This is...My Story

I have always loved Japanese track bike culture. Ever since I watched a 20min documentary on Youtube a few weeks ago I have been immersed in the noble pursuit of the Keirin. Whether it's the humble toiling craftsmen carefully brazing together the sleak, steel bicycle frames, or the bristling racers assembled at the starting line, their muscular legs twitching in their tight lycra shorts, or even the blank-faced man caning it round the inside lane on his moped, all the participants of the Nihon Jitensha Shinkōkai are duty-bound to excellence. It is in this spirit that I begin the build of the decade...the one that the readers of this esteemed forum have always been waiting for...a never before witnessed majestic congress of components...yes...a dinged second-hand NJS frame whacked onto some OK wheels, with a bunch of expensive nitto parts!

1. Vogue 55.5cm semi-compact track frame, 2003, serial number 99.60P238, matching track fork - Off ebay, but presumably imported from NJS Export originally given attached components below, has anyone got anymore info on the Vogue frame builders?

2. Hatta R9400 bottom bracket

3. Hatta Swan Super Deluxe head set

Ever since I watched a 20min documentary on Youtube a few weeks ago I have been immersed in the noble pursuit of the Keirin

brilliant

I like this

Meh njs..

has anyone got anymore info on the Vogue frame builders?

They're well-dressed people

I have always loved Japanese track bike culture ever since I watched a 20min documentary on Youtube a few weeks ago...

ftfy

That's how I read it

1. Sugino Mighty Competition 165mm cranks and Sugino 48t chain ring - off ebay, even has original Sugino chainring bolts but they are too long so will have to be replaced :(

2. Mavic Open pro 32 spoke rims 700c, Ambrosio front hub/flip-flop rear, On-One 1/8th" 17t sprocket, Dura-ace lockring, Dura-ace track bolts - complete, super cheap off ebay, put together originally by Dave Hinde according to label. Nice guys at Isambards Cycles on Bethnal Green road replaced crunkly bearing and trued them for very little money.

3. Veloflex Master 23 clincher tires - these smelt nice when I opened them.

I'm assuming no one has ever heard of Vogue frame builders? Ideally I want someone to tell me they are hand built over 24 months by a tenth-generation descendent of an important Samurai family, possibly a blind 70 year-old who works in a pitch-black bike shop using only his sense of taste?

*images

Hi Tynan

Ideally I want someone to tell me they are hand built over 24 months by a tenth-generation descendent of an important Samurai family, possibly a blind 70 year-old who works in a pitch-black bike shop using only his sense of taste?

Spat my sencha all over the keyboard.

possibly a blind 70 year-old who works in a pitch-black bike shop using only his sense of taste

I think they blind them after they build the frame.

Ooo, nearly there! I'm pretty sure everyone reading this is as excited as I am...

1. Selle Italia Turbo 1980 Saddle - new

2. Nitto Crystal Fellow S65 seat post, 26.8 x 300mm - new

3. Nitto B250AA riser handlebars, 480 x 25.4mm - new

4. Skyway Flange BMX handlebar grips - new, squeezed these bastards on with hairspray

5. Nitto Technomic quill stem 70mm - ebay, this might be cut down, normally the Technomic stem is way longer?

6. MKS Sylvan track pedals, MKS large toe clips, Christophe leather toe straps - ebay

I had been led to believe that no sooner had I naively posted a picture of a shiny new Nitto seat post I would be set upon by a pack of grizzled 1990s fixed-gear riders who would pull my piddling little world-view to shreds….very disappointed.

Just need to grease all the bearings, chuck it all together and take it out for a spin! (and carefully lock it in a clear, direct view of the place I'm sitting in any pub/restaurant forevermore)

Done!

Jesus christ this is brilliant

Seconded

Greta Garbo, and Monroe
Deitrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine

Cool build, I like the decals a lot.
Looks a bit weird though IMO, I think it's because of the steep seattube angle and the short stem that sticks out so far.

Update: whacked on a Dia-Compe clamp-on front brake and Dia-Compe Dirt Harry right-hand lever (to make my eight-mile commute less hardcore)

Probs be on it on next Critical Mass if nice weather, last one I took my crappy 1970s Carlton 10-speed runaround cos it was forecast rain, if you see me say hello!

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