I’m back! (And some thoughts on bikes in Japan)

[Kitty]

Aside from that, here are some miscellaneous bike-related photos. I didn’t get any of my husband or I on our Kyoto-by-Bike adventure, largely because he wasn’t having much fun (our bikes weren’t in the best shape and his had brakes that kept locking and gears that wouldn’t shift) but the memories were there. It was a fun way to get around for touring.

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This “rugged” Mommy Bike in Tokyo is a Chevy. Seriously, the decal reads “Heartbeat of America.” Hummer was another popular model.

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A van decorated with “Keirin” bikes- a special indoor type of racing.

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A bike shop in Sendai with a ton of “Mommy Bikes” parked outside. (I have to wonder if they bring them out and set them up every morning)

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A shot of the same shop. What struck my eye is they do sell road and performance bikes, but inside on the 3rd floor–with the sporty figure jumping the roof!

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A quiet neighborhood street in Kyoto, with the residents’ bikes parked just outside the front door.

[Tim Kelley]

A few photos of the velodrome in Tokyo from my visit last year:

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And my artistic attempt in Kyoto:

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[Powerful Pete]

Oooohhh… great report!

Keirin! Track awesomenes!

[dasgeh]

@Kitty 127748 wrote:

Your standard-issue “Mommy bike” will have a built-in lock. This device is like a C-shaped ring attached to your rear fender. When you need to lock your bike, you pull out the key, which engages a that closes the C all the way to form a ring that locks the rear wheel in place. Now, nothing is to stop someone from, say, picking up your bike and walking away with it… except that it weighs a ton, and theft is rare in Japan. Though it does mean you need to watch where you park! If you leave it in a no-parking zone, this makes is easy for your bike to be impounded! All they need to do is dump it into a truck!

This is, I believe, a “frame lock” (I’m familiar with them attached to the frame, not the fender). They are useful here for cargo bikes, which are too heavy pick up. You can buy a chain/cable that works with a frame lock, but generally these are less useful for normal bikes. But, man, is it convenient to just turn the key and go.

[vvill]

I had similar impressions from my visit to Japan. I didn’t have much time to ride but I definitely did lots of observing/gawking

Shinjuku (in Tokyo)

1×6 SRAM twist-shift bikes that were included as part of our house rental in Kyoto. Pretty easy to ride, and they had the frame/C-lock mentioned above. The seatpost was pretty short though, even for my modest height. I had it as high as I could whilst feeling comfortable it wasn’t going to jump out of the seat tube.

Some more bike related photos here. I noticed a LOT of family biking, and many with what looked like e-assist. I did also visit a big electronics/camera store and also noticed how cheap a nice family bike would’ve been (at least in USD).
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-sCcqq3

[Kitty]

@Tim Kelley 127783 wrote:

A few photos of the velodrome in Tokyo from my visit last year:

That’s awesome! Those action shots are fantastic!
I’ve only recently learned the Keirin and how highly regimented it is. (All riders, bikes etc, need to be up to every precise spec.) Apparently it was started as a gambling sport, much like horse or dog racing, so a lot of care it put into trying to keep the yakuza (Japanese mob) out of it.

@dasgeh 127887 wrote:

This is, I believe, a “frame lock” (I’m familiar with them attached to the frame, not the fender). They are useful here for cargo bikes, which are too heavy pick up. You can buy a chain/cable that works with a frame lock, but generally these are less useful for normal bikes. But, man, is it convenient to just turn the key and go.

You’re right, they probably are attached to the frame, just over the fender:

I like the idea of them on a cargo bike or anything else no one is going to walk off with. That’s the one benefit of so many people being on similar large, heavy, cheap bikes, less temptation to steal! (societal opprobrium not withstanding)

[Tim Kelley]

@Kitty 127941 wrote:

Apparently it was started as a gambling sport, much like horse or dog racing, so a lot of care it put into trying to keep the yakuza (Japanese mob) out of it.

Keirin is government run, started after World War 2, and I believe that proceeds go to help fund education?

And here’s a surprise from the Tsukiji Fish Market:

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Bullit’s have a pretty good range!

[DCAKen]

There was an article in the NY Times a few months ago about how bikes weren’t locked up very often in Japan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/magazine/the-bicycle-thief.html?_r=0

[PotomacCyclist]

Apparently in Copenhagen and in other European cities, parents leave their babies in strollers on the sidewalk while they dine in a restaurant or cafe.

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/14/nyregion/toddler-left-outside-restaurant-is-returned-to-her-mother.html
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/08/12/339825261/global-parenting-habits-that-havent-caught-on-in-the-u-s

Apparently this was also common practice in the U.S. in previous decades. According to some accounts it continued into the 1950s, perhaps later.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/15113
http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2011/01/vintage-365-1940s-ad-reminds-parents.html

[mstone]

@PotomacCyclist 128031 wrote:

Apparently in Copenhagen and in other European cities, parents leave their babies in strollers on the sidewalk while they dine in a restaurant or cafe.

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/14/nyregion/toddler-left-outside-restaurant-is-returned-to-her-mother.html
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/08/12/339825261/global-parenting-habits-that-havent-caught-on-in-the-u-s

Apparently this was also common practice in the U.S. in previous decades. According to some accounts it continued into the 1950s, perhaps later.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/15113
http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2011/01/vintage-365-1940s-ad-reminds-parents.html

!

[GovernorSilver]

Great report, Kitty!

Did you get to try climbing a 20% grade super slope on a mommy bike?

This guy has made a career out of refurbishing surplus bikes from Japan and reselling them in the Philippines – mostly mommy bikes and mini velos. Umbrella holder seems to be a popular mod. Swing lock is cool too – the lock prevents the front wheel from swinging around when you don’t want it to – useful for carrying the bike, working on the wheel, etc.

http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/484425-jitensha-philippines.html

[Tim Kelley]

Why Cycling Works in Tokyo

[video=vimeo;157120644]https://vimeo.com/157120644[/video]

[Author]

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