This just taken outside Box Dog Bikes.. What a lovely Toei…. you guys are killing me.. More here on David’s Custom Toei in this Flickr Set

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As promised – I have uploaded another twenty pictures from a visit to Cycle Square. Last month we went over to Cycle Square in Tokyo to check out the spot and see Erik’s exhibition.
Cycle Square is in Sendagaya, which not too far from Shinjuku and a bit north of Shibuya. It’s a quieter neighborhood, surrounded by several parks and garden such as Shinjuku Gyoen National garden, Yoyogi Park and Aoyama Cemetery.  A very tranquil place to be.

The inside Cycle Square is like a bike nut’s heaven. No - you can’t buy anything here, but there is an array of bicycle objects which blends in with interiors all around 360 degree.  So what is this Bicycle Square is all about?  Think of it as a super-specific Cycling Lounge.  It’s where you come and get a cup of coffee, a bite of cake, maybe some lunch, read magazine, get information about bike ride, see listing of bike events, rent a bike, learn about health care as bike rider, and get a massage, yes there you can get a full on athlete massage pamper session.   Most of all, though, is that this is a real place where people can come together and socialize, similar to the internet but a lot better since it involves face-to-face interactions inside a plush environment that is catered to your love of the bike.  The interior feels very comfortable; there is a concierge lady that will help guide you on cycling topics. Servers and the barista on duty are friendly. Dishes served there look real nice, I think in the menu there’s even the all important Nutrition Facts listed. Very healthy looking place, I tell you.

The Art show that Erik set up there had us all stunned. Erik’s exhibition on the first 4 years of CMWC was very well put up. Collections of manifests, t-shirts, photos and small schwags were nicely presented.  Each item seemed so special, and to see them all together was very impressive.  Erik’s collection grows on and on, and it is his dedication to preserving the past that provides us all with a bit of a guiding light towards the future.

Here’s slide show of the set…

I really glad we stop by to check out the show, the cake was so goood…..

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Wrap up from Tokyo CMWC 2009:

Well, 6 days and 5 night in Tokyo was really fun.

Ok – it took me 4 days to come down from the trip. I feel like I have to wrap up the CMWC before it’s too late, but there are more stories and photos from Tokyo that I have to dig out to share.  For now I will just say……I Really had fun. Tokyo oh Tokyo, what did I get from Tokyo? Let see, two pairs of Japanese natural indigo dyed denim pants, two Japanese chambray shirts, hundreds of new friends, and a proof of true love. Yes – I asked, and she said Yes.

Though I had been to Tokyo numerous times, this trip was the first time I got to travel through the city by bicycle. Was it easy? Yes! Tokyo streets are perfect for city riding, I’m no city planner, but it was very easy to navigate around, very easy to change lane and direction, even though they drive on the wrong side.  The road condition is top notch - smooth,  not bumpy with pot holes like San Francisco. They take care of their streets, they respect them.  Cars know how to share road with bicycles. My lady never rode a bike in any city traffic before, but in Tokyo she had no problem splitting lanes between cars and trucks going 40 km/hr.

Oh I almost forgot, CMWC results!!! Well the organizers only had a chance to announce the first 3 finishers of men and women for the main race.

Here’s the breakdown:

Out of 380 racers that came for qualification, 60 men and 10 women were in the main race

Mainrace Men

Juri (Tokyo). Prize. Custom Crank bag and Soma Frame
Shino (Tokyo)
Stevie (Zurich)

Mainrace Women

JoJo (Stockholm) Custom Crank bag and Gold pedal necklace
Yuki (Tokyo)
Christina (Chicago)

Fixie King

Jumbo (Copenhagen)

Sprint

Men:Alex Forolettii (Canada??)

women: Alex’s girlfriend.. forgot her name..

Skid

Men: Jumbo (Copenhagen)

Woman: Sarah Murder(San Frandisco)

Backward circle

Daz. 149 ROUNDS!!!

Trackstand

I don’t know.  Someone needs to fill me in on this. I left when the organizer decided not to let both men and women do the trackstand at the same time….

How about the two that I followed throughout the event? Both qualified for the Final, Fergus came in top ten. Mr Chas.. DQ because he can’t read the rules! Actually, he finished the race, he scored money that would have gotten him 5th place, but he had 3 packages left in his bag, DQ for him :(

Well you know what? everyone is a winner……

CMWC Tokyo was well organized, perhaps a little too well organized for my taste. I thank them for taking time and organized such event. Turn out was in the thousand each day at the Race venue. After party at disco club was not my cub of tea. Smoke filled 4 level dance floors, with bouncers checking every bags for chocolate bar really ticked my nerves. I would prefer a tall can gathering in the parking lot with friends.

Bottom line is, I had a hell hec of fun. Thank you Incase for all the Japanese denim garments I bought, thank you all the friends that let me take pictures of you doing nasty move and funny faces. Thank you my lady Jassy for booking the room, helped carrying camera gears  and being the prettiest girl in the show, I love you.

I hope you guys enjoys my love story in Tokyo….. Oh and the pictures. Feel free to drop me  e-mail if you want copy of high Res photo puck@cyclezine.net
Or if you just want to help me go shopping in different country, I will do it.

Next year CMWC 2010 Guatamela… I’m going!!!!

and here the slide show if you have time to see 200+ pictures..also posted here in Incase Bloggy

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So I finally got my happy hands on a copy of COG Magazine, issue number 6.  Most of you have become familiar with this magazine lately, it is one of the few magazines that are actually printed on paper dedicated to this Fixed Gear Culture.  Pushbike Shop had blogged that COG magazine just arrived at their shop, so without hesitation I rushed out from work trying to get to the shop before their gates slam closed at 7pm sharp. I went in the shop and saw Ian and Sarah getting ready to leave for their weekely ride and promised I would be quick.  They were kind enough to let me grab a couple; one for me and another one for me.

My expectation of the COG magazine is very high, as the past issues have all been getting better and better. I have every issue and would recommend that you find a copy of the back issues. The paper quality is great – glossy and a nice weight, and even better is the content inside, which is packed with stories about bicycles.  Not to mention, the photographs are superb.  Their editors must work pretty hard, it sure shows.  The selection of pictures is top notch and their stories are in depth enough to provide details while remaining short enough to read and digest in one sitting.

It’s like a well crafted photo book, because I believe that  photographs will tell a thousand words. Peter does a very good job laying out the story that he wants to tell, which is always accompanied by the fabulous pictures.

Issue 6 is packed with tons of material: the Story of  anold Keirin Champion, along with a write up on the Six-Day race, a report of NAHBS bike show and party, introduction and review of bicycle books, product reviews, interview with Bilenky frame builder, interview of John Prolly and loads more.  What I found to be so important about the magazine is that some people who pick up the magazine might just want to look at some fashionable bikes, and they end up receiving a bit of a history lesson if they choose to read the stories.  It is nice, almost like a school lesson at a punk rock show – the kids that show up think they are just getting a good time and some fun but then end up walking away with some knowledge. 

 I really like reading the story about Six Day race in Berlin, because I had kind of heard a little about six-day race tradition that happened in Madison Square Garden back in the 1920s, but never really understood the exact happening of the event.  Or, maybe I just didn’t know that cycling was really big in USA back in the day.  Madison Square Gardens is still a very famous destination for the sporting world, yet the one sport that made the place famous isn’t even happening in the building any longer!  As usual, all good things eventually end up back in Europe.  COG did a good job telling this story to me. I am fascinated to learn about Stayer racing, where riders have to coordinate with the motorcycle riders to reach the maximum speed. Well written, and it leads to me doing more research on my own.  I always welcome a chance to learn something new.

 Overall impression: COG mag is a very well organized magazine, more content stories and photo, advertisement is very minimal, and most are from small and cool companies that I had heard of and would support.  Can I  just say it?  No cheesy products ads here. I thank Peter for keeping it classy, and I really like the magazine he’s making. 

(Text and thoughts by PUCK.  Edit by Brian)

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