Last year, the Rapha Continental traversed a route around the Tōhoku region, devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. The catastrophic effects were still visible, but so was the superhuman perseverance of the locals to rebuild their region. The national disaster hasn’t impeded Japan’s reverence for custom cycling culture, which prompted Takashi Sawa to contract this regal road bike all the way from Sheffield’s Field Cycles.
We’ve admired a few Field Cycles on the pages of The Spoken over the last couple of years, one of which caught Takashi’s eye. Not surprisingly, due to the vibrant graphics work of their designer Tom and painstaking application by in-house paint shop Cromaworks. Each shape and line is applied without the use of decals—just brush and paint. Takashi’s new frame was individually decorated with an abstract argyle pattern, matched with a Cinelli RAM 2 handlebar and ENVE fork.
Harry at Field Cycles prefers to build his frames from steel and Reynolds in particular, given Sheffield’s history with the metal industry, although Takashi’s frame features Columbus Life chain stays and custom S-bend seat stays. Seiichi Watanabe, owner of one of Japan’s best looking bike shops, &Bicycle Store, deservedly built it up with a SRAM Red group set.
Special thanks to Takashi and Masashi Ichifuru for the magnificent photos (you might remember his Indy Fab ‘crosser that was also featured here some time ago). I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome Poler as the latest sponsor of The Spoken. Take a moment to check out their range of awesome outdoor gear and adventures on their website, they’re helping to keep our wheels turning.
