RE: [CR]The Best Italian Bike in Japan

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

From: "devotion finesse" <devotion_finesse@hotmail.com>
To: Michael Schmidt <mdschmidt56@verizon.net>, David Ross <dlr94306@yahoo.com>, <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: RE: [CR]The Best Italian Bike in Japan
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 00:38:22 -0400
In-Reply-To: <C455AD56.95CF%mdschmidt56@verizon.net>
References: <954451.32417.qm@web38108.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
cc: CR discussion list <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

Mikey and Gang, "Made in Japan" also did a recent profile on American builders, which featu red Brooklyn's own Johnny Coast (who is making some of the Velo Orange fram es). Also of note is the fact that NYC resident/BVVW member/bicycle portra it artist Taliah Lempert's bicycle paintings have been featured on the two most recent covers. LOADS of KOF stuff in this very cool mag.

Matthew Bowne Brooklyn, New York ----------------------------------------
> Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 09:54:30 -0400
> From: mdschmidt56@verizon.net
> Subject: Re: [CR]The Best Italian Bike in Japan
> To: dlr94306@yahoo.com; jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net
> CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>
> Last week, I stopped at Jitensha Studio while on (monkey?) business and
> picked up a Japanese cycling magazine. The cover stated "Made in Japan" in
> English so I thumbed through it and decided to buy it when I found a sect io
> n
> written in English on the modern day bicycle manufacturers. Each brand n am
> e
> had three basic sections; brand profile, builder profile and factory
> profile. (Nice mag, I wish I could read Japanese)
>
> Zunow is not listed so perhaps they are not in business anymore. Some of
> the builders that were profiled in the article, apprenticed at Zunow.
>
> The article contained some interesting information, here are some
> highlights:
>
> * Masahiko Makino who now builds under his own name, was chief builder at
> 3RENSHO.
> * Shoji Watanabe apprenticed at TOEI.
> * Shojiro Iwai, builder of Meccanico Giro bicycles apprenticed in Italy
> under Gianni Motta.
> * Shigeru Nakagawa who builds under his own name, apprenticed at Zunow
> * Yoshi Nagasawa ( a fave of e-ritchie) apprenticed under Sante Pogliaghi
> and De Rosa for six years
>
> Also, in the repair stand was a brand new Toei randonneur being prepped f or
> delivery to a customer in Sacremento. It was stunning light blue bicycle
> with a stem prettier than Alex Singers. The lug work was top shelf altho ug
> h
> Peter Weigle¹s work is a notch or two better, ATMO. In a word or two,
> Toei¹s work is very understated and elegant. It would be a most welcom e
> piece in Mikey¹s basement. Toei also builds demontables and tandems. (Di
> d
> I say tandems?)
>
> Mike Schmidt
> Stirling, NJ
> USA
>
>
>
> On 5/18/08 1:20 AM, "David Ross" wrote:
>
>> Jerry,
>>
>> I agree with your assessment of Zunow. I got hooked on Zunows a few year s
>> back, and have picked up a few of them. Three of these are from roughly t
> he
>> same period as yours, and one probably came from the same shop in Okinaw a
> in
>> the same year. It's got the same graphics, and has a pearl white paint j o
> b
>> over an all-chrome frame. It's got a complete DA group, including those n
> eat
>> triangular platform pedals that require the unobtanium cleats.
>>
>> I have tried to find out about Zunow's history without much success. At l
> east
>> one list member was involved in importing them, but hasn't shared much ( a
> nd
>> may not know much of the history). I do know that the "genius" (Zunow is
>> supposed to be Japanese slang for genius) behind Zunow is a Mr. T. Kagey a
> ma.
>> He produced his 25th anniversary edition bike in 1990, so presumably he b
> egan
>> in 1965. He seems to have had a number of interesting ideas, some of whi c
> h
>> have odd translations (e.g. Ditchex for his grooved top tubes, and Penta g
> la
>> for the pentagram-sectioned chain stays, Horn System for the flared bott o
> m of
>> the seat tube).
>>
>> The earlier, non-Ditchex, pre-garish-paint Zunows are very elegant indee d
> . My
>> earliest one is a simple gloss black with yellow graphics, Campy DOs and
> a
>> very thin semi-sloping chromed fork crown. It has a very short wheelbase ,
>> about that of a track bike. I'm guessing 1972 - 1975. I've never been ab l
> e to
>> decipher Zunow serial numbers, so I don't know if there might be a clue o
> f the
>> year in it.
>>
>> Now that you've joined the Zunow fold, I would love to share photos, inf o
> and
>> observations. In my experience Zunows don't generate much chatter on the
> CR
>> list, so feel free to email me off-list to continue. Or maybe we should s
> tart
>> a rumor that Kageyama apprenticed with Bianchi, and see where that goes!
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dave Ross
>> Portola Valley, California USA
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________

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