57cm Bridgestone Frame SOLD!

this just came in today. Big and beautiful. and only $625.

just after i move away...

There's talk of this in Richmond. Supposedly the Vandedrome (portable velodrome now residing in Lancaster, PA) and a crit course are part of the plan. Sounds like a big plan in given the current economic environment but you never know what will happen.

Hub Spare Parts

Next week I'll have spare axles and bearings for Kazane track hubs available for sale on the website and through dealers. These will fit some other brand track hubs, too. January 2nd is the arrival date for the hubs and cranks. All colors will be available then.

alan

This alan Mercurial just found a new home. The owner sent me this picture. We 6 models of road Alan frames plus cross models starting at $600 for frame/fork. These are really made in Italy.

7 Bridgestone NJS Frames are Here

vote for cycling

Craig Dodson of Richmond Pro Cycling is up for the '08 Crocs Inspiring Sole Award. This award recognizes five "athletes who have dedicated their lives to raising awareness for meaningful causes." Voting is easy and if you uncheck the box at the bottom you won't get the Crocs email newsletter. Best of all, if Craig wins he'll get $25k to the charity of his choice and a full profile in Outside Magazine. Above is a picture of Craig racing with Mike Stoop of Team Mountain Khakis (then Time Pro). Both of these teams will be rocking Kazane frames and wheels in '09.

6 keirin frames

I just got in 6 frames, all red and 55-56cm. 5 Bridgestone and a Level. They all look great and have different decals/paint. Look for them later today.

finally a good fixed video

"I was just ridin' along..."

"and all of the sudden my fork broke. This is covered under warranty, right?"

Bonerjamz from Ian Roche on Vimeo.

i'm scared

of 45 degree banking. I guess riding any banking on a track is intimidating at first, but holy crap is that steep. The new indoor track in Boulder is 142 meters long (that's right) with 45 degree banks. There will be some crazy spectator races there.

kendo saddles blowout

I've put the last few Kendo saddles at a blowout price of $30. I have black, brown, pink, silver, red, and blue. These are on keirinculture.com. After this there won't be any more at all.

Orange 20 Bikes

Kazane frames and parts are now available in LA. Orange 20 has their first shipment of frames on the way now. They recently moved to a new bigger location at 4351 Melrose ave. The link to the shop is on the right of this page. I don't really need to say anything about the shop because everybody knows already.

What the hell happened to Bottecchia?

In 1924 and 1925 Ottavio Bottechia won the Tour de France. The next year he started his own line of race bikes. They made some nice bikes over the years. And they were very Italian.
A few years ago, I think in 2004, I was working for a small road bike distributor. We already had a Taiwanese brand that actually made really nice road and track bikes. The builder was small and we needed another brand to sell to shops in the US. The logical choice was an Italian company because there were a few with no US representation. I can remember Bottecchia's booth in the Italian pavilion of the Interbike show. It was twice the size of most other booths but only had 4 bikes. They did, however, have a giant backdrop with a picture of one of their bikes beside a semi-nude woman. Right away we were impressed. The bikes themselves were beautiful and very Italian. The problem was that the prices just too high, higher even than the better-known Italian brands like Colnago and DeRosa. We left the meeting empty-handed and Bottecchia's Italian bikes never found a home in the US.
Fast forward to this morning. Being a lover of Italian bikes I occasionally search different builders on ebay to see what's floating around. After searching this revered brand's name I found out there is now a "Bottecchia USA" selling discount Chinese road bikes on ebay. Bottecchia, like other brands like Tommaso, sold the use of their name to some US company with Chinese connections that just design the cheapest bikes they can and sell them to unsuspecting ebayers (if there is such a thing). Ottavio must be spinning in his grave.

chrome forks

I've set up an email list for people who want kazane chrome threaded track forks. I'm not sure when they'll show up so I'm not taking pre-payment. Send me an email at njs@keirinculture.com and I'll put you on the list. These will sell out fast (again).

cure for insomnia

Fixy Life #1 from Fixy Life on Vimeo.

CSK Aero Track Bike

I'm selling this complete on ebay here. This is a pure race from built from Italian Dedacciai 7003 aero tubing. My friend got it but it was too small so I'm selling it for him. I built it with mostly new parts. The wheelset is really nice - 36h Kazane gold hubs built onto black nonmachined 30mm Kinlin rims. A Nitto njs bar rounds out the package.

new kazane crank color

Kazane cranks will now be available in blue for purchase around Christmas from keirin culture and other fine establishments (listed right). All of the other colors will be back in stock then, too.

now on keirinculture.com

kalavinka and giro tomorrow

I've got an almost new Kalavinka and a Giro coming tomorrow. after that I'll have 9 Bridgestones and a Level.
Sorry I didn't have a Black Friday sale like some other places. I'll save that for WalMart and Best Buy.

Solution BMX Skate Shop has a new blogspot

Solution BMX Skate Shop in Muncie, IN, just started a new blog. They sell track stuff now, too. You can see that their main business involves bikes that are actually built for doing tricks on, and therefore the tricks look a whole lot cooler.

Hoppy interviewed on fixedgearfever.com

Check out this interview of Jeff Hopkins on fixed gear fever. He's now retired from racing and working at Dick Lane Velodrome as well as a few other gigs like coaching and bike fits. I'm hoping to bring him up to Keirin Culture for a couple of days of fits next year. He knows his stuff. My favorite part of the interview is Scott referring to Jeff's track bike as a "rather basic steel bike." It's true. Just like road racers, track racers are super-obsessed with equipment even before they physically get to the point where that extra money will make a difference. On both fronts road and track) I'm all about the working class race bikes, and next season I'm sure a lot more people will come to my side. With the economy tanking I think some of these bike companies are going to regret pushing only $6000 bikes and neglecting the folks who can't afford that. The guys on the pro team I'm sponsoring will be riding a light aluminum Kazane frame built up with Kazane wheels and SRAM Rival. The whole bike will come in under $2k complete. Having a bike like that won't slow you down but it might free up enough cash to actually get to some races. Back to Hoppy, maybe more track racers should forgo Teschners and BT's in favor of something more affordable and use the money saved on a coach like Jeff.

whoah!

Track Cocaine is coming! I sure hope these bikes don't suck because I want to be friends with this guy.
Update-
I just did a Who Is search to find out the owner of this site and it seems to be this guy. This is just getting weirder and weirder.

sweet seat angles

So a "Leading" ebay frame company has an $800 lugged steel frame. I think that's fine. Just kind of funny that they brag about their track specific geometry. Apparently track specific geometry means too steep of a seat angle for endurance events, plus a top tube of almost 57cm for someone who is 5 foot 9. Also, Kazane frames suck (not mentioned by name) because they are made of 4130, which happens to be the most popular tubeset for keirin frames (an upgrade from 019). I guess Dolan, Look, and Teschner must be wrong about seat tube angles, too.

snow

it's snowing here in roanoke, and in richmond. that's where my road team is based. the kazane team consists of 3 current and 2 ex-messengers. they have to work in the snow and can't afford $269 all weather jackets inspired by messenger culture. they also ride geared bikes and don't wear flat-brimmed caps.

silence is goldie

YBN chains are the real thing. I sell them on keirinculture.com in 4 models. This is the 747SL gold. Hollow pins and links, the works. It looks good on a gold crankset (mate it with a gold Kazane cog and lockring). This is on an IRO I built up for a guy I know in Richmond. Yeah, I sell IRO at the shop. For the money they're solid and you can build one up to spec for the same price or less than a Pista.

finally

Finally a keirin culture bike made it on bikesnobnyc. It has nothing to do with the bike. It has more to do with the naked girl riding it. Here's the original story.

For proof here's a picture of the bike taken in the basement of my old apartment (formerly known as Keirin Culture World Headquarters, or the Pain Cave:
Unfortunately there were never any naked girls riding rollers in my basement. I'm happy for the new life that this Reminton went on to live. These frames all started as race bikes but after they go to their new homes in the US their stories are as varied as the paint jobs. Before I saw this, I thought the best thing that could happen would be that the frame returns to life on a velodrome. More often than that I'm asked to write up an insurance estimate because the bike has met an untimely end. At this point, though, I feel like a proud father watching his son's first DP scene in a porno movie.

vintage national frame

Before Panasonic there was National. This one is a little rough but doesn't have any dents. 52.5cm. I have some parts that I'll post soon, too.

another day

October is usually a good time to take a vacation in the bike industry. Here it's a little different. Most of my time is spent behind the computer at the shop. A lot of time has been spent on the design of the new road frames that the Premier Sports Partners pro team will ride. The geometry is done so now it's time for the graphics. I'm also working on some new colors for the track frames for next spring. A few of the current colors will come back, especially red and pink. Any input on that is welcome.
I'm also working on getting in new stuff to have available in the retail shop. Roanoke and Blacksburg are both starting to get fixed scenes. Kazane bikes tend to get a little expensive so I'm bringing in IRO to have an affordable custom-built fixed gear.
Next on the schedule today is to work on a page on the website that features the shop. Hopefully I can get it done.
-sd

pics of the shop

let's make it official

2009 is going to be a big year for keirinculture.com and Kazane. The big news is that the Premier Sports Partners UCI pro road team will be riding Kazane frames and wheels. Last year the team was known as Time Pro Cycling. Highlights of their '08 season include wins at the Harlem Skyscraper and San Francisco Twilight crits. They also made a strong showing at races like USPRO and the Tour of PA.
This is the best team in the US for me to get behind. The goal of the team is to develop young racers. They do this by having a core of U25 racers with a few experienced mentors to help them along. Along with the pro team is a developmental team that will work as a feeder to the pro squad. Also important to me is the fact that they are based in the region and are planning to have their spring training camp in the mountains of the Roanoke area. This will create a good opportunity to help build the region's reputation as one of the best areas for cycling on the East Coast.
I started Kazane as a track bike only company and this team will help the brand grow on the track as well as the road. I had a choice to make in my marketing for next year - either get involved one of the most positive programs in pro racing or, like most of the other track bike brands and shops, focus purely on street and trick riding. Keirin Culture was born out of friendships that started at a road race in Taiwan, and the original goal was to help my friends who are pro keirin racers - a career that is just not as lucrative as it was in the past. Now that the company has grown to include a new brand of frames and parts I think that the best way continue the mission is to help young racers who are making the same sacrifices for the sport here in the US.
Check back for more updates on the team and their equipment.

Miche Pista Advanced in stock

I just got in a limited number of Miche Pista Advanced 144bcd cranksets. Price is $200 w/BB. These are pretty hard to get these days.
Also - if you have the old Miche cranks with 135bcd and need some rings let me know. I have a full size run to unload.
One more - I'll post a used Sugino 75 crankset, Superbe Pro post, and Kashimax saddle tomorrow.

alleycat in norfolk, va

Beware the ….
SCAREDY CAT ! ! !

This Completely Terrifying Bicycle Race will start frighteningly close to 7:30pm, on the Horrifying holiday, All Hallow’s Eve. Creep your most Dire Bicycle over to the Spooky School at the Bone-Chilling intersection of Colley and Spotswood Avenues, dressed in your most Unnerving Costumes, carrying your most Horrendous Bag, and your most Hair-Raising Bicycle Lock.

Friday, October 31st (Halloween), 730pm
Colley & Spotswood Aves, Ghent

Must Have
Bicycle
Bike Lock
Backpack/Bag

Costumes Encouraged!
ALL BICYCLES WELCOME!

road wheels

the secret's out that we've got Kazane road wheels coming out next year. I've had a lot of people testing them for durability and they've done really well. In fact, out of about ten pairs on the road, not a single one has needed to be trued. They weigh about 1600 grams with Pillar bladed spokes (28/24) and ultralight Kazane hubs. Today was probably the ultimate test. Mike Stoop (Time Pro Cycling on the road/Altius for cross) has been riding them on his Alan cross bike for the last month or so. Today we took them out on the rooty singletrack of Explore Park outside of Roanoke, VA. After almost two hours on the trails at high speed they're still true. His road team will be racing on these next year.

Alan road and cross frames are in stock at the Keirin Culture shop in Roanoke. These are some of the last true Italian frames.

25mm deep alloy clincher rims, run with Challenge cross tires.

High flange rear hub for stiffness.

Low flange extra light front hub. The wheels will sell for $400. I have a few pairs for Shimano 10 in stock.
This is Mike with Gus the keirin culture mascot.

congratulations

My friend Nori Ijima took out the 40-44 3000k pursuit title at the masters games in Sydney, and was a split second away from breaking the event record in qualifying. He races keirin to pay the bills but is much handier in long events. He's also won the keirin road championship, which pits pro keirin racers against each other on a long road course on geared bikes. You can watch the races on cyclingmasters.tv. they have all of the events up. Here's a picture of him I took at the road race we did where we became friends.

update

Just got back from ATL for Hoppy's wedding and to hang out with the No Brakes guys. Twotone and Stacy were the best hosts I could have asked for. No Brakes is a great shop and I'm glad to have them in the family.


This is a pic of the brand new Olmo San Remo road frame. Olmo made these out of NOS tubes and lugs and you'll be able to see them in person at the Keirin Culture shop. the shop should be open by Wednesday. The walls are painted and the floor's almost done. Just have to move the inventory and displays in.

if you want to buy a new frame

Go to one of the shops to the right or buy it online here. All colors are in stock and look even better in person.
The new Keirin Culture shop is set to open on October 15th. Right now I'm in the painting stage. When that's done I'll move the inventory and fixtures in and we'll be in business. The web store is operational now.

new kazane frames are here!

Night of the Living Tread

Check jimmyrigged.com for details.

Trent Wilson on Kazane Wheels

Here's Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe's road pro) on Kazane carbon track wheels at the Atlanta Festival of Speed weekend. Photo courtesy of No Brakes.

Blacksburg VA Alleycat

Last night I went down to Blacksburg, VA, where some VA Tech students were putting on the first ever alleycat race there. Nate Goodman and AJ Keefer were in charge of it and pulled off a great event. The winner took home a wheelset made of Kazane hubs laced to FIR rims. They'll do more races so check back for more info.