For some of us, the love of beautiful bicycles is a fixation akin to that of a heroin addict. Our friends, partners, and workmates can’t understand our obsession, but the latest creation of Spain’s Vintage Luxury Bicycles should provide an explanation.
Javier Jubete is the proprietor of Vintage Luxury Bicycles, an atelier that specialises in reworking exotic classics with extremely rare NOS components — mainly those by Campagnolo — and usually plated in gold.
These bikes inevitably turn out to be some of the year’s most popular on The Spoken, and not without reason: they exemplify the pinnacle of the beautiful custom, classic and handmade bicycle, worthy of popes, kings, and wealthy or passionate collectors.
Javier’s latest celebrates the two cultures of Italy and Japan: a mint Colnago Master Krono time trial frame dressed with a Campagnolo C Record gruppo, intricately engraved with traditional Japanese motifs, like the ryū or tatsu dragon on the rear derailleur.
Interestingly, the work was completed by two non-Japanese craftsmen: Madrid’s Pedro Villarrubia and the UK’s Shaun Hughes, but both have extensive experience applying the wabori style to metal using traditional techniques.
A 700c and 650c Campagnolo Khamsin tubular wheelset were also emblazoned with nishikigoi brocaded carp — symbols of love and friendship in Japan, and it is with that spirit that the Japanese and Italian cultures were combined in this amazing machine.
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