Candy Cranks

This made the morning news in Tokyo. Apparently some pranksters at the University of Tokyo (Todai) went on a bit of a saddle swiping spree and left a free gift of broccoli for their victims. This happened last month without much issue, but a second round this month had the police involved and pressing charges. The saddles were recovered, by the way.

These events seem to have inspired a bit of a trend.

this appears to be chikuwa, a kind of fish cake that is very yummy

It has been one month since the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan, and though there is still so much work to be done up north and we in Tokyo are living with bottled water and reduced lighting (which is kind of romantic), life is moving along. To help the people in the devastated Tohoku region move on, a Tokyo based group is collecting, repairing and distributing bikes. They are really looking for kids bikes since all bikes coming from other organizations are only for adults. If you cannot donate a bike (ie. you don’t have one to donate or are not in Japan), please donate money on their website. They are also buying new bikes and could surely use funds to gas up their truck.

This is a grassroots effort and it’s a long drive up north so please support this project.

http://bikesforjapan.org/

I apologize this is not fresh post about Nagoya but I’d still like to share this with you here. I currently live in Berlin now (moved in 5 days before Japan got tsunami) This was my last event I organized in Nagoya before I left Japan.

Our first annual Nagoya Tweed Ride was held on February 19. We are not sure but it seems like any other city in all of Japan don’t do Tweed Run. We always like to do different things and need to feel different kinds of cycling culture from the world. So we decided that we needed a Tweed Run but not just as a part of fashion show bike run, we also wanted to understand the English cycling tradition with the London Tweed Run respect.

I worried how many people would be interested in, we didn’t have enough announcement and it was hard to find 19th century tweed clothing here in Nagoya. I was surprised and impressed that we had turn out of over 50 participates dressed up in their tweed outfits. We took place at night and had about 2 hours group riding in Nagoya city. We could appeal some cars in traffics that cars occupied road now but the road was originally made for a bicycle first not for a car so we dressed up back in century and rode for respecting people at that time.

There was also a Best Mustache Contest at the after party but not everyone could have real facial hair, you know we are Japanese. GOOD TIMES, GOOD EXPERIENCE.

Thank you for sharing.

More photos HERE.

Love Wheels Nagoya 2010 calendar was huge hit and we received so many amazing responses from just about every corner of the planet, Europe, US, Australia, Asia… including Afghanistan too. Thank you.

The 2011 Love Wheels Nagoya calendar is now available. I worked on all photo and layout/design of the calendar this year. I know it’s a bit late to advertise and printing a 2011 calendar now but yes, we always like to do different things, our calendar runs from February 2011 to February 2012. So you still get your 12 months. And this is also useful to use as a guide book to cycling into Nagoya City. We Nagoya local cycle girls are backing posing with our rides and favorite spots in Nagoya City.

Special Thanks to our sponsor.  I feel so much love from you.

We love meeting with you guys from around the world and we’re eager to show you our fun city. Come see the real thing in Nagoya!

Calendars are available here. We will ship anywhere all over the all over the world!

International (Free Shipping): www.crankee.me

Nagoya - Circles

Tokyo - Blue Lug

Kyoto - Cosset-Bags , Karaido Cycle

Thank you.

My name is Taecco from Tokyo Japan.

I love riding that can go anywhere and anytime with my boyfriend!!

This cinelli BMX and I maybe same years old !
Bike spec:
Cinelli BMX
Frame:Cinelli MX-1 BMX
Wheel:unknown / one-off aluminum Billet Wheel?
Crank:old Campagnolo BMX crank

Photo entries on flickr

Photo by: R A P H A
Nobeyama Cyclocross Race, the first single Speed championship in Japan sponsored by Rapha and IF Japan was held on October 30- 31, halloween. The race course was in the middle of Takizawa Pasture in the Nobeyama highlands.　The big typhoon was moving around this area and heavy rain the past week helped to get very muddy and greasy course. Some racers got dressed up in halIoween costume and everyone looked having so much fun with shiny muddy face. I wasn’t in the race but I really enjoyed making my special hand brewed coffee on my bicycle there

Photo by: Yohei Morita – COG

Photo by: R A P H A
The race course got filled up with people cheering and ringing out “cowbell” was awesome. It was my first time to see real cyclocross race. I’ve only seen the race in the film or FSCX (Free Style Cyclo Xross) in Nagoya. I got excited to see everything, cows and vegetables were in the middle of the course, the racers riding in greasy muddy pit and slipped off the bike…

Shinobu from Nagoya (Miss July – Love wheels Nagoya calendar) got 3rd place got gold cowbell trophy, yes!

This Rapha’s special made “cowbell” was sold and all the profits will be contributed for the players who participate in the world championship.

This is Rapha’s “COFFEE + MUD + CHOCOLATE” T-shirts, all the profits will also help the players to world championhip expedition expense.

MOMOIRO’s Daruma-Bike (Photo by: R A P H A )

The cyclocross race is awesome! It is not only categorized as just a cyclocross racer to participate in, there were some roadies, MTBers… I got to see some messengers from kyoto, nagoya, tokyo… even nagoya girls are not real cyclocross racers but they had so much fun to get muddy face.

Photo by: OcciTristar

The Nobeyama Cyclocross Race will be an internationl race in 2011 and will be carried out UCI registration. Looking forward to see more international racers.

Photo by: Yohei Morita – COG
Thank you very much Yano_san for inviting me as a coffee girl there.

COFFEE + MUD + CHOCOLATE = FUN!

Nobeyama Cyclocross Race
More photos HERE

I went to compete in the Keirin Race at the Uchinada Velodrome in Kanazawa City for the annual Bang King Track Race on August 28 – 29. The event is organized by Daisy Messenger Nagoya and sponsored by Circles.

Girls Keirin Qualification

Bike fishing…

Delivery Race

This event tends to be casual and light-hearted even though many race to win. Me and my friends dressed up as cheer leaders to cheer everybody and got in the Keirin Race.  It was my third time this year and there were more girls than last year.

Many of the Nagoya cyclists were in attendance as well as cyclists from around Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa local…etc) The race is rather laid back and friendly, this is a weekend of racing, riding and BBQ event, but most of all a great excuse for cyclist to get together and have fun. It is easy to make lots of new cool bike friends from all over Japan especially at the BBQ party.:D

Nagoya cyclists drink and get crazy the most and can beat up other cities at the BBQ party but on the Velodrome, Tokyo messengers are always cool and take the top 3 at the most race evey year…

Everybody sleeps together like a school trip.:D

It was amaging seeing  that some of the girls were the first time to ride a fixed gear bike until the day. Even the first time to wear a helmet & tight fit, the drop handle bars are required and the breaks are not allowed but they had no fear, all girls enjoyed riding and being in the Keirin Race.

Girls Scratch Race

Girls Keirin Race – Final

I got my special weapon GIANT. This is super light and fast! I even felt like I could finally be on my dream podium for the first time this year but all race I was in, I got the 4 th place, weeeeeeeeee… I hate daily practice and never do it.:-(

It is said that participation is more significant than winning at the Bang-King track race. Right?

I can’t to wait to go back and try to get on the podium again next year!

Thanks for sharing this.

More photos HERE.

Last night, our friends at AlohaFixed set up a Honolulu premier of Tokyo to Osaka.

Though it was a short film, it was rather enjoyable. Michael Keany caught me watching the epic journey:

Hipster locking overload:

It was pretty awesome to see the bike racks and trees completely full of colour and wheels on this block!

Name: Jess

Nickname: Lucy, Stooopid

Star sign/Blood type: Aries/B(?)

Birthday: April 3, 1981

Current city: Tokyo

What’s the bike scene like in Tokyo for females?
Pretty cool! You see all kinds of ladies looking cool on bikes. All scenes I have checked out (fixie, single speed mountain bike, some road touring and triathlon groups, and Critical Mass) have all been a nice mix of girls and boys. I have felt welcome and comfortable everywhere…

What’s your favourite ride right now? Only ride right now: KHS f20-something

Where’s your favourite place to ride? All over Tokyo, Komazawa Dori, Kamakura

Favourite riding outfit: jeans ‘n t-shirt

Favourite food: curry!

Favourite movie: Crooklyn

Favourite book: The Blind Assassin, Blade Runner, also Anne Rice, yyup!

What makes you laugh? being tickled, funny dancing in my apartment, people from Osaka, South Park

What makes you angry? messes

What are you listening to on your I-pod? Burial

Do you have any pets? no, just a pigeon on the window sill

Jess’ Candy Cranks posts

The specs are:
♥ Frame and Forks: Giant Omunium
♥ Color: Rie’s special flower (hand painted by Circles kyutai works)
♥ Chainring: Candy Cranks
♥ Crank Set: Sugino RD-2
♥ Wheel: HED 3
♥ Stem: DEDA Newton
♥ Handle: FSA Riser
♥ Seat: SanMarco Regal
♥ Seatpost: Miche SuperType
♥ Tire: Panaracer pacella BL
♥ Pedal MKS Touring Premium
♥ Clip: Brooks
♥ Strap: Brooks

Thanks Meg! Viva Candy Cranks! can’t wait to see this chainring on my bikkkke!

Circles did great job! The frame is all hand painted by Shinya (owner of Circles), I asked him very complicated flower patterns. Shinyadid amazing job on hand paintwork and matching all parts to be dressed up. He shows his excellent taste in customized bike from his experience of learning and working at fashion industry for many years.

This is my 1st new customized bike♥ My 1st bike is very old NISHIKI from San Diego and I didn’t expect that I was going to be a pedal freak until I met Circles bike shop in Nagoya. Cirlces helps to define what cycling is and leading the way in showing people how to have fun on two wheels and find on your way to open up of new world. Shinya said that “You can do anything on your bike.” That’s true. So I do my Coffee bike there.

So, my next target is to win and be on the podium at the Bang King track race coming up in August this summer!

This is my dream…★   Yukki (Miss January: Love Wheels Nagoya Calendar)

More pics of my new bike HERE.