I agree. There's nothing wrong with reviving an old thread if the subject is relevant to the thread and that it could somehow be resourceful for others.

So these days relevant means asking about a road group in the SSFG forum?

Threads on the front page at this very moment :


Just sayin', man..

This was just my first stop. By the night's end, I will have posted similar comments on each off-topic thread that somebody defends as relevant in this forum.

I've found that the 'report to moderator' button actually works when I get worked up enough about all the clutter.

You're right. I should have read the post in question. I stand corrected.

As stated in my original post, the ask was out of place here. That being said, after reading the thread, I felt that, given some of the knowledgeable 3Rensho replies, I might get some useful replies. Please go about your business of discussing Vegan saddles. ;)

..

I GOT ONE!

I lived in Madison, WI back in the '70s when Andi Musi was importing 3Rensho bikes for Yellow Jersey Bicycle Coop. I tried a blue, DA equipped, 56 cm road bike and almost bought it but went for a Campy-equipped, 57 cm Appel frame instead. Mike Appel was a local builder who built fantastic fillet brazed frames. He also worked for Trek.

Ten years later I was living in Yokohama, Japan and a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go with him to the 3Rensho shop! It took us about 4 hours to drive on a Sunday from Yokohama to Chiba, about 60 miles. We spent about an hour in the shop watching Makino weld a frame on the table while Yoshi Konno chatted with us. He gave me a Japanese 3Rensho sticker. From that time I knew I would get a 3Rensho someday.

About a year ago a blue 3Rensho MTB attracted my attention in front of Wendy's on Kawaramachi street in Kyoto. I e-mailed Andrew Musi and asked him if he knew if there were any 3Renshos floating around. He told me to contact Takenaka in Kyoto. He was the shop manager for 3Rensho and has a shop here in Kyoto where I had been living for two years unaware. Well, I've been unaware for longer than that.

I went to Takenaka Cycle which has a big 3Rensho banner above the door and he called Makino in Chiba to ask him if he had any 3Rensho frames. Makino said he had a used 58 cm keirin frame and would e-mail a photo. I told him if it was blue, I would buy it sight unseen. Sure enough, it was blue and in mint condition!

The kanji sticker Yoshi Konno gave me:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...chus/kanji.jpg


Here's the photo Makino sent from the old 3Rensho (now Makino) shop:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...us/3Rensho.jpg

Notice the 3Rensho sticker on the bike stand? ...and the name of the keirin racer the frame was made for (K. Yoneda) on the top tube? I feel apologetic when I tell people I paid 42,000 yen for THIS!



Here's the bike now (actually, now it has a front brake instead):

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...3Rensho2-1.jpg

Sometimes I see other fixies and think that I would love to have one of those and then realize, what am I thinking? I've got what I always wanted. I'm fortunate, indeed.

Gale

Yeah, I like mine a lot too.
http://entirely-adequate.com/pianabars/pianaside.jpg

jim-bob,

I see you got a few CDs!



Gale

that is one sexy bike

haha. you just blew my mind. :p

I stumbled across Erik's shop sometime in the last few days of 2007. When I was there, he had a BEAUTIFUL red 3rensho sitting in a corner, next to probably dozens of other road and track frames, mostly Japanese. When I commented about its beauty, his only response was "Yeah, but that one's better," and then he pointed to a green track frame hanging from the ceiling that was labeled Cyclone. He said that Konno had made that one as well. I didn't get a good look at it up close or a chance to ask him about it, but I'm curious.

It looked like the track frame (TR model) in the ads on this page.

Does anyone know anything about Cyclone frames?

I was at Kalavinka Cycles and Tanabe-san (the owner) was talking about the Konno brothers (there are five). He named them and told me what they were doing. Also, Yoshi Konno was Tanabe-san's "sempai" when he was racing in college. Yoshi Konno was in a partnership (Cyclone) at one time with one of his brothers (Cherubim) in Machida.

"(from tomity's email)
3Rensho was created with Mr.Yoshi Konno.
This is a transition of the name of 3Rensho.

Cherubim Cyclone > 3Rensho Cyclone > 3Rensho > Makino
Cherubim builder(Mr.Hitoshi Konnno) is 3Rensho builder(Mr.Yoshi Konnno)'s
Konno brother is big brothers(5guys?)

Mr.Hitoshi Konnno (Cherubim):It retires by the cerebral infarction. The son
succeeds.

Mr.Yoshi Konnno (3 Rensho):It retires due to the traffic accident. Mr.Makino
succeeds.

Mr.Shin Konnno (Miyuki):The frame production retires. The chemical-free
vegetable is cultivated.

Mr.? Konnno (graphic designer?)
Mr.? Konnno (I don't know)

It is what the above-mentioned I know. However, it is likely to differ the
fact and a little.
older brother"

http://www.cs-cherubim.com/product/pist

The Yellow Jersey website has 4 pages about Yoshi Konno and 3Rensho Cyclone, Ltd.

http://www.yellowjersey.org/konno2.html

Gale

hey if you guys want 3 RENSHO or Nagasawa, check out my blog http://supermakuri.blogspot.com/

Oh it was you. :) I remember bidding on the dark blue Nagasawa on Yahoo during the winter. :)
I lost, you won. :)
Saw that Georama go too...that thing is great.

gbarchus' post is correct. It's interesting, over the years (like '78/'79) you can see the transition from CYCLONE to 3RENSHO CYCLONE. This frame is a '78 built by Yamaguchi. It features
Ishiwata 019 tubing, chromed Shimano ends, Tange lugs, Cinelli fastback seat stays
and fork crown, and a Nikko bottom bracket.

http://subtle.org/se/gallery/d/4768-2/purple3r01.jpg

http://subtle.org/se/gallery/d/4773-2/purple3r02.jpg

http://subtle.org/se/gallery/d/4785-2/purple3r06.jpg

http://subtle.org/se/gallery/d/4779-2/purple3r04.jpg

http://subtle.org/se/gallery/d/4794-2/purple3r09.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4231/dscf10lf5.jpg

I love mine

Sashae,

That purple 3Rensho is a beauty! Is that built up now? I love the 3Rensho on the top for the seat stays.

Gale

Stop increasing my perceived need for an NJS frame, people.

(And why aren't you posting prices anymore, super-makuri?)

3Rensho serial numbers and dates
 

For those of you guys who have a 3Rensho, have you figured out the date it was made from the serial number? I bought a 60cm Super Record from the shop next to the Makino store in Chiba a few months ago. I don't have the frame in front of me now so I can't give you the serial number, but I think it starts with 97. Think that means it was made in 1997 (and therefore made by Makino and not Konno)? I've read all the old 3Rensho threads here and the Yellow Jersey page, but my number doesn't match the format they talk about.

hey supermakuri, is that pink panasonic Alans frame?

Sashae,

The frame did look like that, with the chrome lugs, and with those decals on the headtube and seattube
, but it said Cyclone everywhere that one says 3Rensho. It must have been before the transition to 3Rensho Cyclone and eventually 3Rensho. I guess that puts it some time around the mid to late 70's?

There is one of those Cherubim/3renshos here in Savannah. helloamerican on here has it.