In December of 2021 I wrote about a Nagasawa track bike I restored. It was actually my second Nagasawa; this article is about my first one. I acquired it in early 2017 as a lucky eBay find; only $800 complete! Based on the serial number, it was made in 1984, and I think it had been repainted at least once in its life, since the paint was in excellent condition. It was built up with cheap parts which I quickly discarded, opting instead for an all-Suntour Superbe Pro track build. I also had an additional challenge: I don’t ride brakeless fixed in the streets, but I also did not want to defile one of Nagasawa-san’s forks by drilling it for a brake. Instead, I purchased a fork from a different NJS bike that had already been drilled, and which used the same fork crown and dropouts as the Nagasawa. I acquired new decals and sent it off to Allan Wanta, who did a marvelous job matching the pearlescent yellow paint of the original. Read on for more info on the build, plus a cool interview with Nagasawa-san from 1983! Continue reading
Fernando’s grandfather and founder of Cuevas Bicycles, Francisco Cuevas, hand-built over 35,000 frames during a 70-year career that spanned three continents. Renowned for his ability to build frames without the aid of a jig or pins, brazing exclusively with brass, and incorporating many unique and thoughtful details, Francisco was a true craftsman of the old world. The Cuevas Custom randonneur frame is testament to his vision and artisan skills.
