the_don

Everywhere is completely out of stock until the 2009 bikes start coming in, but I sold my langster Boston and am looking to get a more proper fixed wheel.

I like the Bianchi Celeste colouring, but was thinking what Tokyo people think of these bikes.

Eventual modifications I was thinking to do would be to get Nitto Handlebars, only have a single top bar direct pull brake, put white rubber grips on the drops and add a Thomson Masterpiece seatpost and maybe some Gran Compe wheels in all white with white tires.

I really like Nagasawa bikes, and all the keirin frames, they look sweet. but they do cost a bomb and i wanna get something that I think looks good immediately and that I can change a bit to my suiting, but still be a good ride.

So are the Bianchi Pistas good, bad, tacky, lame, **** quality, or just plain ridiculed over here?

kmart

There is a festival here in Japan where Bianchi pistas stuffed with candy are hung from tree limbs and children beat them with baseball bats, much like Mexican pinatas. So, if you are ever caught riding one in Tokyo around this time, watch your back..

Seriously though, nobody gives a crap what you ride, especially in Tokyo. Pistas are fine, customize away (as long as it involves rizers, a brooks saddle, components anodized in primary colors, etc). As long as you conform to the standards, you should have no trouble being successfully accepted into pisuto culture.

the_don

Good work max, thought as much, but some people can be a bit funny.

Any idea of what the cheapest i pickup a Nagasawa?

whalesalad

The only thing I don't like about the Pista is the fork. The crown (or lack thereof I suppose) just reminds me of my old crappy GT Dyno (had aero wheels haha) bmx bike from the good ol days. There was a thread here very recently though that was about a guy buying the new nashbar carbon fiber fork and putting it on his Pista and I thought it looked great. Pretty cheap in the grand scheme of things too.

And celeste is a great color

Disclaimer: I'm not japanese... or from tokyo just my $0.02.

peabodypride

One should keep in mind that the Chrome pista of America is not the same as the offering in Japan. Apparently there the 08s were celeste (as noted) and they had a Pista ALU as well, which is sort of like the Concept, but not?

whalesalad

Yeah the chrome pista is synonymous with the honda civic ex with a d-series motor and a ricepipe

A celeste pista would be mighty nice.

Those "mini" road bikes that every american wants but are only avail in japan are pretty cool too.

the_don

Japanese Bianchi fork has a crown.

sp00ki

wow. if that fork is stock, the japanese pistas are completely different than the US ones...
check out the chain stay. and the obvious color difference (assuming that's stock too).

is this for real?

na975

a chopper fix.

beeftech

Wow, the Pista frame/forks in Japan look bomb.

The Mr. Paul

I bought a lime green Pista in April. It's my first fixed gear bike and I really like it. I Bought it from a shop in Nakano. Tokyu Hands has Celeste, Lime green, yellow, and pink ones.

the_don

This is a bit more close up on the special pink edition.

bitterspeak

How is the pricing compared to the US?

westokyo

I have seen them for sale around 55,000yen or so. Roughly little over $500. The Pista's here are available with either flat bars or drops.

the_don

wow, where have you seen them, al the stores I have been to have nothing, protech and y's international

westokyo

It was a few months ago. Check out Cycly and if you go there ask them when they will get another one. Every once in a while they will have a brand new Pista flat or drop for around that price.
What about a Fuji Track?

reedreeder

man that thing is dead sexy. why the hell don't they look like that over here?

trons

they finally caught on to that fork thing...

beeftech

Exactly what I'm wondering...

the_don

Ah, you mean サイクリ-！！！　They sell used bikes, I went to the one in Yoyogi last year, but it is small there.

They just opened a big one in Shibuya, Damn, I was just at the bottom of that street there yesterday, should of had a look, if only I had known it had existed, it looks like it is just on the corner down the hill from red bar (If u know of that place, if you don't, it's a cool little place that stays open forever and all drinks are quality and only ¥500).

I will check it out wednesday as I think I will working a typical Japanese overtime shift tomorrow, 9-9pm, give or take a few.

Tomo_Ishi

I thought Cycly is on Summer break till 21st. That's Thursday for us, Don.

Tell me how it goes. ... I am tempted to buy their Panasonic frame. I won't make it to the store till October ... So much for getting good paying job, ... they make me work as much as they pay me.

T

ZiP0082

the pistas in this thread look like they have slacker geometry than ones available in the states?

the_don

For those that are interested...

Here's the geo


Here is a photo of the Celeste.


Here is the parts list.

kergin

any word on who's OEM-ing these for Bianchi Japan?

the_don

I thought that Bianchi made frames in Japan especially for the Japanese market.