toddatron vlog 6/13/2009 | Tokyo
Information | History | View | Sightseeing | Video
Just a vlog well this one got a little fancy but a trip to Lake Town in Koshigaya and I finally found a pro bike shop close to my apt. Its the Lake Town stop on the Musashino line. Parts and tools were a little pricey as always in Japan but the mountain bikes were quite reasonable. They do not sell mamcharis here! I went to buy a tire but got other stuff. As I said they do not carry much for replacement parts for the bikes they sell just mods and upgrades and a lot of tires I wanted were on the new bikes but only special order. They also do tuning there. I need an all terrain tire for road dirt and gravel. My Bontrager Jones wear out fast on the road although they handle well. Three months of hard road riding and the rear is getting bald. Y's Road Bike shop in akasaka. This location is far better than the one in the video and I found everything I needed after shooting at the mall: http://ysroad-akasaka.com/akasaka_english/flour.html A good site for bike rentals and shops in Japan: http://cycle-tokyo.cycling.jp/shops.html Nalsima Frend (sic) is a popular racing bike shop very near Shinjuku. They have a good range of top end frames and accessories, prices are good for Japan (although given current exchange rates it's cheaper to buy things in the US or Europe) and service is excellent. It can get crowded on weekends though. The shop is a 3 minute walk from Kita-Sando Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, or a 9 minute walk from either Sendagaya Station (JR Sobu Line), Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Kokuritsu-kyougijyo Station (Oedo Subway Line). All these lines run from Shinjuku. Address: 2-2-4 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0051 Tel: 03-3405-9614 Hours: 1200 - 1930 (closed Wed. and Thu.) http://www.nalsimafrend.jp/ (Japanese only) UPDATE!!! Y's road in akaska has the extreme mountain bike selection and lots of tires and parts on the shelf! In contrast to Lake town the staff is much more knowledgeable and helpful to foreigners. They have some of the most extreme frames and tires I have seen . I picked up a set of Maxxis Hookworm tires. I will be pounding the pavement this week and hope to mention them in the next vlog. http://ysroad-akasaka.com/akasaka_english/index.html
Comments
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@toddatron oh ok thanks for clarifying love vids keep up the awesome work!
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@themaniusedtob No I mean trip computer..... it just calculates distance and speed. I do not use a GPS ever unless maybe I go across japan someday or need a specific point. Its bad for your sense of direction if you use it every day.
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trip computer? do you mean gps? if so what gps are you getting? im asking cause ive been trying to find out witch ones i could get besides garmin gps 705
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@gurney85 cool yea I went with the Maxxis hooks 2.5 just cleared on the Gary fisher. Got 2000 miles on them and they still rock! I ride like a mad man and the control and handling totally compliment the piranha frame. They suck in the snow and gravel but don't see much of that. On the road 90% of the time... hard pack is good too. I have been hitting debris and glass but never punctured one! Thanks for the comment!
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did you get the tire recommendations? I'm a fan of comfort and utility and if you are riding the paved streets for the most part I'd say look at the Schwalbe marathon plus, if looking for good balloon tire (I've come to really love them), then the Schwalbe big apples (2.35") or maxxis hookworms (2.5")...big air, big bounce so absorbs the shock between you and the road.. Big dudes, need an air cushion! Roll resistance is great, really good on the street in all weather, all of em..'cept snow.
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Sounds good wifes food beer conversation:) I said 9000 yen about 90dollars... since then I found some awesome ring worm extreme road tires. Gonna try em and then review them.
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Yea Thanks... I almost bought one but I had a huge brunch.
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Check my "riding a bike in Japan" I briefly go over my Gary Fisher its a good starter mountain bike for the money and available in Japan.
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I saw those on line yea thanks I will ask around I liked them as well:)
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What happening this weekend?
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I depend on that bike like a car. If its stolen I am bumming... I hate riding a chari no offense its just very uncomfortable for me and it hurts my knees and ass.
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Thanks dude!
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Yea the shear size of the place is quite impressive.
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Yea neither do I but sometimes you gotta go:)
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Yea I may go with road treads that have knobs on the side. Ordering tires here is hard due to no stock and my communication issues.
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Actually I always lock up to a pole! It gets tough to find a pole sometimes. I might have unlocked it on the vid first wile shooting. I have a huge cable lock from Home Depot. I run it through the frame and tire or tires if I can. Mamacharis get stolen out of convenience not for money and high end bikes do get stolen but its rare. My serials are registered at the Koban just in case:) My bike with accessories cost me a little over a grand.
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thanks. Informative. I want to go there !! keep that birth rate up japan.... lol
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sweet man i cant believe its summer and just a 3-4 months before i get to the jland again
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Mamachari is the name and cruising is the game. Yea I was full but I wanted to eat that Taiyaki. The mall was the biggest I have seen even in the states. You can rent but it may be cheaper to buy one and then just give it away depending on how long you stay. 8000 yen can get you a bike like the one in the kendo vid. 3 speeds and a basket included.
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Cool! I can can go with you and spend a day. We can get you set up for a reasonable deal! Can't wait to hang. Its funny I found a bike shop with literally 1000 Mamacharis on the way home. You can get a real decent dept store mountain bike without dropping a grand.