In a message dated 9/17/06 9:45:31 PM, glenn.ammons@gmail.com writes:
> On 9/16/06, dbrk <dbrk@mail.rochester.edu> wrote:
> > Just a little help: Does anyone know the link (or is there a website) for
> the
> > Alps Bicycle Company of Japan.
>
> Is this it?
>
> http://www.alps-cycle.co.jp/
>
>
Hi List members,
I and Mr. Takao Noda (tanoda@d1.dion.ne.jp), a specialist of Italian Bikes, lives in Tokyo area visited Alps shop several years ago back. A nice small shop with full of bikes facing to very busy road where the shop owner had workshop behind. The windows were covered with curtains and he and his wife did not want us to peak in the workshop.
Also, when Mr. Noda speaking of frame brazing techniques, he did not want mention about it. The owner might have thought we were SPY's (because we are Japanese?), but the exception of nice displays of wonderful bikes and custom parts (racks), we did not get much info out from him. Very mysterious brand...very well finished, but according to the web, he does not want deal with oversea buyers....very conservative Japanese craftman?
They call high mountain range of Japan as "Alpus", they admire high mountain range, but some Japanese people do not want deal with outsiders as Shogun-Edo period of closed Japan.
KEN TODA, High Pont, NC, a southern red-neck Japanese transplant.