Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Fixed gear in Japan

So I might be moving to Tokyo. Wouldn't really be able to take my fixie there with me, so I'm wondering about fixie-friendly shops over there. Anyone have any ideas about how easy/hard it would be to build a lower-end (reasonably cheap) fixed gear? Any specific shops for finding components? Thanks for any insights.

Possibly here:
Depot Cycle & Recycle
1F Morita-building
2-32-5 Ichikawa, Ichikawa
Chiba 272-0034, Japan
Tel & Fax 81-47-322-2210
email: depot@yacht.ocn.ne.jp
cycle-recycle-depot.com

got this from Ro and Ellie's site, reloadbags.com

And why can't you take your bike? Mad-Fixed disease?

So I might be moving to Tokyo. Wouldn't really be able to take my fixie there with me, so I'm wondering about fixie-friendly shops over there. Anyone have any ideas about how easy/hard it would be to build a lower-end (reasonably cheap) fixed gear? Any specific shops for finding components? Thanks for any insights.

Go to LBS, ask for bike box, disassemble bike, place bike in box, pad the s**t out of bike, take bike to UPS... ...what am I missing? ;)

Japan is the land of the fixed gear bike. If you can't bring yours with you....you won't have any trouble finding a fixed gear bike. Japan is litterd with mom and pop semi-lbs shops. That mainly sell mama-cherry fixed gear bikes. So you shouldn't have a single problem

Excellent. I probably can't take my existing bike because I promised a friend of mine he could use it while I was away (stupid, right?). In any case, I'll figure something out. Thanks all.

hang out at the keirin track. ask those guys where they get their stuff, and see if anyone's got an old bike they wanna get rid of...

From what I understand there is often old keirin
bikes available, especially in shops near the tracks.
I know of someone who bought a Nagasawa for $200
that way. The bike was somewhat beat (paint) but
otherwise perfect.
Marty

It's been many years since I've moved out of Japan and all I remember back then was that all fixed riders rode track bikes. Thinking back, I assume most or all were trackies.... or Keirinists. I wonder how or what the fixie scene is like today.....if there is one. In Japan, you never know.....they tend to over-do things. Most trends are short-lived but while hot, they're huge!

George!

From what I understand there is often old keirin
bikes available, especially in shops near the tracks.
I know of someone who bought a Nagasawa for $200
that way. The bike was somewhat beat (paint) but
otherwise perfect.
Marty

Pretty cool to think you can fly to Japan and pick up a used Nagasawa for less cash than buying a new one here. I'm kinda suprised that no one, that I know of anyway, imports the used frames, or the shops there don't try and sell them more visably on the net. I'd think there would be a pretty good market for keirin bikes here, especially if they could be gotten for less than 2 grand.

Pretty cool to think you can fly to Japan and pick up a used Nagasawa for less cash than buying a new one here. I'm kinda suprised that no one, that I know of anyway, imports the used frames, or the shops there don't try and sell them more visably on the net. I'd think there would be a pretty good market for keirin bikes here, especially if they could be gotten for less than 2 grand.

.......and also considering Ebay Japan is big and thriving.....I wouldn'd doubt most of them being posted there.....

George

I've been looking there and on Yahoo Japan and haven't found much yet.

I've been looking there and on Yahoo Japan and haven't found much yet.

can your computer do japanese input? i've found a lot of good stuff typing "pi-su-to" in katakana in the search box. now all i need is a proxy account and some cash...

Suggest you contact TokyoCycling http://www.tokyocycling.com/ to find an LBS where you can get an affordable frameset that can be converted to "kitei hensoku no jitensha" [kee-tay-hen-so-coo-no-jee-ten-shah]. If you need help communicating with Sheldon Buran-san ask for Tanaka-san at Kimi Information Center in Ikebukuro http://www.kimiwillbe.com/. Tell her that the Irishman who mostly wins at Nakayama Keibajou (racetrack in Chiba) sends his yoroshiku.

Gambatte!

:roflmao:

"kitei hensoku no jitensha": a quick legged fixed return, self-propelled vehicle/wheel....

...in other words.... a "fixie"

But if I were to walk into a LBS in Japan, I'd say to the kid behind the counter: "Kuikku Shirubar no Jitensha".....

....in other words.... the bike in "Quicksilver"


George

arigatou gozaimasu

Cool...this seems very doable indeed. Thanks for the help.

u speak japanese?

Getting there. Pretty much gonna have to force-learn a ****load when I get there, but oh well.

.......and also considering Ebay Japan is big and thriving.....I wouldn'd doubt most of them being posted there.....

George

Ebay Japan is not thriving; It is dead and gone. They pulled out of Japan a few months ago. Oh well...

Ebay Japan is not thriving; It is dead and gone. They pulled out of Japan a few months ago. Oh well...

Dang!......I'm outta touch!