We often hear the term "City Bike. " But recently, I think there are some choices and opportunities in this one word. For example, there's the stylish classic bike that gives off a relaxed vibe as you cruise through the city, the commuter bike designed for getting to and from work, and the street bike that matches a solid fashion style and is built for pushing hard. Even through these three examples move at very different speeds, they all fall under the same "city bike" category, don't they?
And even if you break it down by style, there will always be people who want a bit of everything. Like—can’t a classic steel bike go fast? Or is it wrong to ride a race-shaped bike in a laid-back, fashionable way? Of course, whether something suits your personal style and fashion is one thing, but completely separating bikes by “intended use” only narrows down what you can do—and that feels like a waste.
So, after a long introduction, this time the theme is: building a bike that blends the seemingly opposite concepts of “relaxed” and “fast,” showing how customization can enrich your everyday life in unexpected ways.
LEADER 725TR "Smooth"
There’s a common preconception that “stylish and classic” automatically means a chromoly frame. But you can absolutely create that kind of custom look with an aero-shaped aluminum frame as well—which is why I chose the white 725TR this time. With a white base and silver accents, I thought it would express a kind of understated elegance that blends seamlessly with everyday, casual fashion. Of course, the actual specs are anything but understated, so let’s go through them one by one.
SIMWORKS Rhonda
THOMSON STEM CAP
First up, the riser bar—trusted even on hard trails—really shows its stiffness when you’re accelerating in city riding, swinging the bike from side to side. Then there are parts like the top cap. Sure, they don’t directly affect performance, but playful little touches like this are essential for giving the bike a sharp, stylish look.
PAUL LOVE LEVER
SIM WORKS by NISSEN Stainless Outer Cable for Brake
And while the brake area isn’t usually a big focus for customization on a fixed-gear bike, we didn’t cut corners here either. Naturally, we aimed for something that looks great, but also delivers excellent stopping power. Some people might think, “With a fixie, you can just slow down by pedaling backwards, so brakes don’t really matter, right?” But the truth is, braking is directly connected to speed. Good braking means less wasted energy, and by properly customizing your brake setup, you can ride both effortlessly and stylishly—while still keeping things fast.
selle SAN MARCO ALLROAD DYNAMIC
When choosing a saddle for city riding, comfort has to come first. If you’re using a saddle that leaves you with a sore backside, even the best bike won’t be enjoyable. This one may look racy, but the center cut-out relieves pressure, and the cushioning—originally designed with off-road use in mind—helps protect you on longer rides. I imagine some people even ride to work in a suit, and with a saddle like this, it’s easy to stay comfortable no matter what you’re wearing.
H PLUS SON TB-14 x SHIMANO DURA-ACE HB-7600
The combination of silver rims and skinwall tires brings to mind the silhouette of a Keirin bike. Since I used SIM WORKS for the stem and outer cables, I matched the tires with the same brand as well. The hubs, actually used by professional Keirin riders, offer a beautiful silver finish and excellent rotation performance. They’re cup-and-cone style, meaning you can take them apart yourself, re-grease them, and even fine-tune the rotation by adjusting the grease volume.
HKK VERTEX TRACK RACER CHAIN Silver
For the drivetrain, I went all-in on silver to create a calm, unified look. That said, this is the core area that drives the bike forward, so of course I paid close attention to performance. We have other silver crank options in our original lineup, but I chose the BEAT this time because I wanted to highlight the solid, direct feel that only a direct crank can deliver. With an aluminum frame, it would be a waste to compromise acceleration performance.
As for the chain, I went with the HKK VERTEX, a model also used in keirin racing. The precision of the drivetrain really comes down to the combination of cog, crank, and chain. I think that sense of comfort while riding ultimately comes from having a drivetrain that feels completely free of resistance
Toe clips have played a key role in cycling ever since the days when touring bikes like randonneurs and sportifs were the mainstream. Back then, it was all about single-gate steel clips paired with steel pedals. On today’s fixed-gear bikes, though, they’ve evolved into nylon clips with a more modern look. The truth is, toe clips actually keep your toes from slipping, which lets you ride faster.
What I wanted to convey through this blog is that even elements that seem like opposites—“speed” and “relaxation”—can be brought together depending on how you customize your bike. Customization is all about expressing what you want to do and how you want to ride. So, share your ideas and visions with us, and let’s build a bike together that’s truly your own.
