NJS Araya/NJS Ukai

Jzn's Nishiki

Very nice example of a roadie/fixed gear conversion. Jzn bought this Nishiki 10-speed-frame and had Ave -our favorite local builder- change the drop outs into track ends. I like the yellow-on-metallic green colorway and the fact that Jzn decided to keep the relaxed angles on this track bike.

Specs and more photos after the break.

Don's NJS Shimazaki

Here's a rare NJS beauty from our "fixer" bro in New York. Some of you might have met or seen Don at the last Tour of the Firefly ride riding a neon orange Bridgestone track bike. That bike was a loaner and this here, is his real steed. 

Check out a little story he wrote about his bike and the specs after the jump.

Pangk's Levant

This is one of the best NJS builds i have seen here in Manila -not that there are many of them running around here- and on the internet. Lawrence has once again shown his unforgiving attention to detail and impeccable taste in bicycles. I used to dream of owning a second hand NJS frame before i got obsessed with bespoke/custom frames. Now, this build is making me consider that dream again, but in full custom construction and not anytime soon. Beautiful build, beautiful photography.

Check the nasty component list and more images of this bike after the jump.

Lagarista Re-edit

Due to a reader's request, I'm inserting a very short story of how this frame came to be.

"Lagarista" is a term used to describe movie house couriers whose only job is to pick up and deliver rolls of films all over the metro's countless cinema houses in strict adherence to each cinema's showing schedule. They have to deliver rain or shine thru traffic and sludge just so the show can go on.

Now, I've no aspirations of being a "lagarista" even if i think it's a cool job, but I was inspired by the practicality of their process. Weaving thru bad traffic and leaving everybody behind sounds like very good idea to me. Hence the REKTA Lagarista. With an aggressive geometry and twitchy enough handling, it gets you to your destination thru what little space our congested streets will allow. And it gets you there fast. This is the inspiration behind the Lagarista.

This particular build have some rare and nasty NJS components on it but you can tell from the images that this bike was built to be ridden and lovingly abused. It is one of my favorite framesets. One of my best collaborations with Ave.

More pics and the specs after the jump.

The Suspect Device

Kenneth has been riding this build through various towns and cities around Laguna (San Pablo, Calauan, Bay, Los Banos, Calamba, Santa Cruz/Pagsanjan boundary…), as well as through different parts of the Metro Manila. He also joined the Tagaytay Hill Bombing 2 Ride on this bike. So far, so good he says. I say I love it! A solid custom Maldea frameset and a conflagration of yummy Japanese parts.

He shot this photoset during his last visit to Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo Laguna. Please check more images and the specs after the jump.

Detalyes

Bike Check: Maple's Custom Ave Maldea Track

Finally, here's Maple's labor of love, an impeccably built up Ave Maldea custom frameset. We can't expect anything less from the husband and wife team of Lawrence and Maple, can we? Enjoy after the break.

Bike Check

Kiko's REKTA Lagarista

Custom Dedacciai oversized tubing. 53TT x 53ST, 76º HT, ST 76º, 50mm BB drop, 390 CS, 20mm fork rake

Dura Ace headset - 1"
Tange bottom bracket - 107
Kashimax Aero saddles
Dura Ace Easton seatpost - 26.8
Nitto Jaguar stem - 100
Nitto B123 CroMo bars - 34
Sugino 75 cranks - 165
Dura Ace chainring - 54t
Gran Compe cog - 16t
D.I.D. chain
Gran Compe hubset - 36h
Araya CTL-385 rims - 700c 
Vittoria Zaffiro tires - 700c x 25c

Made in Manila by Ave Maldea

Rekta "NJS"

Dale's NJS inspired build.