Nagasawa Frame Countdown...

[e-RICHIE]

my long-awaited frame from k.o.f.-san, nagasawa,
will be here in e-RICHIEville on friday. i am seriously
wet and sticky but trying not to show any emotion.

a yahoo pic site will be built to show my first frame
purchase since 1971.

oh - thanks for reading.

e-RICHIE

ps

:banana: :banana: :banana:
:banana: :banana: :banana:
:banana: :banana: :banana:

arrange disorder

[dirtdigger88]

i am seriously
wet and sticky but trying not to show any emotion.
arrange disorder

pampers makes some killer wet wipes- they work great on my little one.

it must be something very special to get you wet and stickey

Jason

[weisan]

funny how some people would have similar reactions when they finally got hold of their long-awaited RS frames....nothing like tasting a healthy dose of your own medicine. :D

Congrats on your incoming new bike, eRichie!

About Nagasawa:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/NAGASAWA.HTML

PS. According to the yellowjersey website, a Nagasawa takes delivery in four to six months. Now, that's a much more reasonable timeframe, don't you think, Richie-san??

[Blastinbob]

Did Douglas ever get his ?

[Kevan]

do I feel a need to take a shower after reading this thread?

Pardon me...

Oh and...'71?! Just wait and see what they've done to bikes and their berries since then, you'll be amazed. :D

[siena01]

OK, e-richie, I have to ask ...

Why does a builder of such fame and fortune have such lust for a Nagasawa?

What are the appreciable differences between his work and your own?

[PaulE]

The smokers among us are grabbing a cigarette as they read this.

[dirtdigger88]

I have a picture of one of the Budwiser clydesdales in a full state of arousal- well you know what I mean- I could post that in your honor- but I bet Alyson would not approve :no: I did sent it to my mother- in -law though

Jason

[coylifut]

I have a picture of one of the Budwiser clydesdales in a full state of arousal- well you know what I mean- I could post that in your honor- but I bet Alyson would not approve :no: I did sent it to my mother- in -law though

Jason

You know what stands behind every successful man don't you. That's right, an absolutely shocked mother-in-law.

[e-RICHIE]

siena01-issimo axed:
"Why does a builder of such fame and fortune
have such lust for a Nagasawa?"


geehopper.
maybe this entry from my blog will
address this issue. i wrote it in 2000
and it's been pasted around a few
forums whenever this was discussed.

here:

i first saw nagasawa frames in the middle/late 70s at the
now defunct n.y. international cycle shows at the coliseum
at columbus circle. (data point: only the circle is left; they leveled
the coliseum). i started taking a booth there in 75 and had
always tried to keep my antennae up. though unmarked,
i'd annually notice the coolest frames, not at the importers of
italian goods, but used as a platform by suntour for their line
of components. confused? in essence, that firm used matte-
black-and-decal-less nagasawa frames to showcase the
parts they made. from my first view and from the subsequent
detective work i carried on, i became a nagasawa devotee.
i will leave out a ton of information here because i'm a one-
finger typist, but the message is that i was convinced that this
maker and these frames were the closest i would come to that
age old fantasy (that we all at one time bought into) that here
was the real thing. i have been to italy many times and i have
'seen' many of the so-called top tier shops go from family
businesses into major manufacturers and into 'brands'. and
i don't begrudge them or those choices. but, as a neophyte,
i looked for a role model. during those years and those that
followed, i would come first to the suntour booth for a dose
of inspiration. ultimately, i'd see the frames marked as nagasawas
and his stock rose even higher.

because i was 1) always suspicious of the cycle industry and its
ever-present need to create a buzz just for the heluvit, and concurrently
2) i was fascinated with the 'national living treasures of japan thing'
(apologies for expressing it so trivially...) i had created this image of
a mr. nagasawa holed up in osaka making perfect frames at his own
pace and answering to no one. and i apologize for personalizing this,
but my point here is that i adapted (sp?) my notion of this fellow as my
own personal role model. whether founded or not, the information i
dug up about this fellow, and the quality-the consistently extremely high
quality of his work-all this, when juxtaposed against my lowering
opinion of the so-called high zoot italian built frames...well-i just had this
belief that nagasawa came (comes) the closest to being the archtypical
master builder of the classic road/track frame.

i was always unsure as to why he didn't get much airplay outside of
japan and the keirin circuit. but no matter...i followed this guy all these
years. i never understood when cr listees didn't 'get into' his frames.
i tried other times to get threads going about his work and they
mostly fizzled. but thanks to spotting those pics on dale's show
page perhaps some others will give this bicycle maker his just do.
i think he is without peer. maybe it's a 'rose colored glasses thing'.
but until it's shown to me to be otherwise, nagasawa frames made
in the classic manner are the best of the best.
e-RICHIE

[dbrk]

Well, this is welcome news. I have been waiting now more than one year and there has been no word for the last three or four months about my own Nagasawa order. Could I be lucky enough that mine too will appear in something like this shipment? Of course, this would cause a veritable frenzy of selling off to finance the matter...yikes.

Many congrats to e-richissimo since this particular Nag promises to be very, very special.

some things, but not many actually are worth the wait, and i should know since i ride a Sachs, Rivendell/Goodrich, and Singer (though not at the same time; and I am happy to say that the wait for Mariposa right now is not much more than a two months, I think,)

dbrk

[flydhest]

dbrk,

shouldn't you be grading papers, or something?

[Climb01742]

in a word...cool. you've been true to your quest. very cool.

[FlaRider]

Richie: Road or track bike?

[e-RICHIE]

load flame
:p

[jerk]

wow-
e-richie you must be a very important man....last time the jerk heard nagasawa-san was only doing track frames. oh, yeah you are a very importan man.....you gonna get that cat to use the richie-issmo lugs?
jerk

[bfd]

Andy Muzi's Yellow Jersey carries Nagasawa. Here's some background and a few pics:

background:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/NAGASAWA.HTML

2003 blue frame:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/n3naga.html

same frame being built up:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/n3nagab.html

white pista frame:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/whtnaga.html

how about a pearl yellow one:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/yelonaga.html

not enough? OK, a purple track frame:http://www.yellowjersey.org/tinsely.html

At about $2800 for a frameset, its what $200-500 cheaper than a Sachs and you only have to wait 6 months.....

[e-RICHIE]

snipped:
the jerk does not represent anyone but himself.
the jerk is always right.
the jerk thinks your stem is just fine.



oh the humanity...
e-RICHIE

[e-RICHIE]

bfd-issimo posted:
"not enough? OK, a purple track frame:"
http://www.yellowjersey.org/tinsely.html



you're jewish?
love those nails!
e-RICHIE
w apologies to f zappa

[bulliedawg]

Mr. Sachs:

You and Mr. N. doing the barter thing? Down here where I live, the barter thing is alive and well. Why I traded an advertisement for a real estate closing fee just the other day. My brother in law repainted a car in exchange Harley panhead (just the head and some misc parts. not the whole bike). Oh, yeah.

[Climb01742]

richie...will it be red?

[e-RICHIE]

silver met

[Climb01742]

very tasteful, classic and beautiful...unlike red. ;)

[Andreu]

What makes Nagasawa different or so "good"?

Talent, hard work, work practices (right first time Japanese quality control) - his lugs look pretty standard to me (in photos). How more aligned can a bike be? To be "good" you need to make lots of mistakes - how many are bike builders allowed.

I suppose what I am driving at is the ton of material you missed out in your blog because your finger gets tired.

I am interested from a quality point of view as in previous jobs I have studied Japanese work methods in factories and they have a completely different work/quality philosophy to us in the west. Suppose its the same for frame builders too?

Curious
and curiouser
Thanks for any additional info.
A :)

[DfCas]

its a "jitensha" (bicycle),made by Nagasawa-sama ( a higher honorific than san).

With envy,

Dan Cas

[dbrk]

At about $2800 for a frameset, its what $200-500 cheaper than a Sachs and you only have to wait 6 months.....

Like I said, more than a year and counting...though I am told he will do it. I may be dead before it arrives but I will wait even if I am dead.

'cause some things is worth da'wait,

dbrk

[dirtdigger88]

here is the burning questions of the day. What group do you put on a Japanese bike- I just don't see Campy working. :no: There has to be some sort of fit issues :p

Jason

[e-RICHIE]

super record - just like the picture in the
nagasawa catalogs of the mid 80s:

http://www.bikecult.com/works/sales/nagaCAT2.html

[slowgoing]

Is that D'novo in the pics for the record build?

[Cranky]

So Richie, will you ride it in your next cross race?????
;)

[jerk]

here is the burning questions of the day. What group do you put on a Japanese bike- I just don't see Campy working. :no: There has to be some sort of fit issues :p

Jason


dura-ace ten ptich. the greatest track gruppo ever...except for that weird campy thing that had two chains and one broke after you got to a certain speed.....
jerk

[Len J]

I looked at some of his frames at Interbike.....he sure does beautiful work.

Some things are worth the wait.........(although the wait is still hard).

Post pictures when it's built up.

Len

[e-RICHIE]

jerk-issimo

doooooooode
lead my rips!
it's not tlack, it's load!

[Big Dan]

E-Richie, congrats on your new frame.
When waiting for a new bike, I always fear that UPS is going to crush it.... :eek:
That won't happen this time..I have one question..

What stem are you going to use????? :bike:

[e-RICHIE]

no idea.
mebbe a cinelli vip kit.
this gem could sit for a year before it's touched.

[dirtdigger88]

sir richie

I just don't get it- japanese bike why not japanese group? I can just see the flock of fans going crazy right now- you know- when in Rome. . .

jason

[e-RICHIE]

doh!
these are frames with an italian gene pool.
shimano?
doh!!!

[Keith A]

How about Suntour Superbe Pro?

[e-RICHIE]

u r cracking me up?!

[oracle]

i would imagine some nos super record, or even some nuovo.....

oracle

[e-RICHIE]

hasn't anyone seen the pic/catalog link above?

[oracle]

yup, just saw it....

[alembical]

I vote for the wireless Mavic. That would be the perfect match for such a timeless frame. :banana:

Alembical

[ShockTreatment]

I remember the matt black frame from the Suntour Superbe ads on the back of Winning magazine. Didn't know it was Nagasawa, but could tell even from that picture that it was something special.

[Len J]

Have you ever sat down with him and talked about framebuilding?

if so......what does he do that's different?
Is it "attention to detail" or experience, or both?

I sure have admired his work...almost as much as yours, and would be curious as to differences, if any in approach.

Thanks

Len

[e-RICHIE]

dunno.
no idea.

he's a muse for me.

better left untouched, eh?!

[bulliedawg]

he's a muse for me.

That's cool. The light to which you move.

[Tom Byrnes]

e-RICHIE,

Congratulations on your cool, new bike. And congratulations on your accomplishments - both personal and team - at the Nationals. Looks like it's fun, playing in mud.

:banana: :banana: :banana:
:beer: :beer: :beer:
:) :) :)

Tom

[Len J]

dunno.
no idea.

he's a muse for me.

better left untouched, eh?!

Yes.....but you have touched it now (or will when it is received)........Hope it lives up to expectations (I'm sure it will).

Mental constructs are powerful...no?

Len

[e-RICHIE]

"...but you have touched it now "



i meant the fantasy, not the frame!

[DarkStar]

A friend who teaches english in Japan rode with the Nakagawa club on sunday. Nakagawa-san was there for the ride. According to Brendan he's a strong rider.
:)

[e-RICHIE]

nakagawa?
nagasawa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

confusion??!!

don't get me going on that joke about
the jew that sank the titanic...

[Climb01742]

richie, is it cold as h*ll in conn, too? its freakin' freezing here. :fight:

[DarkStar]

So sorry, at work and have my hands full dealing with the BOG at the university I work for. :crap:

[Len J]

"...but you have touched it now "



i meant the fantasy, not the frame!

I figured that......but doesn't touching any part of the fantasy illuminate the fantasy?

What a risk taker.

Len

[Smiley]

How old is Mr Nagasawa , he looks younger then I would have thought given that Sir Richie has been admiring his work since the 70's or are the photo's of him at a younger age . I can dig Sir Richie want to have a bike built by a guy that he has emulated for being TRUE to his values and never jumping on new fads . Congrats Sir Richie for your new gift to yourself . One day I'll own one of your bikes for probably these very same reasons.

Richie did you ever think of a gift exchange with Mr. Nagasawa ? A straight up frame swap ?

[terry]

obviously, a lot of people don't know you. shimano--blasphemous!!! i believe you're one of the few sporting campy even on your cx bike. SR/NR would be perfect. very interesting to see one of america's premier builders actually buying another builders product. hope you plan on riding it-not storing it next to the 2 restored masi's.

[e-RICHIE]

"obviously, a lot of people don't know you. shimano--blasphemous!!! i believe you're one of the few sporting campy even on your cx bike. "



it worked well for jesse anthony...

oh - and for many others too!

[cpg]

One day and counting for Nag touch down! So my question is- how many times have you tracked the package? I can't wait to see it too but I hope this thing won't get the Masi neglect!?!

Curt

[Peter]

Climb01742 richie, is it cold as h*ll in conn, too? its freakin' freezing here.

I may not be speaking for e-richie, but of course it's cold here! I rode to work this morning and the thermometer spit 11 degrees...

5 more days and then they start getting longer...

[e-RICHIE]

"5 more days and then they start getting longer..."




huh?!

[dbrk]

Peter refers to the length of the days becoming longer after the winter solstice, I believe. But all days would be short after a Nagasawa 'cause there would never be enough days to ride such a bike. Same can be said of a Weigle and Sachs, as far as I can tell...Goodrich, Rivendell, Mariposa, Herse, Singer, and that perfect Serotta...ahh, so many beautiful bikes and so few days of any duration...

dbrk

[Jeff Weir]

I think that Friday will be a low production day at the e-richie factory!

[e-RICHIE]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
holy-freaking-shiete-san!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ohmygawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


more later...

[Ken Robb]

may we assume that you have unpacked it??

[Keith A]

We demand pictures http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons/52.gif

[OldDog]

Come on......it's been fifteen miniuts, where's the photo???????? :D


Maybe now you know how we felt when first opening your box.... :banana:

[malcolm]

I'm assuming you got your new frame. While you are delusional with joy I'll hit you with a proposition. I see from your web site you have several links to guitar builders. I'll trade you a hand built Jaros bluseman custom, built by Jim Jaros himself. Arch top bookmatched quilted maple with mahogany body and neck, seymour duncans and all top end bits with almost no play time. All I want is a Rithcie frame and moved up on the list. If that won't work I'll have to wait till my 50th birthday which is 5 years away, oh god I should put in the order now. Good luck with the frame although I can't imagine it being as nice as the ones you create. The orange one in your gallery may be the best looking bike I have ever seen, Please post a pic of the completed bike if you have one. Malcolm

[Len J]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
holy-freaking-shiete-san!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ohmygawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


more later...

Must be part of your allure.

Len

PS, Glad your reaction is so positive.....now you know how people feel when they unpack one of your frames.

[jerk]

it's that bad huh?

[Big Dan]

Malcolm, maybe e-RICHIE is more a Super400 or Gibson L-5 kind of guy....
Personally I'm happy with my 3 Strats and eventually will look for a nice ES175.. :banana:

[e-RICHIE]

how are pics posted here?

[Blastinbob]

E-Richie, resize them to no larger than 800x800 pixels, then scroll down below where you post a reply to a thread there are "additional options ", click on manage attachments, that's where they get uploaded.

[Climb01742]

don't hold your breath...he'll just post a photo of the box it came in...i already fell for it...but it is a very nice box.

[e-RICHIE]

who's the big boo here???!!!!!!!

[Climb01742]

here's a photo of a lovely half opened box...

[SGP]

is killin' me! :crap:

[e-RICHIE]

i can't figure how to post.
bb's reply got me only half way...

[Climb01742]

richie, e-mail it to me and i'll post it, dork. :p

[e-RICHIE]

i sent climb-issimo about 24 macro lense-ers...

[vandeda]

Wait .... what's the problem dbrk? Short days? Mine are still 24 hours :p I just throw on my mountain biking light, charge up the battery ... and I'm good to go :D Well .... I can't imagine you'll be commuting on the bike, but if you are ... then just throw on a good light ... heck, if you can afford Serotta's & Nagasawa's and such ... pick up yourself a nice HID light.

Now once it starts snowing .... then the story changes. I know my Calfee and my soon-to-be (well, next October or so) Vanilla won't see the roads once the salt hits the road. That's what the Centurion & Schwinn Moab mtn bike will be for ... and x-country skis. Once it snows, the river better freeze over quick or I'm gonna be frustrated (got studded tires for the mtn bike) :)

Dan

Peter refers to the length of the days becoming longer after the winter solstice, I believe. But all days would be short after a Nagasawa 'cause there would never be enough days to ride such a bike. Same can be said of a Weigle and Sachs, as far as I can tell...Goodrich, Rivendell, Mariposa, Herse, Singer, and that perfect Serotta...ahh, so many beautiful bikes and so few days of any duration...

dbrk

[Andreu]

The suspense is killing me.
A :beer: :beer: :beer: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Climb01742]

e-richie's frame...

[Cranky]

Richie, I didn't know you were a strip-teaser too!!!! ;)

[Blastinbob]

E- Richie, the other half of the instructions are: click on browse to find the folder you placed the already re-sized photos in then double-click on the photo or photos you want to upload, then click on upload and it will start the upload process, be patient it take a few seconds, then it will either appear on the bottom as a file or a pop-up on top will come up and tell you your file is too large. If your camera is super high resolution, like my digital rebel, you may have to go smaller then 800x800 pixs.

Here's a fully restored 58 Impala I built the exhaust for:

[Ken Robb]

I always thought the dual sloping antennae made them resemble charter boats.

[Tom Byrnes]

And with Glasspaks on the dual exhaust sytem, it will even sound like a boat rumbling through the water. Cool car. Brings back fond memories.