The word "diversity" has started to sound a bit superficial. How many people are truly fascinated by "difference"? I think about it every time I build a fixed gear bike, one by one.
In fixed gear bike culture, it tends to value vague elements like "style." It's not about someone else's idea of what's right, it's about your own sense and feeling. That's why it's okay if you're not the fastest rider. I've admired that kind of style
No problem that to start out just by imitating. I believe that true diversity lies in gradually updating — using what you've truly felt and experienced with your own body.
I'm going to introduce the custom bike I built while reflecting on those thoughts. The frame I picked is a Katakura Silk, one of the NJS frame just arrived our store. Katakura Silk is a long-established brand that has been active since the early days of Keirin racing. When you think of Katakura, you usually picture their twin-plate forks and lugless frame, but this particular frame features beautifully crafted lugs and a simple round fork.
FRAME : Katakura Silk Vintage NJS Frame Set
it's precisely this kind of intentionally non-functional setup that represents one of the defining styles of fixed gear bikes. An uprise handlebar that disappear the meaning of the stem angle. Even though we don't care about aerodynamics, we still try out using a tri-spoke wheel.
Riding a smaller-sized frame with the saddle raised high, creating a high center of gravity — that used to be almost like a kind of dress code.
HANDLE : NITTO B220 AAF Riser Bar
The front wheel is from STIFFI, a brand that is rapidly gaining momentum. This 3-spoke design was inspired by Japanese daggers, and its solid look resembles the now-discontinued ZIPP 3000.
WHEEL : STIFFI 3SX TRACK WHEEL
This rear wheel is also packed with special touches. The rim is the F25, a custom order from F-RIM exclusively for BROTURES YOKOHAMA. Low-height carbon rims like this are quite rare, so they're especially valuable. This design is actually an homage to vintage ARAYA carbon wheels.
By the way, we're currently holding a special pre-order event for custom carbon rims like this, which are not part of the regular lineup.
Order will be accepted until June 1st, so feel free to reach out if you're interested!
I'd love to use Philwood known as the most durable hub, but there is one issue.
Some older Keirin frames were made with narrower rear spacing 110mm. Since modern 120mm hubs generally don't adapt, it'd often necessary to use vintage hubs tat match the frame's specifications.
Surprisingly, not many people know this, but Philwood offers a conversion kit that allows you to adapt their hubs to 110mm rear spacing. With this you can use a modern, high-performance hub on a vintage frame.
The fixed gear bikes sold by BROTURES are basically assembled for city riding. To serve that purpose, a certain level of comfort is essential. One of the biggest concerns when riding a sports bike is saddle discomfort, which directly affects how your backside feels. This time, we've chosen a saddle that provides support without compromising the vintage look of the bike.
This suede-style saddle has a great texture and high-quality feel. Its upward-sloping, sharp silhouette combined with moderate padding makes it comfortable to ride, while also adding a touch of elegance to your bike.
Even when building a vintage frame using a standard format, a fixed gear bike still shows off individuality. What makes fixed gear bikes so interesting is that there's no set template — so a rider's personal taste naturally comes through.
Diversity is not something that should be forced by anyone. The fixed gear culture is a collection of bold, unique identities, each with its own roots and style. I believe true diversity lines in riding a fixed gear bike with the confidence that your own sense of style is one of a kind.
We're here to give you that final push of encouragement.
It doesn't matter if you are a beginner.
If you're interested, feel free to reach out to us anytime.