The Radavist

Bombtrack just sent over its latest “House Blend” video series, featuring Tokyo’s Matthew Cycle and now we want to go back to Japan!

Today we’re honored to feature the latest from Japanese artist Kosuke Masuda for Specialized. Read below to see his latest work…

Chances are, you’ve seen Da Brim before. I know you have. Usually, it’s the cyclo-tourists on the Adventure Cycling Bicycle Route 66, or the TransAmerica Trail that wear these kooky devices.

Let’s be real, skin cancer is a very real threat and keeping your nose, ears, and neck protected from the relentless sun is only going to get more important in the coming years.

Our friends at Blue Lug know how to take a product like Da Brim and make it look cool, meshing safety with fashion.

What do you think? Excessive sunblock? Or a kooky (in a good way) sum brim?

Shimano is celebrating its centennial this year with a special website, commemorating 100 years of making fine componentry. Check out this short video first and then head over to 100 Works to see more!

As a designer, sometimes you get a commission that really jives with your hobbies. Graphic artist Iancu met a Japanese Cyclist through the Rapha Cycle Club and designed him a dream bike with Firefly Cycles.

“One of the benefits of being part of an international club, the Rapha Cycling Club, is getting to know great people from all over the world. One of them is Haj, who lives in Miami, US, but was born in Tokyo, Japan.

We’ve been talking about our cycling and Japan interests over the years, and he’s always been very kind and appreciative of my work. He really liked the Quirk bike design I had done before, so he asked if I could help design a bike for him as well. The world-renowned Firefly Bicycles team from Boston were building it. This had all the markings of a dream project, so I said yes, of course.”

Head to Iancu’s Portfolio Site to see the full bike.

If MKS is known for anything, it’s their ability to design and construct a no-nonsense pedal with zero required maintenance. However, MKS hasn’t seen many advancements in its catalog over the years, so when a brand like Sim Works reaches out with idea, you get the best of both worlds. The Bubbly pedal is the result of a tight collaborative effort between two Japanese companies, fusing the heritage of MKS with the practical, modern designs of Sim Works. These pedals include a triple-sealed bearing housing, a stainless pedal spindle, and the largest platform of any MKS product to date. The Bubbly comes in black, silver, and a limited edition bronze for $98. They’re in stock and ready to ship today at Sim Works’ webshop!

These days, if you want a bike to go touring or bikepacking on, you end up with a lot of vacant cargo bosses when you’re not loaded up. Japan’s Runwell Tools makes various cycling accouterments, including these punk, metal studs that screw into cargo bosses. Velo Orange is now the US distributor for Runwell Tools, so head over to their webshop to see all the offerings, which vary from NJS chain tools, hammered stem caps, and handlebar grip shifting knobs for autos. Unfortunately, the punk studs are sold out but they’re expecting more in stock soon!

While we’re working on our winter drop, our friends at Circles just stocked some special edition JP-only Radavist pocket tees. There’s a great little post at the Circles Blog showing the process at Daisey Print Works. Check out the colors and designs at Circles’ Web Shop.

SimWorks, in their never-ending pursuit to produce fun and thoughtful products for your bike, just announced the CowCow Stealth riser bar. These bars have an 80mm rise with 12º back and 5º up sweep, offering up a proper rise from Nitto’s heat-treated aluminum. These bars are in stock now at SimWorks.

-Material: Heat Treated Aluminum
-Width: 750mm
-Center diam: 31.8mm
-Bar diam: 22.2mm
-Rise: 80mm
-Sweep: 12° back, 5° up
-Weight: 380g (avg.)
-Color: Stealth Grey

PEdALED recently launched the Jary collection and within this robust catalog of new pieces lies this beautiful All-Road Hooded Merino Jersey.

This jersey is made from a merino wool blend for natural breathability, durability, and body-heat regulation. It also incorporates ripstop chest panels to combat cold wind and keep your core temperature in check while also protecting against scratchy plants in the woods. The balaclava-style hood keeps the cold off your head and face, coupled with windproof cuffs to keep unwanted gusts out.

The entire Jary collection is a looser-fit, allowing you to layer up and dress more casually. These are designed in Japan and made in Italy.

The All-Road Hooded Merino Jersey retails for $180 at PEdALED.

Sim Works is proud to release their newest collaboration with Nitto in Japan. It’s a front rack constructed of Chromoly – just like your favorite bike frame – called the Half Moon Rack. Like all of Sim Works’ designs, this new rack puts function first, yet is well designed, and constructed to last a lifetime.

The ‘Half Moon’ rack is a light-duty front rack with a half-moon as inspiration. It’s available in chrome and black. Retail is $230.

Specs:
Material: 9mm CrMo Steel Tube
Weight: ave.780g
Max Load: 12kg
Leg length: 332mm〜352mm
Color: Chrome Plated & Black
Made by Nitto in Japan

See more at Sim Works.

We’ve seen dozens, if not hundreds of adaptive reuse of Thomson’s bags. For those unfamiliar, Thomson ships their stems and seat posts in these durable bags, of which people have made them into various bicycle portage offerings over the years. Blue Lug Hatagaya just upped the ante with these bags, as a part of their celebratory Thomson Day.

The Blue Lug Blog has a bunch of fun photos showcasing their use. These bags will be on sale at the three Blue Lug stores on Saturday, October 10th and the online store will be stocked Monday night, October 13th if any are leftover.

Head to Blue Lug for more!

The newest product from Nagoya-based Sim Works is the “John Cage”, a bottle cage unlike anything we’ve seen before, designed from scratch, designed and made in Japan, and a truly elegant design. The John cage’s inspiration is best summed up by the team at Sim Works:

“When a young musician found hunger on his path, he looked to the ground beneath him to carry him onward. Thus began a life-long quest for fungi and the mirror it shines on the rest of our worlds. That fascination spawned- and cast its spores through the vibrations we hear and the paths we follow.”

Material: Stainless Steel
Weight: 74g
Finish: Black, shot blast
Double mount system – high and low offset

In stock now at Sim Works.

The Sim Works Doppo is quite the versatile platform and today, the brand announced its newest addition to their touring lineup with the Doppo MTB. These frames are made in Japan by Shin Hattori and the frames come in two sizes, medium and large, but with their compact geometry, can fit a variety of riders. With a segmented Tange fork to complete the look, the Doppo is priced at $1,880 and yes, the fork can be purchased separately. Head to Sim Works to see more!

Uses Tange Chromoly Steel Tube Set

・44mm head tube
・Light weight and high strength TIG welding
・Recommended suspension stroke: 120mm stroke for 27.5″
・Can be used with up to 180mm disc rotor
・Rear 12mmx148mm BOOST
・Max tire clearance: 27.5 x 2.8″ / 29 x 2.4″
・73mm JIS Threaded BB Shell
・Seatpost size: 30.9mm
・Seat clamp size: 34.9mm
・Front chainring single up to 34T
・Seat tube has holes for internally routed dropper post
・Eyelets compatible with anything cage under the down tube
・Front and rear thru-axle included

You all asked and Sim Works listened. Their popular Super Yummy tires are now available in 26″ x 2.22″. This latest addition rounds out the Super Yummy line to 29er, 27.5, and 26 options, all in a 2.22″ width. The 26″ tires weigh 788g and their robust construction virtually eliminates holes or flats. They’re in stock now at Sim Works USA but will probably sell out quick, so act fast!

One question I get a lot is “what is that rear rack?” when I post this bike. Well, it’s not a rack per se, it’s a bag support, compiled of Nitto components, dubbed the Pec Dec.

It’s almost always sold out but Rons Bikes has full stock today of this ingenious system, so jump on it now if you’ve been intrigued.  The price is $69.69.

Sim Works has upped the diameter for its popular Super Yummy tires. These tires are tough, offering up ample sidewall protection, wrapped in a criss-cross pattern, embedded in the peanut butter-colored sidewalls. These are in stock now at Sim Works.

29 x 2.2 won’t fit in most gravel bikes but they’d look great on a rigid MTB or this beautiful SS29er built by Black Cat Bicycles. See more of this bike below!