycle.co.jp/

PANASONIC
http://www.panabyc.co.jp/

CHERUBIM
http://www.cs-cherubim.com/

MAKINO
http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~mackino/

KALAVINKA
http://www.kalavinka-bikes.com/

LEVANT

NAGASAWA
http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~nagasawa/index.html

SHIMAZAKI
http://www.shimazaki-c.co.jp/info/shop.htm

RAP
http://www.cycleland.jp/

LEVEL
http://www.tokyo-arakawa.com/matsuda/index.html

KIYO MIYAZAWA
http://www.kiyo-miyazawa.com/

PLOCION
http://www.cf-ono.com/index.html

PROTON
cycletec@d6.dion.ne.jp

BARAMON
baramon-cdm@mx2.tiki.ne.jp

VIVALO

NAMBEI

EIMEI

WATANASBE

UMEZAWA

SAMSON

YANAGISAWA

GAN WELL

GEORAMA

CIVLAS

VOGUE

IRIBE

MAEDA

OSCA

OHTAKI

STRATOS

GIRO

BOMBER PRO

ERBA

PRESTO

M-IDEA

LIGHTNNING(2007,maybe finished)

KEIRIN WEAR,GOODS

MEDALIST PLANNING
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/medalist/
_________________
Life is Beautiful ! !-----
-----Bike is Peaceful ! !
______o
___~Ä<,_
__(_)/ (_)___________________
Rising sun on Keirin rider
Please come to Japan to see KEIRIN.

That was an informative read. I'd like to learn more about Keirin.

I tell you about information of Japanese Velodromes
There are two kinds of velodromes for amature race and for Keirin
race(Municipally operated races) in Japan

There is velodromes of 70 ground in Japan
As for the velodromes inside for amature, there is 23 ground
The rest of 47 scene is velodromes for a municipally operated race

I don't understand the building year of all velodrome
I examined the location and a lap length

Velodromes for amature race (23 ground)

City Velodrome Length

Aomori Hachinohe Velodrome 333m
http://www.city.hachinohe.aomori.jp/shisetu/sports/higashi_jitensya.html

Iwate Shiwa Velodrome 333m

Miyagi Prefectural management Velodrome 400m

Miyagi Taiwa City Velodrome 333m
http://www.grande21.or.jp/sports/sports_a6.html

Akita Rokugo Velodrome 333m
http://www.grande21.or.jp/sports/sports_a6.html

Yamagata Shinjyo Cycle Sports Contre 400m

Fukushima Izumisaki International Cycle Stadium 333m
http://www.vill.izumizaki.fukushima.jp/kiyobu4.html

Tokyo Tokyo Dome Stadium(Indoor/Sectional) 400m

Ishikawa Uchinada Velodrome 400m
http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/kyoiku/sports-kenko/taiiku/sisetu.htm

Yamanashi Sakaigawa Velodrome 400m
http://www.city.fuefuki.yamanashi.jp/kanko/shisetsu.php?id=22

Nagano Karigane Velodrome 333m

Shizuoka Japan Cycle Sports Centre 250m

Shizuoka Japan Cycle Sports Centre 400m

Shizuoka Nihon Keirin Gakko (Japan Keirin School) 333m

Shizuoka Nihon Keirin Gakko (Japan Keirin School) 400m

Osaka Kansai Cycle Sports Centre 400m

Hyogo Akashi Velodrome 400m
http://www.kinjikyo.jp/circle/akashi.html

Tottori Kurayoshi City Velodrome 333m

Shimane Ota City Velodrome 333m

Miyazaki Prefectural management Park Velodrome 400m
http://www3.coara.or.jp/~norihiko/Report/20020825.html

Kagoshima Nejime Velodrome 400m

Okinawa Prefectural management Park Velodrome 333m
http://www.geocities.jp/keirin55/okinawa-bank.htm


Velodromes for Keirin race (47 ground)

City Velodrome Length

Hakodate Hakodate Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=110
http://keirin.hakodate.jp/

Aomori Aomori Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=120
http://www.aomorikeirin.com/index.html

Fukushima Iwaki Taira Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=130
http://www.tairakeirin.com/

Niigata Yahiko Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=210
http://www.yahikokeirin.com/

Gunma Maebashi Keirin Velodrome(Indoor) 335m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=220
http://www.maebashikeirin.gr.jp/

Ibaraki Toride Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=230
http://www.toride-keirin.com/

Tochigi Utsunomiya Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=240
http://www.ucatv.ne.jp/~u-keirin/

Saitama Omiya Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=250
http://www.keirin-saitama.jp/omiya/

Saitama Seibuen Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=260
http://www.keirin-saitama.jp/seibuen/

Tokyo Keiokaku Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=270
http://www.keiokaku.com/

Tokyo Tachikawa Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=280
http://www.tachikawakeirin.jp

Chiba Matsudo Keirin Velodrome 333m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=310
http://www.matsudokeirin.com

Chiba Chiba Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=320
http://www.chibakeirin.com/

Kanagawa Kagetsuen Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=330
http://www.lucky-kagetsukun.com/

Kanagawa Kawasaki Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=340
http://www.kawasakikeirin.com/

Kanagawa Hiratsuka Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=350
http://www.shonanbank.com/

Kanagawa Odawara Keirin Velodrome 333m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=360
http://www.infoworld.co.jp/keirin/odawara/

Shizuoka Ito Keirin Velodrome 333m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=370
http://www.itokeirin.com

Shizuoka Shizuoka Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=380
http://www.shizuoka38.jp/

Aichi Ichinomiya Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=410
http://www.owari.ne.jp/~i-keirin/

Aichi Nagoya Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=420
http://www.nagoyakeirin.com

Gifu Gifu Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=430
http://gifukeirin.jp

Gifu Ogaki Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=440
http://www.ginet.or.jp/ogakikeirin/

Aichi Toyohashi Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=450
http://www.keirin.toyohashi.aichi.jp/

Toyama Toyama Keirin Velodrome 333m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=460
http://www.toyama-keirin.com/

Mie Matusaka Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=470
http://www.city.matsusaka.mie.jp/keirin/

Mie Yokkaichi Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=480
http://www.city.yokkaichi.mie.jp/keirin/

Fukui Fukui Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=510
http://www1.fctv.ne.jp/~f-keirin/

Shiga Otsu Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=520
http://www.biwako.otsu.shiga.jp/

Nara Nara Keirin Velodrome 333m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=530
http://www.narakeirin.com/

Kyoto Mukomachi Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=540
http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/keirin/

Wakayama Wakayama Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=550
http://www.keirinwa.com

Osaka Kishiwada Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=560
http://www.chalionkun.com

Okayama Tamano Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=610
http://www.city.tamano.okayama.jp/keirin/

Hiroshima Hiroshima Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=620
http://www.keirin.econ.city.hiroshima.jp/

Yamaguchi Hofu Keirin Velodrome 333m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=630
http://www.hofukeirin.jp

Kagawa Takamatsu Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=710
http://www.takamatsu-keirin.com/

Kagawa Kanonji Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=720
http://www.kanonji-keirin.com/

Tokushima Komatsushima Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=730
http://www.pon-star.net/

Kochi Kochi Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=740
http://www.kochi-keirin.co.jp

Ehime Matsuyama Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=750
http://www.matsuyamakeirin.jp/

Fukuoka Kokura Keirin Velodrome(Indoor) 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=810
http://www.mediadome.co.jp/keirin/

Fukuoka Kurume Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=830
http://www.kttnet.co.jp/kurume-keirin/

Saga Takeo Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=840
http://www.city.takeo.saga.jp/keirin/

Nagasaki Sasebo Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=850
http://www.keirin.city.sasebo.nagasaki.jp

Oita Beppu Keirin Velodrome 400m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=860
http://www.coara.or.jp/~keirin

Kumamoto Kumamoto Keirin Velodrome 500m
http://www.dataplaza.keirininfo.or.jp/contents/kdpjyo.Jyo3?UCD=870
http://www.kumamotokeirin.jp/

TOMITY -- How was your birthday on the 15th? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The one off Look and the worlds biggest helmets

http://www.benkersten.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=600&g2_serialNumber=2

That LOOK didn't look NJS.

LOOK made Benny K a special steel frame bike to take to Japan. It was white with black logos and had a threadless headstem, which I didn't know they could use?

The bike was a large step backwards, but nowhere as bad as the helmets.

All off his bikes are custom made by look (apart from road training bikes)

Cheers

EDIT, ahh see above, I am slow at typing.

See the other riders with padding, Benny K rode without any and said the tracks are covered in glued on sand so they can still race in the rain if they have too.

The others dress up like they are racing motorcycles with the padding underneath, they must have bare legs only. They do put plastic bags on their hands and pour all over them with baby oil incase they fall.

Cheers

the guy in the pink has a fake leg.

Here is Josiah Ng's keirin diary. Same sort of deal, very informative and insightful.

http://www.josiahng.com/keirin.html

So the guy is now banned for life?

Tomity San! おげんきですか？ Thank you again, for your 'inside' information!

My question is regarding the legality of the LOOK フレーム、ステムとシートピラー

Are specially invited 　外国人　riders allowed to have non-NJS certified frames for one race/or a short time?
The seat pillar looks black, and the stem does not look like a Nitto NJS stem.....
Are their different rules for this situation?
ありがとう
レン

Actually I am guessing that he did not race in a Keirin sanctioned (betting) race, so did not need a fully legal NJS certified bike? I saw on the Diary that it was Keirin School.

....or maybe not?!

Tomity, that was an excellent and informative post! Thank you for putting in the effort to gather all the information in one place.

Tomity San! おげんきですか？ Thank you again, for your 'inside' information!

My question is regarding the legality of the LOOK フレーム、ステムとシートピラー

Are specially invited 　外国人　riders allowed to have non-NJS certified frames for one race/or a short time?
The seat pillar looks black, and the stem does not look like a Nitto NJS stem.....
Are their different rules for this situation?
ありがとう
レン

um, in this thread we learned that the picture of his CF "look" is just him training. His steel "look" was a one off which he was allowed to race. (not sure if it got stamped njs, but who really cares???) it was his sponser than maybe the "international" njs racers get a little leniency.

either way, he had a threeadless stem and it seems weird, but my guess is that they lax the rules for the international series.....duh?

edit. ^disregard drunk post and its awful tone...sorry.

Thanks Time Bandit, for your helpful 'um' and 'duh' post.

My question is for Tomity.
Time Bandit - (I am with you on the 'international leniency' theory, hence what I earlier posted, but am very interested to hear what
Japanese Keirin pro riders think of this rule.)
Everything is so strict that I am surprised he can have LOOK custom
build him a one-off and race it against pro riders who must have NJS bike frames, stems, seat posts and everything else. I can not see any major problems assuming the frame is cromo and fits into the weight guidelines of NJS rules. Same goes for the seatpost, and stem...I am sure he probably used a heavier than standard item to keep everyone happy.

what helmet is this?
http://i5.tinypic.com/6z87t6t.jpg

Catlike Kompact Pro. They cost like $170 now, with the Euro/Dollar exchange rate being what it is.

hey Kensmerlin thanks for the link! interesting read.

Tomity, thanks for all that info. you are a treasure!


:beer:

I must say, I went into this thread knowing practically nothing about keirin. After pouring over all that info (Thanks Tomity!) I spent a few hours watching keirin on youtube. I am totally hooked. I wish there was a velodrome near me now :(

Thanks again all.

the guy in the pink has a fake leg.


I am pretty sure it looks like that because of the lots and lots of baby oil they rub on thier legs.

I said it in an earlier post, they put plastic bags over their hands and really cover thier legs thick with baby oil. They can wear padding under all the clothes, but must have exposed legs.

The thick oil is if they fall it helps save the legs, the tracks are covered in sand that is glued on. Sand is so the race still happens in bad weather, and the riders still have grip.

oh really? i thought it was actually a fake leg.

Those were some great Keirin links in the article:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/clickthru.php3?aid=453&id=129&url=http://218.219.81.19/kawasakidigest Ben in Red.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/clickthru.php3?aid=453&id=129&url=http://218.219.81.19/kawasakidigest Ben getting schooled in Orange.

an error occured

My bad, here you go:

http://218.219.81.19/kawasakidigest/hi/070617_9r.wmv Ben in Red.

http://218.219.81.19/kawasakidigest/hi/070618_11r.wmv Ben getting schooled in Orange.

WMV files.

Tomity San! おげんきですか？ Thank you again, for your 'inside' information!

My question is regarding the legality of the LOOK フレーム、ステムとシートピラー

Are specially invited 　外国人　riders allowed to have non-NJS certified frames for one race/or a short time?
The seat pillar looks black, and the stem does not look like a Nitto NJS stem.....
Are their different rules for this situation?
ありがとう
レン

Hello!! parkerlewis
This is Tomity from Tokyo
My answer has been delayed sorry.
Invited by the International Keirin foreign players in Japan Series during a special rule applies only to be set.
They are specially NJS standard is not allowed to use frames and parts.
They are the following components.
Bike frame, stem, bar, seat post and saddle, pedale, toe straps, crank, chainring, cog,
They are in other parts NJS should be.

Tomity

Actually I am guessing that he did not race in a Keirin sanctioned (betting) race, so did not need a fully legal NJS certified bike? I saw on the Diary that it was Keirin School.


International Keirin in Japan have special rules will be applied